Ups & Downs

Ups & Downs

ROUNDUP

UP: To the editors of Elle magazine, for their fine, if confused, fashion sense. In a recent issue, a layout titled "Built for Speed" depicted models in various leather motorcycle jackets, with an introduction that read, "Tough, sleek and aggressively styled, the new hip leathers appeal to urbanites with an active streak. In-spired by the current craze for motocross (off-road motorcycle racing), these pieces are both sexy and functional, with curved seams that mold them to the body yet allow you to keep moving." Never mind that MXers don't wear leather jackets...

DOWN: To John McPherson, cre ator of the daily newspaper cartoon "Close to Home," for his humo~ess sense of humor. A recent installment read, "Using stimulus/response, the Nelsons hoped to discourage Jeremy from engaging in dangerous activities as a teenager." The illustration depict ed a child surrounded by various toys, while behind him, his mother told his father, "Okay, any time he touches the motorcycle, hit the siren."

UP: To Formula One car racing World Champion Damon Hill, for remember ing his roots. Quoted recently in Eng lish magazine Thoroughbred & Classic Cars, Hill, a former motorcycle club racer who cut his teeth on Yamaha RD35Os and TZ25Os, listed the late Mike Haitwood as his boyhood hero alongside world champions Freddie Spencer and Kenny Roberts. And the car of his dreams? "I only had dream motorcycles," Hill proclaimed. "I al ways wanted to rlde a three-cylinder or four-cylinder MV Agusta." Our kind of car guy.