Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Tex Pee':) Looking to '83 p , I I By Dale Brown • • Every year that Ricky Graham has been a contender for the AMA Grand National Championship, Martin E. "Tex" Peel has been the one preparing his machines. Peel, one of the nicest people you'll meet on the circuit, has until recently juggled a full-time job along with the task of building rocketship Harley-Davidson XR750s. We talked to Peel for a few minutes recently, and asked him what was in the works for 1983. "lronhorse will be the major sponsor," he told us, "Along with a considerable amount of help from Harley-Davidson, Castrol and Shoei. We're still in negotiations with Wiseco Pistons. That's all that we have pretty well locked up. "We're going to stick with what got us the number one plate. We'll be racing Harley-Davidson TT bikes, and we're building a new motor right now for our Harley short tracker. There will be a few small changes. We'll be using the brake system we built for the Superbikers in the TT races, along with the leading axle Simons forks. We're going to get some help from Steve Simons, too. He's committed to help us in the suspension area. "We're going to build an extra motorcycle, also. We'll have five bikes instead of four, four big motors and a short tracker. It's less work when you have an extra motorcycle. Along with the short tracker and TT bike, we'll have one that's basically a half miler to go along with the two milers." But the 1983 season is not all that is on Tex's mind. For ~he past six months, he's been suffering from heart problems, and he is currently on disability leave from his auto plant job. "I just had some more tests run on my heart. The doctors have me on an exercise program and they've told me to lose 30 more pounds - I've got to get down to about 230. I'll get it done. I'm about 260 now, and I was at 300 when I started. "I had some pretty bad chest pains about six months ago. In fact, I still get them if I exert myself. One artery is completely blocked, and another is about 70% blocked. "They did a heart catheterization on me two weeks ago, and they told me what was wrong with me. They're just in the process of getting some more w.eight off and seeing if I can operate in a fairly normal capacity with the weight off. Another possibility is ,surgery, either a coronary bypass or that new balloon surgery. That's all up in the air until I get some more weight off and try a mild exercise program. "After Houston, I'll go back and see the heart specialist." And if Tex tackles this problem with the spirit he puts into his machines, we know he'll come out OK. • HUSQVARNA CAPTURES ITS 13TH CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL ENDURO TITLE With every national enduro season, there are three things you can always count on. You can count on speed averages which can't possibly be maintained, You can count on secret checks where you least expect them, And you can count on a Husqvarna Champion. For it's been 13 years since any other manufacturer has stood on the top spot of the championship podium. Congratulations to Husqvarna's Terry Cunningham, who picked up right where King Richard Burleson left off, leading teammates Mike Melton and Mark Hyde to Husqvama's second consecutive 1, 2, 3, sweep of the trophies. Just goes to show, the more times change, the more tradition remains the same; you can count on a Husqvarna. Catch the Championship Winning Husqvarna WR Enduro machines at your local dealer now! HalllYama 4925 Mercury Street San Diego, California 92111 714·565-1414 ET UP Ott THE TAttK ONE PIECE MOLDED r......:=:.::~=.:stlr.-~-LJiI/iI!;~:-:q CONSTRUCTION $ Col. Res. odd 6" Soles Tax • Exclusive nose pocket. will not shift • Accent PANEL tor tit and style • All seams double stitched tor , maximum strength • Vinyl cover 35% neavier than stock seats _~qto • Precision molded to tit snug against gas tank d- ~ . • • No cross seams to snag r:>\0 ...separate... or tear ~(j. _..6~ • ¢o;p- •.' • HI-FLITE 3995 with USA

• Cover