LETTER OF THE MONTH AURAL PLEASURES

What a fantastic backstory to the iconic times of On Any Sunday and its soundtrack! Everything about the movie brings back such special memories of the golden era that was motorcycling in America during the 1960s and ’70s. To this very day I can tell you where the songs of this soundtrack were branded into my mind: On our way to Hangtown in 1978, a cross-country road trip through all kinds of late-spring weather; we ended up going into the Nevada/California Sierra mountain passes with 10-foot high snowbanks on either side of the road, and then coming down into the lush green hillsides on the other side. Driving onto highway really enjoyed the The Kids Are Alright piece about KTM’s e-bike program in the November 2022 issue. Reminiscing about the days of my youth when we’d go watch the motocross races, one key element was the sound of the 2-strokes; they were a big part of the visceral experience that was so intoxicating to a young motorcyclist. I can still remember the deep, throaty sound of the first 4-strokes racing among the 2-strokes back in the late 1990s, too. (Yes, I know 4-strokes were dominant in the old days.) While reading your article I wondered how much of that experience would be lost if e-bikes were to become the only bikes racing? Don’t get me wrong; I’m not opposed to e-bikes. In fact, I’d love to have an electric street bike. But the thought of going to see a motocross race and only hearing the near silence of all the e-bikes racing around the track is unfathomable.

Roy Jerome Poplarville, Miss.

We suspect it’ll be unfathomable to many, Roy, but to the younger generation, who are now growing up with a lot of e-powered two wheelers (and 4-wheelers), it probably won’t be as much of a stretch. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the coming years, because the e-bike thing is already here. —Ed.

Letters to the editor are the opinions of the AMA members who write them. Inclusion here does not imply they reflect the positions of the AMA, its staff or board. Agree? Disagree? Let us know. Send letters to submissions@ama-cycle.org or mail to American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.

SORRY, DALTON!

In the January 2023 issue, the rider pictured on page 18 in Up To Speed is not Dalton Shirey. Obviously, Dalton deserves his image associated with his hard-fought championship, which hopefully you can publish in a future issue.

Jeff Morrison

You’re right, Jeff! That was the Youth division’s Big Wheel title winner Jason Harris pictured, not Shirey. Sorry about the slipup, and here’s a photo of the real Dalton Shirey surrounded by his team after clinching the 2022 AMA National Hare & Hound Championship last year. —Ed.

Montana Bound

Just wanted to express my appreciation for the Moto Meritocracy column from B. Jan Montana in the November 2022 issue. Self-determination regardless of “education” or perceived intelligence is not something that is often written about, at least in my experience. I have known folks that thought they were “dumb” because they could not do well in school, yet in fact they were some of the smartest and capable people I have ever known in practical skills and observation, and highly successful in their chosen vocations and life in general. Great article, proper article. Thanks!

Glen Romriell Englewood, Colo.

Really enjoyed Moto Meritocracy by B. Jan Montana about Lonnie Manybears. Great story and great writing! I suggest you get B. Jan Montana to do more columns.

Ron Glaum Livermore, Calif.

Working on that, Ron! —Ed.

Kudalski Correction

In my haste to update you quickly on Don Kudalski’s reunion with his factory Harley-Davidson mechanic Tom Volin (Letter of the Month, December 2022), I incorrectly stated that Kudalski was “never a champion.”

While technically true for his time with the Harley-Davidson factory team, it’s not representative of his riding career. Besides winning a handful of amateur championships in the early and middle 1970s, Kudalski earned Open-Class Championship honors in the 1978 Florida Winter-AMA Series (though on a Yamaha, not a Harley-Davidson). Thanks for allowing me to correct my error.

Keith Geisner St. Genevieve, Mo.

Consider it done, Keith. —Ed.

Rev Matching

I read your recent article on rev matching (December 2022) and discovered to my surprise that I had been doing this (or at least a workable version of it) for years and years, and didn’t even realize it! Pretty sure it came from all the dirt bike riding I did as a kid back in Ohio. Anyway, thanks for the piece and all the recent Street Savvy articles you’ve published on riding skills; it often takes years of experience to learn some of this stuff but reading about it can substantially quicken the learning curve, and that will undoubtedly help keep folks on two wheels.

Jeff Schmitz Tucson, Ariz.