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/127793
VOICES. America's weekly motorcycle newspaper letters to the editor· Volume XXXIll Sharon Gayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant Editor/Copy Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas Gonter, Western Sales Manager Forr~t 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 Gassified Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tec1l. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Vance Lanoy, Graphic Artist Admini~tration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, NR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Crepit Circulation Rheba Sm; th, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Pam Klein, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801..Q498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. F}LX(310)427~5 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (770) 934-7850. F}LX (770) 934-3112 In Cary's defense I usually don't get upset by some of these loose-cannon reporters who speak first, print secOWld, sell third and think last without any in-depth research. But this one ("In the Tapes," Issue #27, July 10) really pressed my button. Cary Agajanian is a friend of mine and an asset to AMA Professional Racing. This flagrant personal bashing of Cary Agajanian is unwarranted and inexcusable. This is a perfect example of the power of the pen with no brains. First of all, what was Scott Rousseau doing at an IRL tes.t session in Las Vegas? Shouldn't he be out carrying a flag and promoting dirt track and gasoline? Maybe he wanted some slot madUne time and to catch a Las Vegas show on Cycle News' nickel. Regarding the fuel issue, what difference does it make if everyone must use the same octane and BTUs? Doesn't that spell parity? Scott's NHRA fuel example makes about as much sense as a sky diver with his lips flapping in the wind. Regarding the potential of a rival sanctioning body, I'm tired of the intimidation tactics of this self-appointed, anti-AMA adversary group. If everything is going so bad, quit talking about it and just do it. I'm sure there are an abundance of race tracks rolling out their welcome mats and ready to pay their $100,000 purse. I wager to say that they will rethink their venture once they realize the funding it takes for a new dirt track sanctioning body. Costs such as full-time personnel, office space, phones, airline travel, etc., not to mention an officiating staff at each of the events... Will they have their own rule book or will they use the AMA's? Can they run any kind of gasoline? This has happened before. It's the same old whine. Remember "USA" vs. the "World of Outlaws?" How long did that last? Regarding Scott's prediction of AMA losing dirt track racing, which is a huge INSIDE lssue #29, JU~ 24, 1996 e-mail editor@cyc1enews.com subscribe@cyc1enews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Brainerd AMA Superbike National DIRT TRACK 1-96 Amatuer National... Subscription rates: Rates fot the United States and its p0ssessions for one year, (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), $95.00; six months, (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues~ $90.00; nyo years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues). $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material inducling stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in M whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Advertis- ..; ing rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.5. WI!rA ~~nON .a Printed in U.S.A. 4 My family just returned from the Red Bud Nationals in Buchanan, Michigan, and witnessed some excellent racing. We were fortunate enough to purchase pi t passes and for the first time were able to see the "stars" that my 4- and 5year-old boys could only dream of seeing in person. As a parent, I was extremely impressed with how these young men presented themselves, and as a group they were nothing but a class act. My boys got a chance to say hello to their heroes such ~ Jeff Emig, Kevin Windham, John Dowd, Doug Henry and Damon Huffman, just to mention a few. But one individual (along with his crew) stood out. I asked Pedro Gonzalez if he could take a minute to say hi to my kids and he, along with his mechanic, made two little boys' dreams come true. They not only took the time before their first moto to say hi to my kids and give them high-fives, they asked me if it would be okay if my boys sat on Pedro's bike. I will never forget the look in their eyes as Pedro and his mechanic lifted them up and put them on. Number 147 has some new fans for life, and I wanted to thank him publicly for his kindness. Jim Tucker Swisher,IA Shattuck is the crwner ofHarley-Davidson of Sacramento, fielding dirt tracker Joe Kopp in' the AMA Grand National Championship Series ... Editor. Where's Bubba? At a recent family gathering, the subject of flat track racing came up and the first question was: "What became of Bubba Shobert?" Is he still connected with racing in some way? Edward J. Leary Santa CIara, CA Bubba lives in Texas with his wife and children and often attends motorcycle races, Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 310/4276685 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 will not be considered for publication. All letters. should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. FEATURE 30 HARE SCRAMBLES NETRA Connecticut H/S 34 SPEEDWAY To determine the expintion date of your subscription, ChKk the four numbers on the first line of your address label. The first two digits indicate the last issue numbn you'll receive and the last two characters indicate th-: year of the last issue. N Score one for our side. At long last the age-old communjcation I commitment issues between AMA Pro Racing and dirt track team owners has been made public. Kudos, Scott Rousseau. It is really unfortunate that one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing in existence is being strangled by a select few people in AMA Pro Racing management. Hey, Cary (Agajanian) and Ed (Youngblood), it starts at the top. Mike Shattuck Sacramento, CA Las Vegas Motor Speedway POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-04.98. ~ Who cares? I care Muchas Gracias ROAD RACING Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the laSl two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 220] Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90806. Periodicals postage paid at Long Beach, CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail #546615. \0 0\ 0\ Gene Romero was AMA Grand National Champion in 1970... Editor. including last year's AMA Grand National Championship season finale in Del Mar, California... Editor. r .' FEATURES Internet http://www.cyclenews.com .part of the AMA's history, who is Scott Rousseau anyway - The Great Karnak? Cary Agajanian does care for the future of AMA Pro Racing and is doing a great job. I just wish Cary was there 20 years ago because it would be 50 years ahead of its present state. Cary's voluntary involvement with AMA Pro Racing has compromised his law practice and many other opportunities. Cary doesn't cornplain, he cares. Hey, Scott, the next time you think about bashing Cary Agajanian, why don't you mention all the volunteer work you do for the good of the sport. Gene Romero Brea, CA Co~yright" Cycle News, Inc. 1996. Trademark Cycle New. repleted U.S. Palent Office. AlI rights reserved: German GP 6 VINTAGE 14 16 INTERVIEW Cralsbad AHRMA MX National .....35 DEPARTMENTS NEW PRODUCTS TRIALS Tennessee Double National LEAOERBOARO 19 EVENTS 20 18 36 CALENOAR. SX promoters Charlie Mancuso and Gary Becker 44 RESULTS .51 ON THE FRONT COVER WANrADS .51 Winner Alessandro Gramigni (139) leads Larry Pegram (72) and Miguel DuHamel (1) at the Brainerd Superbike National. See page 6. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams. 23 MOTOCROSS Belgian 125cc GP 24 Team Green Youth MX .32 • RACERlt 67 LOOKN> BACK 67 CROSS COUNTRY Pennsylvania GNCC 28