Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES··· America's weekly motorcycle newspaper .Letters to the editor Volume XXXIII 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 Tom Titus, 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 Laurie Snow, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Tina Farr, Assistant , Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mi tchell, Director Rick Matheny, Operations Classified Ads Sharon Van HazeJen Graprucs and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Vance Lanoy, GraphiC ArHst Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Xtremely disappointed I just read that the AMA has announced that a new road racing class featuring big-bore, production-based motorcycles will debut as Formula Xtreme in the 1997 AMA Superbike Series. I certainly appreciate th.at the turnout for the SuperTeam races had gotten so . dismal that they had to do something, but the cure for boring racing isn't a new name for the series, especially one as lame as Formula Xtreme. Groan... Formula Xtreme? I am so sick of every commercial entity from underwear to fast food jumping on the "Xtreme" bandwagon, using any Xcuse to Xploit this trendy catchphrase. Now the AMA. This ii going to be as culturally dead as the Macarena within 18 months. It'll be flogged to death in advertising and we'll still be left with "Formula Xtreme." ~Iechh... Who do I complain to at the. AMA? Am I just banging my head against the wall? Maurice Tani mtani@vivid.com We're not certain who ru ns the "name-aclass department" at the AMA offices, but the phone number in Westerville is 614/8912425... Editor. Leanne Sims, Adl11inistrative Assistant 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, RecepHonist Kirk Chavis, Service 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)427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (770) 934-7850. FAX (770)934-3]]2 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyc1enews.com adverlismg@cyc1enews.com Internet http://www.cyc1enews.com Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $SO.OO per year by Cycle News, inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Periodicals Postage Paid at Long Bead" CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post Intemational Publications Mail #546615. POSTMASTER: Send address ~anges to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498. To delermine the expiration date of your subscription, check the four numbm on the first line of your address label. The first two digits indicate the last issue number youlU receive and the last two charactm indicate the year of the last issue. \0 0\ 0\ ,...., \0.... M """' Q) Morehead was wrong The comments Steve Morehead made in Cycle News this month (Issue #39, October 2) about S~ott Parker seemed immature. The racers should respect and honor each other. I can't recall racers in the past saying that King Kenny Roberts was greedy because a promoter paid him to show up at a race track, especially for non-National events. Dirt track racers like Roberts, Shobert, Goss and other Grand National Champions, expected returns for their appearances. Scott Parker 'is in this elite group and he should expect some dollars for showing up. Who -was ever upset when the King showed up for an Ascot Gold Cup? On the other hand, who wouldn't want to watch Parker dirt track the San Jose Mile? Parker has earned·it. David Kerr Orange, CA Is Morehead crazy? This letter is in response to Steve Morehead's comments about Scott Parker: "We have got a champion right now who is bad for our sport," was the exact FEATURES 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 pennission of the publisher. Advertising rales and circu.lation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. VINTAGE Vintage Dirt Track Racing Association , .34 Printed in U.S.A. 4 VI llP.8 ~WdfET1TION Co~yright«' Cycle News, Inc. 1996. Trademark Cycle News registered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved. Dirt track diversification I agree with Scott Rousseau's ("In the Tapes," Issue #37, September 18) assessment of the need to diversify the sport of dirt track racing to include more manufacturers. I also agree with the need to return to a production-based engine format to decrease costs. I have been an avid fan of dirt track racing for over 20 years and I will continue to be one - however, new fans need to be brought into the sport and one way' to do that is to allow a greater number of brands to be competitive. Racing was' more exciting when you could root for your favorite brand. Harleys, Triumphs, BSAs (twins and triples), Nortons, Honda fours, Kawasaki and Suzuki triples, Yamaha twins and TZs. Hell, I even remember a Laverda or two. I am not advocating a return to racing those great bikes of old, but I am urging exactly what Rousseau has proposed. There are thousands of dirt track fans who would like to see something done. I applaud the efforts to develop the Ducati and Honda Hawk into competitive bikes. Dirt track racing with only one manufacturer involved is like going to an NFL football game and only one team shows up. All you get is a scrimmage'. While it may be exciting to the purists to watch a team play itself, it is quite boring for the majority. Right on, Scott. Ladd FoIster Ifolster@akarea.al CROSS COUNTRY Mount Morris GNCC. 6 .20 24 28 O' u Regarding Scott Parker's demand for show money at the upcoming San Jose Mile regional, my response is simple: Stay home! Allen Andris Stockton, CA While I do not agree with your solution to the problem, I am very glad to see someone at least taking an interest in the sorry state of dirt track racing as it is today. As a dealer for 40 years, and'a former Class C rider from the '50s and '60s, it hurts me deeply to see the sport digress into a one-brand show. The major problems as I see it are as follows: Very poorly run shows with too much wasted time between races; announcers who think they are the show and bore us with biased crap we could do without, and the lack of brands participating. Solution: Get back to true Class C equipment. It is already available in abundance and it's called the 600cc class. They are very fast, fairly cheap, and everyone builds, or did build, one at one time. Expand it to 650cc and let H-D run the Rotax engine if they like since they have been doing it for years anyway. Allow one or two-cylinder engines, and 500cc two-strokes. Also allow any manufacturer to bore or de-bore any approved engine up to 100cc to meet the 650 rule. (Remember the Triumph 650 big-bore kits we used in the '60s?). Imagine how many new teams would exist if the thousands of dealers of all brands could compete. Stop the trend of one-brand racing - no more pandering to one manufacturer. Also, get more regional races. And as more tracks seem to be getting paved, it may be a good idea to expand into more MARS-type racing. I've been very pleased with the shows they run - very close racing, and not a one-groove track as many dirt tracks have become. Last of all, on your idea on dyno testing: It is a noble idea, but how can a privateer have access to a dyno that matches the AMA dyno? Keep the racing on the track. No one wants to have to wait for test results to see if the winner is the winner. Having two scales read the same is bad enough, but two dynos? Let's get the politics and B.S. out of racing. Carl Williamson Mill Hall, PA 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. INSIDE ROAD RACING Las Vegas National Brazilian Grand Prix Spanish World Superbike ..: Loudon NASB WI Morehead was right Doesn't agree ISsue #41, Octilber16,'1996 Subscription rates: Rates for the UnitedStates and its possessions for one year. (SO issues), $50.00; two yentS (100 issues). $95.00; six months, (25 issues). $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign. one year (50 issues). $90.00; ""'0 years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues). $45.00; trial sub (15 issues). $38.00. .g ... quote. And I am outraged.. Scott Parker is exactly what is right with the sport. Here he is the winningest rider ever he's about to double the legendary Springer in wins - and yet he is the most approachable of all the riders. He obviously has never been in it for the money and I think Steve's comment that started with, "you want to know something," was totally inappropriate. . I respect Steve as a racer, but I just wonder if his comment about Parker asking for an appearance iee at San Jose has anything to do with Scott winning, what is it now, the last 10 San Jose Miles? Steve., you should learn what Kevin Atherton learned the past few weeks don't tick Parker off. It only makes it worse for everyone, including yourself. Gregg Bemheisel Groveland, CA 42 HILLCLIMB Pennsylvania National 44 DEPARTMENTS LEAOERBOARD 19 EVENTS 46 CALENDAR TEST 1997 Yamaha YZ250 38 SPEEDWAY U.S. National Championship 40 " .58 WANTADS 64 GUEST EDITORIAL 79 LOOKING BACK 79 ON THE FRONT COVER Doug Chandler won the 1996 AMA Superbike National Championship with his victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams. Inset: Yamaha's 1997 YZ250. Photo by Kit Palmer.

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