Dick Burleson
Dick Burleson
PROFILE
After Six National Enduro Championships, the Best Enduro Rider in the Country Looks Ahead
Ann Palormo
In some ways, Dick Burleson backed into enduro competition. While he was in high school he shared a bike with a friend and got his first taste of competition racing at the scrambles events popular then in his home state of Michigan.
At the University of Michigan his major was mechanical engineering in the winter and motocross during the warm weather months. He competed first in the Inter-Am and then rode both the 250 and 500 classes when the Trans-AMA series began in 1970. At the end of that year, he had the highest scores among Americans in the competition, which earned him the unofficial title of National Motocross Champion.
The popularity of motocross competition exploded in 1971. The addition of the Florida winter series brought the end of the normal layoff' period which had been Burleson’s book times. Determined to stick to his college plans he felt he was losing his competitive edge. Also, the tracks were mobbed with crowds of entrants, necessitating multiple qualifying heats. Burleson wanted to compete, not sit around. He began to feel he was wasting his time. As a result he lost interest in motocross.
He moved into the ISDT competition, taking his first trip to the Six Days in 1971 as a member of the Penton team. He also rode an occasional enduro with the Penton-Piasecki crew of Toledo. Ohio, where he was employed by Piasecki between races. However, his primary effort in 197172 was finishing his college education.
Degree in hand, he landed a job with the newly-organized U.S.A. Husqvarna in 1972. As their eastern region service manager. riding was simply a sideline aspect of his job ... at first. Up to that point he’d ridden almost everything bur Husky in competition. Although he views the partnership formed with the Swedish bike as one that stems originally from simply having been at the right place at the right time, no one can dispute that they complement each other very well and have contributed to each other's success. In fact Dick now admits that his current success is a result of equal blending of bike and rider’s skills.
Burleson is quick to point out that he's never been a contract rider for Husky. Rather, over the years he has held several positions that are enhanced by his riding talents. Currently he serves as ofl'-road competition coordinator, which includes working with Husky riders in the field, meeting with dealers, overseeing off'-road participation as well as the riding. In addition he provides constant input on design modifications to make the Husky even more effective in off-road competition.
A turning point in his life came in late 1973. He rode as a member of the U.S. Silver Vase team which won the ISDT held in Berkshire, Massachusetts. After the event he bought a 350 Husky left behind by a member of the Swedish team. He rode it in several national enduros in the fall, winning most of them.
Up to this point he’s used 125 or 175cc machines for woods competition. Since then, nothing smaller than a 250. The consistent winning pattern was established.
In the 1974 season, he won nine nationals. as a means of practicing for the annual ISDT competition which he still considered the high point of the year. “Training hard for the ISDT meant lots of riding all week long, so Sunday's 100 or 125 mile course was usually a breeze.
“In addition that 1974 Husky 250 was the best around for woods competition. I never had to worry if it would hold up to the test.”
All this hard riding paid double dividends that year. He came home from Italy> and the ISDT with the best scores on the American team. Two months later Dick ended the year with his first national enduro title as well. That year it seemed like all he could do was win.
In the 1975 national enduros it was more of the same and the name “King Richard” appeared in numerous press reports of his achievements. In 1976 some early season pressure came from Jack Penton but the end result was the same: Burleson No. 1. In 1977 Skip Olson vowed he'd knock King Richard off'the throne but that year, Burleson clinched the title when the season was little more tiran half over. Ted Worrell chased him down to the final event in 1978 but couldn't catch him and in 1979 it was Drew Smith who came on stronger than any other contender in recent years. The 1980 season promises to bring a new crop of hopefuls but only time will tell who’ll be around at the harvest.
He still has one win that has eluded him—a class win at the ISDT. Working toward that is one of the things that keeps enduro competition interesting although in many respects it is not as challenging as it was in the early years.
“In my first years of riding enduros, we kept time with a watch and a route sheet. Now that electronic timekeeping devices have been perfected and are in common use. it is harder for a club to challenge riders with that aspect of enduro riding.
“Combine that with improved suspension in the motorcycles, which makes it possible to ride fast over the rough stuff and not pound yourself to shreds so you can maintain the 24 mph speed better.
“About the only real challenge is that competition has been keener in the last few years, as more manufacturers put together enduro competition teams. 1 really have to ride well at every event I enter if 1 want to win.”
And win is something Burleson still wants to do. He demands excellence of himself and it is doubtful that he would have stayed with enduro competition if he weren’t in the position he is today—No. 1.
“I don't ride to lose and in my mind. No. 2 is losing. I guess this comes from my mother. She's a very competitive person and there's no way I could change myself if 1 wanted to.”
Knowing this about Burleson can help another rider measure his performance at an event by comparing the scores of his ride to Dick's. It also may contribute to the remote image Burleson projects. In truth he enjoys conversations with other riders— if they’ll just start them. He has a hard time exchanging small talk with strangers and
still can’t comfortably deal with the status that surrounds his arrival at an event.
Ironically enough he now finds himself in a peculiar position ... as quickly as Americans create idols they wait for their downfall. Burleson will still be recognized as the best around but crowd sympathy seems to be with the Drew Smith, John Martin or Jack Penton, who are riding that day and just might beat him.
Away from the enduro weekend atmosphere, Dick enjoys a relatively normal life. The person most responsible for keeping things in perspective is wife Jill.
She claims that when they married in 1973, she made sure he wasn’t just looking for a permanent gas crew. Now Jill has two small helpers. Jon-Erik, six. and two-yearold Lindsey Kate to keep Dick from being totally pre-occupied with enduro competition.
Enduro riding has always had a strong appeal to certain dirt riders because of its family involvement. Many sponsoring clubs have included activities for family members who frequently accompany the entrant. So a van and an Airstream trailer are home away from home with plenty of room to store the kids’ cycles as well as Dad’s.
Against what might best be described as “controlled chaos,” he is free to concentrate totally on preparations for each race. Burleson works through in his mind how
he believes the club will organize the enduro. Able to recall in detail the condition of the terrain in any place he’s ever ridden, he knows pretty much what to expect as far as trails are concerned. Since sponsors are eager to get his impresssions and suggestions after each ride, the following year usually finds these incorporated in their game plan. Is the competition still as much fun?
“Yes—especially at the start of the season. I’m anxious to get out there and experience the thrill that comes from riding as hard as possible over a section of tight trails. I'll never tire of trying to do just a little better than anyone else in a particular section of the course.
“The challenge is just as much me and the bike against the demands of the trail as it is against another rider.”
Maybe that’s because challengers come and go and the only thing that’s survived as long as he has is the woods he rides through. Give him a rough trail, a rotten day and a not-so-great number and you'll see him smile broader than ever. That’s his idea of perfect riding.
Sure it's nice to have Drew Smith, Jack Penton, John Martin and Mike Hannon along to keep him alert but he would not try less hard if he were all by himself. For that reason alone, the 1980 season should be one of the most interesting in a long time. E3
