Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES Letters to the editor' Congrats to M.orehead Congratulations to Steve Morehead for being the first promoter in years to put on a dirt track event in a highly professional way - it was consistent and competitive in today's crowded entertainment business. Not only did he generously reward the competitors, but most importantly he rewarded his employers - the gate-paying public. He put on a nine-race program that started on time and was completed in a timely fashion. The result is a happy customer who will come back beta use he will be assured of a fast-paced action program that will not require marathon training to attend. Steve obviously understands the nature of the competitive entertainment business he has entered and is striving to win. And win he has. Promoters take notice - this Morehead guy knows what he's doing and us fans appreciate it. Tom Robertson Elden Prairie, MN A Smokin' thanks I would like to express our appreciation to all associ ated with Smokin' Joe's Racing and Team Honda. My husband and I were fortunate enough to meet you all in April of this year at Laguna Seca. And you got us hooked. We have since been back to see them at Laguna Seca, Sears Point and also' Firebird International Ra<;eway this past weekend. You couldn't hope to meet a greater group of people. They have been placed on a pedestal about the rest, yet you'll find no high-and-mighty attitudes here, folks. Just some genuine, easy-going, down-to-earth people real people like the rest of us. Mike Hale, Bob Hale, Bobby Weindorf, Gary Mathers, Merlin Plumblee, Al Luddington, Joey Lombardo and Sam. To each and everyone of you, many thanks for the numerous memories and pictures. Best Wishes and congratulations to you all. Finally, to Mike Hale - hopefully you will be staying a while longer so we can continue to watch you race. If, however, you move on, best of wishes and luck to you always. Be careful, have fun, keep smiling and keep rid- America's weekly motorcycle newspaper ing. All of you will never be far from our thoughts and prayers. See you at the races real soon. Jenee and Steven Ewing AgoUIa HiJls, CA No loyalty I just finished reading Scott Rousseau's letter to American Honda Motor Co. and I have a few comments. Having been in motorcycling since 1950 and dirt track racing for many of the years since then, I feel that I am better informed on the subject than someone of your age (no offense intended). You mention lO-year-old Hondas did you know the Harley's are basically 1972 models? When the RS7.50 Honda came out, they were basically very superior to the XR750 (four-valve heads, overhead cams, etc.) and for a few years they kicked Harley's ass. And they still do, occasionally. All Harley's and Honda's engines are restricted. What has made HarleyDavidson superior again is a hell of a lot of hard work and engineering time on a 23-year-old design. I feel that Honda wanted to show that they could design an engine to dominate dirt rack racing and they did. Once that was accomplished, they basically abandoned the riders who helped them. Apparently, Honda Motor Co.'s loyalty sucks. Ed O'Brien BelleviJIe, IL And the opposite I thoroughly enjoyed your letter to the Honda Motor Company. Watching Bubba Shobert and Ricky Graham was a pleasure eclipsed only by Kenny Roberts in his dirt track heyday. His battles aboard his Yamaha against Dick O'Brien's Harley-Davidson teams of Gary Scott, Randy Goss, Ted Boody, Mert Lawwill, Rex Beauchamp, Corky Keener and a youthful Jay Springsteen will to me be always remembered as the golden era of Grand National Championship racing. And Roberts wasn't alone. Ron Wood had David Aldana and Alex Jorgensen riding the best-looking Norton you'll ever see. After Gary Scott left Harley-Davidson, he rode a mid-'60s Triumph to five consecutive Ascot IT National wins. Scott Brelsford rode a Kawasaki triple on the mile with success and Roberts himself rode a dirttrack framed TZ700 to victory in Indianapolis. I can still hear Roxy Rockwood exhorting cheers from the crowd as he called out the different brands in the main event. Unfortunately, dirt track racing doesn't sell many motorcycles. The Inter-Am Motocross Series of the late '60s ushered in the popularity of motocross in the US. European racers such as Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert enjoyed great popularity. Sales of motocross bikes such as Husqvarna and CZ skyrocketed. The mid-'70s brought us production road racing, the forerunner of superbike racing. This sold a lot of Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda motorcycles. Yamaha and Kenny Roberts went racing in Europe, where he dethroned Suzuki and its World Champion, Barry Sheene. Yamaha sales in Europe soared as a result. Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey followed suit, winning and selling. We must remember that r'\cing is not only a sport, but a business as well. Racing develops motors, frames, tires, etc. It also sells motorcycles and accessories. Honda must have concluded that the expense 01 dirt track racing just wasn't economically viable - as evidenced by the short production life of its two Ascot street bikes - the FT500 and the VT500. It's too bad we don't have the diversity we once did. I do hope Honda offers some form of support. But can we really expect it? I don't think so. But with the increased exposure of Grand National racing on TV, anything is possible. Let's hope so. Thanks again for your article. Dan Henry Cardiff, CA Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 310/427-6685 or e-mail, editor@cyclenews. com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are subject to editing. Anonymous letters not be considered for publication. All letters should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. will Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate EdiMr Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Copy Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Laurie Snow, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Operations Classified Ads Sharon Van HazeIen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Producti11n 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, NR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist Leonard Herring, Seruice and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave.., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FPlX(310)427~5 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, TuCker, GA 30085-1)805. (404) 934-7850. FPlX (404) 934-3112 e-mau editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com INSIDE· . ISsue #40, OctOber'11,l995 Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last 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 paid at Long Beach, CA and at addition· al mailing office. Canada Post International PubUcations Mail *546615. FEATURES NEW BIKES DIRT TRACK Sacramento Mile 4 1996 Kawasaki street machines 1996 Suzuki roadsters , POSTMASTER: Send .dd.... changes.o Cycle New., P.O. Box 498, Long B~~ch, CA 90801-G498. 38 42 To ddermi.n~ th~ expir~tion date of your subscription. check the four numbers on the first line of your ~ddtes5 I~bd. The first two digits indicate the lut wue number you1l receive ~d. the last two chancttn indicate the YUt of the last issue. SPEEDWAY ENDURO International/Six Day Enduro Enduro Intemacional da Independencia 8 World Team Cup .30 22 Trial des Nations Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its posses-sions for one year, (50 issues). $50.00; two years (100 i5Sues~ 595.00; six months, (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign. one year (SO issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00: trial DEPARTMENTS ARSTRIDE 1996 Yamaha Royal Star 44 HILLCLIMB TRIALS 26 INTERVIEWS . Team Honda Off-Road's Johnny Campbell Muzzy Kawasaki's Anthony Gobert Volume XXXII Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher 36 . 40 Jefferson National Hillclimb EVENTS : CALENDAR RESULTS WANTADS LEADERBOARD TEARDOWN LOOKING BACK 46 sub (15 issues), $38.00. : 48 S8 64 64 79 80 80 ON THE FRONT COVER Rodney Smith was the Top American in the ISDE. Photo by Steve Berkner. In the Trial des Nations, Geoff Aaron helped Team USA finish fourth. Photo by Donn Maeda. Yamaha Royal Star. Photo by Mark Hoyer. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such materia~ if publish~, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only by pennission of the publisher. Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.DS. WI!PA ~~T10N Printed in U.S.A. C"{'yrigh~ Cycle News, Inc. 1995. T,.d....."k Cycle New' ropteml U.S. Pa"'nt Offi",. AD righll .......cf.

• Cover