Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

VOICES America.s weekly motorcycle newspaper - I.EITERSTO THEEDffOR Volume XXXIV Sharon Clayton, President . Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial raul Carruthers, Editor Kit rahner, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant EditorlCo1?J/ Editor Cameron Coatney, Assistant Edltor 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 Manage'/' Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Carla Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinatar Tina farr, Assistant Marketing & Promotion Mark TIiome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Mal/ager 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 Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amanda Wollny, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Leanne Sims, Administrative Assistant AccountinglData Processing 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 Support Susan Moreno, 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 30085-0805. (770) 934-7850. FAX (770) 934-3112 I can see it's time for somebody to speak up. I speak for the majority of motocrossers when I say that we don't want four-strokes - period. w,.e don't care how many holeshots Doug Henry pulls on one, or even if he should win something on that stupid thing. We don't want to 'start one after dumping it out on the track and we for damn sure don't want to rebuild one. Despite all the media hype, and the morons at the AMA, four-strokes are glorified, oversized Briggs & Stratton lawnmowers to real motocrossers. If'they were anything more than heavy motocross wanna-bes, it wouldn't take one twice the size of a two-stroke not to mention one that is a full-blown works bike - just to keep the two-strokes in sight. Big-bore 500cc four-strokes can race with 250cc two-strokes and 250cc four-s trokes can raee with 125cc lwostrokes; what does that say about them? Rather than continuing with thEiir usual policy of screwing up motocross and making rules that suck, why doesn't the AMA start working on keeping two-strokes legal. It seems to me that by pushing four-strokes down our throats they are giving up without even trying. It comes as no surprise that Yamaha is leading·the way. They were the first to embrace the production-bike rule, they were one of the first to abandon the Open class, and the first to begin making bikes in sissy colors like white and pink or purple. Where is this going to end? First they ban the Open class, now they want to go toward four-strokes. Pretty soon, will we see Emig riding for Huffy and McGrath for Schwinn? Won't that be exciting? We want bigger, faster and tricker not smaller and more stock. Speaking for motocrossers everywhere, let me say the AMA and the factories are headed in the wrong direction, and it is making us sick. MOX48@gte.net Doug Henry and the four-stroke Yamaha won the Las Vegas Supercross on. May 17... Editor. Glen Helen kudos Kudos to the management and staff of Glen Helen Raceway Park. Your presentation of the May 11 round of the AMA 125/250cc Motocross National Championshi p was first-class. The track was excellent and the configura tion of the fencing, being so close to the track, allowed spectators to literally get all the roost-in-your-face action we could . stand. The concessions and display area were first-rate as well. My only request is that you make all attempts to schedule next year's event for a day other than Mother's Day. That way, those of uS who have wives who are not big motocross fans won't have to listen to the sniveling when we choose to go to the races instead of brunch. Tab Maudlin Chino Hills, CA 0-37 rules I've been racing off-road, motocross and Grands Prix for almost 20 years and have met a lot of racing folks - but the Southern California desert racers stand out as being the best. I recently returned to the District 37 crowd at the Shamrocks Grand Prix at Los Angeles County Raceway. During the Unclassified race, I was well on my way to a ,good finish when my borrowed motorcycle ran out of fuel wi th about one lap to go. No sooner did I coast to a stop when an unknown desert racer from Prairie Dogs ran at least 75 yards with a gas can. He gave me the juice I needed to secure a top finish in the event. So, you see, racing is a very special gift. Bu t the racing people are even more special. Kenji Gauthier Rosamond, CA Throwing darts Does the AMA throw darts at a calendar to determine the schedule for the Supercross and National Motocross Series? The scheduling of two California outdoor Nationals between the Dallas and Las Vegas Supercross rounds seems even more illogi~al than the "orphan" outdoor National in Florida in,March. The 1997 Supercross season has been one of the most exciting in years with the title going undecided until the final round. In recent years, the finale has been an afterthought, thanks to Jeremy McGrath's dominance. While Jeff Emig was the 'odds-on favorite to win the title, there was still the possibility that McGrath could have pulled it off. Stranger things have happened. The week between Dallas and Las Vegas could have been one of treme'ndous hype and even more national media attention for our sport. Instead, the three-week "dead zone" causes the series to lose continuity and impact. The NFL, even with all the fan and media attention it commands, is criticized for waiting two weeks after the playoffs to hold the Super Bowl. Worse yet, Ernig or McGrath could have been injured at the Nationals and the potential for one of the sport's most dramatic moments would never have taken place. Nationals and supercrosses are two different disciplines, and having separate seasons would improve the sport for the riders, the mechanics, the fans and the media. It seems to me that it is possible to accommodate all of these interests. Rick Schwalbach Houston, TX Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long 'BeacJi, CA 908()6.{)498, faxed to 562/427-6685 or !>-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. Alllellers should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number ... Editor. INSIDE tssael2t lay 2B, 1997 e-mail editor@cycJenews.com subscribe@cycJenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com FEATURES Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News CUSPS 141·340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 perl'caT by Cycle News, Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach. CA 90806. Pedodicals Postage Paid at Long Beach, CA and at additional mailing office. Canada Posllntemntional Publications Mail #54661S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 9O~Ol.(}498. To determine the expiration date of your subscription, check the four numbers on the: first line: of your address labe:l. The first two digits indicate: the last issue number you'll receive: and the last two chjaraclers indicate the year of the la51 issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its p0ssessions for one year, (SO issues), $50.00; two years issues), $95.00; six months. (25 issues). $26.00; trial sub (IS issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issue), 590.00; two years (100 issues), 5175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub OS issues). $38.00. noo Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorinl material including stories. cartoons, photos, etc. Such materiaL if published. becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.O.5. W.lBDA V .,.!'"~ No to four-strokes AUDITEO ORCULATION Printed in U.S.A. Copyright" Cycle News, lnc 1997. Trademarle Cycle News registered U.S. Palenl Office. All righls reserved. SUPERCROSS Final round - AMA Supercross Series from Las Vegas, Nevada..: 6 ROAD RACE Round 4 - World Championship Road Race Series from Italy 14 Round 2 - WERA National Endurance Series from Braselton, Georgia 40 DIRT TRACK Round 2 - AMA Grand National Championship Series from Harrington, Delaware 20 TIME REMEMBERED Tony DiStefano 24 MOTOCROSS Round 4 - AMA Western National FourStroke Motocross Series from San Bernardino, California 26 Round 6 - World Championship 250cc Motocross Series from the Czech Republic 34 Round 4 - World Championship 125cc Motocross Series from Italy .36 AMA Amateur Motocross from . San Bernardino, California 42 CROSS COUNTRY Round 6 - AMA Grand National Cross Country Series from Brownsville, Penn28 sylvania RACER TEST Sundance Racing Project Harley-Davidson .30 OBSERVED TRIALS 75th annual Scottish Six Days Trial......38 DRAG RACING Round 2 - AMA/Prostar Drag Racing Series from Commerce, Georgia 39 DEPARTMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR LEADERBOARD WANT ADS.: TEARDOWN LOOKING BACK ON THE FRONT COVER , : 44. 52 62 63 79 79 Jeff Ernig captured the AMA Supercross Series number-one plate a t the Las Vegas Supercross, while Doug Henry made SX history by winning on a fourstroke. See page 6. Photos by Kinney Jones.

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