Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

won't jump them. Mr. Palmer's suggestion that motocross facilities could benefit from maintaining a second, Vet-oriented track has a good deal of merit, since such a track would be built with a specific type of rider in mind. But I also think motocross facilities could benefit from tryi'ng to make sure that riders have a viable alternative to jumping. If the only alternative to jumping is getting hurt, I'll stay home. Scot McDonall Chatsworth, CA Mother',s Day vote Tn response to Mr. Tab Mauldlin's letter (May 26, Issue #20) regarding Glen Helen's scheduling of the National motocro s, I would like to put my vote in also - but for a different reason. I live in Santa Cruz (California) and . we Northern Californians only have one race where the pros race - Hangtown, which was a great weekend of racing. If Glen Helen was scheduled at the end of the season, we could make the trek down and enjoy both races. You see, you Southern Californians are very spoiled, with four supercrosses and one National within a four-hour drive. I am the mother of a lO-year-old, and on Mother's Day, the family goes dirtbike riding, because I believe tha t spending the time with my son riding on Mother's Day is what it's all about. Tn closing, this should be a red flag for all you single men out there: Be sure you pick someone who would be glad to go to the races anytime and not someone who you have to "work on" for a month to go see a National. Meghan Hebard Felton, CA Missed by all On May 29 of 1999, I lost a very good friend. Jack Miller passed away as a result of a crash on his dirt bike at Glen Helen Raceway in California. Although a very quiet and to-himself person, he had the passion for motocross racing that many of us share. I worked with Jack for better than a year but not until the last nine months did I come to find ou t tha t we shared the same love for motocross. I would like to thank all of you at the track that day for your efforts in helping a fellow racer and friend. He will be missed by all of us. Alex Zapata Upland, CA seem to think that signing autographs for their fans is a chore. I'd just like to tell all of the pros out there that without avid fans and racers like us, you wouldn't have any sport at all. So the next time you are slaving away, hurting your precious hands, just think about the thousands of kids that wish to be just like you. However, there are a few riders that appreciate their fans. Rick Carmichael is Leroy Winters Most of you have by now heard or read about the passing of Leroy Winters in late February of this year. I would like to share some of my opinions about Leroy. Leroy was truly one of the most dedicated off-road riders that I have ever known. It was no "big deal" for Leroy to drive from his home in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to any· location in the U.s. to ride in enduro or trials. He was a man who was capable of getting the most out of whatever equipment was available to ride. For instance, several years ago, he won the grueling two-day Jack Pine Enduro on a 165cc Harley, which was almost unimaginable at the time, but he did it. Leroy was very innovative and was always coming up with tricks to make his motorcycle a notch above the rest. I competed with him during the midto la te 1960s and, believe me, he rode one of the most trick Honda 90s in the country. I had the pleasure of riding with Leroy on tile Penton team at the Berkshire Two-Day Trials in 1968 and 1969 and our team won the Manufacturers Team Award both years. Leroy had a lot of input into the development of the Penton motorcycles and was a Six-Day rider a few times with the Penton teams, having been a very good friend of John Penton. Leroy was a mall who loved life and was a very serious competitor but could still "cut up" and have a lot of fun. Leroy has co-hosted the arumal Six-Day Reunion for the last few years near Fort Smith, and according to his son Bart, his fanlliy is planning to hold the reunion again this fall. . Leroy was a member of the Penton Owners Group. I personally feel that every member of this group as well as any off-roader that knew him will miss his smile and will be glad that they had the opportunity to know him and to compete with him. I know I will. A! Born Elyria,OH Tim Ferry glad to provide the riders to support the autograph session. However, when the time came for the autograph session, the team backed out. Tl"lere were some unique circumstances, so I hold no bad feelings towards the team Qr its manager; however, suddenly I was in a real bind. It was announced over the P.A. that a team would be signing autographs, but I had no team riders to do it! I made a quick run over to the Mazda Chaparral team and spoke with Mazda's Kevin Brown and Chaparral's Larry Brooks. Both understood the dilemma I was in and quickly agreed to talk to riders Steve Lan"lSon and Tim Ferry. A few minutes later, they were on their way to the autograph session. So I wanted to take a minute to let them (Kevin Brown, Larry Brooks; Steve Lamson and Tim Ferry) know how much I appreciated their support. They really helped me out. A special thanks goes out to Steve Lamson and Tim Ferry - they not only signed autographs but also were enthusiastic about it. They spent a lot of time with the fans when they could have spent the time relaxing before the rac.es. Thanks again, guys. Jim Kimball Team Chaparral to the rescue Delaware, OH I would like to take this opportunity to thank a motocross team that came to my aid at the recent Mount Morris National Motocross. I was working at the race, and one of my tasks was to set up an a'utograph session with one of the teams. I asked a team manager, who said he :"ould be Be like Ricky I'm a 16-year-old woman motocross rider, and I'm writing about professional riders and the way they treat their fans. From my experiences, many riders Rick Carmichael one of them. He gave many other people and me at the Pontiac Supercross the respect we deserve. He was professional, kind and cheerful even though his 250cc debut wasn't going as planned. More pros should act the way Ricky does. Dee Dee Haehn Willington,OH 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 3l1d daytime phone number ... Editor. 5

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