Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"William (or "Will" to most of you) was an exceptional man and dirt track racer, but an even greater husband and father." Thanks from Mrs. 21 VR - The End Words cannot express my sincere appreciation for all of the love you [the dirt track racing community] have shown to myself and Cole after the tragic loss of my husband, William. The cards and letters, phone calls, flowers and memorials have meant so much to me and have given me great comfort because I know that he meant as much to all of you as he did to me and my family. William (or "Will" to most of you) was an exceptional man and dirt track racer, but an even greater husband and father. He loved with everything in his being, and it showed in everything that he did. He did have such a passion for life, and I am going to miss that carefree smile and that "hundred-mile-an-hour" voice so much that it is almost unbearable. When Bruce Bober from the AMA called me about all of the wonderful things that were done in Springfield in memory of William, I was speechless and cried a long time because it meant so much to me that you, as our extended family, thought that much of my husband to pour your love and resources into raising funds for myself and Cole. Please know that I will be eternally grateful for your support and will never forget the dirt track family that has shown such love for William. I have a lifetime of wonderful memories to share with Cole about his daddy, and that helps to take away some of the hurt. We were really happy, with no regrets, and that gives me such peace and comfort as I try to continue on with my life without him. Although William never realized his ultimate goal of winning the AMA Grand National Championship, he was able to achieve an enormous amount of goals during his 36 years, including winning Daytona and Springfield, and finally getting to race and win in front of his home-state crowd at Charlotte. But somehow I'm sure if we would have asked William what his greatest accomplishment was, he would have said his son, Cole. Even though he will never be able to put that number one on his number-21 bike, I know in my heart and in the hearts of all of you, he will always be number one. Thank you again for your support and outpouring of love and sympathy, and please continue to keep me in your prayers. You will never be forgotten. With much love, Rhonda Davfs Goldsboro, NC At first I was confused, then came the disappointment, followed by a wave of relief. John Baker and the Harley VRI000 racing program are calling it quits - hardly a surprise, as he called this year a "rebuilding effort" (by my count, that made 2001 the third "rebuilding" year!). I wish Pascal Picotte and Mike Smith the best of luck next year finding new teams and more-competitive mounts. I always felt like the odd man out at the Superbike races with my Harley Racing shirt. By the way, what do you think a Miguel DuHamel VR 1000 shirt will now fetch on e-bay? Now that I think about it... maybe a Sportster wiring harness, a Buell headlight and taillight, a starter and coil off ofaXLCR, a gel-battery. Hey, does anyone know where I can pick up a clean used VRI000? MIchael Rumng via the InffHnet The Adelanto 6P Over 20 years ago, the first Adelanto GP was run with about 400 riders and a thousand or so spectators. Over the years, the race grew to a point where it was not unusual to see 1500 to 2000 riders and 20,000 to 25,000 spectators over the weekend, plus drawing major sponsors to what became one of the premier off-road events in the country. The event brings in riders from all over the United States and several who cross international borders to ride this event. The Adelanto GP has always been run on the first weekend in February, but at the District 37 date board this year the District elected to give that date to another club. The Adelanto GP will be happening in 2002, with several changes. In discussing the dates available to us with the city of Adelanto and our sponsors, it was decided that the only date available to us would be the last weekend in February instead of the first, making the new date Saturday, February 23 ·and Sunday, February 24,2002. The Desert Vipers have teamed up with Casey Folks and the Best In The Desert Racing Association to sanction the Adelanto Grand Prix. There will be no change in cost to the riders and the Pro purse will be $10,000. The 2002 Adelanto GP will be the best yet, with course changes and a new scoring system. Russell Boyd via the InfrHnet Boyd is the secretary/treasurer of the Desert Vipers Motorcycle Club. For more information on the Adelanto Grand Prix, call 714/779-5313... Editor Defending Robbie The last time I checked, hitting a train head on or landing on one would kill you. Falling in the Grand Canyon will kill you. Crashing between two 130feet-tall casinos will kill you. Not only is Robbie Knievel a very good motorcycle jumper, he is the craziest motorcycle rider of all time. Evel would never try any of his son's stunts. Good luck at Texas Motor Speedway, Robbie. Ben OWen Oklahoma City, OK Wanting Ferry How can Duke Finch and Roger DeCoster skip Timmy Ferry for the Motocross des Nations? Not only has he been spanking Kevin Windham all year in both supercross and motocross, he also is more consistent. Windham may be the fastest rider on earth when all conditions are right and the mood suits him (about once a year), but the rest of the time he rides without conviction and heart. Timmy also has an upper hand on riding the YZ426F for the Open class and for the unleaded-gas requirements. I am sure Ricky Carmichael and Mike Brown will do their part and, hopefully, Kevin will feel up to racing to his full potential. Still, I think we would have better odds if Timmy would be racing instead of Windham. Best wishes to Team USA. Robert Trlgueros Mlam,R. saw the big car win at the California 500. Although he may have been somewhat forgotten by the motorcycleand auto-racing media, he was never forgotten by his legion of fans. Just watch him skid the corners dirt-track style on the old Laconia road race film and you will know why. Ken Newton Newhal, CA Mom Says... My son races motocross. He is pretty good, so therefore he travels all over the country and is gone quite often. The Mother's Day race at Glen Helen is no different than any other Sunday, as far as my confidence in the fact that my son loves me. I know he does - I don't need him there on May 10 (11,12,13, or whatever day Mother's Day falls on) to know he appreciates and loves me. If the AMA took into account every holiday and mother's birthdays, etc., do you think we'd ever see any racing? To the folks who are complaining - why can't you show your mother your appreciation and love on one of the other 364 days? Because Hallmark said sol How about thinking that maybe your mom is your mom 364 days a year and as a special way to honor her, you leave her without any motherly duties for a day? I know I'd Scott Rousseau's Joe Leonard feature appreciate that. And maybe if your (Issue #36, September 12) was outmom loved you, perhaps her knowing you were doing something you loved standing. I had the good fortune to be to do would make her just as happy at Wilmot, Wisconsin, to witness that and proud as having you sitting in her road race win in the day when road living room. Hmmm... racers were nothing more than dirt And just for the record, my son trackers with brakes. misses my birthday, Easter, ThanksGrowing up in Chicago, I witgiving and sometimes Christmas. nessed most all of Leonard's racing in And I wouldn't have it any other way the Midwest, particularly at Peoria, as long as he loves what he is doing. Springfield, Sante Fe and IIliana Tamle Kiniry Speedways. Then, later, after so SkaneatrNes, NY many years of racing at Indy, I also cycl. ne __ • SEPTEMBER 19, 2001 5 Forgotten?

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