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/128344
"He was very down to earth and a real gentleman - and boy was he fast!" Ienee to theeditor should be sent to Voices, Cycle News POBox 5084, Coste Meso, , CA92628-5084; foxed to 714-751-6685 or emciled to ed;'or@cydenews_com. Published ett lenendo 001 necessarily reflect the position ofCycle News, Inc. L e rs should notexceed 200 words, and allore subject 10 editing. Anonymous letters will not beconsidered for publication. ..,._ , . Alllettersshouldconta in the writer's name, address and daytimephone number... fdilor. Dream Day What a great article by Scott Rousseau (The Dream Day, September 8) about Eddie Law so n's come-from- behind (ninth) victory in the 1988 U.S. GP. Just days before I got the issue, I had been describing the race to a frie nd and I re me mbered Eddie's awesome passes in turn two . I still remember everybody yelling "Eddie , Eddie" as he passed us at the Co rkscrew. Also, a great shot in the September I5 issue "Ol d School Grid," showing Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz , Chri stian Sarron and John Kocinski. Whe n you compare wins and championships, Lawson stands out as o ne of the best, especially whe n you consider he was competing against the likes of those in the photo (including Wayne Gardne r). Lawson , Doohan and Rossi have all accomplished great things, yet it seems that when the "greats" are mentioned , Lawson is often overlooked. One thing I always admired abo ut him was he did his talking on the track . John Heim via the Internet Modern Day Heroes It is easy to get swept up in the hype , and to forget the fact that motocross stars are people too. And in some cases they are true heroes, despi te w hat the press might proclaim. Recently my son Dylan was practicing at a frie nd's motocross trac k when he came up short on a double and went over the bars, getting the w ind knocked out of him. He was diagnosed with a trauma to the abdomen that might requ ire surgery. We spent the night in the hospita l while my wife went home to get some rest . She couldn't sleep and ended up calling people, medica l resources, family, and friends to see what she could do for him. For some reason she logged on to the Alessi Racing website and, on the contact list, she saw contact Kim Alessi. She thought that Kim, being a motocross mom , might be able to relate to the situation we were in. So she e-mai led Kim in hopes that she, Mike or Jeff would e-mail back some words of en co urage ment. It was to he r surprise when Kim called the next day, tracking us down in the hos- 4 pital room, to ask how Dylan was doing. She to ld Julie not to tell him who was calling and asked to talk to Dylan. Kim to ld him that she had two boys who raced , and they too had bee n hurt at times and then she told Dylan w ho she was and put Mike on the phone. The look on my son's face is somet hing we w ill never forget. A ray of light at a time that was very dark . The Alessis were preparing for Glen Helen but took the time to help a brother in need. That type of concern for a fellow rider is truly inspiring and how the motocross community should treat each other. In o ur minds, the Alessi family are heroes of proportions! Brian Bell Pella,IA You've Got To Be Kidding Roberto Comini shelled out $286 million to buy Bimota - a company that will "eventually" employ 25 workers. Twentyfive big husky employees, working 12hour shifts, couldn't load enough coca ine in DC -7s to pay the debt service o n $286 million dollars! More Italian opera please . Bruce Armstrong Santa Barbara, CA Lappers Regarding the letter from Ro be rt Manson (Issue #37): If the white- nag lap were to be the last lap for lappe d riders, wouldn't riders about to be lapped still be a problem to the finishers? Were the riders on the last lap that caused a problem lapped riders or about to be lapped before the checkered nag? I favor a 103-percent rule and a sepa rate race for slower riders. This would give spectators another race to watch as well as giving those riders the experience they need to be more competitive. John Haley via t he Internet Cover Fan Absolutely awesome cove r shot for th is week's issue (Issue # 38). I thought Makota Tamada was going to ny right off the cover! Daniel Granillo via t he Internet O O OBER 6, 2004 • CYCLE NEWS _ Chris Draayer I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Draayer during a CLASS school at Laguna Seca a few years ago . I have a very goo d friend who was born without a left arm and rides quite we llwith the aid of a pros thetic arm , and when I told Chris about him, we hit it off immediately. He was very down to earth and a real gentleman - and boy was he fast! So it is with great sadnes s that I rea d about his demi se, although, if it is any consolation , he went doing what he loved. My sincere con do lences to his family and all w ho knew him. Jose Obando Phoenix, AZ BSB Fan You guys really are doing a great job these days - the new format is terrific, and I really appreciate your rece nt coverage of British Superbike racing. Dick Fisk San Diego, CA B-to-V I enjoyed Scott Rousseau's article about Barstow-to-Vegas. Just so you know, the final B-to-V in 1989 was not the 17th annual, it was the 15th. The event ran from 1967 through 1974, and then 1983 through 1989. Yes, the entry was always over I 000 riders, and sometimes during the first eight years the number was 3000 . Yes, the final two events were only 148 miles in length on the BLM-mandated "short course" that finished back at sta teline (Primm, Nevada) instead of continuing on to Sloan, just outsi de of Vegas. The race was usually 170 miles, and in 1985 it was 190 miles on the "long course'" that had an extra gas pit on Jean Dry Lake. I rode the eve nt from 1983 to 1987 - and 1985 was the best one during the 1980s. Also, the pro test rides were not eventual- 40th Anniversary Iyhalted by the BLM. I rode the final "official" B-to-V protest ride in 2000 with Super Hunky (Rick Sieman) and others, and ther e was o nly one BLM ranger - and he was actually friendly and he lpful. The best part was the Phantom Duck himself (Louis McKey) handing you a pin at the finish. Tom Ma rshall Sant a Clarita, CA Pleased With Dad As someone who has spent his e ntire life racing motocross, I have many accomplishments that I am quite proud of. However, as someone who has spent his enti re life racing motocross and watching it (especially this year), I know exactly what I am the mo st proud of. My fathe r! In all my years of racing, my father neve r yelled at me or publicly criticized my riding. He never boasted about me or talked crap about any of my opponents. He never yelled at anyone else's mecha nic, and he never blamed the track or the promoter for how I finished. I wish all of today 's racers, both amateur and profes sional, could have a father like mine. Then maybe they would be learning respect, sportsmanship and how to be men instead of how to be a jerk! Cartney Worline f/ko, NV