Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

INSIDE v 0ICES FEATURES Godspeed, Charlie MOTOCROSS , First win of season for Ward; Emig closes on laRocco at Steel City 6 The motorcycling world recently lost one of its most loyal and outstanding members, Charlie Watson, a man of many firsts. Charlie, a longtime Regional referee and a per~onal friend to me and many others, was young for his 80 years and always remained active, working part-time almost until the end and remaining devoted to his many friends. . A former racer (TT and scrambles) and·a lifelong member of the Cycle Alley M.e. of Paterson, New Jersey, Charlie was known to millions of motorcyCle racing fans as the man in the red and white shirt at the thousands of professional events at which he officiated. He was the first AMA District referee in New Jersey when Districts were established for professional racing. He later became the first Regional referee and he was the first Regional referee to establish and train a National crew who had fixed positions and specific jobs and who traveled to every National event in their Region. Charlie officiated at every type of event sanctioned by the AMA, beginning with dirt track and road race Nationals and concluding with MX and supercross. He officiated at the first Trans-Am and Inter-Am events, events that were the forerunner of professional MX in America, which he later convinced the AMA to place in a separate department in which I became a National MX referee. His experience even extended into the international arena when he conducted several FIM/AMA road race and MX events and made several trips to England as part of the AngloAmerican Match Race Series. Add to this the old Yamaha Gold Cup Indoor Short Track Series run on concrete floors inside hockey rinks· like Madison Square Garden in New York City. MOTe firsts. I could go on, but for the many who knew Charlie from Loudon. to Daytona, from New York City to Laguna, and from Columbus to Houston, there really isn't much more to say. When a 60-year-old.guy will strap on an open-face helmet and throw his leg over a Triumph Bonneville without a windshield and ride from new Jersey to California just to visit friends, well that says it all as far as motorcycling goes. We'll all miss Charlie, but we won't forget him. He was one of the 'Grand Old Men' of this sport and I am proud to have known him, to have worked with and learned from him, and to have been his friend. Godspeed, Charlie. If there are motorcycle races in Heaven, I know who the referee will be. Trans-Cal Series rolls on at Barona Oaks,and Silver State, , , , , ,44 ROAD RACING Moroso F-USA win to Jacks 16 Kawasaki France rules Bol d'Or ._., .26 Biaggi supel' at-Superprestigio SPEEDWAY USA aces World Team Cup Final in Sweden 30 . :. '.19 RIDING IMPRISSION Spinning hot laps on ,Suzuki's new RM250P 2O VINTAGE Rockin' in the Rockies: Steamboat Springs 22 OFF·ROAD Hamel/Ostbo win Las Vegas 300 .... 32 'Hrehor prevails at West Virginia National Cross Country 38 Frazier, Gerencer Sr. top N~tional Hillclimb in Indiana : .10 DIRT TRACK Fay beats Carr at Castle Rock 36 FLlTTRACK Pegram paves the way at . MARS Asheville Half Mile 42 DEPARTMENTS LOCAL RACING RESULTS CALENDAR WANT ADS : 45 56,74 57 62 ON THE FRONT PAGE: We ride the all-new and, yes, improved i993 Suzuki RM250P motocrosser. But just how improved is it? Check out page 20 for a riding impression. Photo. by Kinney Jones. America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXIX Michael Klinger, Publisher Caroline Gendry, Executive Secretary to the Publisher Editorial Jack Mangus, Associate Publisherl Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Paul Canutbers, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Chris Jonnum, Assistant Editor Edwina Mangus, Calendar Editor Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loo, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amy Harris, Graphic Artist Carolyn Branham, Typesetter .Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas R. Gonter, Western Sales Manager Steve Gotoski, Western Sales Manager Mark Mitchel1, Eastern Adounts Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Borden Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Dealer Sales Steve Gotoski, Dealer Representative Marketing Be Promotion Mark Thome, Manager' Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Sarah Taylor, Billing Coordinator Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinator Debbie Weller, Dealer Coordinator Accounting/Data Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Want Ads Toni Kerr, Want Ad Sales Service and Support Chris Aitcheson, Headquarters Receptionist Leonard Herring, Service and Support National Headquarters Eastern Office 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498 4190 First Ave., Tucker, GA. 3()O84; mailing address P.O. Box 805. Tucker, GA 30085-0805. (310) 427·7433; (310) 636-8844. FAX (310) 427-6685 (404) 934·7850. FAX (404) 934-3112 Cycle News (USPS 141·340) is' published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Second class postage paid at Long Beach, CA. Canada Post International Publications Mail #546615. POSTMASTER:.Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498. To determine the expiration date of your subscription, check the (our numbers on the (irst line o( your address label. The (irst two digits indicate the last issue number you'll rea:ive and the last two characters indicate the year o( the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its possessions for one year, (50 issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), $95.00; six months, (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (50 issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Such ac· cepted material is subject to revision as is necessary in the sole discretion of Cycle News. Unsolicited material which is not used will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope. All unsolicited material will be handled with reasonable care, however, Cycle News assumes no responsibility (or the safety, loss or damage to such material. Reprinting in whole or part only by permission of the publisher. Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.S. W/BnA V rt'\ AUDITED CIRCULATION Copyright. Cycle News, Inc. 1m Trademark Cycle News ftgistmd U.s. PaltDt Office. All rights merved. 4 Letters to the editor Rick Titone Newark, NJ The class of '72 Charlie Watson will be missed by us "old timers." I count in that group Cycle News editor Jack Mangus and myself. We were among the "class of '72" - younger, eager dirt track fanatics covering the AMA Grand National Championship Series for Cycle News in the days of Kenny Roberts, Gary Scott, Gary Nixon, Dick Mann, Mark Brelsford, Mike Kidd, the Palmgren brothers, Gene Romero and David Aldana plus enough other names and faces to fill a scrapbook. . However, there will always be one name which sticks in my memory above and beyond everyone else Charlie Watson. As National referee, he was the man with the rule book, the man who ran the show. Gharlie' probably never won any popularity contests. He was tough. He was also fair and that's probably something he'd like to be remembered for. One of Charlie's favorite sayings was: "I don't make the rules, I only enforce them." If I close my eyes, I can still hear him saying that to some rider, more than likely one of the "stars" who didn't quite get away with something he felt he should have. I don't dwell in the past, but we of the "class of '72" had a helluva good time. Charlie will be missed. Gary Van Voorhis Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL Don't let 'em ride In fairness to those who rode at the Fresno Mile Nati9nal under adverse conditions, I would certainly hope that those who chose not to ride will not be eligible to ride the po'stponed Camel Challenge. While I respect the decision of those who chose not to ride, I do not believe they should be allowed to benefit from the poor track conditions at Fresno by participating in the postponed Camel Challenge. Bob Mundy Bridgewater, NJ The Camel Challenge race that was to have taken place at Fresno will be run at the October 3 Sacramento Mile . .. Editor. Party, not rally A recent release in Cycle News apparently has confused many people. It stated that the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) year-end party would be held at the Red Lion Inn Ontario on October 10 in conjunctiml with the Camel Pro (Pomona Half Mile) race officials staying there. The confusion comes from the fact that the Southern California State H.O.G. Rally is being held on October 10 at the Holiday Inn in Ontario. This is the firsttime H.O.G. has held a rally in southern California and it will feature a full day of entertainment, including a bike show, bike games, a band, and more. A check with the H.O.G. National office found that there was no yearend party scheduled. Please alert your readers of this fact. . Don Lindors . Events Director So. Cal. State H.O.G. Rally Santa Ana, CA We stand corrected. What is taking place at the Red Lion Inn in Ontario, California, on Sunday, October 10, is a private party hosted by HarleyDavidson .to celebrate their winning the AMA Grand National Championship'/Camel Pro Series title. A Harle.y-Davidson factory team rider will win the title; Whether it will be defending champ Scott Parker or Chris Carr remains to be seen . .. Editor. Letters to the editor should be sent to: Voices, Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters should not exceed 200 words and all letters are subject to editing.

• Cover