Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

nostalgia. Maybe my 37-year-old eyes looked at the scene with the heart of an ll-year-old boy, my well-thumbed prOgram gripped tightly in my sweating hands, but J don't think so. I think everyone there saw what I saw. Those guys really were as fast as we all remembered. Chris R\ldy Ben Lomond, CA Like starving wolves fightillg over the last piece of raw meat, my fellow editors and J wrestled over Bill Spencer's coverage of the event (page 38), each of LIS wanting to edit" even just a small part of the ston), though there was only room for one pencil, the lead of which was blackened like the tarmac of the parking lot that sits outside our office... Editor Emerald Downs After reading several letters to the editor in addition to ongoing rumors, comments and recommendations regarding racing-track conditions for the Sea ttle Mile a t Emerald Downs, it's time omeone addressed the facts of the issue. Thanks to the considerable efforts of promoter Agajanian Presents, along with help from supporting officials at Emerald Down and local dirt track promoters like myself, the inaugural running of the Seattle Mile was made a reality. A sold-out crowd saw the nation's best riders compete on a Q1i1e oval for the first time ever in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, last year's race saw track conditions that bordered on raceable and even safe, so let's talk about that. To set the record straight, Emerald Downs is a $200-million-plus, state-ofthe-art thoroughbred-racing facility. The racing surface at Emerald Downs is not sand, as many armchair quarterbacks, or in this case the track preparer, have commented. It is a multimilliondoUar horse-racing surface called Sports Grid. It consists of a combination of layers, including drainage piping, rock, large-grain sand and a top eight inches of man-made dirt. It cannot Simply be scraped off or cut down to expose some miracle dirt-track-racing clay below the surface. The fact is, Emerald Downs officials are very protective of what they will allow in preparation of our motor-cycle-racing event. At last year's race, our hands were tied and we did the best we could. We learned a lot from that race, and with the success of the event, Emerald Downs is now agreeable to several track-preparation improvements. Gene Romero has been converting these horse tracks into Grand ational Dirt Track racing surfaces for 20 years. He is the best there is and, with the help of Emerald Downs groundskeeper Wayne Damron, we are confident th.at this year's race will be much improved. As a final word to all the naysayers and Negative Neds out there, we are privileged that Emerald Downs has invited us back into their home to do our thing once a year. We are privileged that the City of Auburn, Washington, -has allowed us to hold a motorsports event within the metropolitan city limits. Finally, we are privileged that Chris Agajanian and ,!\gajanian Presents Inc. have the interest in and have put the effort into bringing an AMA Mile National to the Pacific Northwest. Let's all be thankful and enjoy. Bob Moran Seattle, WA No complaint here Having read all of the spectator complaints regarding supercross races, I felt compelled to relay the positive experiences of my recent trip to New Orleans, which of course included the race at the Superdome. Getting to the dome and parking was a breeze. Traffic was directed by a good number of New Orleans' finest. Once in ide the dome, my wife and I started to wonder if we'd make it out in one piece. Every 20 feet was a vendor selling alcohol, and it seemed that everyone was buying. Many vendors were selling beer in large glass bottles which spectators were allowed to bring to their seats. We though that this could lead to nothing but trouble. Our fears were unfounded. We didn't see any signs of fights or other crowd disturbances - just fans enjoying a cold beer and tlle good racing on the track. Then it was time to leave. We have been to numerous supercross and outdoor Nationals, and leaving is usually a headache. On many occasions, we have spent several hours sitting in hopeless traffic snarls just trying to get out of parking areas (Binghamton, Washougal and the Georgia Dome come to mind). Typically, there is plenty of assistance for arriving spectators, but then it's a big free-for-all at the end of the event. Not so here. It was great. Police were again directing traffic and we were out of the The Cannondale four-stroke motocrosser: almost ready for prime time. parking garage in less than 15 minutes. It was grea t. Overall, it was a terrific event. Kudos to ew Orlean . Steve Rowe Rochester, NY Out of reach For the past six months, most motorcycle publications have run numerous stories on the development of Cannondale's new 400cc four-stroke and its expected impact on the motocross market. Just think a bike so cutting-edge that enthusiasts who always wanted a "works" bike can almost experience it. With all its great craftsmanship, technology and, hopefully, performance, may there be a downside? Maybe that downside is the $7950 suggested retail price of the MX 400. The price itself may not be the problem, but the problem may be in the trend it could start. Yamaha manufactures a 400cc four-stroke that is considered by many to be the best motocross bike ever produced - and they sell it for $5799. I hope when other manufacturers answer the YZ400 challenge, they remember the working-family roots of motocross and keep price within reach. I would like to wish Cannondale success with its new venture, because they have earned it. Their entry into a tough market with such a short development time is amazing. The new MX 400, with all it offers, may not be overpriced - but for many of us, it's simply out of ream.. Mark Lealtad Sparks, NY Tip to Team Green I would like to give you a tip - the same tip I gave a few years ago. Put Doug Chiapuzio on a bigger bike - and you will have next year's AMA Hare & Hound National Champion. Walt Cline Oxnard,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@cycJenews.com. Published lellers do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are subject to editing. Anonymous leiters 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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