Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America's weekly motorcycle newspaper . Letters to the editor . Volume XXXIII Sharon Oayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer,.Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant EditorlCqpy Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant Editor Tom Titus, Cqpy Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, N~tional 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 FaIT, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Operations Classified Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loa, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, GraphiC Artist Vance Lanoy, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant AccountingiData 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 National Headquarters . 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 (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 3008S.{)805. (770) 934-7850. FAX (770) 934-3112 AHRMA says... I was shocked when I read Scott Rousseau's article On vintage dirt track in your October 16 issue. I expected to see an upbeat article on the growth of the sport and background of VDTRA and did not expect to see so much ink devoted to negative remarks about AHRMA's dirt track program. There are differences in the two groups' rules, most of which were pointed out in the article, but the facts are that 90 percent of the motorcycles competing can run with either group and a large number of riders belong to both, as I do. AHRMA had 17 National races on the dirt track schedule last year wi th four in the Midwest. Our recent member survey pointed out that more MWwest races were needed and we will work on that in 1997. We also will have more National races in California in '97 to build on the success of this year's regional program. AHRMA's version of history may be slightly flawed but no more so than others' when you put together a set of rules designed to make for fair competition between an entire era of machines. TT500s and flat-slide carbs fall outside of our year cutoff and XR750s basically made the rest of the field obsolete in the early '70s. So far, the rules committee has elected to leave the bike out instead of devising restrictions for it. AHRMA has also shown healthy growth in th.e past three years with dirt track membership, average rider count, and number of events increasing steadily each season. If we missed out on some race events in the past, it wasn't for lack of trying as we did bid for the Del Mar race, both as an AHRMA event and as a proposed joint venture with VDTRA. The promoter chose to go with the Isaacs and John chose to run the event without AHRMA involvement. Both were business decisions and neither was controversial. . The vintage racing community needs quality events and consistent support, not petty bickering. I believe that VDTRA and AHRMA both offer good opportunities for dirt track racing, and riders and fans should come out and support the sport without getting tied up in an. " US versus them" issue ... because there isn't one. It's just uS vintage racers. Lastly, I have to comment on the quote attributed to Bill Snyder about fights. I have not seen, heard of, nor would I tolerate fights. They just don't happen with AHRMA's vintage program. Mr. Snyder told AHRMA that the ones he mentioned were observed at the Daytona Short Track, an event featuring a couple hundred modern racers in addition to the AHRMA program, and did not involve any known AHRMA racers. Rusty Lowry AHRMA Dirt Track Coordinator Speculation? I'm not the type to write in with comment on the observations of others, but I couldn't resist with Michael Scott's "In the Paddock" column (Issue #39, October 2). Overall, I found the article quite entertaining, but the last paragraph about Brad Hazen and Scott Doohan's crash in 1994 is just more hearsay and outrageous speculation. I don't think anyone who has ever ridden a road race bike, or at least a very fast one, would believe Hazen let go of the bars on Road Atlanta's super-fast, slightly treacherous roller coaster of a bac;k straight. I imagine On a full-on Ducati Superbike you must be in the neighborhood of about 140 to 160 mph on that stretch where Hazen supposedly leapt onto Doohan and strangled him. I don't think you could even find a Hollywood stuntman who would be willing to do that - even for Jim Carrey's last paycheck. More than likely, they were both swatting and kicking each other and Hazen probably lost control and fell into Doohan, creating the resulting crash. We all know some of the craziest things in the world can happen when motorcycles and riders. crash at speed. I really don't know what to say about Dale Quarterley's eye-witness account of the whole situation. A little-known story about that whole weekend - there was a rash of UFO sightings in the area. Even stranger, one of the comer workers (who also witnessed the crash) later bought one of Elvis' old Harley-Davidsons from a local farmer named Presley for $500. Thffik about it. Andy Fenwick Menasha, WI In regard to contingencies A note to those who have been bemoaning the withdrawal of contingencies by Honda. They need to realize that contingencies are a double-edged sword. The money to pay contingencies must ultimately come from the consumer, as aU promotional programs must be funded. Higher prices, whether in the parts department or the showroom floor, are a certain result of contingency programs. There is also the deb a te over the effect of monetary incentives in Amateur racing. I believe that contingency programs contamina te the purity of Amateur racing. Please remember that the word"Amateur" translates to "the love of the endeavor." Jonathon Kemp Roseland, LA Down with Disney I am a female rider and motocross lover who is fed up with people with money. Does the word Disney ring a bell. Never again will I step foot in Disneyland or have anything to do with Disney. What they have done to our annual Supercross day and night at Anaheim Stadium makes me sick. Who wants to go to Los Angeles? Let's do the Disney people a favor and not associate ourselves with them. Who would you rather see, Mickey Mouse or some great riders who can run over Mickey Mouse and jump the Matterhorn in a single bound. Debbie Barilla Laguna Niguel, CA The Disney-owned Anaheim Stadium will not host an AMA Supercross round in 1997 as the stadium is being reconfigured into a baseball-only facility for the California Angels... Editor. 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 leiters ue 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. e--mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com 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. Periodicals Postage Paid at Long Beach, CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post IntemationaJ Publications Mail #546615. INS'IDE Issue 143, OCtober 3D, 1996 FEATURES POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, t.ong Bueh, CA 90801-0498. ROAD RACING Australian GP finale Daytona NASB finale Road Atlanta WERA Grand National Final To determine the expir.ltion cble of your subscription, cheek the four numbns on the firslline of your .Idclftss Label. The first two digits indicate the last issue number youlU receive and the last two characters indit::att the year of the last issue. DIRT TRACK San Jose Mile .Subscription rates: Rates for the United Stal~ and Its posses-sions for one year, (50 issu~), $50.00; two years (100 issu~), $95.00; six months. (25 issues), 526.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (50 issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues~ $38.00. 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 rates and circ:ulation infonnation will be sent upon request. See S.ROS. W/BDA VI lIlTt!:"'~ AUDITED CIRCULATION .. RIDING IMPRESSION 1997 Suzuki RM250 6 10 16 18 .20 ENDURO Cowbell AMA Nat'I 22 CROSS COUNTRY Lisbon, Ohio, AMA Nat'I 26 HILLCLIMB Oregonia, Ohio, AMA Nat'! finale ..28 VINTAGE VDTRA Del Mar Mile TIME REMEMBERED Agostini's '76 350cc Quattro Cilindri .32 .33 .36 37 38 DRAG RACING Columbus, Ohio, Pro~tar I AMA ... ..41 SUPERBIKERS Super Motard Mettet Cup 42 DEPARTMENTS Printed in U.S.A. COfyright" Cycle News, Inc 1996. Trademarlt Cycle News regJstertd U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved. Team Obsolete Vintage Road Race SDFTA Cal Rayborn Classic VDTRA Skip Van Leeuwen SIT Del Mar Concours D'Elegance 30 EVENTS 44 CALENDAR .56 RESULTS ..............................•.....................60 LEADERBOARD 62 WANT ADS 63 DNF 79 LOOKING BACK 79 ON THE FRONT COVER Max Biaggi earned his second successive 250cc World Championship with a win in the season finale in Australia. Photo by Gold & Goose. Inset the 1997 Suzuki RM250. Photo by Cameron Coatney. I

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