FIGHTING THE WINTER DOLDRUMS

[Wild Will]

with images immortalized last season: These studly denizens of the Sunoco 260 circuit are "Double Index" Lear, Gordon the Porsche Race Guy and Doug the South Carolina Hoon. If only Dean could behave himself in public...

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249449222-L.jpg

[fganger]

Will,

I see our Dean has not learned much over the past couple of years. Oh well, we do what we can to help him . . . the rest . . . who knows?

At least he is not "doping" the fuel tanks anymore (I hope).

http://franknbonnie.smugmug.com/gallery/2027206#104064959

Stinkin' Frank

[Elsie Smith]

WW, your article in this issue of BMW RA On the Level helps with the doldrums!

[Deans BMW]

I am 6' tall and am standing up straight...................

[jamming]

:104:
HOLY MOLEY!!!!!! Dean lit the bird!

We can't take him anywhere :)

[Wild Will]

WW, your article in this issue of BMW RA On the Level helps with the doldrums!

Elsie, I just received the December issue; I'll get "the new" issue around mid February. I've no idea what was written, but I hope I don't regret it later...
Out here in the left side, the doldrums are palpable after incessant rain, flooding and housing forclosures! Can't wait to ride again!

Here's another photo from Daytona when grand national ace Gary Nixon stopped by our pit for some good old advice on the care and handling of women from Wild Will. Gary stops by frequently, decrying the terrible truth that during his era, and he was as big as Rossi within the context of the sixties, he made no real money. Gotta love the guy. He was my hero once upon a time, sliding that brute number 9 Triumph sround like nobody else!
That's the venerable Udo Gietl in the red shirt!

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249446111-L.jpg

[Deans BMW]

Will, I find myself frequently thinking about the amazingly wonderfully exciting adventures that this past racing season was 15 weeks on the road, a credit card with a $25 K limit that would fill up and I would have to use mine traveling all over these United states and meeting such great people. I have ment so many Cafe members that I have lost count, Ab (SP), Jason, Doug, Geroge, Frank and Bonnie, Anton and his wonderful girlfriend plus many more that my wereched memory cant recall at the moment. You would have loved my run in with Steve McGlauthin (SP) at Iowa, the dozens of people on the road on and on. At times like these I wish that I had the skills with the written word that you and Dave have.

A totally amazing year, 15 weeks, 36,000 miles and the fantastic people of the "Cafe".

[Wild Will]

Here we find our beloved Bro Geechie, trying to make time with Rosa Parriott while her champion, Brian, is out on the high speed oval shredding Pirellis, under the stopwatch, sideways out of the infield turns. No, Rosa would stroll past, and George would entirely forget about his fire extinguisher, his day job, even his precious, obsidian hued R1200R. But he always kept an eye on that well dressed guy out on the race bike.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249449626-L.jpg

And as to your written skills, Hoonmaster, we all "get" your meaning, so please just cripple along and entertain us, appeasing our dreadful winter doldrums.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Too true! BUT, hey guys it's the first of Feb! That means that World Superbikes kick off THIS MONTH! Moto-GP starts again NEXT MONTH! As does your local racing season at Daytona, of course. Along with my local racing season at an undoubtedly freezing Brands Hatch..

Another winter is behind us, well, as near as damnit is to swearing anyway.

Si.

[Wild Will]

This is a pile of tires as seen during the '07 USGP Laguna Seca. The amount of shredded rubber is astonishing. Thes are all from practice and qualifying. If you've never seen this spectacle, you owe it to yourself. The area around Monterey makes this venue splendid with its scenery, weather and restaurants.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249448303-L.jpg

[Gord]

Will - keep the pics coming. You are indeed helping me fight off the snowbound doldrums that are engulfing my piece of North America. And you are enticing me to plan a trip to my take in my very first moto race.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[Wild Will]

This one's for you, Gord.

This was Nicky Hayden's pit at the '07 USGP. Notice the cleanliness, and the presence of high tech Japanese engineers. Nicky's helmets are seen at the rear, where he normally sits in full leathers in between sessions.

Notice the immaculate tool boxes, the stainless trash container, the carpet. See the splendid team uniforms and the graphics on the walls. These are all kept within shipping containers which are sent all around the world, following the race schedule, and it's a very intense, busy time - the silly season, as they say. The action behind the scenes not even mentioned during Speed broadcasts is what is really exciting about attending these events.

See the satellite and closed circuit receivers on the left wall? Here the team watches each lap time as the transponders meet the magnet at each lap. And lastly, see the high tech aluminum cake pan that holds the tools! I have one of these...keeps the oil off the carpet!

No, attending the races is not easy nor is it cheap, but it adrenalizes the true believers, the religious race fans, the ones who smell the race fuel and their hearts skip a beat. I wouldn't miss it unless I had no other choice. After all, how many more seasons will we, my Bros, be here to ogle this petro-fueled, hyper loud spectacle? May the seasons be almost countless!


http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249447805-L.jpg

[Rchop]

Great subject for the winter Will. When I start dreaming about the warmer weather ahead, my thoughts return to the salt. I picked a few classics out of my Speedweek picture album to get the juices stirring again...

When I was in high school, the 55, 56 and 57 chevy were the hot cars to have. It was cool looking and old enough to be affordable to a young man with an after school job...

http://www.frsengineering.com/sw4.jpg

[Rchop]

At that same time we also drove these big old Fords because there were a lot of them aound and they were cheap. This particular car did over 204mph with under 400 cubic inches. This was the best sounding car out there IMHO...

http://www.frsengineering.com/sw7.jpg

The name of the team was "Camel Toe Racing" LOL

[Rchop]

This car will probably be familiar to you "older" guys...

http://www.frsengineering.com/sw5.jpg

[Rchop]

For the younger set, there is always the 'Hot" Camero...

http://www.frsengineering.com/sw8.jpg

[Rchop]

One of the most modern cars out there was this Roush designed Ford Fusion with electric power. Instead of batteries, this car uses a hydrogen powered fuel cell and went over 207 mph.
The car number (999)has historical significance also. The oldest vehicle in the Motorsports Hall of Fame is the famous Ford 999 racer from 1902. Although it is not the first race car ever built, it is certainly the first car to rise to the status of legend.
The car was dubbed 999 after the feats of the record-holding New York Central locomotive.
The sister car of the 999 was the Arrow. It was a rebuilt Arrow that Henry Ford drove to 91.37 mph on frozen Lake St. Clair in January of 1904, for the new automotive World Land Speed record. After Ford set the record, his racing partner, Tom Cooper, sold both the 999 and the Arrow. The Arrow was renamed the New 999 by the new owner.

http://www.frsengineering.com/sw9.jpg

[Wild Will]

That '55 chevy is The One! The salt looks so inviting, doesn't it? Here's some sand to match the salt. Corona beer brought a nice southern California beach volleyball scene right to the dry lake bed at Laguna Seca. Between heats, one could sip a lime-crusted ice cold Corona (one of Mexico's finest) and watch the tightly sinewed coeds pound the sand in their bikinis. Life is good in summer, I tell you!

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249446732-L.jpg

[Rchop]

OH My...that is nice :023: The professional beach volleyball series used to show up regularly where I used to live. Those girls were in shape! Played good volleyball too!

[Wild Will]

Here's Hopper, too early in the a.m., polishing his helmet. He's in a great mood this morning, and greets the press with his usually ebullient, cheery smile. That blue they used on the race bikes and everywhere else was a very moody blue. Imagine! A famous rolling paper manufacturer sponsoring a GP team! Their motto? "Smoke this and you'll ride like the wind"?

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249446876-L.jpg

[Wild Will]

This is what happens when you park your 500# dirt bike in a wet rice paddy, because you missed the trail by just a couple of feet. The piste was like peanut butter. The bike made the sound of big suction when it was hauled out by 6 of us.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249446367-L.jpg

[Wild Will]

This one's from AMA Superbike at Laguna Seca in 07. At Turn 2, Number 1 plate holder Ben Spies leads Jake Zemke to take the race and the championship once again.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249448445-L.jpg

[Wild Will]

Immediately after pulling an inadvertant wheelie at VIR last year, the stock steering dampener on Nate's R1200S broke at the factory weld, causing some concern for Nate who was at redline. This was the first time Nate was back on track after a debilitating crash ay barber a couple of months prior.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249449062-L.jpg

[Wild Will]

There were some wonderful sights at wine country road race track Infineon, Sonoma, California. This sight was unsurpassed all season long, in my considered opinion.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/249448933-L.jpg

[Wild Will]

Here is the first R100RS imported into the USA, the 1976 model. This pristine copy, the only one with wire wheels, sits in Daytona BMW's showroom, scores of miles from any twisties. Go figure. Damned fine looking, classic motorcycle, that.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/250039375-L.jpg

[Wild Will]

One of the early road race machines campaigned by importer Butler and Smith in the 70's on the east coast. The relic now lives on display at Daytona BMW.
Notice the Ceriani fork and that big period front brake. Notice also the Borrani alloy wheels.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/250039159-L.jpg

[Boxerboy]

Here is the first R100RS imported into the USA, the 1976 model. This pristine copy, the only one with wire wheels, sits in Daytona BMW's showroom, scores of miles from any twisties. Go figure. Damned fine looking, classic motorcycle, that.

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/250039375-L.jpg

No can see! :(

[Deans BMW]

WW, all but two of your pics don't show up.

[Wild Will]

I've been in a hotel for a few days with high speed, so I thought I'd send some pics, alas. Let me know if this one works. They show up fine on my computer, and I post pics just like always, so I don't have rhyme nor reason.

This shot is from the downtown motorcycle display put on by Robb Report; this was the first time in history, so sayeth the sign, that seven Vincent Black Lightning's shared a single podium. Part of the splendid scene at USGP.




http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/250058543-L.jpg

[Deans BMW]

Shows up great Will