Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

1JNIHe.WIND~:. · :: :I · Danny Hamel (Kaw) scored his first career win in a National Reliability Enduro Series round at the extremely dry and dusty Crosbyton. Texas, race on April 16-17. Hamel topped opening round winner Randy Hawkins (Suz) by 34 seconds. Unofficial results have Kelby Pepper (KTM) in third, followed by Fred Andrews (Yam) and Larry Roeseier (Kaw). Suzuki's Steve Hatch sat out the Texas qualifier to nurse a broken little finger on his left hand, an injury he incurred while riding with teammate Guy Cooper in Oklahoma during the week. "1 was riding one of Cooper's motocross bikes on his enduro course, and it didn't have any Barkbusters," said Hatch. "I'm so used to riding with them (Barkbusters) that when I came to these trees I didn't even shut down, and I crushed the finger." Hatch expects to be back for the next National Enduro in Missouri on May 1. Continuing an unnerving trend, rally racing lost yet another competitor when Italian factory KTM rider Angelo Cavandolli was killed while competing in the April 9-17 Tunisia Rally. Cavandolli, who finished third in last summer's Nevada Rally, reportedly hit a hole while traveling at approximately 100 mph. Austrian teammate Heinz Kinigadner was following Cavandolli at the time, and stopped immediately to help, but Cavandolli's helmet had come off and he died immediately. Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (Yam) won the rally by 10 minutes over fellow countryman Thierry Magnaldi (KTM). Spaniard Jordi Arcarons (KTM) was third, another 22 minutes back. American Casey Folks (KTM) finished 26th overall out of approximately 135 entries. Four-time World Champion Eddie lawson came dose to winning his first-ever Indy Lights car race during the Long Beach Grand Prix in Long Beach, California, on April 17. The Lake Havasu City, Arizona, resident was leading by 7.31 seconds after 23 laps when he spun out and hit the wall. The race was won by Lawson's Tasman Motorsports teammate Steve Robertson. Lawson finished third in the first round of the series at Phoenix International Raceway . The AMA is currently trying to schedule an appeals-board meeting to make a decision regarding the Rob Muzzy protest against the Ducatis ridden by Troy Corser and Pascal Picotte in the AMA U.S. Superbike National Championship Series. "We're trying to put it together now," AMA technical manager Merrill Vanderslice said. "We're trying to find a suitable place and time. Laguna Seca is a possibility, but all the pla yers need to be there. It's sort of up in the air right now." Merrill Vanderslice said the reason Mark McDaniel was disqualified from the 750cc Supersport final at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California, on April 9 was for an illegal air-box. "The air box on the Suzuki is in two halves and it wasn't put together very well. There was a gap at the bottom which allows additonal air to enter the box . We don't know if that was something that was overlooked, but it' s something that's been done before by others. We don't know if it was done intentionally, but it doesn't change the fact that it (the gap) was there." McDaniel has appealed the disqualification which cost him his fourth-place finish. What does five-time National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins do when he's not winning in the woods? Win on the links, of course. On April 5, Hawkins and three friends entered the Double Dog Classic, a captain's choiee four-man team golf tournament at Greenville, South Carolina's Furman Un iversity. With 25 teams competing, including several local golf pros, Hawkins' squad was considered a dark horse at best, but they completed the 18hole course with a score of 13 under par, just ahead of the minus 12 mark of the second-place team. "1 think we surprised a few people," said Hawkins, who plays frequently. "It was a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind trying to pursue the sport a little further after I'm done with racing." ~ he u.s. Senate voted to approve the controversial California Desert Protection Act, S.21, that would lock out motorcyclists from millions of acres of public land in the Southern California desert, on April 13. The full Senate voted to approve the bill, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (DCalifornia), by a 69-29 vote. And although the bill does include some concessions that were part of a package proposed by the AMA, it would still create one new national park, upgrade two national monuments to national park status and establish as wilderness lands millions of acres more than the federal government's own study of the area said was warranted. "The passage of this bill by the Senate is a victory for the no-compromise politics of preservationalist groups," said Robert Rasor, AMA's vice president of government relations. "At every stage, we have asked for a balanced approach to the management of these lands, protecting the most sensitive areas and allowing other uses elsewhere. That balanced approach was part of the federal government's proposal for the desert, but it has been thrown aside in this bill, which seems designed to keep Americans from enjoying the lands we all jointly own." . With final passage of the California Desert Protection Act in the Senate, the focus of attention now shifts to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is considering its own vers ion of the bill, designated H.R 518. That measure, sponsored by Rep. Rick Lehman . (D-<:alifornia), contains none of the concessions requested by the AMA. Hearings are expected to be held on the House bill during May in the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The AMA is urging anyone interested in balanced management of public lands to write to: Rep. Bruce Vento, chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands; Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources; and Rep. Rick Lehman; asking them to incorporate the complete package of changes being proposed by the AMA into H.R 518. e "d'l ~ M ~ N :;:I , 1-1 ..9" ....... 2 Undo Racing to reunite for Sacramento Mile hree-time AMA Grand National Champion Ricky Graham and tuner Johnny Goad will reunite for the first 750cc race of the season, the Sacramento Mile at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds on April 23.. After winning the Grand National Championship and enjoying the most successful season of their careers together in 1993, a strange tum of events saw Graham and Goad part ways at the end of last year. Graham opted to set out and form his own team and also to pursue a career in road racing. Goad, meanwhile, hired two-time National winner Larry Pegram to fill the spot left vacant by Graham on Team Undo, and looked set to contest the '94 series with a twoman team consisting of Pegram and returning team member Brett Landes. At the series-opening Daytona Short Track, both Graham and Pegram faltered. With a one-race sponsorship from Smokin' Joe's Racing, Graham failed to make the National after a series of crashes left him muddied and out of the show. Though Pegram didn't crash, he too was off the pace and missed the cut for the main event. Instead, it was Landes who shined, finishing a career-best third place at Municipal Stadium. When no road race offers or major dirt track sponsors materialized for Graham, the 34-year-old again considered retirement. "It was pretty discouraging," said Graham. "1 had the best year of my life in '93 and smoked everybody, but there still were no offers. It's disappointing to be at the absolute top of your sport and not get a deal. I thought about .retiring and leaving on top, but after doing some soul searching, I'm ready to race. I'm a racer. That's what I do." After Daytona, Goad was disappointed in Pegram's performances on the dirt. "Larry's still got a long way to go," said Goad. "He broke his left leg real bad at the start of last year, and I think he's having a hard time getting back on the gas. He can do it, I'm sure, but it's gonna take some time. When you break a leg like that, it's hard to stick it out like you need to. "At Daytona, I could see that Ricky and I needed each other, and also that Larry couldn't get it together. I just have to do what I think is best for all of us . I have to make money at this game, too." According to Goad, there will be three riders in Undo Racing colors at Sacramento: Pegram, Landes and Graham. "I'm putting together another motorcycle for Ricky right now," said Goad. "It'll be easy; I know exactly how he likes them set up." There will be four complete Honda RS750s in the Undo pits - two for Pegram, and one each for Landes and Graham: "We'll see how things work out at Sacramento and take it from there," said Goad. "1 think Ricky and I can get our differences worked out and, if we do, we'll have a threeman team for the rest of the year. I'll just have to hire someone to help me with the wrenching. For Sacramento, my wife Sarah just might have to!" Though Pegram didn't care to elaborate on his feelings about the situation, he did say, "1 will be at Sacramento, and I'll be there to win. My confidence is high - I've had some great races aboard a road racer since Daytona - and I'll be up front. I am also planning to contest the entire Grand National Championship Series for Team Undo." After turning in very impressive performances in the 600cc Supersport class at the Phoenix and Pomona rounds of the AMA 600cc Supersport Road Race Series, Pegram has had several offers from road race teams to contest the entire series. "There were a few good offers," said Pegram. "But I have a deal with Team Undo to contest the entire dirt track series. I will, however, race the next two road races (Laguna Seca and Road America) aboard an Erion Racing Honda CBR600. I'll also race the CBR900RR in the EBC Brakes Endurance Heavyweight Team Challenge for their team. Kevin Erion offered me a ride for the rest of the year, but I'm already committed through the rest of '94. Next year, we'll see:' T Heading to Sacramento, California, for Senate passes S.21 T I Graham, . the April 23 Valvoline/Krager Auto Parts Sacramento Mile? If so , Chris Aga janian informs us that the official race headquarters has been changed to the Sheraton Suites Fairplex. A special "racer's rate " is being offered, whereby a two-room suite is available for a single-room rate. For reservations call 800/722-4055. And speaking of the April 23 Valvoline/Krager Auto Parts Sacramento Mile, television star Lorenzo Lamas of the television series "Renegade" will be on hand to meet and greet fans at 6:00 p.m., prior to the start of racing action. For more information call 916/920-2760. Now that three-time Grand National Champion Ricky Graham has decided to compete at the Sacramento Mile aboard a Johnny Goad-tuned Team Undo Honda RS750 (see sidebar), things look good for the nearby Salinas, California, resident to score his second-ever win at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds. Graham's only other win at the facility came in 1984, when he competed aboard a factory Honda.Since then, Graham's luck at the track has been less than desirable. Though he dominated last year's series, Graham finished fifth and ninth at last year's pair of Sacramento Miles . At the spring race, Graham was singled out and penalized for jumping the start, though a number of other riders jumped the gun as well. Graham was sent to the penalty line and raced back to fifth. At the fall running, Graham was in second and gaining on leader Carr, but carburetion problems saw him drop to ninth. "My luck at Sacramento hasn't been the best, but I'm ready to go ," said Graham. "I 'm pumped up and ready to race." . The rider to watch at the Sacramento Mile, however, will be Team HarleyDa vidson's Chris Carr, who lives in nearby Valley Springs, California. The likable 25-year-old has won six of the last eight races at the track, and is the heavy favorite going in. Savvy race fans will notice that Carr's Kenny Tolbert-tuned motorcycle will sport only one rear shock, as he will debut a new Knight-built, White-Bros.-suspended single-shock chassis. Scott Parker will also have a s imilar set-up, but his frame is said to have been designed by his tuner Bill Werner, and built inhouse at the factory . Together, Carr and Parker have won the last 11 Sacramento Miles. After enjoying the sweet taste of victory

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