Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Bill Boyce Our sport has lost one of the giants of motorcycle and sidecar racing. Bill Boyce ran the AMA competition department with a firm hand. At times he made decisions that weren't always approved of by us racers, but time has shown his direction to be correct. In the 1970s, I had the pleasure of working with Bill as the AMA's sidecar-racing coordinator. Bill was instrumental in making AMA sidecar road racing one of the top attractions during that time period. After retiring from his AMA duties, Bill served the whole world of motorcycling and sidecar racing in various positions with the FIM. Two- and three-wheeled racing has lost a great supporter with the passing of "Captain Bill." Bob Bakker Wrightwood, CA No dirt track coverage I just finished watching MotoWorld's Daytona episode. They showed and reported on all disciplines of racing, except for dirt track. Where was the Saturday night 600cc Grand National coverage? They reported on absolutely nothing from Saturday night. Hey, MotoWorld, what's up? It's only a five-minute drive from the Speedway to Municipal Stadium. If you can't make it again next year, let me know - I'll bring my video camera and do the coverage. Trapper McDaniel Atascadero, CA In defense of the announcer I have recently noticed in the "Voices" section that Erv Braun has been taking a fairly heavy amount of criticism over his announcing of the Supercross Series. As a sponsor member of the National Promoters Group that presents the AMA National Motocross evej]ts, I have had many opportunities to work with Erv. Not only is he a rider himself, but he is very good at his job. He is on top of current events in the sport and is wellinformed on the riders and what is happening in their lives. He conducts great interviews and has the sponsors, promoters, vendors and spectators' interest foremost in his presentations at all times. Last year, for the first time that I can remember, my vice president had the opportunity to kick back and watch the San Diego Supercross from the stands. The stadium's speaker system was so bad that between the engine noise, spectator noise and the poor public-address system, we could not hear a thing. I actually felt bad for the people who were depending on the speaker system to follow what was going on. At no time during the event did I ever feel that the announcer was at fault. Let's put the blame where the blame is due and relax on Erv Braun who I feel is one of the best announcers that the sport has ever had. As far as Larry Huffman is concerned - with all due respect to a man who was • a pioneer of supercross announcing and a fine one, too - if he has attended no supercross races in the past 10 years, it is obvious that he currently has no great love for the sport. George Quay Beaver Falls, PA Brandon Layton I am very saddened by the passing of one of the best minibike racers in the world - Brandon Layton. Many who follow the amateur circuit know who he was and also know that the young speedster had what it took to be the best in the world - another Jeremy McGrath or Ricky Carmichael. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed throughout the motocross world, but he won't be forgotten. We all miss him very much. The Hamblin family Lake Elsinore, CA The great myth The article on the Daytona 200 points out one of the myths being perpetrated on the buying public by a couple of manufacturers, to wit: The supposed selling point of superbike racing is the "stock car" influence - i.e., race what you sell. Honda, Harley-Davidson and now Yamaha are all patently making this rule a sham. Yes, once upon a time, one could buy an RC45 streetbike, but the $45,000 price tag certainly made it out of reach for 98 percent of the motorcycling public. Supposedly there are Costa Rican street-legal versions of Harley's VRI000, but at $60,000, how many people can afford them, either? Do you also want to bet tha t the racing version of a 996 isn't at all the same as the street-version Ducati SpA sells? If you want to ride a Yamaha R7, you have to already be a licensed racer. Suzuki and Kawasaki are to be applauded for at least starting with the same mainstream street bike they sell over the counter. How do these unobtainable exotics lie in with the street bike I can buy? They don't, that's how. There is no significant difference, to me, in unobtainability between an RC45 and an NSR500V. At least if I could find the finances to buy the NSR, it would be race-ready. And I would certainly be a lot more willing to watch the Daytona 200 if the Grand Prix stars had a reason to be here. When I first started going to the 200, it was a truly international event. Agostini, Mike the Bike, Johriny Cecotto, etc., all came to race, and they brought an international flavor with them. Two-, three- and four-cylinder four-strokes mixed it up with two-, three- and, later, four-cylinder two-strokes. Now it's just a long AMA National. Does anyone there have a history of the paid attendance for the years between, say, 1970 and today? It seems to me there weren't many grandstand seats, but they were all full and the infield was a swarm of people and bikes. I went to my last 200 two years ago. And until the AMA opens it up, at least to other machines legal in their own racing program like 250s and Pro Thunder machines, I'll save the $40 they want for an infield pass: I happen to own Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Triumph stre"et bikes, so I'm not griping that Honda won and Miguel is definitely "Da Man" for doing it- but let's see him do it on a VFR. Marcus Day mday@lmco.com A whole bunch of thanks My last two issues of Cycle News advertising the Spanish Grand Prix Sweepstakes reminded me that I've neglected to thank Cycle News and TravelCraft for the wonderful and exciting adventure they sent me on in September of 1998. 1'm guilty of allowing my personal obligations and interest to take priority over my manners - an all-too-common event these days. Nevertheless, please forgive my tardiness. Mr. Randy Warren, TravelCraft travel agent extraordinary, made himself available for my questions and concerns, and (gave me) the assistance. to best enjoy Barcelona, t-he Kenny Roberts Training Ranch, the Circuit de Cataluyna Grand Prix, bench racing, and an occasional meal together. Thank you. Being instructed as well a.s having numerous conversations with Randy Mamola and his staff at Roberts' training ranch was educational, enjoyable, enlightening and a whole bunch of fun. Thanks again for providing the opportunity and, more importantly, for selecting me for a free week of motorcycling acti vities. Darrell Larsen drlarsen@worldnet.att.net Shoulda known better Before the blades are sharpened and pointed, I'd like to apologize to my fellow espn2 Daytona crew members for total brain-fade in coming up with that incorrect trivia question on Eddie Lawson during the espn2 Daytona 200 broadcast. I took a quick look at the past winners a)]d, 'without much thought, tried to present Eddie Lawson as the only rider to win the big race on a twoand a four-stroke machine. That, of course, is incorrect; both Eddie's wins were on four-strokes. I should have known beller. I produced the 1986 Daytona 200 (which he won) for TV and bought an FZ750 shortly afterward! As soon as the chyron operator put it up on the screen in the truck, I knew it was wrong, but it was too late. Once again, sorry to my fellow TV crew and any viewer who felt their intelligence had been insulted. However, before I sign off, I'd just like to publicly salute Miguel DuHamel for his courageous victories at Daytona and, more importantly, for his generosity of spirit. Even throughout his frustrating period of rehabilitation, he continued to be super-accommodating to annoying TV guys like yours truly. Dennis Torres taurustv@worldnet.att.net Lellers 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 email, 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. 7

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