Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

lowing the rise of guys like Andy that is the most fun. As a transplanted New Jerseyan, I always like to see privateer Barry Carsten do well. Now I've also got a West Coast guy to pull for. Good luck, Andy. See you at the races. Rick Schwalbach Houston, IX World Mini nightmare come out of his mouth. Thanks for the show, Miguel. Geoff Stinger Gstinger@hotmail.com Cinderella story It's too bad that Kirk Kellerman of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was misguided or misinformed into believing that Matt Stavish deserved "Cinderella story" media coverage for his second-place finish at the Wilseyville National Hare Scramble on February 21. Yes, Stavish did fall down at the beginning of the race, but he wasn't the only one. He was in third when he fell, recovered very quickly and continued on in about 10th place - in the AA starting row. There were others who took longer to get back up out of the snow and mud, and even some who had trouble starting their bikes, still behind him. Also, there were four more rows of Aand B-class riders waiting to start the race behind him. This doesn't quite equal starting the race in last place, passing and then lapping all the other riders to finish in second place. Stavish (and Jarrett) did spend most of two of the seven laps exchanging first and second places, but for the majority of the race Stavish was between second and si tho Again, this isn't exactly like Mr. Kellerman's version that Stavish "ended up swapping the lead all day." I wonder if Mr. Kellerman was actually at the event, or if he just wrote his letter based on someone else's verbal version. I was there. I watched the start, then The Dutch dentist, Gerrit Wolslnk - a hero to many. walked the course while taking notes and photographs throughout the entire race. I talked to as many riders within the three days after the event that I could before having to meet my deadline. I was not able to find Matt Stavish after the race, or reach him by phone, to include any of his comment in my tory . - and for that [ apologize. The sad thing is that of all the riders, spectators and club members that I talked to, several reported seeing Stavish cut the course (by mo~ than the legal distance) to take a detour around a deep-rutted and bogged-out section. Since I didn't see that happen or get to ask him about it, I felt it was better to leave it out of the story - for which I have also been criticized. Jill Ashworth Patterson Vacaville, CA Go Andy On the flight home from the New' Orleans Supercross, my wife and I sat with Andy Harrington, an up-and-coming Yamaha YZ125 rider supported by Motoworld of EI Cajon, California. Even though he had experienced some bad· racing luck and was obviously disappointed in missing the main event by one spot, he was friendly, personable, and a good representative of his sponsors. Everyone knows about the established stars of our sport. To me, it's fol- Has the World Mini Grand Prix and the NMA gotten so big to show total disregard and contempt for the average racer? This is the face the NMA officials showed us at this year's World Mini GP. After pre-entering the race in the 80cc (14-16) Modified class, I blew up my bike two weeks prior to the World Mini. Being ready to move up to a 125, my dad purchased a new YZ125. Calling the NMA at their headquarters in Norwalk, California, to see if we could trallsfer classes, their reply was, "No problem." But upon our arrival at the track, they sure changed their tune. Patty Moorewood's view was that postentry signups closed at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (but I was already preentered) atld it was impossible to change my cia s - although it was 22 hours before the races were due to start. To not be able to change classes so many hours before race time is totally absurd. After spending over $250 in entry fees, gate fees and' camping fees, Patty Morehead's response was, "Oh, well, do what you want" to the question, "So I'm supposed to eat my $25O?" This is a shame on Ron Henrickson, Patty Moorewood and the NMA. Maybe they should read their own article on the history of the World Mini and remember it was formed for the riders. Maybe they forgot, or has the World Mini developed into a big-money grab? It was a World Mini soon to be forgotten. I think I'll stick with the organizations that care a little bit more about the rider than the money. We did end up making the event by driving back home on Wednesday night, staying up until 2 a.m. getting the 80 back together - and then waking up at 4 a.m. to make the practice at 7 a.m. Ryan Riess Phelan, CA Willow rules I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who made last weekend's AMA Superbike National at Willow Springs Raceway a wonderful Miguel DuHamel - hoping for better luck. experience for my friends, their family and me. I have been going to Willow Springs since the late '70s and in fact raced for the AFM and ARRA. The improvements that the great Bill Huth has made to the facility have truly made Willow an International Raceway. We also really enjoyed hearing AI Mark give some of the history of Willow. The true highlight of the weekend was having Scott "Mr. Daytona" Russell go out of his way on a very busy Saturday (he wouldn't even talk to TV commentator Larry Maiers) to sign an autograph for my buddy Jim's 5-year-old son, Kurtis. What a thrill it was for that youngster. My hat is off to all those involved - what a great weekend for a great price. We will be there for next year's races and many more to come. Grant Reed Lomita, CA 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

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