<"As far as its racing heritage is concerned, does anyone else recall the Suntour advertizement for this derailleur in a cycling mag or shop poster? It was a little confusing in that it showed 2 or 3 racers off their saddles going for a sprint. But in the photo you couldn't tell what kind of derailleur they had. If I remember correctly, the ad had this "8.8.8" marketing logo on it which obscured the derailleurs. Does any one else recall this and also what was the "8.8.8" issue all about anyway?">
Dave,
I can identify at least one of the riders in that photo, 'Taki" Takimoto, a Suntour employee who was working in the warehouse of a US distributor at the time (a way for him to better understand the US market and key customers). I vaguely remember that the riders were associated with Montrose bike shop and I do know that Suntour sponsored them and Taki rode for them.
There are several stories regarding the 8.8.8., but the only one I can dredge up out of the sludgy memory banks in complete form is the simple fact that '8' is the luckiest number in Asia and therefore the symbol of choice. You may remember the mass marriages that took place on 8-08-88 or the price someone paid for a custom liscense plate in Hong Kong that was all 8's.
Bryant Bainbridge
Portland, Orygun