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/127164
That our Christmas Time was here again, and the Grit of it is what we rode. The dawn flooded blue like a sky. borne sea, and I was riding again, up along the cold high roads, coming back down to the city. And there were motorcycles on 'those Sunday morning streets, literally thousands of them. All decorated and bearing gifts. It was something I expected and was ready for. A thirty-legged caterpillar - Aye! long as my arm! - was strapped to my own seat behind me, that cheery stuffed critt er with Happy Holidays smile. Motorcyclists (some even dressed like jolly old Santa Claus) rode in from every 'w h ich way , converging on that place where the Olympics had been. Headed for. our Coliseum with presents of amusement and food for families with little, maybe none. It was the annual Toy Run, like other Holidays gift drives going on all across America. Those motorcyclists who have, remembering those who ' have not - all of us giving in the spirit of Christmas. It was a dream in itself, a vision come true . Along the way I stopped at Bill Bartels ' Harley-Davidson store, to join another mighty wave of Santa's bikes. The chrome and th e chic were not to be believed, dazzlin g and sparkling and celebrating The Life! Riders freely giving their best once more, raising our image and acceptance to boot. Coming back to the "We" of Existence, after being stuck on the " I" too long. Returning to the way we were, the way motorcycling was when we sh ifted by hand and cranked by foot. And all along our m any routes this day, the mainstream waved as our ru m bl in g sleighs went by. It was our statement and promise, our Hail and Best Wishes! Our destination lot filled with bikes of every kind and shape, first by the hundreds, then ten thousand and more. That hill of stuffed animals and toys rose to become a rainbow mountain. And the Salvation Army's uniformed band, its brass horns poised, began again to p lay. It was an old greeting card sound that went right for the heart: Playing, they played on, well ' and true to the goal of it all. Playing the music th at gave words to the cheer - " We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?" By William Edgar WIND: A ll the latest gossip and race results to hold you over until next year 1 INTERVIEWS: Motocrosser Ron Lechien turns night into day 4 A chat with new National Enduro champ Randy Hawkins 20 Bubba Shobert explains his exodus to the European GPs 24 AMA Pro Twins Champion Dale Quarterley hits the top 30 World motocross competitor Hakan Carlqvist calls it quits 58 TESTS: Yamaha's 1989 FZR1000 makes a big hit in the heavyweight sport bike class .. . 8 Hittin' the trail on Kawasaki's all-new KDX200 .......•... 38 HARE SCRAMBLES: Smith takes U.S . Championship at Laughlin 12 STANDINGS:'The top 10 National and World Championship MX finishers -:.. ... 14 1988 Camel Pro/GNC/600cc National point tables 16 TRIALS: Manniko wins second consecutive Schreiber, EI Trial de Espana 28 BRIT BIKES: A look at the past, present and future of the British motorcycle industry 34 D IRT TRACK: Young Roberts shines at Lodi Marathon event 42 GRAND PRIX: Brad Lackey hosts Carlsbad Christmas GP 44 ROAD RACE: Kunitsugu takes three t itles at Willow Springs Formula USA finale . . . . •48 LOCAL RACING: Everyone's a star 50 RESULTS : After the checkered flag 64 CALENDAR : Plan now for the new year 65 WANT ADS: You want it, we got it 68 ON THE FRONT PAGE: Check out almost all of the new models inside the 1989 Buyer's Gu ide. -----------------------------------------------------------------, ' SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM : j PL EA S E PR INT CLEARLY I Ad dress City Order Date: _ State' ~ ....L7ip-- - - -- _ o Thi s is a re newal o Please bill me o Encl osed is c hec k or money o rder Charge m y 0 Visa 0 Maste rca rd .=c OK, please start my subscription to Cycle News and send me the newspaper o every week for o ne year (50 issues) f or $32.50 o every week for two years (100 issues) f or $60.00 o 'si x months second class (25 issues) for $17.00 One yeer 150 i..ue .l. 2nd clo.. Cenodo or Moxico en d oil other foreig n c ountri•• 56 3 ,00 (U.S, fund.l . First cia.. and . irmail ... t81 available upon request. Sig nat ure MC /V isa # Ex pirati on D at e _ _ _ Send to : CYCLE NEWS, Inc., P.O . Box 498 . Lo ng Bea ch. CA 9080 1 ·0498 / (213) 427-7433 __________ ~----------------------------~-------~---~-- ~3