Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Anaheim II Is it me, or was the Anaheim Supercross just another in a long line of fiascos? Once again, the sound system was horrible. I couldn't hear a word the announcer was saying. Perhaps that was best since he (I don't even know his name) seemed to have little or no enthusiasm for the sport. Why is it that 20 years ago I could hear and understand every word that Larry Huffman was saying, and that was with 1970s sound-system teclmology? Perhaps we could take up a collection and hire Huffman to announce the series with a megaphone. Speaking of 1970s technology, how I 100ig for those high-tech days when the top five positions (names and numbers) were listed on the stadium scoreboard during the race. It is astounding to me that after reading of several complaints about this very issue after the opening round this year, the promoters would do absolutely nothing to fix this problem. How difficult is it to list the top five posHions during the race? Even after the race, they only listed the winner on the scoreboard. Also, instead of having a "Family" seating section, why don't they have a "Loser, alcohol, pot-smoking, eyebrowpierced, baggy clothes" section for all the idiots to smoke, drink and fight in? Excuse me if I sound prudish, but when are the promoters going to realize that alcohol and large, imma ture crowds don't mix? Personally, I can'l wait for the days when Supercross becomes so popular that it is regularly televised live. That way, I can stay home and enjoy the race in peace. Brian Smyth Santa Ana, CA Larry and the Kingdome I'd like to congratulate Larry Ward for his magnificent ride in the Seattle Kingdome. For him to win the last supercross ever held in the Kingdome, which will be destroyed in early 2000, and possibly the last one held in Seattle, was amazing. This shouldn't be Larry's last chance to win in his hometown. There is a $498 million, retractable-roof baseball stadium (Safeco Field) j)eing constructed' right next to the Kingdome that will be completed in July. This would be an ideal place to hold a supercross. Round three of the series was held in the Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, so it is possible to hold a supercross in a baseball-only stadium. P ACE and the AMA should not allow the series to bypass the Pacific Northwest. I think it would be a mistake and would be detrimental to the sport. Over 60,000 people saw Larry win the 22nd annual Seattle Supercross. Brett Giboney Federal Way, WA The Daytona Eight On January 31, 1999, the deadline for entries, we eight riders listed below were told that our entries for the upcoming Daytona vintage races were not welcome, solely because we had listed Team Obsolete as a sponsor. Three of us (Johnny Kain, Lon McCroskey and Tupper Robinson) had already received written and verbal confirmation of our entries. These confirmations were returned with the notice" AHRMA chooses not to do business with Team Obsolete," hence, your entries are no longer valid. We were told that if we removed Team Obsolete as a sponsor, we would then be eligible to race again. We will not abandon our sponsor. Inquiries to Jeff Smith as to which rule we had violated received no reply. In fact, no such rule exists in the AHRMA handbook. This is obviously unfair retaliation by Jeff Smith, who has had a well-known, ongoing personal vendetta against Team Obsolete owner Rob Iannucci for several years. Smith's actions go beyond the boundaries of fairness. Imagine having worked all winter long on a race bike, making travel and accommodation arrangements, taking time off from work, etc., and then being told your Daytona entry that was once accepted is now rejected solely because you acknowledged a sponsor. How would you feel? How would you like being told who you could and could not have as a sponsor? Think about it. Johnny Kain johnnyk@wghelisoil.com The Daytona Eight, according. to Kain, are Yvon DuHamel, Erik Green, Mike Green, Ka.in, Lon McCroskey, Tupper Robinson, Dave Roper and Peter Watson ... Editor races. AHRMA's reasons are that they (Jeff Smith) objected to my sponsor Team Obsolete. As in years past, Team Obsolete has offered me the use of a 1962 Matchless G50 and a 500cc, threecylinder MV Agusta. Smith's reasoning/ excuse seems to stem from his reading 'of the niles, while neither the AHRMA rule book, nor its bylaws, covers sponsorship in any meaning- of the word. I feel Jeff Smith may have overstepped his authority. As a founding member of AHRMA, and the cofounder of CYRG (which we merged into a national organization in 1989), the fact that the current board of directors hasn't had the courtesy to reply to the two faxes I sent puts me at wit's end. AHRMA is refusing to allow me to race a fantastic machine such as the MV. When I've tried to discuss this matter further, I get no reply. Michael Green Livermore, CA Crash story I loved your cover story from last week's issue ("The Kings of Pain," Issue #6, February 17). I also had the opportunity to get Freddie Spencer's autograph at the Indianapolis Show this past weekend. Having broken 27 bones myself, including a crushed vertebra, legs, wrists, and collarbone, I can really respect his decision to heal. Having raced since 1969, I can also feel the other side - the side that wants to continue. I am glad I can still walk and still feel the urge to race. It's hard to describe. Randy Knudson scootert@chorus.net One of the eight Word games I, among others, have been refused entry at the A)-IRMA Daytona road I've been reading the press releases on the PACE Motor Sports web site to keep Dave Roper is one of several riders who have had their entries turned down by AHRMA for the annual vintage races at Daytona. Here, Roper flies through the air after crashing at Daytona in 1997. up with the supercross results and noticed in their release from the Tampa round a reference in the lead paragraph to the "parody" of the competition based on four winners in the first six events. Just for the record, "parody" means to imitate with the intent to ridicule. I believe the word they were searching for was "parity" - which means being equal. I would have pointed this out to PACE directly, but was unable to find an e-mail address oil their web site. Hopefully, they read Cycle News. If motocross and supercross are going to make it to that coveted "next level," they're going to need strong communications skills to get there. This error may seem minor, but I doubt you'll find it in a release from Major League Baseball, NASCAR, NBA or NFL. Rick Schwalbach Houston, TX Letters to the editor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084, faxed to 714/751-6685 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. '" '" '" ~ 5

• Cover