Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper LEITERS TO THE EDITOR Volume XXXIV Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, AssociJlte Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant EditorlC01!ll Editor Cameron Coatney, Assisinnt Editor Tom Titus, Copy Editor Alan Cathcart, Eltropean Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Westen! Sales Mona.ger 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 Coordinator Tina Farr Assistant l Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Webmaster Greg Mitch.ell, Marketing Manager Robert McTigue, Production manager 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 Assisinnt AccountinglDala J>rocessing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Keshona Dawson, Billing Coordinator Carol Maggio, Dealer Coordinator Service and SUP'p0rt Bridgett Bobro~sky, Receptionist Michael Swedberg, ServIce and Support National Headquarters Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 2201 (562) 427-7433; (213) 63&-8844. FAX (562) 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 Parker· the man his motorcycle, had to restart from the back of the pack with only seven laps remaining and still finished on the box (ahead of Springsteen). Grand National dirt track racing is not a subjectively judged sport where style points, presentation, personality, potential or popularity enter into the equation. The winner is the man who is ahead of the rest at the end of the day. Parker might not win a popularity contest, or be judged to have had the most potential. During his career, other great riders have come .and gone. Rousseau's article simply pointed out the obvious that Scott Parker has been the most dominant rider in the history of the sport. Dr. Dale ~organ Rochester, Ml I have been following the comments in "Yoices" regarding Scott Rousseau's article on Scott Parker as "The Best." I have been a subscriber of Cycle News and have folLowed dirt track racing since the early 1970s. The last three years I ·have been fortunate to follow much of the Grand National schedule in person as event chiropractor a t the races. Since we are set up in the pits with the racers, [ have gotfen to know most of them personally, and count many of the riders, mechanics and team members as friends. From this perspective, [have had the opportunity to observe who's doing what on the track and in the pits. Some of the ·riders are more social than others. Some are more serious. Some stay mostly in their pit area when they're not on the track. Some do their own work on their bikes. Some are in better physical condition than others. Some communicate with their mechanics better. Some of the riders walk the track before practice, some before or after the heats and semis. Many times [ have seen a single person out walking the track. Invariably it's Parker. Some of the riders watch the other heats and semis, and some pay more attention than others. Parker is usually intently watching, completely focused on the race track. Some riders go dirt tracking for a while, then switch to road racing. Some get injured and don't come back. Some have lost it due to substance abuse. Some never got a break. Some just give up the grind. Parker earned and kept his spot on the Harley-Davidson team based on his performance on the track. There are those who give the impression that they beHeve that any top rider on a Bill Werner motorcycle would have accomplished as much or more than Parker has. Springer's performance at the Springfield Mile last Labor Day on a Bill Werner bike has been mentioned to support this claim. It was a great show, one of Springsteen's best rides in years, and he led for much of the race. The crowd loved it. Let's not forget, however, that in the same race Parker crashed while leading the main, beat up himself and LoyaltY? 1'd like to agree with the letter from Wayne, Stephanie and Cory Branch in the February 19 issue. It doesn't matter what bike, it's the racer who wins. r was at both rounds of the Los Angeles Coliseum Supercrosses and listened to the fans boo, hiss, laugh and call Jeremy McGrath traitor. But let's think, who exactly is the traitor? The rider who wants a greater challenge.or tl)e fans who now boo the same rider they were so in love with the season before? Loyalty seems to fly out the window when the unexpected happens. Fans and spectators seem only to root for the people at the top. Just wait, the season isn't over yet. And once Jeremy gets into his zone and gets to the top of the points chase, those fans who booed him earlier will be at his side and on his coattails cheering him on. Lisa Thomas Long Beach, CA More Mark Great interview by Mark Kariya on Paul Edmondson (Issue #8, February 26). I bet he took the photos as well. Mark's not on the Cycle News staff... shame, shame. Bill Trevino PheIan,CA Jealousy? After reading the Briefly... section from the AMA Phbenix Superbike National in'~ the Daytona Preview Issue (Issue #8, February 26), r feel compelled to pose a question: Does DKNY Men president Donna Karan's husband Stephan have a real job, or does he just want to be a World Superb,ike rider when he grows up? Ed Ricketts Monterey, CA In addition to being a sculptor and an architect, Stephan Weiss helps his wife Donna Karan run her business, Donna Karan, Inc., a $400 million company... Editor. One more for Bugsy I enjoyed the letter regarding who is the best motorcycle racer of all time. And I agree that it would be impossible to choose just one as there are so many great racers, both past and present. I appreciate my dad's name being on the list and when my mother (Barbara Phillips) read the letter she agreed that Dick Mann was surely one of the best. "He could ride any type of race; any track, on any bike and win it while wreching on the bike himself." Remember, Mann and many oiher legends are at the DeI Mar Mile every October. In response to another letter about different bike brands in Oass C racing I'd love to see Triumph back at #1. Andrea Phillips Huntington Beach, CA Phillips is the daughter of former Grand National racer Jimmy Phillips... Editor. Letters to the editor should be sent to Yoices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90806-0498, faxed to 562/4276685 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. e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141-340) ;" published weekly except the iast two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, Tnc., 220] Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Pet.i~icals Postage Paid at-Long Beach, CA and at additional maallng office. Canada Post International Publications Mail FEATURES SUPERCROSS' . FIRST RIDE Round 6 - AMA Supercross Series from Atlanta, Georgia 6 , H546615. POSTMASTEIl: Sond address chang.. to Cyd. N...., P.O. 80x 498, Long 1l ......0<1. OFF-ROAD DEPARTMENTS AUOITED ...,!";~ CIRCULATION 20 10 INTERVIEW Team Suzuki's Nathan Ramsey : Le Touquet beach race ........•.............26 DAYTONA Camel Motorcycle Week schedule Hunwick Hallam Boss Power Cruiser 75 We ride the radical new Hunwick Hallam Boss Power Cruiser. See page 20. Kawasaki's Damon Huffman gets first supercross win. See page 6. Photo by Kit Palmer. . IN THE TAPES · 75

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