Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Blue crew

The June cover of Cycle World did it for me, seeing “Cook Neilson” and “Ducati” in adjacent print. Back some 30 years it was a similar recipe, with the additional ingredients of Phil Shilling and coverage of their roadracing exploits in Cycle. Led me to sell a nearly new Kawasaki Z-1 and buy, sight unseen, the last new round-case Ducati 750 GT that I could find in the whole state of Texas. Did I mention that I worked at an exclusively Kawasaki dealership at the time?

I now sense a real need to bring my GT back to life from its long, though not completely neglected, slumber. I’m thinking my ’01 Monster 900 would enjoy the company. Thanks for that.

Pete Toth Denver, Colorado

Okay, this is the deal: I’m thinking of canceling my subscription. I have an ’06 Paul Smart Ducati that I took down to Erico Motorsports here in Denver for headwork, cams, 4mm-over pistons, new flywheel, etc. I’m within days of getting my dream machine back when you go and ruin it by upping the ante with that friggin’ NCR New Blue! What a beautiful bike. Keep those retros rolling! Bill Schorger

Franktown, Colorado

Congratulations on an absolutely outstanding June issue! Being a big Ducati fan, I’m framing the whole issue and hanging it in the garage with my

bikes. Well done. In fact, I was so turned on by your coverage that I’ve just put in an order for a New Blue!

Andy Jacobson Trout Lake, Washington

I saw Cook Neilson race Old Blue at Laguna Seca in 1977. Superbike practice was very interesting, as I watched Cook come around what is now called Rainey Curve for the first time, exhaust booming, but looking visibly slower than the other riders.

Second time around, he was going much faster, and in addition to the ex-

haust note, you could hear a “click... click.. .click” as hard parts made occasional contact with the pavement. Third time around, you could hear a shhhhhhhhh as hard parts made continuous contact. But fourth time around was a little less fortunate, as the bike preceded Cook, who slid on his back to the outside of the corner!

Neilson got up to finish second that weekend to another of my heroes, Steve McLaughlin on Suzuki’s four-stroke debut in the class. Thanks for refreshing some great memories! Roger Kimball Sedalla, Missouri

Grand National Serious

To Mr. Edwards, I say yes, yes and yes! Today’s AMA racing holds no interest for me. It all looks the same, sounds the same and the class structure is confusing. I, too, yearn for the glory days of the AMA Grand National Championships in the Sixties (“An Immodest Proposal,” Up Front, June). Harleys and lime-juicers thundering past a few feet away, rear ends kicked out, roostertails pelting you with dirt. That was excitement! Thank God for AHRMA.

Art Nicola Bay Point, California

Mr. Edwards, truer words were never spoken. Please AMA, bring back the glory days of “true” dirt-track before it goes under. Make GNC hopefuls ride TTs, miles, short-track, half-miles, supermoto and roadraces. I want to be able to take my grandkids to Springfield or Sedalia someday. Sadly, it looks like Du Quoin is gone already. I love XR-750s as much as the next

guy but let’s quit catering to H-D and bring back real competition.

Line Gurley Maumelle, Arkansas

When I first became addicted to motorcycles in the early 1960s, if you wanted to be Grand National Champion, you had to ride roadraces, flat-track, short-track and TT. If you were really good in only one discipline, too bad, you weren’t going to be National Number One. I agree with Edwards’ suggestion that we return to that scoring system.

Racing today is boringl I would rather watch a bunch of slow motorcycles banging handlebars than a bunch of fast bikes all spread out around the track.

And Daytona better do something different or Bike Week will have to change its name to Trailer Week in the near future. Norman J. Stringfield Del Rio, Tennessee

I had been a regular attendee at Daytona Bike Week since 1971. My friends and I stopped going when they relegated Superbike to a support race! What a joke. I fault the cowardly AMA and the dictatorial Daytona International Speedway people.

Bring on World Superbikes at Barber and MotoGP at Indy! My friends and I will be there! Lowell R. Ulrich

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

After attending the 200 every year since 1983,1 have not gone since they switched the format to Formula Xtreme, and I live 35 minutes from the track! The 200 has no allure for me in its current state; it has certainly lost its status as motorcycle racing’s premier event. Gordon Erd

Lake Mary, Florida

Hooray for David Edwards! Daytona has become a joke and I’m glad someone has > guts enough to say so. 1 raced professionally for 20 years when Daytona was the place. Keep pushing for c

F

Jacksonville, Florida

1 agree with your comments concerning the confused state of AMA racing, and you are correct in proposing a return to a championship series containing both dirt-track and roadrace events. I have to wonder if the AMA officials ever watched On Any Sunday.

Did they not see the drama and the honor of the sport as shown in that film? I hope the AMA reads your words and corrects their course. Gene Brent Chouteau, Oklahoma

Edwards hit the nail on the head, but his hammer is entirely too small. The AMA’s confusing and redundant classes are just the tip of the iceberg.

I just finished watching World Superbike at Monza. I never saw even one blue “move over” flag, and I can only remember one lapper at all this season. How can WSB put 20 bikes on the grid with the same time gap AMA Superbikes have to third or fourth place? Primarily because the AMA field is filled up with people who can’t podium a WERA or CCS race. We don’t need people on the track who get lapped before half-distance!

Steven Fooshee

Birmingham, Alabama

David’s description of the pathetic state of AMA racing is right on. Last year I sent a letter to the AMA, followed up by an e-mail, expressing my disappointment in how they have changed the racing landscape as we knew it. They didn't have the courtesy of responding, so I didn’t have the courtesy of renewing my membership. Jim Hendershot

Warren, Vermont

Edwards was spot on. Grand National racing is dead. Roadracing is broken. The AMA needs a new Pro Racing leader, and reading David’s editorial would be a good start! Stan Burak

Tucson, Arizona

Got royalties?

A diesel Neander motorcycle (Roundup, May)? How oddly disturbing to see that name in your magazine. Bill Neander Vacaville, California

You re luckier than the next guys; at least they got your name right.

Who’s who?

Somehow my name and Alex Brofsky’s got switched in the June Hotshots section. My comments were about the sound of Jesse James’ radial-engine bike and how Harley riders would like it. While I agree with Mr. Brofsky’s feelings about CARB and EPA, 1 would like a correction in the next issue, if you please.

Frank Laird (not Alex Brofsky) San Diego, California

Apparently, it wasn '/ Brofsky talking about CARB and ERA.

I’m the guy who wrote the letter about the Jesse James CARB fine and Cycle World ’s noble stand on the so-called roadless areas initiative. I was very excited that CW might publish my letter; I have always wanted to join the well-paid, glamorous world of moto-journalism-all the slinky babes, the free canapés at product shows, first-class travel, new bikes to ride all the time, free swag, etc. It’s better than money for nothing!

So perhaps you can imagine my dismay when I opened the June issue and saw my letter attributed it to some guy named Frank Laird. There goes my big break into the fast-paced sexy, lucrative world of moto-journalism! Now I am stuck in my humdrum, working-stiff job-no babes, no free gear, no free bikes! Oh, woe is me. John Branson (not Frank Laird) Posted on www.cycleworld.com

Okay, but who s this Brofsky' dude and where ’s his letter? □