Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

III donlt understand the existing rules or implementation of them sufficientty to be an informed observer. 11 Bad Timing, And Scoring Mike (with the beard), who stayed with me until the EMTs arrived. At over 40 years of age my (non- ers would prefer to have another sponsor mentioned in lieu of from where they hail. Surely, I'm not the bike riding) friends and employees, Cycle News should send a box of its June 11 th issue to the AMA so everyone in Pro Racing can tear out the last page and tack it up on their wall. Henny Ray Abrams' story "Bungled Again" is right on the money only reader who has noticed this little and even myself, have started to quirk of yours. wonder, "What the hell am I doing?" something that is in your blood and never leaves you. My wife then If there is one thing that really gets to reminds me that me getting on the Rousseau, the friendly Wisconsinite who now calls California home, it's calling him Shirley... Editor with his position about the handling 405 freeway in rush-hour traffic every of the qualifying malfunction at Pikes day for my real job is dangerous as Peak. MlkeLaw Sacramento, CA Motorcycling and competition is well! So in hearing that, I guess I will When it became known that tech- be real careful on the freeway every Disbelief nical gremlins in the AMA's timing day and start riding again as soon as I am healed. I was in disbelief when I read the system existed, I don't see how anything other than declaring that session null and void would be the result. Willy Simons Simi Valley, CA As Henny Ray points out, the obvious action to take would have been to 600d Folks throw out those times, line up based on previous times or points and, most importantly, not award the fast-qualifier point. Apparently, I wasn't the only person annoyed and disappointed by Merrill Vanderslice's comment that the technical problem with the timing system wasn't the AMA's fault, it was its vendor's fault. The irony of his comment was that it came at an event where they were disqualifying riders for having illegal equipment, and I'm sure an "it's my vendor's fault" excuse would have been laughed at by the AMA. Honda's Chuck Miller took responsibility for the ruling on his machines, and we should expect no less from AMA Pro Racing when technology it brings into the sport doesn't work the way it is supposed to. Come on, guys. Step up and show some leadership. In my opinion you Bucky VS. Hacker As I recall from Willow Springs a couple of years ago, Jamie Hacking went into one of the final turns on the last rules in Superbikes this year and lap way too hot and took both himself have the series moving in the right and Eric Bostrom up the track - direction. But as Henny Ray says, allowing Kurtis Roberts to win the "goodwill is instantly forgotten" when race and the championship. It would you run and hide from your mistakes. be okay if his overly aggressive style Thanks From Simons I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who called and your coverage of the Cherry Creek National Hare & Hound. He thought it retested at each future event to was funny that the rider in front of assure compliance with the rules. After all, if you're on a rich, factory- him had run over a course worker. I am continually amazed (but not surprised) by the camaraderie and true brotherhood shown by the desert folks I have met over the years. At the National at Johnson Valley, my son and I showed up without pit help and figured we would just "wing it." Well, the folks next door at the Four Aces camp would have no part of that! They invited us to their campfire and (unexpectedly) pitted for us on Sunday - even changing Rob's tire (there was no way they would let him stop for such a small thing as a f1atl). Thanks for putting my tools away and reminding me why I really love racing in the desert. jerry and Robert Fouts Oakdale, CA made some good moves with the DonEmde Laguna Nlguet CA comment that Andy Grider made in only affected himself, but too often he takes others out with him. jack O'Neill vta the Internet Where's He From? These people are volunteers giving sponsored team and have been up their weekends to do a job so that "cheating" through the whole series we can continue to go out and enjoy and gained enough points to lead by our sport. I don't care if the condi- 30 or 40 points, then a 20-point tions were "slick" and it "wasn't com' penalty and a $2000 fine is not pletely his fault." The fact remains enough of an incentive or penalty to stop you from continuing to cheat. It that he ran over a course worker and never even stopped. The AMA should would be worth it, theoretically, for a step in and take this rider's card team to cheat severely in the last away. And for you, Andy, to think race of the season to ensure the victory if their rider was ahead by 21 this was funny - you disgust me. MlkeMarttn vta the Internet Penalties Regarding the recent rash of "cheating" (I.e: illegal modifications) in the AMA road race series, I am curious about the penalty type enacted by the AMA. Is it in the rulebook regarding the assessment of a 20-point penalty and a $2000 fine? I mean, if someone is caught "cheating" then they are in violation of the class rules, making them illegal to compete in that class, right? point penalty and a measly $2000 fine if caught. Okay, please clarify this issue for me, as it is obvious I don't understand the existing rules or implementation of them sufficiently to be an informed observer. I was a road racer for 16 years and only know of one type of penalty - disqualification. I didn't know that there were several levels of penalties for different forms of "cheating." If you illegally modify the bike against the rules, then you are illegal for the class. If you are illegal for the class, you can't participate After all, a $2000 penalty is noth- in the race. If you participate in the ing for someone like Team Honda but race illegally, you are removed from could be devastating to a young pri- said race and disqualified - without vateer. Why is this arbitrary amount? points. Where am I going wrong in Who decides these things? I mean, in this theory? Please help explain this to me. the "old days" of racing, it was pretty well accepted by all that if you were Steven Holt Annoch. CA caught "cheating" or making illegal modifications to your motorcycle, offered help to my family after my Hey, Scott Rousseau, is the geogra- then you were disqualified from the trip over the bars at the fourth round phy lesson in all of your National Dirt event with no points. That's it. No of the Big 6 Grand Prix at LACR that Track coverage really necessary? Every week you write of the Californ- money penalties, no arbitrary 20 left me with a fractured pelvis, points and only be liable for a 20- points lost - just disqualified. Period. sacrum - and eight days in the hospi- ian, the Iowan, the Virginian, etc. As I think Team Honda riders Ben tal. a subscriber since 1970, I've never Spies, Tommy Hayden, etc. should A special thanks for their encour- seen a writer cover events with such be disqualified from the event they aging words to Rick O'Donnell and a silly notion as this. I'm sure the rac- were caught at and then torn down or cue. e In order to explain, I would also have to understand. I'm not sure where the 20-point, $2000 fine came from. As far as I know, there is nothing in writing that lists all the possible infractions and equates those infractions with a fine amount and/or point deduction... Editor n e _ S • JUNE 18, 2003 5

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