Cycle News

CN III VOICES L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R "Flat track has never been promoted properly… we're lucky it still exists." Purpose-Built Motors I disagree with the comments made in the last issue, stat- ing that the stands at flat track races were empty because the "old AMA" let Honda use the RS750 motor for flat track and that they now need to ensure that a "purpose-built engine" (Indian) does not dominate the series. If the stands emptied when the RS750 was raced, it was because the Harley-Davidson faithful were tired of seeing their purpose-built bike beaten. The "old AMA" propped up Harley-Davidson and kept them dominant for a long time, so let them now make the series more competitive and exciting by involving as many brands as possible. The XR750 can still do it, but I am looking forward to also seeing the Harley- Davidson Street 750, the Indian and the Yamaha in the mix! Paul D. Simmons Michael Esdalle wrote last week about the need to be cautious about allowing race-only engines into AMA Flat Track. He stated that the Honda RS750 was responsible for the decline in attendance at races. I suggest that the decline was due to poor race management. The success of the Honda had nothing to do with poor attendance. Competition breeds excellence and Harley- Davidson was caught with their pants down. Supercross was and is a big reason attendance was affected. Events held in big, well-run venues that are well suited for the family, clean and with good concessions are more appealing to people that normally would not attend races, like moms. People have only so much money to spend and it makes sense that the casual observer would choose one over the other. Personally, I don't care that much for supercross and have never attended one. I care only about flat track. I at- tended every national at Ascot from 1974 until it closed. Flat track has never been promoted properly, in my view. No televi- sion coverage. We're lucky it still exists. Ask Earle Hayden about his conversation with Kenny Roberts many years ago when Roberts told him to get his boys out of dirt track racing and into road racing. You don't see rich people racing flat track, you do in road racing and supercross. Concern about Indian and their race-only engines hurting the sport? More brands can only help. Oh, and one other thing. The XR750 was an improvement on the KR750 and both of them are race-only engines too. Dan Henry Disrespectful Display I couldn't help noticing the Confederate Battle Flag wrapping the linkage of Phil Libhart's beautiful Triumph hill- climber on page 19 of the June 7 issue (number 25) of Cycle News. I guess they are still fight- ing the Civil War where he comes from. Too bad so- called professionals like Phil besmirch our sport with such disrespectful displays, instead of setting a patriotic example for the youth that may admire him. Our country lost a million lives fighting against the values that flag represents (and don't waste your ink on lame, lazy and phony assertions about Southern tradition or politi- cal correctness). I'm sure Phil wouldn't sport a Nazi Germany flag, but the swastika stands for the same fascist, murdering and enslaving philosophy as the Stars and Bars. David Kay Letters to the editor can be sent to voices@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Letters should not exceed 150 words and are subject to editing. Anonymous letters won't be considered for publication and each letter should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number… Editor P6

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