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/127738
VOICES· America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper Letters to the ecmo; . Volume~II . Sharon Gayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul CalTUthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Laurel Allen, Editorial Assistant Keith Bush, Proofreader Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Ganter, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad C1!ordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Laurie Snow, Assistant Marketing &: Promotion Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Manager Gasswed Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphks and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amy Faught, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Peggy Rivera, Secretary to the Publisher AccountinglData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Desder Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist Leonard Herring, Service and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-{)498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAX (310) 427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (404) 934-7850. FAX (404) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Cycle News CUSPS 141-340) is published weekly except the kist two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News. Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90806. Second class postage poid at Long Beach, CA .md at addition· a1 mailing office. Canada POSllntemationaJ Publications Mail Farris remembered This letter was written for two reasons. One is to pay respect to a good friend, and the other to set the story straight on the unfortunate incident at the Du Quoin Mile. Whenever I would look at the race lineup and see Rodney Farris in my race, I would look forward to it. Not because I thought it would be easy - I already learned that to give Rodney an inch meant to finish behind him - but because I knew that a heck of a race was going to follow. I had some of my best battles with Rodney, and no matter how marty times we bumped and banged, we always came off the track laughing about it. I have many good memories of Rodney as I'm sure all of the racers and fans in dirt track do. I will miss you, Rodney. The other reason I am writing is for the sake of another rider, Joe Kopp. I don't know Joe well, but he always seems like a good guy, and whenever any situation like this accident takes place, rumors circulate. The one that I keep hearing and have read about is that Joe hit Rodney in the head and neck. I was directly behind Joe entering the corner when Rodney fell, and I was about 10 feet away when Joe hit Rodney, so I feel that I had a better view of the accident than anyone. I want to clarify that Joe ran over Rodney's legs, not his head. There is no doubt in my mind of INs. I was not sure whether or not to write this letter, but then I thought about how Joe must feel when people are saying or writing what is not true. Larry Pegram Grand National W12 Baltimore, OH Rodney meant a lot to me. He was kind of like my little brother and I was lucky to be called his mentor. He wore my helmet design for many years and last year I started calling the design the NixonFarris star. He was one of a few of the last true racers, which meant he was a genuine professional motorcycle dirt track racer and a genuine person. He brought electricity to a crowd of people and to a racing event. I'll really miss being around him and watching him perform. Rodney was great. Gary Nixon Phoenix,MD .As a life-long dirt track fan, I was saddened by the death of Rodney Farris. Although I wasn't a personal friend, he made his fans feel as though they were. He was one of the most popular and respected riders on the circuit. I always felt in my heart that those National wins would start rolling in, but Rodney was taken away too soon. Still, fans regard "Hot Rod" and his #92 as one of the Sport'S greatest. Kevin Howard Turlock,CA For myself and all of the amateur racers in District 36, we would like to extend our sympathies to those closest to Rodney, his family, Steve Forchemer and his tuner and mentor Eddie Adkins. Rodney will be missed. We have watched him mature into a fine racer and a nice young man, he always gave his best and had us all on our feet more than once. Lodi Motorcycle Oub, on Saturday, July 8, had a memorial service for Rodney. Lodi's two young lady racers, Michelle Lineaweaver and Shauna DeCamp, carried the checkered flag for Rodney's lap, as the American flag was lowered to half-mast. This has been a brutal month as the losses the motorcycle community has suffered has taken its toll in so many ways. All of the boys will be missed, for it is a terrible way to be reminded that our sport is very dangerous. Our prayers to all and to Rodney's family and friends, know he will not be forgotten. Donna Hall Manteea,CA Greckl - A motorcycle guy Thanks much for last week's Wind item about the fund for Mark Gleck!'s children. "GIeck" - that's what he called himself - had a lot of motorcycle friends, and on their behalf I'd like to elaborate on what this guy meant to our sport, Obituaries nationwide called GIeck! one of racing's best cameramen and pr0ducers. They fail to mention that his talent was bom of a true love of motorsports, and that it all began with motocross. Gleckl raced bikes for 25 years, from amateur right through to the Vet class. A National Shifter Kart Championship and his mini-sprint car meant a lot to him, but he was first and foremost a motorcycle racer. In his professional life, Gleckl shot, produced and directed many hours of motorcycle racing on television; indeed he was prominent among the people who helped lift the sport to its current position of prominence on the tube. He died covering off-road trucks, but his motorcycle friends know that when it was time to pre-run the course and select camera locations, he and buddy Mark Johnson of Kawasaki did that on their motorcycles. In short, GIeck! was a motorcycle guy at heart. Whether we realize it or not, we've all admired 'his work on the tube. He always made our sport and our heroes look good. Let's repay him by supporting the fund that will educate his wonderful children Anthony and Amy. Send your contributions- to "The GIeck! Fund," Farmers and Merchant's Bank, P.O. Box 1675, San Juan Capistrano, California, 92693. Dave Despain Watkinsville, GA The Jacks say thanks To all who cared so much for Donald: We would like to thank all those who wrole, called and attended the services for Donald (Jacks). Your support and kindness at this sad time is very appreciated. Donald truly loved motorcycle racing and all the .wonderful people he met along the way. He would have been so proud of all those who showed their support for his family. Especially Mr. Ito from American Suzuki Motor Corp., Don Sakakura and long-time friend and personal mechanic Darren Lopez of Yoshimura. Also, fellow racers Jamie James, Tom Kipp, Michael Martin, Mike Barnes, Danny Roberts, Brian Gibbs and Mike Luke. Donald was such a living and caring son, brother and friend. We are just very grateful for the time we had with him. Though he is gone from this earth, he will always be in our hearts and never forgotten. He always was and will forever be our champion. Rosalie, Shannon, Jackie and Cathy Jacks St.Ooud,FL Godspeed Eric Blenlas Today we are burying one of our racers, Eric Bienias, who was involved in an acrident this weekend at Putnam Park. Eric was enjoying his first year Expert status after having a very successful Novice season in 1994, Ken Melville of Airport Racing had chosen Eric as his teammate and Airport Racing's results in the first five rounds of the 1995 Performance Machine/Goodridge National Endurance Series speak for themselves. Everyone at WERA will miss Eric and we would like to wish him Godspeed and wish to express our sympathy to his family. We all know that this sport can carry a high toll and we all know Eric.was racing with all his heart and soul and we will miss him and think of him often. Evelyne L Pritz and Jim Sublet WERA Motorcycle Roadracing Hilton Head Island, SC Lrtttn to the editor sholl1d be salt 10 Voi~ Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach. CA 90806-0198. faxed 10 31014..'7668S or e-mail rditorOcyclenews.c:om. Published letten do not nec:essarily ftfled the position of Cyc:le News, Inc. lAt· ten shouJd not exc:«d 200 word. and allletiers are subjea to editing. Anonymoull letters will not be c:oNide:red fer publication. AU letten should c:onblin the: writer's name, adcheu and daytime phone number ... Editor. '546615. POSTMASTER: Send address clwlges to Cycle News, P.O. Box 49S, Lons Beach, CA 90801-0498. To determine the expira~on date of yow subscription, chedc the four numbers on the first line 01 your address label. The first two digits indicate Ihe last issue number you'll receive and the last two characters indicale Ihe yen of the lui issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its posses-sions for one yellr, (SO issucs), $50.00; two years (100 issues), $95.00; six months, issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Gumda and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $90.00; two yeal'S 000 issues), $175.00; six months issues), 545.00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. as as INSIDE' . Issue 129, July 26,1995 .FEATURES ROAD RACING Brainerd National RR Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories. cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Advertising rotes and drculation infonnation will be sent upon request. See S.R.O.5. MOTOCROSS Troy National 125/25Occ MX Commotion by the Ocean XVIII World MXGP Report W/BDA DIRT TRACK Hagerstown Nat'! HM V AUDITED -!'"~ CIRCULATION HARE SCRAMBLES Missouri National HS 6 14 26 28 18 Printed in U.S.A. Co~yright' Cyde New" Inc 19'JS. T,.demark Cyde New, regtstered U.~. Patent Office, AU right's reserved: SPEEDWAY German Grand Prix 22 24 HILLCUMB Pike's Peak Hillclimb 30 DEPARTMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR LEADERBOARD RESULTS WANT ADS , IN THE TAPES LOOKING BACK -. , , , 34 46 51 ,..52 52 67 fi7 ON THE FRONT COVER Miguel DuHamel won his fourth straight AMA Superbike National, this one coming at Brainerd International Raceway. Rich Oliver won a record-setting 21st career 250cc Grand Prix at Brainerd. Photos by George Roberts.