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/128127
"This shows why off-road racing is such a great sport." were both in our class). This shows why off-road racing is such a great sport. Thank you, Eron and Kirk, your kindness will not be forgotten. T1mStoab Baja Defender n your recent article on the Tequias Ride in mainland Mexico (Issue 39, October 3), there were several egative comments regarding riding n Baja. It is very obvious that the ditor, Chris Jonnum, has very little xperience with the diverse variety f terrain and riding that Baja has o offer. I would like to set the ecord straight. Baja has forests, ountains and beaches; it's not just esert. Many guests coming to ride Baja boast it to be the best trip of eir lifel There are many awesome adventures to be had in Baja for a lot less money than mainland Mexico from several great off-road motorcycle tour companies. We make a living doing this, so please don't "bash Baja" to build up one company's tour. Life has been hard enough for us all since the tragic events of September 11. I am sure a lot of the other companies conducting tours in Baja that have also been advertising in your fine publication for many years feel the same as I do. We welcome Mr. Jonnum to ride Baja with us anytime! NancyEmde Trail Boss Tours Cardltrby the Seq. CA Jonnum responds: "My intent in writing the story to which you refer was not to bash Baja, but to inform the Cycle News readership about the possibility of riding motorcycles in mainland Mexico, an activity that has been reLativeLy untapped compared to riding the peninsuLa (hence my referraL to the "severaL exceLLent tour packages" available in Baja). I suspect that you were most bothered by my assertion that the mainLand's inhabitants "view it (Baja) as somewhat distant and insignificant." While this is certainLy not my view, I have found it to be common among mainlanders. IronicaLLy, Baja's reLatively cast-off status onLy makes it more appealing in my eyes, and in this way and others, I actuaLLy prefer it to the mainland. In addition to Living and traveling in mainLand Mexico for two years, I have ridden and traveLed extensiveLy in Baja, and aLthough I stand by my position that the mainland is more varied, I certainly recognize and appreciate the diversity that Baja has to offer. Jjust pLain Love Mexico - both the mainland and Baja - and I did not hope to declare a winner in my story, but to erase some of the misconceptions about the country in general and to point out some of the specific YJa the Intemet Staab rides for Team Honda... Editor Back In 2002 Which Is better: mainland Mexico or Baja? _ differences between the two regions. J apoLogize if J failed to do this (and J accept your inVitation!). n ••• Editor Off-Road Thanks I would like to take a moment to recognize and show my appreciation for two acts of true sportsmanship. On Friday, September 28, while competing in the Vegas to Reno off-road race, I had the misfortune of running out of fuel a short distance prior to pit two, due to a course change (not by the promoter) which left many competitors lost. Fortunately, not far' behind were two great sportsmen willing to help a competitor in need. While pushing my bike toward the pit and thinking my race was all but over, Kirk Stephenson came along and began to push me, placing his foot on my peg. While pushing me, Kirk saw an XR coming behind us and thought it was our other team bike, so he proceeded down the course. Unfortunately, this other bike was not a Team Honda bike and they didn't want any part in helping me out. Once again, I thought our race was doomed and began pushing by foot. Shortly thereafter, the Team Husqvarna bike of Eron Boyer came along and saved our race. After flagging Eron down and asking him for help, he didn't even hesitate or think twice. Eran pushed me all the way into the pit, costing his team valuable time. After being down by minutes, Johnny Campbell and myself ended up winning the race by only 31 seconds, something that would not have been possible without the help of these two great competitors (which Donner Ski Ranch would like to thank all the fans, riders, volunteers and sponsors who attended the annual Buell Old Highway 40 Motorcycle Days, held August 1112. The coverage in Cycle News by Doug Karcher was fantastic. But it was stated, "this could be the last one." Not true. Please plan to attend the 7th Annual Old Highway Motorcycle Days in Norden, California, the second weekend of August 2002. Most of all, I want to thank the Legends of the motorcycling world from the 1930s to the present who participated - you are the reason we all gather to reminisce and celebrate this great sport. Andrea PhlIUps Richard Craig Donner SId Ranch Norden, CA Hunttngton Beach, CA Be A Corner Worker Wrong Info I enjoyed your articles in a recent Cycle News regarding the final AMA road race at Virginia International Raceway. Your comments about this facility being top-notch are spot-on! The VIR sets new standards in motorcycle road courses. I had the privilege of working my first AMA road race as a corner marshal. We arrived on Friday morning at 6 a.m. before the sun was up and were briefed in the conference room before being assigned a corner. Then we get to ride around the track to our assignments. This was my first view of the track, and it was spectacular. The course is challenging and beautiful. The views from the course were akin to riding parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway! I wondered if the racers were tempted to take in the scenery on occasion. I certainly hope the AMA establishes a long relationship with the VIR. By the way, I strongly encourage your readers (as my friends successfully encouraged me) to try your hand at corner-marshaling. If you like racing, you cannot get any closer to the action without being in the race yourself. You instantly become a racer's best friend because you might be picking them and their bike off the ground, administering first aid, or dousing a fire. Racers reward you with wheelies and burnouts and their gratitude. Go for it! TomCafron Nashville, TN After reading one of your latest issues and the Looking Back section, I find it hard to swallow. Tom Rockwood did not, I repeat did not, win that race at Ascot Park in Gardena where the 405 and 110 collide. The only thing that was swallowed was the roost Lil John Hately was sticking in Rockwood's face. There weren't 12 lead changes - it was 13 and that was unlucky for Rockwood but beautiful for Hateley. Just check with the photo Dan Mahoney has. The only other thing I have to say is that John Hately should be in the Hall of the Fame. Dean Lane Chatswotth, CA Legends Thanks I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated at Del Mar this year. We had great races without injuries and an opening ceremony for the mile that was the best ever. My thanks to Dal Con Promotions for the concours and motorcycle exp, the Brysons and Mike Kidd for their support of our Trailblazers Competition Motorcycle Show and the "Lap of Legends," Don Emde for the excellent interviews of the Legends on the track, all our Trailblazer friends who helped with our show and the Lap of Legends, and my mom, Barbara Phillips, who arranged to get everyone there. cue' • n __ S • OCTOBER 24, 2001 5