Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127156
~'When DIRT RIDJ:R arri'ves every 1I10nth -t he re 's a fight betvveen me ~i1d lI1y .sone to see vvho gets it first." -Bill Alsup Name: Bill Alsu p Occupation: Owner, Lift Services an d Alsup Racing Engines, Woodstock, VT; ret ired Indy car driver Company descriptions: "Lift Ser vices manufactures and main tains ski lifts. 'The engine business grew from my racing endeavors. We cater to the late-model sportsman an d stock ca r racing markets, and our customers have had considerable success." Riding history: "I rode dirt . bikes in high school and started racing scrambles in .1961. I raced· as an Expert in New England until 1969. In the early days of motocross, I was one of the stockholder/directors of Intersport, the orga nization that brought over some of the European riders to put on demonstrations." Car racing 'b a ck ground: "At 31 I felt I Was too old to be competitive in motocross and 'a friend talked me into driving a Formula Ford. I raced with a fair amount of success, goin g to England with the Canad ian tea m for the World Championships and toAtlanta for .the SCCA Nationals. In 1974, I turned pro and ran the Volkswagen of America Super Vee series until 1978.. when I won both the SCCA roadracing championship and the USAC oval series. In '79 I bought an old beat-up Indy car and a bunch of OfTenhauser engines from D im Gurney. That was the year CART and USACsplit, and I . threw my hat in th e CART ring. I raced on the Penske team with R ick Mears and Bobby Un ser in '81. R ick won the National Championship, I was second, and Bobby won Ind y. I retired at the end of the ' 84 season." T rack record: 1978-S'CCA & USAC Super Vee Champion (only driver to win both in a single year);' 1979-CART "Rookie of the Year" ; 1980-CART "Most Improved Driver" , finished seventh in point standings; 1981-qualified seventh for Indy 500~ finished l l th , had eigh t top-IO finishes in I I starts to finish second in CART/ PPG Cup point stand ings, named CA RT's first goodwill ambassador; 1982- American Red Ball/Eddie Sachs Award; 1983 through 1985elected to CART board of directors Riding pref erence: "I enjoy fast desert riding and love to ride in Californ ia and Baja. My sons and I do lots of woods and fire road rid ing here in Vermont, and once a year I enter a ceremonial veterans' motocross. Both boys are serious about. motocross. Nipper was state champion in the 250 Amateur class last year. and will be . an Expert th is year." .Bike. currently owned: Honda XR600; KTM 500MX; 1968 Bultaco Pursang; 1968 Mick Andrews replica Ossa trials Magazine: ." When D IRT RIDER arrives every -month there's a fight between me and my sons to see who gets it first. I thi nk it's terrific in its scope, and I pick up :-at least one new tip from every issue. Phot ograph y is one of my . .' long-tim e hobbies, an d the photography in DIRT RIDER is abso lutel y first rate. The magazine looks great, and its edito rial content is representative of what motorcycling should be." . This endorsement is purely voluntary. No fee or other cons ideration is paid. AT NEWSSTANDS FOR $24 .00 PER YEAR OR BY SUBSCRIPTION FOR $15.94. FOR SUBSCRIPTION ORDERS CALL (213) 854-2470 .