Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

--~ -- _.-/ -~ .'-- ~-, --' Continued from page 3 -- - -- ' -~- -- - -~ ~ @D@[fx @fJ[jJ[?D@[fiJf} 7J @f?l7J of?l@@® u Q r u r-'\ I I e l.- o Former Harley-Davidson director of racing Dick O'Brien (second from right), the man who led the orange and black factory team's racing successes for nearly three decades, died at his Palm Coast, Florida, home on Monday, March 17, He was 81. O'Brien was hired by Harley-Davidson in 1957, accepting the position of assistant director of racing. When, three months later, Hank Syvertson retired as director of racing, O'Brien took on that role. As director of racing, he became the architect behind the Motor Company's racing effort until his retirement in 1983. "We have lost a real icon," said Walt Falk, who worked under O'Brien as supervisor of racing. "The company always had a lot of faith in him, and he had quite a bond with the executives at HarleyDavidson. He was strong but fair. You always knew where you stood, and you knew where he stood." Factory Harley-Davidson dirt track team tuner Bill Werner also remembered O'Brien as a focused individual. "He was very driven, very purposeful, a real no-nonsense type of guy," Wemer said. "Racing was his passion, and he really dedicated his life to it." Werner said that O'Brien's strength as a manager lay in his ability to secure funding for the racing department. This was especially true during the massive "Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew" assaults on the Daytona 200 in the late '60s. "I remember that 1968 was the first year that we went down there with the dual carb KRTTs, and we went down there with eight riders," Werner said. "O'Brien told us that when they came around on the flfSt lap, he wanted to see all eight of the Harleys in front. Sure enough, when they came around, the factory guys were first through eighth. He always said that was a highlight of his career." Factory Harley rider Cal Rayborn went on to win - the last time that a Harley-Davidson ever did in the 200, Werner recalled that O'Brien favored his relationship with Rayborn above all the other riders who rode for the factory. "When O'Brien retired, they built him a bike to take with him," Werner said. "They could have built him anything he wanted. He wanted a Cal Rayborn replica," It was O'Brien who was also given the task of transitioning from the KR750 to the XR750. "He was the one who was really responsible for the XR, He had two goals with that engine," Werner said. "The short-term goal was to bring the XR out, and we did that with the cast iron XR, and his long-term goal included the switch to the aluminum XR. History shows that his vision was correct," Indeed, with factory rider Mark Brelsford aboard, the aluminum XR750 won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1972, its first season. Since then, the Harley-Davidson XR750 engine has won an additional 23 AMA dirt track titles, most of them at the hands of factory Harley riders hired by O'Brien, including Gary Scott, Jay Springsteen, Randy Goss and Scott Parker. It was Springsteen who had a hand in one of the most often told fables regarding O'Brien's reign as director of racing, Werner recounted the story in Cycle News back in 1999, when Springsteen was named as Dirt Tracker of the Century. "One time we were at the San Jose Mile, doing PR for a local TV station," Werner said. "This was on a Saturday, and the Mile was going to be on a Sunday. Jay gets out there, and he's buzzing around for this TV gig, and I remember that it was hot as hell that day. Then he came in, and we started putting the stuff away. Springer went over to his truck, popped open a beer, and starts downing it. Harley had a policy that stated its riders weren't supposed to drink alcohol the day before a race. So Dick O'Brien is there, and he sees Springer and says, 'Springsteen, are you drinking a beer? That's a hundred-dollar fine for drinking alcohol the day before the race.' And Springer just looks at him and says, 'Well, then you'd better make it two hundred, 'cause I'm gonna have 8 1 '....J 'I u C C I) LJ C o o o o o o o c c o c c c c c c c c o o o C another one!'" O'Brien is survived by his wife, Pat, daughters Peggy Berose (Frank) and Patricia Frank (Peter), a stepson, Gregory O'Neil, and a brother, Jesse. A memorial service will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 4600 Belle Terra Causeway, in Palm Coast, Florida, on March 31 at 10 a.m. Scott Rousseau '1 LJ 96 (1 Series will be aired on network TV, according to Clear Channel Entertainment's motor sports division. The Las Vegas round of the series will air on ABC's Wide World of Sports in next-day coverage May 4, Over the past five seasons, Clear Channel Entertainment has invested millions of dollars in bringing the THQ World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series to network television, according to Clear Channel. Due to scheduling changes with the NBA switching from NBC to ABC in 2003, the supercross airtime was not available in 2003 until this deal was secured. "We at Clear Channel Entertainment are extremely happy that we have been able to once again secure time on ABC for THQ World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series. We have always been committed to bringing the greatest motorcycle racing in the world to the most elite stadiums in the world and into everyone's television sets at home," said Ken Hudgens, vice president for Clear Channel Entertainment's motor sports division. "Bringing the supercross finals from Las Vegas to ABC is another huge step for our sport and a testament to our extremely loyal fans." Going into its sixth year on network television, supercross has posted impressive ratings. reaching as high as a 3.7 household rating. This will be the first time the supercross finals will be aired on network TV. DirecTV and iN DEMAND carried the supercross finals from Sam Boyd Stadium in the past through pay-per-view. -We are extremely delighted that we are able to bring the final race, traditionally on payper-view, to ABC Sports, so all can witness the outstanding young talent this supercross series has to offer," said Steve Ferrara, director of programming for ABC Sports. The one-hour show will air on ABC's Wide World of Sports the afternoon of May 4. The exact time of the broadcast will be announced soon. exciting type of racing." Schwantz said. Former 500cc World Road Race Champion Kevin Schwantz will make his gave us a chance to have some input. return to national competition in the think you're going to see a much safer 'Its mix of dirt and pavement with the possibility of a jump draws from three different types of competition. It should be an interesting new championship, and I am excited to be involved with it. It's been eight years since I have competed in a full series championship, and this time I am doing it just forfun!" The 2003 schedule kicks off at the AMA Superbike/World Superbike Laguna Seca event and wraps up with a winner-takeall championship finale at Las Vegas held in conjunction with the AMA Championship Awards Banquet. Top riders from the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series tested three new portions of track on March 20 at Infi· neon Raceway in Sonoma. California, and riders agreed the changes were a step in the right direction, according to a release issued by the track. AMA factory teams Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki were joined by Austin Ducati, Bruce Transportation (Honda), No Limit (Honda), Erion (Honda) and Graves (Yamaha) on the twisting Sonoma Valley circuit for a one-day test session under sunny skies. In all. 20 riders gave the course a full-day shakedown. Riders tested three new portions of track at turns 1, 8-10 and 11, which have been redesigned to address rider concerns for the AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge, presented by Honda of Milpitas, May 2-4. "I like the changes a lot." said Honda rider Miguel DuHamel, winner of the Daytona 200, in the release. "I especially like the new section at turns 8-9. That area is going to be a lot safer, but it's going to be more exciting, too. It's the best of both worlds," Ben Bostrom was also pleased ... I just like the fact that Infineon talked with the riders before they made the changes," Bostrom said. "They We don't see that everywhere we go. I newly formed AMA Red Bull Supermoto track. We don't have to ride around here championship. Schwantz will ride a self- anymore with a constant fear. This track prepared DRZ400 with support from American Suzuki, Yoshimura R&D. is a lot safer, and that's what we want. rm happy." Raceway officials made the Michelin, Ohlins. White Brothers, VP Fuels, Joe Rocket, Parts Unlimited, changes to the three portions of track Alpinestars, Braking, Motion Pro, Motul, Arai. Cytomax, Clif Bar and Brand with AMA riders DuHamel, Bostrom, 34 apparel. The six-race Supermoto championship series is based on the original Superbikers made-far-television series and is an interesting mix of road racing, flat track and motocross disciplines. Though known mostly for his World Championship road racing exploits, Schwantz's roots in off-road experience run deep. Supermoto's after a one-day consultation in October Aaron Yates and Eric Bostrom, as well as AMA road race manager Ron Barrick. Turn 1 had been a sweeping left-hander, putting riders at a precarious angle as they approached a pedestrian bridge at the apex of turn one, The circuit has now been extended 50 feet in a straight line before entering turn 1, Riders will then make a left turn at apprOXimately 90 APRIL 2, 2003' cue I e e _ s degrees. which is designed to direct competition. "I think Supermoto's an n unique cross-discipline appeal inspired Schwantz to return to national-level circuit toward turn 2. them away from the bridge and up the CIII

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