Letters
LETTERS
Hot Harley VR
Picture this. Doug Polen flashes out of the infield up onto the banking, his V-Four RC45 growling like a junkyard dog. It’s the last lap of the Daytona 200. But what’s this? Miguel DuHamel comes by on the inside, his Harley-Davidson V-Twin's bass exhaust note rattling the Honda's fairing as he goes by to take the checkered flag. With its win at Daytona, Harley-Davidson informs the world that there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is VR1000.
Ever since I read Kevin Cameron’s VR article in the March Cycle World, I’ve been playing this “video” over and over in my mind. Even if this dream doesn’t happen, Harley-Davidson has opened a new chapter in American motorcycling. I am excited.
Louis W. Sport Lynn, Massachusetts
Best of luck to Harley with the VR1000 Superbike. Make it fast, make it reliable, make it affordable, then make a place in the waiting line for me. Kevin Flanary
Fairchild AFB, Washington
The new H-D VR1000 sure looks impressive. If Harley makes them in street trim, it might even provoke me to buy a new motorcycle for the first time in 17 years.
One question, though. Why is the exhaust canister’s carbon-fiber cut away on its underside, as visible in the Daytona testing action photo.
Rex Gary
Bay Village, Ohio
Good eyes, Rex. Actually, the backside of the VR ’s carbon-fiber canister blew out late in the day s testing. With no replacements handy, crew members simply removed what was left of the fiberglass packing, then used tin-snips to clean up the offending area.
Thank you very much, HarleyDavidson! Finally, a modern American sportbike. It’s big, bad and beautiful. This is the one I’ve been waiting for. Please, please give us one with mirrors and lights. I’ve always loved my ZX-6, but my next bike will be a VR1000the Ducati will have to wait.
Mark L. Gehring Iowa City, Iowa
In keeping with the long tradition of nicknaming Harley-Davidson powerplants, just thought I’d drop you a note to tell you my visual impression of the new liquid-cooled VR1000 engine: “The Bald-Head!”
George L. Stantial Jr.
Surrey, Maine
As we went to press in mid-February, word from Harley-Davidson is that late testing went well, the electrical problems that have dogged the VR are handled, and the team is packing for Daytona. Look for a full report in the June issue.
Speaking Dutch
Senior Editor Jon F. Thompson’s article about famed pinstriper VonDutch was terrific, one of the best bios I’ve read about the man (see “The Last Beatnik,” CW, May, 1994). Most people don’t know how much he had to do with motorcycles; he’s mainly associated with hot-rodding.
Is there a list of cities and dates where the Kustom Kulture exhibit mentioned in the article will be visiting? Where can we buy a “Flying Eyeball” T-shirt? Greg Holmes
West Bend, Wisconsin
Masterful job on the VonDutch article. Congratulations and applause. You expressed so well the enigma that was VonDutch, that most puzzling of artists. His was an era when machine art and all manner of vehicular expression was in full bloom. The ’50s and ’60s were such a fertile period for the kind of work he did, and we’ll doubtless never know another confluence of such times and such a man.
Paul Watts Fresno, California
“The Last Beatnik” was cool, man.
Theodore Constantino
Boston, Massachusetts
The Kustom Kulture exhibition, which showcases the work of VonDutch, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and other hot-rod artists, makes its final appearance May 29 through July 17 at the Center for Contemporary Art in Seattle, Washington. The museum shop should have VonDutch-inspired T-shirts and memorabilia.
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Vincents at full-song
The “obscure ode to the marque” that Editor David Edwards mentioned in his March tribute to Bill Cottom (see “Wild Bill Rests,” Up Front) is called “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” found on Richard Thompson’s 1991 Capitol release Rumor and Sigh.
RM. Galster Wickford, Rhode Island
Norton Girls
In regards to the lead photo of March’s “Norton on the Rocks” story: I was one of the young men who lusted after those Norton Girls. Twenty years later, I find myself wishing she would move her leg so I can see the rest of the motorcycle. Brian R Olson Appleton, Wisconsin
As President (and only member) of the Norton Girl Fan Club of America, let me set the record straight. There was one primary Norton Girl, an Austrian model named Erica. The girl shown in “Norton on the Rocks” was a substitute named Vivian who filled in while Erica was pregnant with her very own Little Norton Girl. Thought you’d like to know. Robert Upchurch Falls Church, Virginia
Duh, it’s da
In February’s Up Front, reference is made to “Leonardo de Vinci.” I don’t have a journalism degree, but even 1 know “Leonardo da Vinci” is the proper spelling. Howard Kelly
Santa Monica, California.
Exchange error
I noticed an error in the February issue. In Roundup, a news article states that the new MZ Skorpion Single will sell for “less than 10,000 deutshmarks ($16,000).” Last time I checked exchange rates, 10,000 German marks would work out to be about 6250 U.S. dollars. Keith Marlow Gustenfelden, Germany
It’s Ted’s fault
Glancing through past issues of Cycle World, I’ve noticed “Ted” is always the center of attention in Slipstream captions. Who is Ted?
John Guarniere
Raleigh, North Carolina
Ted is a long-time staffer in charge of among other things, spell-checking and figuring out exchange rates.
