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/1544637
RIP, Bob Hicks F ollowing a brief illness, Bob Hicks passed away peacefully on April 23, surrounded by family members. He was 96 years old. Bob was pre-deceased by his wife, Jane, and he leaves behind his children, Roberta and Rick, who have requested privacy dur - ing this difficult time and have shared that services will be held privately. Bob was instrumental in mo - tocross racing in New England. He was a co-founder of the New England Sports Committee and shared responsibility for featur - ing European riders for their first appearance in the United States at the Pepperell, Massachusetts, motocross track, which he also helped to develop. Bob's Cycle Sport Magazine, which started as a newsletter, featured re - gional scrambles and motocross activities in the New England region. Bob was a co-founder of the New England Trail Rider Associa - tion, which promoted enduro and recreational off-road riding in the Northeast. Bob was a two-time ISDT competitor and managed a USA team for the event. Bob's Trail Rider Magazine featured enduro competition while insisting on responsible riding, environmental sensitivity, good community relations, motorcycle reviews, tech tips and occasion - al national or international ar- ticles. The complete Cycle Sport and Trail Rider Magazine collec- tions now reside in the Classic Cycles Cafe at Cycles128 in Beverly, Massachusetts. For 40 years, Bob Hicks shared his passion for boating with thou - sands of subscribers through his magazine, Messing About in Boats. In the first issue, he wrote, "I like wooden boats. I like sail- ing wooden boats. I like rowing wooden boats. I like restoring and building wooden boats. I also like the old one-lunger motor launches and mahogany speedboats. I've found wood/ canvas canoes fascinating. I like the idea of coastal cruising in small boats. I think steamboats are great. I'm not a purist about wooden boats; I just prefer wood to use and work on." On a personal note, Bob was a dear friend, a motorcycling mentor, an encourager, and a wonderful storyteller who enter - tained me with stories and intro- duced me to other motorcycling opportunities and important figures in the sport. When I was just getting into motorcycling in 1971, I met Bob, who let me serve as an occasional cub re - porter and photographer for Trail Rider Magazine. Over the years, we grew closer, visiting and helping to produce motorcycling events such as the 2003 30th- anniversary ISDT reunion ride. During a serious health chal - lenge I faced in 2010, Bob and Jane provided real and moral support that helped me get through grueling chemotherapy sessions, an act of kindness and concern for which I will forever be thankful. R.I.P. Bob. John Leon WIND IN THE P28 Bob Hicks, an off-road icon in New England, passed away peacefully on April 23. He was 96 years old.