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/127821
VOICES America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper LEITERS TO THEEDfTOR Volume XXXIV Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant EditorlCupy Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant Editor Tom Titus, CovtJ Editor Alan Cathcart', 'European Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, NatiOrtal ACCllunts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern ACCllunts 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 Torstensen, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinawr Tina Farr, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark T~ome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Web",as!er Gregg Mitchell, Marketin$ Manager - Robert McTigue, ProductiOrt manager Classified Ads Sharon Van Hazelen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Grophic Artist Vance Lanoy, Gropllic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, NR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Keshona Dawson, Billing Coordinator Carol Begovic, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptiortist Midieal Swedberg, Servia 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. FllX (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) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@eyclenews.com advertisingt!lcydenews.com Two-stroke dilemma I have read the interview with the honorable Mr. John Dunlap III twice ("Gearing the Air," #5Q, January 1), yet I fail to understand where the link is between off-road two-stroke motorcycles and the public health. I understand fully that the typical two-stroke engine is the worst internal combustion engine ever as far as specific fuel consumption and tail-pipe emissions. I agree with Mr. Dunlap that the major manufacturers have not done as much as they should to address these issues. The manufacturers very likely have the technology to clean up these engines, and maybe the actions by CARB will accelerate the movemen~ of this technology to the marketpiace. I certainly hope somethmg will be done soon regarding these engines as I have lived for two years in Bangkok, Thailand, and have seen what happens to air quality when 1,000 new two-stroke motorcycles are added to the population center per day. My point of disagreement is with the linkage between off-road two-stroke motorcycles and the public health, and the duplicity in Mr. Dunlap's arguments. Mr. Dunlop provided no data suggesting a relationship between the public health and California's off-road two-stroke motorcycles when used on public land in a non-competitive manner. If the streets of Los Angeles were Overrun with two-stroke motorcycles, then yes, there would be a public health issue, due to the proximity of the public to the source of the pollution. Off-road motorcycles, on the other hand, are far away from the public. Their tail-pi pe emissions are highly diluted across vast, wide-open spaces. The hydrocarbons Mr. Dunlap are concerned over biodegrade over a few days through exposure to sunlight. Mr. Dunlap offers no statistics on who is suffering a health issue from offroad two-stroke motorcycles. The only group I can think of would be the motorcycle riders themsel ves ... I find Mr. Dunlap's four-stroke solution a bit bewildering. I thought that off-road two-strokes had a limited operating time out on the trail, due to poor fuel consumption and the need for premixing oil with fuel. Instead it is better to have the big four-stroke motorcycles ripping across the desert all day, getting refills at any country gas station. The final laugh is Mr. Dunlap's exemption for motocross riders in sanc- tioned competitions. Let me see if I understand this: It is okay to fill up the Los Angeles Coliseum with thousands of fans and have them breathe blue smoke and God knows what else from two-stroke motocross bikes and there is no threat to public health. But take those same bikes a hundred miles from Los Angeles and ride them on public land, and there is an instant public health threat. Huh? TraeyHagen Edina,MN The zampachs It has been almost two months since the accident and Scott is healing up quite nice. He was released from fhe hospital last week and is back home now with me and our daughters, Hannah (18 months) and Lindsay (11). That was the. greatest Christmas present ever. The incredible response of family, friends, fans and just people who have loving hearts, has been overwhehning. Since day two of the accident, Sandy Beech and Bruce Sullivan with WTZR 95.7 have aired information about Scott's progress. A big thank you to you guys because a lot of people found out abou t Scott through your station. Thanks also to Jay Curtes who volunteered to print fliers on Scott and the trust fund. They were first class. I would not have been able to air ambulance Scott home from New Hampshire on October 24 if it were not for concerned fellow racers, friends, family and fans. I want to thank all the people involved in the auction held in Daytona on October 23 and the auction in Milwaukee on November 16. For the upcoming ben~fits for Scott scheduled for January and March, I want to thank my Mark Kay friends, Mitch Hansen with Hansen Motorcycles and Suburban Motors, and to anyone else I am not aware of. Thanks to the individuals, businesses and all of Scott's sponsors who have donated to the trust fund, especially Andy Freeman, the president of EBC Brakes, for his tremendous generosity and concern. There are two more people I would like to thank - my mother who flew from Virginia to stay with our girls so I could go to New Hampshire to be with Scott. I love you mom! And MaryAnn Sonnenberg, who has taken care of our 18-month-old Hannah so I could help Scott through speech and physical therapy every day. Thank you, Mary. This holiday season means more to me than ever before. Scott and I have so much. to be thankful for. He has his life and he is not paralyzed. I am thankful I stiU have him in my life. We are very blessed this season and I pray that God blesses each and every one of you who has helped us in any way. Having faith in God will help you through life. Thanks again for all your love and support. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Dinah Zampach Milwaukee, WI Zampach was badly injured in the final round of the NASB Formula USA Series at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, in October... Editor. Withdrawals I'm in withdrawal- no Cycle News in last Thursday's mail. And no updates on the Web. When's the next issue due? Please revise all holiday schedules - void vacations! - days off are verboten! Damn the stress, go WFO on the presses men. We're dying out here. By the way, the last issue was great. I really enjoyed the interviews with Parker, Chandler and Doohan. The views of the relative homesteads put dirt track racing in perspective. It's no wonder Edwards, Pegram, Hale, etc., have abandoned the ovals for pavement. Personally, I love all sorts of racing but there is nothing that compares in sheer competitiveness, in pure excitement, in the terrible beauty of the sight of synchronized flat trackers full lock, feet up, elbow to elbow, drifting off turn four at Springfield, DuQuoin, San Jose or Del Mar. Nothing can compare. Hope to see that next issue real soon. Bill Skelton ducIng@aoLcom, 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 lett~s will nol be considered for publication. All letters should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cyde News (USPS 141-340) is published 'weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cyde News, Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue. Ulng Beac!.. CA!10806. Periodicals Postage Paid al Long Beach. CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail 154661S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O.. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801..()498. To determine the expir.ation date of your subscription, check the four numbers on the first line of your address label The first two digits indicate the last issue number you'll receive and the last two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription ratcs:"RatiE\S for the United States and its p0ssessions for one year, (50 issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), 595.00; six months, (25 issues1 526.00; trial sub (15 issues), 519.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45'(Xl; 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. Reprintin~ in whole or part only by permiSSIOn of the publisher. Advertis-ing rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.DS. W!!r.8 ~~1l0N Printed in U.S,A. 4 Coeyrighto Cycle News, Inc. 1997. Tradem.ark Cycle News registered uS. Patent Office. All rights reserved. INTERVIEW Team Honda's Scott Sheak FEATURES ROAD RACE Daytona Tire Tests HARE SCRAMBLES Acerbis USA Hare Scrambles Championships ARSTRIDE 1997 BUnota SB6r RALLY 1996 Desert Cannonball Rally from Egypt EURO FILE By Alan Cathcart 6 12 14 16 18 ARENACROSS AMA/PJ1 AX from Rockford, Illinois 20 22 MOTOCROSS ~~tgp~S(!:.~.~~~.~~~ .26 'SUPERCROSS World SX finale from Geneva, Switzerland .28 ICE RACE Kold Kutter Pro Indoor Ice Race Championships 30 DEPARTMENTS NEW PRODUCTS EVENTS RESULTS CALENDAR WANTADS TEARDOWN LOOKING BACK 24 32 .,41 42 .,46 63 63 ON THE FRONT COVER Pascal Picotte burns'em off during preseason tire tests at Daytona international Speedway. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams.