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SUPERBIKES WITH SOUL -> STAPLES -> IRIMAJIRI =~> ELVIDGE -> TERRORISM
THE CW CREW HAS TURNED OUT YET ANOTHER DYNAMITE ISSUE. I LOVE HISTORY, AND THE SUPERBIKE COMPARISON WITH SUPER FREDDIE WAS A KICK-ASS ARTICLE. IF YOU HAD STOPPED THERE, THE ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WINNER. BUT INCLUDING "ORIGINS OF AMERICAN SUPERBIKE" WAS ICING ON THE CAKE. LEN LIPTON NORWALK, CONNECTICUT
SOUL
"Superbikes with Soul" (June) was just mind-blowing, beyond awesome, beyond anything I've read anywhere in the last decade. Freddie Spencer is one of my childhood heroes (in addition to Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey), and I've grown up lusting after and wanting almost every one of the bikes mentioned in the story While I've never ridden an RC300 or a ZX-7R or an OW-01,I continue to dream of these bikes and look at pics and read stories like this one. Thank you.
SAMEER KUMAR NEW DELHI, INDIA
What a great issue! I thoroughly enjoyed "Superbikes with Soul," with Freddie Spencer wringing out those bikes, and "Origins of American Superbike." As I was reading it, I was hoping that it would go on forever. It really was that much fun to read. Keep it up, and do more articles like this if you can. Mark Hoyer needs another shot at riding that RC30!
BILL KEENAN KINSLEY, KANSAS
The article brought back many memories. In the summer of '86,1 accompanied a local rider (who eventually became my brother-in-law) to Jerez and Villa Real to compete in that season's 750 Fl Championship. Steve's lightly modified GSX-R750 was like nothing else out there but still reasonably competitive. We loaded up his van and trailer and headed out via cross-channel ferry to southern Spain. In Portugal, the competition included the Skoal Bandit Suzukis and Joey Dunlop's Rothmans RVF Honda bikes that were considerably more expensive but in the case of the Skoal Bandit team, not a million miles away from ours. At Villa Real, we finished 16th, which meant some prize money and bragging rights. As with many things, it didn't seem that out of the ordinary at the time, but looking back,
this was when superbikes were changing rapidly; it wouldn't be long before the 750 Fl format would morph into World Superbikes. It seems incredible today that an average working guy with talent and some sponsorship could compete internationally, but that was reality. It was probably the best summer ever, and to have been there rubbing shoulders with some of the great riders of the time was truly amazing.
ANDYKEARL SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
After reading CW regularly since 1974, I've tolerated a dilution in content over the last few years. And it's maddening to still have a modern publication that is held together with staples. But your article revisiting the homologation specials with Freddie Spencer marks a reprieve in your descent. I'd love to have had an RC45 included, but the fact that Balz's 888 SP4S (likely one of fewer than five in the U.S.) was present and all were weighed and instrumenttested, means you've redeemed yourselves. Now, if you could just be convinced that staples are archaic and unacceptable.
BLAKE BIGGS CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
Just got your e-mail about the new CW. What was wrong with it before? I just renewed, now ya gotta mess with it? Oh, well, as long as it still has staples in it. Please do not go back to that damn crappy binding!
MARK WALTER TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY
JAMIE E.
I'm happy to see that Jamie Elvidge has joined the already excellent crew at CW. Not only is she a "credible voice," as Mr. Hoyer stated (Up Front, June), but she's also a soulful writer. I remember a travel article in which she described Washington state as "a princess wearing wool." That's some great imagery! One more reason to look forward to the arrival of each month's issue.
KEVIN COSTA PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
HONDA MAN
Guys. I know I'm getting old and decrepit and my visual acuity and aural powers of perception are diminishing more rapidly than the Panigale R can traverse Circuit of The Americas. But honestly, did I really see the King of all things Honda, Irimajiri-san, riding a BMW? ("Honda Man," June) And in Japan of all places? Please, tell me it was a disguised 2014 Gold Wing.
MALCOLM JARVIS SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Story author Peter Starr replies: "Iri-san is a true enthusiast and rides many different brands. It just happened to be a BMW that time." Also, a correction: Irimajiri was the president of Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., not American Honda.
TYRANNOSAURUS KEV
The tyranny goes much further than the tools ("Tyranny of Tools," TDC, June). It's the patient that calls out. It's just common sense or destiny that requires those who are responsible for order in the universe to make sure those neglected machines find their way back to life, whether they want to rest in peace or not. Perhaps it's embedded in our DNA by God and we can only succumb, and fulfilling that destiny requires the right tool! At least that's what I will tell my wife as I head out later to pick up a new left-hand-thread wrench.
MIKE PIRIE OSWEGO, ILLINOIS
EGAN
Two days prior to the June issue arriving in the tin box, I purchased a 1981 Honda CBX with a pampered 13,800 miles on the ticker. This true survivor bike was purchased new in 1981 by my cousin, and now that it's mine, the miles will add up quickly. Opening CW, I flipped to Egan's column first, as is my custom. As I read "Resurrection of a Superbike," I felt the kinship many of us feel for these great machines. They can be dead reliable, have great curb appeal and will lodge bugs firmly in your dental work!
MIKEBAUCOM MONROE, NORTH CAROLINA
CORRECTION!
Regarding "Red Planet" by John Burns in the June issue: The one connection EmbryRiddle had to the 9/11 tragedy was the loss of 1983 graduate David Charlebois, the first officer on American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon. On behalf of the university, we would appreciate an immediate correction. The regurgitating of a false rumor that a graduate of our university was somehow involved with the 9/11 attacks, and calling Embry-Riddle students "terrorists" is not only inaccurate but ethically and journalistically irresponsible.
MELANIE HANNS EMBRY-RIDDLEAERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA
Our apologies to Embry-Riddle, its staff and students.
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