Cycle News

VOL. 52 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 18, 2015 P111 to run a variety of events. When Cycle News came along in the mid-1960s Cooley was one of its earliest columnists. His weekly column, at first aptly titled "Coolies Column" and later the more grammatically correct "Cooley's Column" was often controversial. He was not afraid to use the column to criticize competing promot- ers. It seems odd to think people who shared the love of motorcycle racing could be at times so rancorous, but it reflected Type-A personalities who rose to prominence, especially in that era of the sport. While his column could inspire debate, he also showed great compassion when writing a very intimate column on his feelings as a race organizer when a racer named Viktor Scheiermann died at one of Cooley's ACA road races. It's a given today, but in 1966 Cooley wrote in one of his columns that the factories might be giv- ing unfair equipment advantages to certain riders. That column created a whirlwind of controversy, the AMA and manufacturers taking particular of- fense at the very notion that a select few factory- backed riders might have better equipment than the everyday racer. That column cost Cooley his gig with Cycle News, such were the pressures brought to bear on publisher Chuck Clayton. It seems laughable now that the obvious fact of factory-prepped machines being faster and better handling was even considered debatable, but the sport at that time was big on at least keeping the façade of a level playing field intact. A couple of years later Cooley and Clayton patched up their differences, at least temporarily, and Cooley resumed his weekly column. It didn't last long though. Soon enough more controversial columns put the two at odds again and eventually all parties involved decided it was best to part. When the AMA wanted to host the ISDT it needed to be an FIM affiliate. With Cooley's co- operation an agreement in principle was worked out between MICUS and the AMA. But while Cooley was away working out the details, other officers of MICUS decided they weren't pleased with the terms of sharing the affiliation with the AMA and they supposedly voted to fire Cooley. Cooley called the vote a sham since he wasn't in attendance and able to make a defense for his position. The bottom line was MICUS devolved into turmoil and the FIM made the decision to give the sole affiliation to the AMA. The incident seemed to sour Cooley on the sport and shortly after he then began focusing on his son's rapidly rising racing career. By the early 1970s it was obvious Wes Jr. was the rider with the racing talent in the family. "I think dad lived a little vicariously through my racing," Cooley Jr. said. "He was involved right up to the time I got the ride with Yoshimura. It seemed like once I attained a certain level in the sport I guess he felt like he was no longer needed." So at about the time his son became a two- time AMA Superbike Champion and Cooley Sr. started becoming known more for being Wes' dad to most motorcycle racing enthusiasts, Sr. had largely divorced himself from the sport. As we all know broken families often produce isolation of family members. Such was the case with the Cooleys. Wes said he found out about his dad's death on the news. It was obvious in talking to Wes that he and his father had a dif- ficult relationship at best, but he defended his father's life as a whole. "I think everyone makes mistakes in life," Cooley Jr. said. "I don't think anyone would want to be remembered for their worst moments. Un- fortunately I think that's the way things are. You can do a thousand positive things in life, but you do one bad thing and you're written off." Maybe in honor of Wes Cooley Sr.'s life as a whole, for a moment we as motorcycle rac- ing enthusiasts can put aside the mistakes and remember a man who gave greatly to the sport we all love so much. CN Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives

• Cover