Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

America.s weekly m.otorcycle newspaper LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Volume XXXVI kind of tough, too. I for one would hate to be forced to choose between racing against vets on an easy track or 18-yearold kids on the real track (the real track. would win, though). I know a few other vets th.at won't or can't jump, but most of us like to, and like racing the same track the pros compete on. Let's leave things the way they are. Todd Miller mxtodd@hotmail.com Sharon Gayton, President Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Paul Carruthers, Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Scott Rousseau, Associate Editor Keith Bush, Assistant EditorlCapy Editor Matt Freeman, Assistant Editor Alan Cathcart, European Editor David R. Holther, Copy Editor Advertising Westen. Sta tes (714) 751-7433 Terry Pratt, National Accouuts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Forrest Hayashi, Western Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Ad Coordinator Bridgett Bobrofsky, Assistant Mr. Palmer made it a point in his column to clarify that he wasn't criticizing double jumps in general. Nowhere did he say we should get rid of doubles and have them replaced by, as YOLJ Pllt it, "easy" tracks. TI1at wasn't his point. But Kit feels there are enough riders out there (not l1ecessarily just vets) who simply don't like being forceii to negotiate doubles and triples, that optional, Ito nest-to-good nesS", roug he rothe-bette r, motocross tracks (110t stadium-style tracks) on some of these facilities could perhaps attract and re-attract even //lore riders. And more is good... Editor. Advertising Eastern States (770) 934-7850 Greg Mjtchell, Eastern Acconnts Manager Jim Clark, Eastern Sales Manager Carla Allen, Ad Coordinator Marketing & Promotion Mark Thome, Director Forrest Hayashi, Manager Kory Klinger, Dealer Representative Evel Knievel New Media Development Kory Klinger, Site Manager Gassified Ads Alicia Franklin Graphics and Production Mandy Loa, Art Director Amanda Wollny, Lead Graphic Artist Paul Fi her, Graphic Artist Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Pam Klein, Administrative Assistant AccountinglData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Theresa Milburn, Credit Manager Grculation Alma Anguiano, Circulation Mauager Carol Maggio, Processing Coordinator Joy Lau; Dealer Coordinator Donna Sharp, Billing Coordinator Service and Support Shannon Gark, Receptionist Jim Olson, Service and Support National Headquarters 3S0S-M Cadillac Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P.O. Box 5064, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5064 (714) 751-7433 FAX (714) 751-6685 Eastern Office 4188 First Ave., Tucker, GA 30064 P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805 (770) 934-7850 FAX (770) 934-3112 e·maU editor@cyclenews.com subscribe@cyclenews.com advertising@cyclenews.com Internet http://www.cyclenews.com Cycle News (USPS 141·340) ;s pubL;shed weekly excepl the last two weeks of the calendar year for $58.00 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. Canada Post International Publica· tions Mail #546615. POSTMASTER: Send ..ddress ch.. ngeS to Cycle News, P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628--5084. To determine the expiration date of your subsaiption, check the four numbers on the firslline of your address label The first two digits indjcale the last issue-number you'll receive and the last two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its p0ssessions for one year (SO issues), $58.00; two years 000 issues), $111.00; six months (25 issues), $29'()(); trial sub (15 issues), $21.00. Canada and Foreign, on(' YC.3r (SO issues), $105.00: two years (100 issues), $195.00; six months (25 issues), $55.00; biaJ sub (15 issues), $42.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, ele. Such material, if published, becomes Ihe exclusive property of Cycle News. Reprinting in whole OJ part only by permission of the plJblisher. Advertis· ing rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.DS. W/BPA VI ~YlOlIAI. I would much rather read Cycle News than .write to it, bu t "Pro motocrosser" Dustin Evans has caused me to take an opinion. Regularly, CN prints letters from its readers that bash one form of motorcycling or another. I, however, have always dug every aspect (of motorcycling). At most any traffic light, I'm Terry Vance st~ged up at a Christmas tree. When I bend into a long, sweeping highway curve, I know Kel Carruthers and Mike Hailwood are with me at the Isle of Man. On Sunday afternoon, I can be Ricky Carmichael doing some secret testing. Sometimes, the FlM calls for me and my gal to fly to Europe and defend some prestigious sidehack title. At least once a week, Dave Despain is amazed at my balance as I trials the parking bumpers in the grocery store parking lot. But before I was ever any of that, I was Evel Knievel on a Schwinn Stringray. To bash Knievel (Robbie or his dad) is just uncool. That's hallowed ground. Racer Evans, in !tis letter, thought that the way Captain Knievel talked to the EMTs was inappropriate. The Knievels didn't build a reputation on manners. You don't get the nickname "Evel" for saying "please." Racer Evans talks a lot of crap. I don't think Seth En low needs some Caliiornia backmarker to set up !tis jumps. The whole Knievel spiel is cool. It's part of motorcycling. And you, Dustin Evans, will know that when you become more than a "Pro motocrosser" and become a motorcyclist. Barry Gregg Islam Orada, FL Double visions As a 38-year-old amateur with just three years of recent riding/ racing experience (aiter a IS-year layoff with no motorcycles of any kjnd), I take offense to Kit Palmer's whining (June ~ issue #23) about the jumps that are common.on today's tracks. While every track seems to have one or two monster jumps (60-plus feet or immediately alter a slow corner), all of the other jumps are negotiable by all but the beginners. I ha ve all of the same responsibilities as Kit, and I think that jumping is an integral and enjoyable part of MX today. I worked very hard to . build the confidence and technique to jump. And I don't mind doubling a 70foot triple, since no one in my class will go for it, either. Maybe we should just get rid of those pe ky starts, wi th all of the dangerous bar banging. While we are at it, whoops and fast sweepers are CIRCULATION Co~yrigh Cycle News, lnc.l999. Trademark Cycle New. regtSlered U.S. Patent Office. All rights reserved: . , INSIDE: ISSUE #23 JUNE 16. 1999 DEPARTMENTS FEATURES ROAD RACING Rounds 6 and 7 - AMA/Nl3NA . Superbike Series from Road Atlanta Round 5 - World Championship 500cc Motocross Series from Loket, C:zech Republic 6 Round 5 - World Championship Road Racing Series from Mugello, Italy ...............•.....16 Round 7 - World Championship 250cc Motocross Series from Foxhill, England 24 Round 6 - World Championship 125cc Motocross Series from Foxhill, England .EVENTS LEADERBOARD FIRST RIDE .35 , , 49 FEATURE .30 .50 .58 IN THE TAPES 26 CALENDAR WANT ADS 1999 Honda S~per Blackbird Behind the scenes at the Excelsior-Henderson factory MOTOCROSS NEW PRODUCTS ....................•....................34 75 LOOKING BACK 75 ON THE FRONT COVER TRAVEL· .22 Co ta Rican Trail Ride .....•....... .32 AUDITEO Printed in U.s.A, 4 Hallowed ground Double Visions 2 I am writing to comment on Kit PaImer's "Day Six" column. I would like to compliment Mr. Palmer on the timely nature of !tis column, as I am an over-40 rider who has recently begun wondering how much longer I will be willing to ride on toctay's motocross tracks. I am in agreement with many of Mr. Palmer's points, but I disagree with others. I agree that double jumps have their place. My personal limits perrmt me to jum p some doubles as well as steadfastly restrain me from attempting others; I would truly miss the doubles I'm willing to jump if they were removed. I don't believe, however, that choosing not to jump an obstacle renders me noncompetitive. True, 1 probably won't win a race in which the competition is packed with "big air" talent, but 1 won't necessarily lose, either, simply because I compete with riders who have riding skills similar to my own. And some riders who jump don't ride the rest of the track well, i.e., they can jllmp but they can't turn, so they can be beaten by riders who possess better ground-oriented riding skills. My growing dissatisfaction with today's tracks stems not from the proliferation of double jumps but rather from the way many of the double jumps are constructed. My feeling is that many double jumps are buil t assuming everyone will jump them; enough thought isn't always given to those riders who ENDURO 23 VCMC Qualifier , .35 Anthony Gobert reigned supreme at Road Atlanta, claiming AMA/MB A Superbike yjctories on Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams. Alex Cri ville notched his third 500cc Grand Prix win at round five in Mugello, Italy. Photo by Gold & Goose.

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