Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

We ride the champ's bikes Dream Ride: managing editor Scott Rousseau gets the chance to slide Chris Carr's AMA championship-winning XR750 at the Waco Eagles M.C. clubgrounds in Waco, Texas. The verdict? The bike is exhilarating and nowhere near as intimidating as you might expect. II CHRIS CARR TAKES US FOR A SPIN. whole works as 1 stormed down the ---!--Uh2.all to our administration wing in order [0 firm. up the travel arrangements. I had no Intention of taking T here's nothing unusual about "no" for an answer. After all, his was • finding three-time A /,£rogI:eS,-a goldJUl..0pportunity to ride the sive Insuranee-tF.S. Flat Track Chamchamp's bikes_ Fortunately, it all «> hris Carr's voice at the other worked out, and I as set to meet end of my telephone line. I am, after -Sarr a little less than a week after all, the residen!.Firt track'1!u on stal getting--his..call. here a de News, and he is the Carr's plan was-simple: He wanted 'S dirt track racer in the country. to wring out his Quality Checked PreAnd over the course of the ast eight own.ed Ford Racing-backed Vor dirt years, we have become friends away trackers, probing them for any possible from e track, too. So it is that, more weaknesses before heading off to DayiTnes than I can count, we have tona to start the 2003 AMA/Progresjawed away for hours OR subject matsive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Chamters ranging from what we've heard pionships. Why he wanted me there about tnlS rider's program or that new was also simple: I could provide sonne racing schedule or the odd rules or welcome props to the little Italian comprocedure cha,!1ges and whether or pany if I was allowed to tag along and not we a ree or disagree with the spin laps on the bikes myself. other y's point of view, to what his "You're the only journalist that I k·ds are up to or where my-wife and I trust to ride these thjngs, because are heading for ,a·cation. I figured that you have- dirt track experience," Carr was where .th'ls call was headed, too. had told me. "It would be a really "He;y.-;"what are you doing next good opportunity for you to see why wee ." Carr asked. we like these things so much .in the Don't have anything in particular, first place. We're going to have our hy?" I countered. 450, our 505 and our TT bike out "Because I'm going dow to"f-exas there, and Ke)lny even said that he'd to test Ith Kenny T Ibert, and I just th QW in one of the Harleys to let you wante to see if y u'd be interested in see what you think about that." coming down and riding our bikes Cool! Chris Carr trusts me to ride an maybe writing s0'1le ing u his championship-caliber bikes. My about it... Hey? You still there?" chest puffed up big. Then Carr let the My phone's receiver was already twisting in the air, hanging off my wind rig~t back out with the following desk by its cord. I nearly toppled the caveat: "But hey, ff you crash any of - ( ------ n 36\MARCH 12,2003' eye I p _ _ os my shit, you gotta buy my whole team beer at all the races for the rest of year." Yeah, sure. No pressure! The big day arrived, but of course I had to go ahead and miss my plane, thus screwing up a perfect plan hereby Carr and I would land at DFW within just a few minutes of each oth,er, share a rental car and make our way to Tolbert's Rhome, Texas, home/race headquarters. As it turned out, I'd have to find my way to Tolbert's place on my own, which I did without too much trouble, even though he lives in the boonies. Early the rrext morning, we were on our way to Waco, Texas, home of the Waco Eagles Motorcycle Club, where dub president Glen McNamara had labored to put together a beautiful little semibanked short track inside the club's loose-cushioned half-mile track. While most of our two days' worth of testing (well, actually it turned out to be more like a day and a half due to foggy weather on the first day) took place on the short track, I did ride the Harley on the half-mile, which was a little ripply in the COrners but nonetheless did give me a decent opportunity to feel the \

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