Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Bank on it

The depth of Kevin Cameron’s Daytona coverage was fabulous (see “High Banks, Big Questions,” CW, June). His ability to sift through the petty politics and ego defense that perennially infect racing is remarkable enough, but to do so while offering holographic insight on the nuts and bolts-and to couch it all in measured prose that seems effortless-deserves major praise.

Gearheads only rarely write well, they almost never escape a finite-element perspective, and the number who weave history, philosophy and a touch of the poet into the mix (as Cameron does regularly in his columns) may be counted on the thumbs of one hand.

Dick Christensen Coldwater, Michigan

Many thanks to Kevin Cameron for his fair and balanced Race Watch in the June issue. It seems that Buells often don’t seem to get a fair shake in the press, and Kevin did a great job in explaining the AMA background events leading up to Daytona, as well as the race itself. Steve Haynes

Lebanon, New Jersey

I wonder why the names Gianfranco Guareschi and Moto Guzzi did not appear anywhere in Kevin Cameron’s rather extensive Daytona Race Watch? We learn that paper spontaneously combusts at Fahrenheit 451 and that Averell Harriman was the special envoy who shuttled between FDR, Churchill and Stalin during WWII. But Guareschi and Guzzi.. .crickets. Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, you are one of my favorite writers, but you blew it here.

Ken “Motts” Applegate

Paris, France (not Texas)

Kevin ’s story was about the Daytona 200. Guareschi took a Moto Guzzi MGS01 to victory in the AHRMA Formula 1 races earlier in the week.

Actually, the only interesting aspect of the Daytona 200 was the Buells. Maybe you should cover the less known but more interesting Daytona races, like

AHRMA. James D. Becker

Sayward, B.C., Canada

You and “Motts ’’ working together on this, Becker?

Not so Buellish

I disagree completely with your take on Buell and its racing effort. I am no industry insider and not privy to the secrets of AMA racing, but the Buell XBRR in Formula Xtreme is not right. To me it harkens back to the bad old days when the rules were written to make sure a certain make dominated, even though its design was rooted in the 1930s—I think that is a big enough hint... Buell, while innovative in many ways, still uses outdated technology that has no real place in modem racing. The fact that rules had to be created to allow the XBRR to race upholds that belief. Joe White Boone, Iowa

Harley-Davidson cannot and will not play by the same mies as everyone else. Just take a look at the history of AMA dirt-track racing for proof. I haven’t been back to the Springfield Mile since Honda’s Bubba Shobert was robbed of his fourth-straight Number One plate and neither have my friends or family. I also stopped going to the NHRA drags when the rules were changed to allow

Harley to compete on what is basically a Top Fuel bike running on highoctane gasoline.

The bottom line here is that I and a lot of other people are tired of seeing Harley-Davidson getting special treatment when it comes to racing. Let Milwaukee build a modern motorcycle or stick to the All Harley Drags where they have a chance of winning.

Gregory Hall Jerseyville, Illinois

Your article was great, but if Harley/Buell wants to go racing in the FX class then dammit, build a competitive 600 like everybody else! NASCAR gave Toyota no exceptions when the world’s number-one brand wanted to enter their races-it was build a pushrod motor or go home. What do you think Formula One would do, besides laugh, if Chevrolet wanted to enter a pushrod V-Eight at twice the capacity of the current engines?!

In all forms of racing, the manufacturers are required to follow a set of rules. I think Harley/Buell has been allowed to compete unfairly. Nothing is stopping them from building a 600 except fear. At best, Harley’s previous VR1000 Superbike effort made a good cruiser engine, and then only with the help of Porsche.

I want an American bike out there as much as anybody, but it should earn the right to race, not get there through a loophole in the rules. Michael Wesolowski Lambertville, Michigan

Good article on the problems with Daytona. Per the last numbers I saw, HarleyDavidson sells approximately 50 percent of large-displacement motorcycles in the USA. The Big Four are also selling cruisers like crazy.

If the AMA and the Speedway want to fill seats then why aren’t they promoting a NASCAR-style power-cruiser series? Sure, speeds would be down, but sales and attendance would take off (think what that would sound like, a warbird flyin). Hmmm, chopped Ducatis, Suzuki M109Rs, ginormous Triumph Triples, Screamin’ Eagles, etc. What if Billy Lane’s bike with that helicopter-tech spokeless rear wheel went racing? And isn’t Mr. Gurney working on something vewwy vewwy intewwesting with power and handling?

Basically (guesstimation), 70 percent of bike buyers in the U.S. don’t give an FX about “pure” roadracing. Heck, I’m a fan and couldn’t bring myself to go three hours away to see Rossi get beaten at Laguna Seca! Simplify and let ’em fly, I say, let’s race! Mike Gentry

Napa Valley, California

Egan.com?

I’ve got a great idea to help all of us regular guys keep track of Peter Egan’s ever-changing stable of motorcycles. How about a Guinness-beer-sponsored garagecam on www.whatseganworkingon.com? Any time, day or night, you could find out which wonderful classics are parked in that mythical garage somewhere in the snowy Midwest. But Peter must promise to leave a shoplight on and a Guinness out on the workbench for ambience.

Matt Wolfe Chico, California.

Peter unplugged

I would just like to commend the new CW website, www.cycleworld.com. The web-exclusive features and the Staff Blog are great ideas! Now if only someone could wire Egan’s typewriter up to the website... Chris Rasmussen

Jackson, New Jersey

Wrongly shafted

In his Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic “Quick Ride” (CW, June), Matthew Miles

incorrectly states the new bike’s “belt final drive replaces the previous shaft.” Many of us Vulcan 800 owners wish our bikes had shaft drive. The 900’s belt drive replaces chain and sprockets.

Gary Holden Newark, Delaware

Don’t quote us

Ah, c’mon folks. If you are going to quote one of the best motorhead movie lines of all time, then get the quote and the movie right! In June’s “Power to Burn” lOOOcc shootout, when describing the futility of using the Ducati 999’s mirrors, Mark Hoyer wrote, “But like the famous line from Cannonball Run, ‘What is behind doesn’t matter!”’

The late Raul Julia is probably spinning in his grave. He played Italian racer Franco Bertollini in The Gumball Rally, which came out five years before Cannonball Run. Sitting in a Ferrari, Julia says, “And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving (he rips off the rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car). What’s-a behind me is not important.”

Pete Migli South Miami, Florida

I can’t fathom how you could confuse the starfilled gooffest of Cannonball Run with The Gumball Rally. The latter had big-block Camaros running with Police Interceptor Dodges; the epic 427 Cobra vs. Daytona Spyder race through the night; cars ripping through deserted New York streets in the best action since Bullitt.

For getting it wrong, you must watch Cannonball Run II every night for a week. Raymond Hagemann

Bedford, New Jersey

Carnal knowledge

Kudos on new mag, SportBike. However, I will not be purchasing one until the cheesecake on the cover is replaced by simple bike beauty. Why must a love of apex perfection be equated with a desire to also read Playboyl I already married the only woman that I want to see in a carnal way. John Gregory

Fairview, Oregon

You re giving our redesigned, refocused SportBike annual way too much credit, John. Covergirl Cassandra Lynn, Playboy ’s Miss February 2006, remains fully clothed throughout, honest. Verify that at a newsstand near you or order online at www. cycleworld. com.

Remedial Sarcasm 101

Are you out of your minds? You’re giving actor Keanu Reeves an “UP” (Roundup, June) for coasting down a Malibu hill with his lights and engine off even after multiple injury-causing accidents? Please pull your heads out before you suffer permanent brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. It’s clearly too late for Keanu, but maybe not for you.

John Schwabacher Posted on www.cycleworld.com

You lost me on this one: The guy who rides his motorcycle at night with the lights off gets an “UP,” but women in bikinis get a “DOWN.” Is it toad-licking season out there? Daryl Smith

Minneapolis, Minnesota