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/128321
" H ow I m iss the days when seven to eight men would fight for the win." A Letter From Goodwin I really enjoyed your story on the very first Superbowl of Motocross (Issue # 13, April 7, 2004). But first things first: Mike laRocco winning his 202nd supercross start in such a big way (holeshot, etc .) is a tremendous tribute to persistence, and it make me fee l great abo ut all the folks w ho worked and dreamed to make the first Superbowl a reality, and the persistence to believe in the future I preached back in the beginning, when there were more doubters than supporters. There were a lot if unknown soldiers who contributed to the wonderful success today. Those folks, guys and girls alike, deserve a lot of cred it. Marty Tripes did wonderfu l at the first and second Superbowls and probably sold us a lot of tickets when he went to the Gary Bailey Motocross School with me , as a prelude to his 1964 Rosebowl "comeback." However, there are a couple of items that need to be set right for the reco rd. We announced a tr ue co unt of 27,000 + for the first Superbowl. I arrived in my 1972 Chevy 4x4 pickup that I raced in the Mint 400 that year. I never owned a Rolls Royce or rode in one to any supe rcross event. I did not wear a suit to the first Superbowl, and I have never owned a lavender or pink suit. That is not to say that I deny at many times both dressing and acting outrageously, particularly in my "off" time. My success in rock & roll (fo r example , I did the last janis joplin tour, jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, etc .) convinced me that showmanship was needed to se ll tickets to supercross and that "off the chart" antics generated press interest that sold tickets. That and our 60-hour-pe r-week work schedule is probably why our company, Stadium Motorsports, had more sponsor dollars and national television coverage than all of the rest of the AMA racing events combined, even including RjR and the Nationals. We once had to do a study on that for Coca Cola. As I mentioned above, there are dozens of people who worked long hours , often at low pay for a demanding boss (me), to keep supercross going. They, and lots of racers, deserve a lot of credit . As to what I wore at the first Superbowl, the LATimes carried a frontpage sports section picture the next day of an "unidentified course worker" almost be ing taken out by Gunnar Lindstrom as he moved a hay bale to protect the football field. That worker was clearly me - in cutoff jeans and a T-shirt. Keep it up. Mike Goodwin Santo Ana, CA Goodwin wrote this from the Orange County Jail in Sonta Ana, where he remains incarcerated after being arrested on suspicion of the 1988 murders of his former portner, Mickey Thompson, and Thompson's wife, Trudy. Goodwin has always maintained his innocence and claims that he is close to winning his case and being released... Editor Jack Hateley During one of the monthly TT races at Ascot Park in the mid-1970s, jac k was watching the main from one of the infield corners. Mark Brelsford was in the lead, and jack 's son , john, on his Triumph, was not far behind. With just a handful of laps remain ing, jack raised his hand as if he had a pistol and made a couple of shooting motions at Mark's Harley-Davidson . Then he turned to me and said: "O ut of Indians." He was always trying. Godspeed, jack. Tom Clark Seal Beach, CA Jack Hateley II My dear friend and mentor jack Hateley passed away last week after a lengthy battle with emphysema and lymphoma. jack was best known for building and tuning AMA Natio nal-winning motorcycles for his son john Hateley and also Eddie Mulder. His background as a precision machinist was reflected in the meticulous preparat ion of his racing equipment. By example and instruct ion, jack passed his know ledge and love of motorcycle racing along to those of us fortunate enough to work for him at his Triumph dealership in the 19705. He had a quick wit and keen sense of humor, but most importantly he was just a really bitchin' motorcycle guy. Godspeed, jack. Steve Storz via the Internet A Letter To Carmichael Ricky, you're killing me. I am not sure that you completely understand the consequences of your actio ns. When I to ld my letters to theeditor should be sent to Voice" Cycle News PO Box 5084, Costo Meso, , CA92628-5084: foxed to 7 14-75 1-6685 or emoiledto editorikyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarilyreAect the position of Cycle News, Inc. letters should nolexceed200 words, and a llare subject 1 editing_Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 0 AU letters should contain thewriter's name, addressand daytime phone number... E ditor. 6-year-old son that Ricky will ride Suzuki next year, he proclaimed, "My favorite color is Suzuki now." For the last two years his favorite color was "Honda" and before that "Kawasaki." Trust me, these changes are not chea p. I just bought him a new helmet for Christmas and now this. O bviously, you haven 't been out pricing gear lately. Spending t he money on gear is bad enough, but I am also going to have to stand in line with the boy to get your autograph on a Suzuki poster - thanks , Ricky. My saving grace is that Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki don't make SOcc motocrossers. This family doesn 't care what you ride. We always cheer for #4 . Tom an d Luke Howes via t he Int ernet Good One, Marty Marty Tripes hit the nail right on the head when he stated , "I do n't even go to the races anymore. The riders today make me so mad because most of them don't care . They don't race. They just wonder how the y look in the ir uniforms." My thoughts exactly. Only Ricky Carmichael and Bubba Stewart have the heart and des ire of the riders in the '70s and '60s. How I miss the days when seven to eight men wou ld fight for the win. Norman Redo Long Beach, M S looked familiar. He was my long-time hero Scott Parker. I had to borrow a pen and then quietly asked Scott if he would be so kind to sign an autograph for me. Scott was very gracious and said yes. I then took off my sweatshirt, and he signed my T-shirt: Scott Parker 9XGNC = 94WINS. Wow! All I could say was, "Thanks, Scott, you'll always be # I in my book ." I told my son that the neat thing about motorcycling is there are plenty of heroes for us all. Thanks , Scott , for the autograph and all the great memories. Jeff Anderson Rochester Hills, MI On Gobert I guess there are now two things the world will never know: How many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop and how many titles Anthony Gobert could have won. I love watching the boy ride, and he was a nice enough bloke when my wife and I met him, but Anthony, Anthony, Anthony... He makes it hard to be his fan sometimes. I just keep hoping that he w ill be able to pull his head out of his tail (pipe) and salvage a career before just finding someone to pay his entry fee 'at the WSMC club races will be a good break . John Jacobs via the Int ern et A Small World On Gobert II It's a small world . The guy who designed the MotoGP trave ling trophy is apparently the same guy who designed the new AMAlogo . Ray M erkle Wilmington, OH A few issues ago, a reader wrote in predicting the self-destruction of Anthony Gobert. At that point, I had to stop myself from writing in to dispute that thought, and now it has come true. Anthony was one of the most exciting racers to watch, and his talent was great . I can only express sadness , not anger for this loss. Honda did the right thing in letting him go. He had his chances, but someday Anthony Gobert will loo k back and think of what could have been . Maurice M cCoy Martinsville, IL Still A Hero What a nice surprise it was while stand ing in line with my son at K&W Cycle in Shelby Township for a james Stewart autograph that became aware of another dad in line with his who family www.cyclenews.com CYCLE NEWS • APRIL 28,2004 5