Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128094
"I Was ecstatic... er... excited... er... quite pleased to see that Team Smitty rides again!" Smitty Love It's appropriate to offer up a big :hank you to Cycle News for bringing ream Smitty back to the publication. ;mitty was a big part of what Cycle 'Iews offered for many years, and it las always provoked a laugh-outoud encounter. In a week that was shadowed by he death of motorsports legend Dale ~arnhardt, Smitty was a welcome ·eprieve. Thanks again for bringing lis endeavors back to your readers. Tom Mueller WestrHvflle, OH -43082 Smitty Love II Wooo hooolli Team Smitty is back? Can it be? Or, is it some sort of cruel joke? WesBaca Albuquerque, NM Smitty Love III I was ecstatic ... er... excited ... er. .. quite pleased to see that Team Smitty rides again! PeteMlgH VIa the Intemet Let's hope Team Smitty sticks around, but you never know with those artists. If you look through this issue, it appears as though he's already opted for a vacation. We'll keep our fingers crossed... Editor Likes Everything I thought only special people were getting a free calendar and it was hurting my self-esteem, but it finally came in the mail today. As for all those people who were bitching about the calendar, I don't care whose favorite champion was left out, those people should be happy just to get the free calendar on time. As for Jimarillo - this guy has cased one too many triples. Keep it coming; he is really just giving a public voice to the male psyche. Team Smitty returns! Right on. My wife knew it when I started laughing at the end of last week's issue. She figured it was either that or it was Jimarillo, but she just doesn't get him. Keep up the good work. I love the newspaper. DavId Lorengo VIa the Intemet Just Charge More I am sad to hear of Hansyllan backing out of the Willow Springs Superbike National this year. I think they did a good job last year and I was under the impression that this year would be even better. As usual, I'm sure it's a sponsorship/money problem. I think the best way to remedy at least a part of this would be to raise ticket prices. I don't remember the exact price of last year's ticket, but I think it was roughly $40 for a three-day ticket, a program and a nice T-shirt. I can't speak for everyone, but I think they have a lot of room to raise the price and still be competitive with Laguna Seca. • I guess what I am trying to say is that we need more races every year not less. And we all need to be prepared to pay for top-quality racing, racers and racetrack facilities - like the AMA Superbike National at Willow Springs. Joe Fenech BaHlco, CA An announcement is expected shortly on the future of this year's AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike round at Willow Springs... Editor sonable noise level. I remember the first SuperTrapp I put on a bike (a 1900s Honda XL250). No matter what I did, it either corked it up like an 87 -year-old's colon or shattered windows like an F -18 on a low level pass. Secondly, where off-road vehicles "race" the area becomes unsuitable for other uses (i.e. hiking, horses, etc,). I have hiked on single-track trails and when bicycles or motorcycles go by, the attitude seems to be "get out of my way, banzai." Lastly, if I hear the Blue Ribbon Coalition talk about fire danger due to the "roadless condition" of our forests, I'm gonna puke. No kidding. If loggers clear-cut all of the forests we will have minimized the fire dangerl Hey, why not fill in Yosemite to minimize the rockslide danger. Or level all ski slopes to a three-percent grade to avoid avalanches. The bottom line is we need areas to ride. Some areas should be for the more extreme types of riding. We also need areas where we can casually trailride. It is in these areas we need quiet exhaust systems and a lot of awareness of our impact on non-off-highway-vehicle users. Davld8el1 Castro Valley, CA A Day With Buster I was so glad to hear that Buster Roberts is still alive and kickin'. During 1970-1972, I was an Amateur road racer with some support from Kawasaki. I was staying at the Hawaiian Inn while at Daytona and met a few guys who were from A&A at the poolside bar. A man approached us and introduced himself as Buster Roberts and we all agreed he was a great guy to talk to. He asked us if we knew a Novice rider named Kenny Roberts and we said we hadn't. Buster simply said, "You will." The first time I saw Kenny Roberts, he looked like a little kid. He was wheelieing an 80cc Yamaha around the pits. Buster had told us about a hill on their property where Kenny would wheelie up one side and down the other. I don't know if Buster would remember me, but when we were in Daytona he had a friend that I think worked at A&A. This guy kept telling Buster that he'd jump in the pool with aU his clothes on. Buster laughed and threw down $5. The guy didn't hesitate. He threw his wallet on the table and jumped in, shoes and all. Thanks, Buster, for an entertaining afternoon. BuzzAmdt Why Not Last? just returned from the Atlanta Supercross and it was a top-notch event. I was wondering, however, why is it that when they introduce the top lOin the points from the 250cc class, they don't introduce Ricky Carmichael last? He is, after all, the points leader. Frank sammIs Brooldyn Park, MN Watch The Noise I love to ride off-road, but there are several issues I would like to point out. First, noise is one of the main reasons there is such a drive to kick off-road vehicles out of the wilderness. Even the new Yamaha YZ250F comes with a removable baffle in its exhaust. What was Yamaha thinking? What we need are exhausts that produce reasonable power at a rea- c u e ' ... York, PA I believe their reasoning for introducing Jeremy McGrath last is because he is the defending champion. Then he and Carmichael do a parade lap together... Editor n ... _,. • MARCH 7, 2001 5