Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES . . Lettersto the editor' America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Harley-Davidson in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, for 28 yea rs. He was al so a great race fan of the Grand Na tional Dirt Track Series and one heck of a nice Nitpicking guy. Here's a n itp icking re sponse to you r rev iew of the new Triumph Trophy 4 (Issue #9, March 8). Th e name on th e tank is no t the traditional logo - the old Triumph has the leg of the UR" completing the UH U from the right, whereas the n ew logo's URn go es between the "P" and the "H." New company, new logo . David Madigan Marina del Rey, CA New Morehead fan My brother and I ha d the opportunity to try our hand at dirt track racing during BIke Week at Daytona . We were excited at the prospect of experiencing another fac et o f m o to rcycl in g, as ou r backg r o u n d cons is ts almos t entire ly o f motocross an d har e scrambles racing. On the way to St. Augustine for our first b ig r a ce, w e wond ered w hat it wou ld be. like - no ju m ps o r trees to worry about. We had a great time on the half mile. I read th e in tervie w with Steve Morehead (I ss u e #8, March 1) while waiting. I look ed up and noticed National #42 setting up next to us as the amateurs mo ved out of the pits and the pros moved in. - "Let's see if he ' s as for real as the story says he is," I though t. Sure enough, an autograph and a chat later, and I knew I'd met a racer who typifies all that is good with Grand National racing. Steve Morehead's performance during Saturday' s Daytona Short Track was phenomenal I have nev er before in an y type of racing witnessed such character and spirit. To see Springer, Parker and Morehead ride the way they did and relate to the crowd at a level that everyone can understand - that's American racing at its best. We 've foun d new heroes - and they've been right in fr~nt of our faces the whole time! . Max T. Raterman Geneva, FL Godsp eed, Pappy (Pappy) Carl Schaffer passed away on Saturday, March 11 in his motel room at Daytona. He was the owner of Shaffer's We will miss seeing him at the races shop in Orwigsburg. as well as at ".is Bob White Oley, PA Sound ing singles I would like to clear up a few discrepancies on your review of the Sound of Singles cla ss at Da ytona International Speedway (Issue #11, March 22). Of the three "highly touted " Bimota Supermonos, one d id finish the race - an d that was mine. I was 13th overall in the SoS Formula On e race. I did, however, pull off the tra ck on the cool-down lap when I saw' some oil on m y left boo t, a problem that tu rned out to be a minor one. Second ly, Gianluca Ga la sso's bi ke was not a fact eiry race bike, but a cust om er bi ke that he b ough t th ro ug h Bimota's U.S, importer, Mo to-Cycle. Ma rk Cum mings Weat herford, TX Thanks Redman, Surtees I'd like to take this oppo rtunity to thank Jim Redman and John Surtees fo r a tten d ing the 1995 AHRMA C la s s ic Races at Dayt ona, and ma kin g the '95 Daytona Classic Da ys a one-of- a-kind event. On Sunday at the AHRMA signup and tec h ins pection he ld at AMI, I met Mr. Surtees and asked him to sign an autograph and a copy of his autobiography. He was more than happy to oblige and was flattered that I'd brought these things to be autographed. On Tuesday, I wa s in the Team Obsolet e pit area when the Honda Six was started with Mr. Redman aboard for his exhi bition laps around the circuit. To see him reunited with the Six after 30 years and hear its haunting, air-raid siren drone echo around the Speedway is an experience that will never be forgotten . Nor will Jim's amazemen t that he would be known or remembered when I asked him to autograph an old TT poster of him on the Six at Creg-Ny-Baa. This was at the Team Ob solete pits after he'd just won the 350cc GP race. He showed the poster to everyone around, and introduced me to his wife and friends. Later I wa s able to also have mechanic Nobby Cla rk sign the same poster. I still can't believe my good fortune. Th e se former champions are t he image of "Gentlemen Racers," unlike s o me who currently la y clai m to the term "c ha mpion." We were ve ry lucky to have them p articipat e in this country ' s m ost prestigious moto rc ycling even t. One can only hope that the other fo rmer World Champ ions and the ir machines will some day come over. You are known and remembered. Thank yo u for keep ing the past alive. Dennis Gordon Orange,CA Turn six thanks I'd like to say thank you to the turn six corner worker s at Daytona Int ernation al Speedway and to the Daytona med ical staff who tended to me until I regained co ns cio u sn ess after m y cras h on th e third lap of the Daytona 200. Luckily, I seem to ha ve no after -effects mentally, and after a few days in the hospital to stabilize, I was allo wed to return hom e to Scotland where I'll ju s t ha ve to be patient until my broken arm and collarbone have healed. I certainly hope to be back for next yea r's Da ytona Cycle Week, or maybe even sooner if things work out. Roger Bennett Lothi an, Scotland Bennet/ crashed on the third lapof the Daytona 200, taking out Doug Chandler in the process and bringing out the pace car. Bennet/ says he 'feels slightly guilty" for ruining Chandler's race...Editor. Letters to the editor s ho ul d b e sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Be a ch , CA 90 806 -0498 o r fax e d to 310/427-6685. Pub lished letters do n ot ne cessarily refl ect the position of Cycle Ne ws, Inc. Lett ers should not exc ee d 200 words and all letters are subject to editing. An onymous letters will no t be considered for publication. All letters s h o ul d co n tai n t he wri ter's name, address and daytime p hone number .. . Edi tor. Volume XXXII Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor KitPalmer, Associatc Editor Donn Maeda, Associatc Editor ScottRousseau, Associatc Editor Mark Hoyer, MaTUlging Editor Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Superoisor Mandy Loo, Production MaTUlgtT Dennis Greene, u.b. Tech. StaceyGuest, Graphic Artist Amy Faught. Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Peggy Rivera, Secretary to the Publisher Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts ManagtT Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts ManagtT Mark Thome, WesternSales ManagtT Thomas Ganter, Western SalesManagtT Forrest Hayashi, Westtrn SaIL'S Manager Greg Mitchell, Easttrn SalesManager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales ManagtT Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinato r Want Ads Laurie Snow. Want Ad Sales Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, MatIJIgtT Dealer Sales Kelly Branscome, Dealer Rtpresmtative Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Orculation RhebaSmith, ManagtT Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing CoorditlJltor Carol Begovic, Dcaler CoorditlJltor Service and Support Sharon Each , Headquarters Receptionist Leonard Herring, Service and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498. Long Beach, CA 90801-D498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAJ«3 1 0)427~ Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 300s5-{)805. (404) 934-7850. FAJ( (404) 934-3112 Cyde News (USPS 141·).10) is published weekly except thr last two weeks of the calendaryear for $50.00 per year by CycleNews, Inc.. 2201 CherryAvenue, Long Be ach. CA 9OIlO6. 5e

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