Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper LETTERS 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 Editor/Copy Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant Editor Alan Cathcart, European 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 Torstensen, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Tina Farr, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager New Media Development Mark Mitchell, Director Rick Matheny, Webmaster Robert McTigue, Production manager Classified Ads Laurie Torstensen Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Derutis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Vance Lanoy, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator , Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant AccountingfData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assista"t Herlane Lewis, Credit Circulation Rheba Smith. Manager Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Keshona Dawson, Billing Coordinator Carol Maggio, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Bridgett Bobrofsky, Receptionist Michael Swedberg, ServIce and Support National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 (562) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAX (562) 427-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-{)8()5. (770) 934-7850. FAX (770) 934-3112 e-mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Dirt track Roger Reiman Liked Marty On Tuesday, during Daytona Speedweek, motorcycling lost Roger Reiman to a crash as he participated in practice for the final rOUJ\d of the BMW Battle of the Legends series. Roger was a gentleman, my friend, my teammate and a fierce competitor. I'll miss you, Roger. Walt Fulton WFulton63@aoLcom Thanks for the recent article on Marty Smith (Issue #10, March 12). I'd really like to see more of tha t kind of thing. The '70s were a period of lime when I lived and breathed motocross and when I got away from the sport I gave away my collection of Motocross Action and Dirt Bike magazines. Now that I have returned to motorcycling, on a Honda CBR600, I really enjoy reading features on vintage bikes and personalities from that era. It sure doesn't seem like 20 years ago. Brian Phillips Saratoga, CA A nice guy I learned of the tragiC death of Roger Reiman when a very close friend from Illinois called. Having grown up in Moline, Illinois, not far from Kewanee, I became familiar with the name Roger Reiman by hanging out at motorcycle shops when I was in high school in the early '60s. Your ears always pricked up when you heard names of guys from the area. Roger Reiman and Bill Tuman are the two names that come immediately to mind. In 1975, I moved to Houston and during practice for the season-opening Grand ational races my wife and I were sitting in the stands when I just happened to see Roger sitting there watching practice. My wife· went up and talked with Roger, telling him that I was from the area. He motioned for Brian, check out a similar story with Gary Semics in this i$sue... Editor. Riding tips I got a couple of good grins out of Mark Hoyer's DNF column (Issue #10, March 12), but I can't help but observe that his attitude invites his early demise. When your ashes are scattered, it won't have done you any good to have been well within your rights as a motorist to stay right there in your lane as some moron tags you with a Studebaker. . Two tips: When someone tailgates you, use your better acceleration to distance yourself from them. Pass the next me to join him and we sat there and car ahead of you and let the tailgater rub talked about racing, the area we grew bumpers with someone his own size; up in, some of the older racers, and the second, when the lady passed Mark on new kids on the block. But Roge:.:r:"'--I--t.he right, I suggest that it would have never talked about Roger. He was one been a good idea to get on his binders so of. the nicest, most humble person, for as to avoid being cleaned off his bike by all his accomplishments in motorcyher impending shrapnel. cling, that I'd ever met. And I'll never I submit that Mark's premise was forget t h a t . . flawed from the start. It is better to stay I had another opportunity to meet so far away from cars on the road that Roger when I went to his dealership the drivers honestly don't know we over the Christmas holidays one year. exist. Roger was, as always, very nice and fun ScottA336@aol.com to bench race with. He always seemed kind of quiet and reserved, but when he Bragging rights? talked about motorcycles; and especially Harleys, you'd better listen. But Roger Yes, it's true that Randy Hawkins offinever talked about Roger. If you mencially won Daytona's Alligator Enduro, tioned something about his raCing, he but your headline "Hawkins snags the would acknowledge it but then it bragging rights" is pretty far out of seemed to be just a matter of fact and no place. I doubt if Hawkins will be bragbig deal. ging to anyone that he beat Ty Davis [n my opinion, the motorcycling when, as your article covers, Ty won the world has lost a true champion and race only to find that his riding card had more than a racer, a terrific human fallen off. Keep up the great coverage, being and a plain nice guy. but watch the headlines. Roger Patton Bruce Allison patton@cogniseis.com Huntington Beach, CA Internet http://www.cyclenews.com As a subscriber to a dozen two- and four-wheel periodicals, I find Cycle NIWS the most informative, content·rich and , in-depth of them all. In addition to all the timely race coverage and industry tidbits, the March 12 issue featured four articles that were each alone worth the price of admission: Euro File, the Kenny Roberts interview, the Marty Smith interview and the AMA's five-year dirt track racing plan. n is the last feature that compels me to comment on the current state of dirt track racing. Let's see if I understand correctly - is this the same AMA tha t: legislated 500cc limitations against Harley-Davidson's competitors while Harley ran 750s; restricted compression ratios to levels favoring Harley KR750 side-valve motors; outlawed Norton and Matchless frames; banned twostroke powerplants; barred Wood Rotax 600cc four-stroke singles from competing against Harley XR750s; restricted intake dimensions on Honda RS750s; forbade Kenny Roberts from wearing his sponsors logos (Marlboro at a Camel Pro event)... And this AMA wonders why there is no "multiple-brand participation?" Yes, 1 welcome the revival of Grand ational Championship racing via the five-year plan. But for the AMA to state it is "not looking to place blame" for the state of dirt track racing is analogous to the "fox guarding the chicken coop" telling the farmer not to look to place blame for the missing chickens. I suggest that the AMA welcome any and all motorcycle manufacturers to develop models suitable for participation... with the same solemn oath that the AMA will encourage a level playing field, without stifling crea·tivity, and all without . endowing Harley-Davidson with unfair advantage and favor. Michael Hopkins Rohnert Park, CA Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, 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, addJ:ess and daytime phone number ... Editor. Cycle News (USPS 141-340) ~ pubUsbed weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 2201 Cheny Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90806. Periodicals Postage Paid at Long Beach, CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Post International Publications Mail j5466IS. POSTMASTER: Smd address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 496, Long 8

• Cover