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/127987
Voices America's weekly motorcycle newspaper LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Volume XXXVI tona, Springfield, DuQuoin, Lima and Eldora, and Daytona's Municipal Stadium is the worst facility by far for the riders, and as a result the fans don't get their .money's worth. Next year, my wife and I will save the $40 it cost to get in and go for a long, "free" walk on the beach. Ron Brenner Huber Heights, OH Sharon Clayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit PaImer, AssoCiate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Mark Hoyer, Managing Editor Keith Bush, Assistant Editor/Cop!! Editor Matt Freeman, Assistant Editor Alan Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Cop!! Editor Confusion over dirt track Advertising Western States (714) 751·7433 Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Advertising Eastern States (770) 934-7850 Greg Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Jim Clark, Eastern Sales Manager Carla Allen, Ad Coordinator Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative New Media Development Rick Matheny, Webmaster Classified Ads Melissa Alvarado Kenny Roberts Sr., Santa. Claus and Kenny Roberts Jr. Is there a Modenas under the tree? Conspiracy theory Graphics and Production Mandy Loa, Art Director Amanda Wollny,!..cDd Graphic Artist· Paul Fisher, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Pam Klein, Administrative Assistant AccountinglDala Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Theresa Milburn, Credit Circulation Alma Anguiano, Circulation Manager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordinator Joy Lau, Dealer Coordinator Service and Support Shannon Clark, Receptiollist Jim Olson, Service and Support National Headquarters 3505-M Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084 (714) 751-7433 FAX (714) 751-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30084 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-3112 e·mail editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 3505-M Cadillac Avenue, Costa Mesa. CA 92626. Periodicals Postage Paid at Costa Mesa. CA and at additional mailing office. Can3da Post International Publications Mailj546615. 1 just got back from my 3000-mile ride to Daytona. I went there anxious to see how Mr. Daytona would do with the VR1000. While in town talking to some of the trailer owners, it occurred to me that a lot of these people didn't know who Scott Russell was, or even the fact that there was a race going on in town. I thought racing was what Bike Week was all about. And what kind of fan would stomp Scott? My bet is that it was one of those outlaw Gold Wing gangs that wanted to give Miguel DuHamel the edge he needed to be competitive on that old" underpowered and unreliable Honda RC45. Larry Belknap Kansas City, KS One more on the Robertses 1 would like to thank Mr. P. Fussner for his very supportive response to a recent letter regarding the Roberts family. I, too, was greatly offended by Mr. Derryberry's negative attitude. 1 especially enjoyed the personal touch that Mr. Fussner included in his comments. The Robertses are indeed a very nice family - Kenny Jr. and Kurtis are both very fine young men. I also have a great Subscription roles: Rnh.'S for the United Slates and its p0ssessions for one year (SO issues), $50.00; two years (lOO issues), $95.00; six months (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub <15 issues), $19.00. C.1nada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $9(l.OO; nvo years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub 05 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. Reprinting in whole or pilrt only by permission of the publisher. Advcftis.. ing rates ilnd circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D5. W/B0'A AUDITED • 'if ~~ CIRCULATION Printed in U.s.A. 6 Copyrigblc Cycle News, Inc. 1999. Trademark Cycle News . . . .d U.S. Patent Office. All rights .......ed. Municipal znZZStadium? I hadn't attended any races at Municipal Stadium in Daytona for four or five years, as 1'd grown tired of wa tching the riders play follow-the-Ieader on that awful track. This winter I read in Cycle NtrrCs that the track had been upgraded, so on Saturday night, March 6, 1 decided to give it another try. It was a· case of same old story - get the holeshot, win the race. In n races, I saw only two passes for the lead. The riders and fans deserve a better facility. I usually attend the races at Day- INSIDE: ISSUE #11 MARCH 31. 1999 HARE & HOUND Round 2 - AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series from Red Mountain, Califomia FEATURES ROAD RACING Round 2 - AMA/MB A Superbike Series from Phoenix, Arizona 8 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle ews, P.O. Box 5084, Cosu Mesi. CA 92628-5084. To determine the expiration date of your subscription, check the four numbers on the first line 01 yow address label. The first two digits indicate the last is ue number you'll receive and the last two Characters indicate the year of the last issue. deal of respect for Kenny Sr., Kenny Jr. and Kurtis for both their accomplishments and their knowledge of motorcycles. And, yes, Mr. Derryberry, the Roberts have a very "full" life that includes more than racing. They have a large and supportive family in the Central Valley of California (the Hilmar, Turlock and Modesto area). I have enclosed a picture of Kenny Sr. and Jr. from Christmas Eve, 1998, taken at the home of Howard and Vangie Hartvickson. After all, it's a family tradition to have your picture taken on Santa's lap each year. Lana Berry Hilmar, CA 40 DEPARTMENTS SUPERCROSS Roundll-AMASupercrossSeriesfrom Minneapolis, Minnesota 18 EUROFILE CALENDAR 54 WORLD SUPERBIKES 1999 season preview 24 WANT ADS 62 Castrol Honda Laguna Seca test. 28 CRUISER FEATURE SECTION First Ride: 1999 Kawasaki Drifter .30 Riding Impression: 1999 Honda Valkyrie Tour 32 Cruiser new products, 34 DRAG RACING NHRA 1999 season preview ._ 36 EVENTS 4 42 LEADERBOARD 78 CHICANERY 80 LOOKING BACK .80 ON THE FRONT COVER We hit the streets of Miami on Kawasaki's latest Vulcan, the 1500 Drifter. See page 30. Photo by Tom Riles. Inset: The Valkyrie goes full-rig touring. See page 32. Photo by Kit Palmer. After attending a Trailblazers banquet, where so many greats of dirt track racing gather every year, there is apparently a lot of confusion about the dirt track races being'held at the Corsa Mota Classica event on Easter weekend at Willow Springs in Rosamond, California. The race is not being promoted by Eddie Mulder, and failure on the part of the current promoters to specify this has led some people and sponsors astray. After establishing the Eddie Mulder Vintage Dirt Track five years ago, AHRMA, without notifying us, decided to take it away and put it in their own pocket by letting one of their officers promote it. If any of you who appreciate the quality and integrity of the races that Eddie Mulder has always promoted want to continue having fun, Eddie is now running a small series that begins AprillQ-n at Willow Springs, with a IT Steeplechase on Saturday and a half mile on Sunday. Jodi Mulder Acton, CA For more information on Mulder-promoted races, call 661/268..()105... Editor Non-Harley fan This had to be .the best Daytona ever, with Miguel DuHamel and Mat Mladin putting on a high-speed duel and HarleyDavidson being humiliated and embarrassed on national TV - it was fantastic. Although I like Scott Russell, this was the best payback ever for all of the terrible things that Harley has done to the other brands over the years - from limiting the SODs in the 1950s to 9:1 compression, to what they did to Honda when Bubba Shobert kicked their rear ends. I think it's a shame that Ford has joined them. 1 will not buy any more Ford products and I urge everyone else to do the sarne. Jerry McDonald Corpus Christi, TX