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/146704
Continued from page 53 their childhood heroes. At least this one does. The Man and I didn't meet until I was in my forties and he was in his sixties. Since that meeting, we've exchanged letters and he's surprised me with gifts like one of his bats and a copy of the book, Pilgrimage, in which Pulitzer Prize winner James Michener chronicled a trip the two took to Poland and the Vatican. "Jack, Michener detailed our trip very well," reads the inscription, a typical Musial understatement. Over the years, I've bombarded Musial with countless photos and memorabilia items to be autographed. At first, The Man inscribed the photos "To Jack, a great fan" o,r "one of my greatest fans." Then a photo of the two of us taken at a charity golf tournament was returned with the inscription, "To Jack, The greatest of Musial fans." I thought the "greatest" was the highest tribute a fan could receive, but then came the ultimate tribute: another photo of the two of us together at another social function was returned and the inscription read, "To Jack, Your friend, Stan Musial." I wonder what I'd have dr,me if I had been born 40 years later. I imagine that I'd see a picture of a young man dragging his knee while negotiating a turn on a road race track. I'd read that he II I wonder what l'd have done if I had been born 40 years later. " was the National Superbike Champion and I:d choose him to be my boyhood hero. I'd follow his career and feel proud when he won his first World Championship and then another and another. I'd read nothing but positive things about him. I'd meet people who knew him and they would tell me his hat size was the same as it had been' when he was a young dirt track racer. They'd tell me that he was a family man. That he wasalways cordial to fans and to the press throughout his career. .And that he also found time to help charitable organizations like Save The Children. And I like to think that he'd return a photo after' having autographed it, and later start returning photos with "To a great fan" inscribed on them. I imagine that years after his illustrious racing career had ended I'd finally meet him. I'd tell him how I had seen him race many times. We'd have our picture taken. I'd send it to him and he'd' return it inscribed "To one of my greatest fans." Then, as we grew_older, we'd exchange letters and meet again at races or awards banquets or perhaps even charity golf tournaments. He'd always greet me with a smile and a firm handshake. We'd spend some time together and once again have our picture taken. I'd send him that one, too, and it would come back with "Your friend" above his autograph. And I like to think that one day outside of a road race track I would see a statue of him, and on its base wowd be the following: "Here stands motorcycle racing's perfect warrior... here stands motorcycle racing's perfect knight." And, yes, I would be very content in knowing that when I was a young boy I had chosen the right.man as a hero. Because that man was still my hero. A man who was not only a great athlete but a gentleman as well. Wayne Rainey. The 1992 Cycle News Rider of the Year. CN •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • * TWO BIG NIGHTS OF ICE BIKES & QUADS* BUDWEISER SPEEDWAY ICE RACING • • FRIDAY· JANUARY 29 • 7PM • WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IV THE BOB HETRICK MEMORIALCHAMPIONSHIP • • TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER LAST CHANCE TO QUALIFY TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TUCSON. ARIZONA. USA *** SATURDAY· JANUARY 30· 7PM BUDWEISER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IV ALL THE EXCITEMENT COLOR & PAGEANTRY OF A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTING EVENT *** TICKET INFO: (602)791-4266 CHARGEUNE (602)791-4836 RACE HEADQUARTERS· PARK INN INn (602)622-4000 MENTION ICE RACES FOR BEST RATE ICEJWSRA· P.O.BOX 18233, TUCSON.AZ 85731 (602)29~0206 FAX (602)299-5244 1993 WORLD CUP EVENTS: FEB. 5 AZ WORLD CUP ROUND - PHOENIX .' ••.. ~ ""'" _ : (f)1992I.C.E. :~ . ~ llV: 'Veaialtd to tk ~ SRpef!dw8Y Jlfavanument of sang Assc.• ;';~ Sputlway'Jtru.intJ' A~ : _ SKOAl PEPSI~. .; • . . BANDIT - .~. .: RACING- . . . ~ _fllllX. • ",UJ FEB.6 ICE NArL CHAMPIONSHIP - PHOENIX : MARCH 12 ALASKA WORLD CUP - FAIRBANKS MARCH 13 WORLD CUP FINAL -ANCHORAGE ~ ~ ~ ~c: : /,: SILVER : ROCKETS : ICE RACING!' STUDS The Lubricant of the '90s •••••••••••••••••••••••• ~.................................................... .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••••. 57