| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
Too funny ..... We transposed luggage among bags curbside and ended up with two bags right at weight. Thanks goodness no one weighed Mikes backpack with 97# of lenses. I tried to convince him nothing could go wrong checking $50k worth of glass. :-) We'll see how long he can stand up! | ||
| Rkc00 |
I am still standing so far. | ||
| Firstbuell |
well, I got called away & missed most of the SuperBike session..... anyone have posted results back to the 200 - at mid-session, I'm blown away by the radar speeds - IIRC they're on the flat backstraight, NOT on the banking here are the traps [NOT lap times] of the key players so far: Ducati ---- 166, 168, 170, 171 Kawasaki -- 172, 173 Yamaha ---- 170, 170 Suzuki ---- 163 BUELL ---- 158 only 1 entry Go Pat !! Triumph --- 153 only 1 entry Honda ----- 152 only 1 entry | ||
| Vtpeg |
Geoff and Pat both way back in practice. Geoff only in for 7 laps. Leaders up in 20 odd laps. Any one with feet in Daytona know whats up. Crash? Tech Probs? | ||
| Buellriderx |
Something mechanical I believe | ||
| Trbulnt |
From The Buell Racing Facebook.. Erik Buell Racing Not a good day. Having a few issues with the 1125's unfortunately. We should have left them alone like they were last year and just focused on the points, but we know the 1125 would really be hurting for power at Daytona, so we tried to get more out of it, since Geoff always tries so dam**d hard. We have to detune them back down. Man, cannot wait for the 1190 so we can be more competitive! | ||
| Manxboy |
Well, the 2011 Daytona 200 was the most bizarre race I've ever been in! After our first practice session my lap times were good enough to get me into the fast "A Group" for qualifying, this was good, now I could hopefully get hooked up with the quick guy's and learn from them. In the first, very cold, A Group qualifying session on Friday morning I had three people crash directly in front of me in turn 2, the international horse shoe, and the chicane, and almost collect me each time. I almost got spat off my Buell 1125R in turn two where SIX people crashed in the one session, including Michael Barnes and Josh Herrin. I was happy to come back to the pit's in one piece. Things were better in the afternoon qualifying with the warmer temperatures, my lap times were coming down nicely. We tried some different rear shock settings to try and make the bike work better with the new, harder compound spec rear Dunlop tire. I had the pleasure of having Danny Eslick come by me into turn one with both tires sliding, I could actually hear the tires howling loudly under protest. I ended up qualifying on the sixth row along side some very fast, young guy's and girl's! The sixth row included Huntley Nash, Mellissa Paris, Jason Farrell and myself. I started preparing myself and my Buell 1125R months before the race, and I was looking forward to the hard challenge of a long 200 mile race. Luckily for me Mike Kirkpatrick, Crew Chief for James Gang Racing, had offered his services to act as our Crew Chief and technical advisor. Mike brought along Alex and B.J. De Jong to help with pit stops, I’d rounded up good friends John Cronshaw, Joe and Ralph Matera and Paul Brown for the rest of the guy’s that would be going over the wall. In our pit box behind the wall we had my young lady Lori, Pat JR and Misty to help with all the other duties. I met some very nice people during the Fanwalk that the AMA had put on. My Grandson Hayden was there to help me to sign lots of autographs too. It was quickly time for the start of the race, I stayed out of trouble for the first couple of laps then worked hard to catch the group in front of me, when I got there it made my life much easier because I could use the ever important “Daytona Draft” I’d caught Russ Wikle, Tyler O’Hara, Ricky Orlando, Melissa Paris, David Sadowski JR and Jason Farrell. It was great fun drafting and passing with this group. On lap 18 I turned a quicker lap than I had in qualifying, so the pace was fast for me. I had one very scary moment though, as I drafted past Sadowski JR in NASCAR turn four, I went round the outside of his Ducati, and when I hit the huge wind blast as I got past him, the front tire started to fold under the bike at 160+ mph! I lightened up on the ’bars and the bike luckily straightened its self up. Mike then came on the radio to tell me it was already time to come in for the first pit stop for fuel and a rear tire. The pit stop went very quickly as everyone did their job’s so well, all the pit stop practices Mike had insisted on had paid off! On lap 27 the AMA red flagged the race due to front tires overheating and a mandatory tire change to a harder compound tire was ordered. 2 hours later we got to restart the race! During the down time Danny Eslick was telling me about how he completely lost the front end in NASCAR turn 4 and crashed at 160+ mph on his Suzuki, I told him how close I’d come to doing the same thing. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, it would now be a 15 lap sprint race, so all the preparation for a 200 mile endurance race was for nothing, no more pit stops for the boys to show what they could do, or for me to prove I was up to the 200 mile race, I was not happy. We were told to take two warm up laps and then re-grid for the restart, so we all took off row by row, and came back on pit road after two laps for the start. I then see the front two or three rows are taking a third warm up lap! So as ¾ of the field sat on the start line for another 2 minutes, I watched my coolant temperature go up to 225 degrees! I got a great start as the 1125R wheelied away from the line into turn one, then I hear that horrible scrapping noise of a bike sliding on the ground, Russ Wikle had lost the front end, his bike then took out Jason Farrell and the bike was coming after me. I stood the Buell up and ran off the outside of turn one trying not to get taken out by the sliding bike, it missed me by a few inches. I then got the bike turned and accelerated into turn two to see Barrett Long’s Ducati pouring smoke and cart wheeling 10 feet in the air, I just barely missed all the bike trying to avoid the melee, another red flag. Start number three saw us all cleanly through the infield, I got drafting with the exact same guys I was with during the very early laps! minus Russ Wikle. We were now battling for 18th place. The race was in much cooler conditions now, and after about 10 laps I was having trouble with a lack of rear grip from the hard Daytona tire. I was working hard to keep in the draft, ultimately I ended up at the back of our group and finished 22nd. I was glad to end the race in one piece after all of the things that had happened. I can’t thank Mike Kirkpatrick, and all the crew for doing such a fantastic job, without all these guys offering up their help I never could have done this race. I do feel cheated by the circumstances, I’d signed up for a 200 mile Endurance race, and got a 15 lap Sprint race, there’s always 2012. Pat Mooney. | ||
| Firstbuell |
Pat, you made it to the finish ! - congrats | ||
| Hootowl |
I thought the same thing after that race...finishing seemed to be quite the accomplishment. Glad no one was seriously hurt. Great racing Pat! | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I was watching and following your timing close, fantastic job! (even if it wasn't what you expected) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Great story! Thanks Pat! | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Pat, Thanks for the report!! You did an awesome job out there!! I watched up to about lap 13 from near the inside of turn one. It was exciting a bit sad all at once. Exciting because of the great racing action. Sad because I was spectating, not racing. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Here are a few of Pat:         | ||
| Rkc00 |
Here are a few more:   | ||
| Rkc00 |
and a few more:      | ||
| Coolice |
I'll add to Pat's Daytona 200 report, first I have to thank Paul James who I have been with for 7 years now racing Buell's. And Erik and company for making these great bikes. This was my 5th 200 race on a Buell crew so when Pat ran the Daytona tire test we talked about running the 200. Lots of phone calls, e-mails and texts went into our teaming up together for the 200, its NOT sprint racing, it's a race that must have a well prepared rider, machine, and crew. Pat has competed in many different races and I felt very comfortable going in to the 200 that with our combined experience the results would be good. Pat prepared the 1125 meticulously and I packed our pit crew gear from the James Gang/ Hoban Bros team and headed to Daytona. With the practice time shortened due to rain on Thursday, I spent time with Pat and John reviewing race strategy and pit procedures. Friday was the V&H XR1200 race and we crewed for Paul and Scott Russell so my day was busy. After the XR1200 race we switched to practice with the crew and Pat for pit stops. We practiced several stops to get Pat and the crew comfortable. Race day - Began with setup of our pit which AMA assigns according to qualifying. Moving all the gear,bike to our pit is quite task, then setting up and organizing everything. I really enjoy seeing Badweb folks there, big surprise was to see Char(Whatever) in the garage and by our pit, as well as Wolfridgerider and I'm sure more of you were there too. Court was there taking lots of great photos(can't wait to see them). We had our race strategy with pit stops and were comfortable with the race. The crew did a awesome stop even with Pat entering our pit box on an angle due to the team next to us struggling with their rear axle not rethreading. We did fuel,thanks to BJ (Bearracing) our fuelman and a rear tire change, I pushed Pat off and was getting the crew ready for our next stop when the red flag was called. When Pat came to the pit we were told to do a mandatory front tire change, no big deal it was practiced and we were ready so we did it. We moved the bike to the grid as instructed and waited. Then an official checked our front tire and told us to change it again. So we removed it, went to Dunlop and got another new front tire. Again learning of the other teams problems with the tires. For the rider I am glad it was done, as the crew chief, I am responsible for giving my rider a SAFE racing machine so the decision to change all the tires was good. From the fan/viewer stand point- yes it was bad. For me, well the crew only got to perform one great pitstop, we wanted the second, a chance to show our experience and give Pat a possible advantage from a fast stop. But time restrictions of the Speedway, didn't allow it. In the end Pat Mooney just added his name to the list of finishers of the 70th running of the Daytona 200 on a BUELL. Mike Kirkpatrick - crew chief James Gang/ Hoban Bros Racing | ||
| Court |
I wanna play . . . . . I've been around this Buell racing thing for a long time. I'm not the racing nut Erik is . . . I get confused even keeping track of everything that's going on but I do know GREAT when I see it and need to share a few things. Racing at Daytona is HUGE. Thousands aspire, hundreds try and a select few finally grid. Doing it with your Grandson watching reduces those odds about 100X. Pat Mooney had his work cut out. . . . just getting to Daytona. I know not a lick of background . . but I do know enough to know he made some smart choices. . . . Scoring Mike Kirkpatrick and Crew was one of them. By the time the Daytona 200 had rolled around Mike R had figured out that beyond being a chauffeur and hauling equipment that I was pretty much dead weight in terms of photographing anything moving and sent me to the pits so that we'd have all angles covered. I won that deal. Moments later in came not one or two racers . . . but ALL the racers. For Pat . . . just getting in the pits was a challenge as someone had blocked his path. The moment the wheels stopped the James Gang/Hoban crew jumped into action. Be mindful . . at this time . . they had no clue that'd have time to walk to Starbuck's for a double latte' and come back in time to continue. These guys were pure art. Practiced, proficient and professional . . . you'd never guess they all came from the same neighborhood as the guys who pulled off the famed 47 minute rear tire change in 1997. Not only did the pit crew rock but Pat is the walking embodiment of everything that makes Buell people . . . well, not like other motorcyclists. He's just plain nice as hell as likable as a Lab puppy. No matter who or what walked by in a Buell shirt, Pat would go out of the way to stop them, talk to them and make them feel important just for being there. That scores points with pompous assholes like me. At one time . . .Pat was interviewed while sitting on the grid. I was talking to Erik and told him if you had to script a commercial it couldn't have been better . . . Pat's enthusiasm is damned infectious and before long Erik, who was racing toward a flight . . was sending notes keeping track of Pat's progress. I've got the sneaking suspicion that Pat, having a Grandkid at the track, planted some seeds in Mr. Buells head . . . Please Mike and Crew . . . if he calls . . REFUSE ! Anyway . . . I was impressed and tried to capture a bit of the excitement. Congratulations to Pat, Mike and the entire crew for finishing the Daytona 200 under ANY circumstances. It was a proud day all around for Buell. Court                                               All photos copyright MJRPHJOTO.NET | ||
| Mark_1 |
Fantastic Job Pat!!! nice pics Court!! | ||
| Firstbuell |
^^^^I second the above^^^^ the visuals add a huge dimension to Pat's & Mike's narratives | ||
| Rkc00 |
Court  Court and Paint Shaker  | ||
| Court |
Ohmygosh . . Two Canfields in one place. . . . watch out world.  It was REALLY cool to see so many Badwebbers at Daytona . . . including a couple racing, a handful of crew and about everywhere you look . . Ebear, MarkG, Char, more Canfield's and a host of others. This . . even with all the challenges this race presented . . was a fun year. I can't imagine what next year will be like but I am making LOTS of reservations this week . . . call it a hunch. | ||
| Smoke |
GREAT JOB PAT!!! thanks for supporting Pat, Mike and crew! thanks for the PICS! wish i could have been there. tim | ||
| Reepicheep |
That 1190 gets more beautiful every time I see it. Beautiful lines... | ||
| Court |
The 1190RS, harking back to the S2 in my eye, is pure art in motion. I shot well over 100 images of detailed parts and spent 30 minutes with the Ohlins rep hearing about the development that went into the front forks. Typical ...... These are not Ohlins "top of the line" units ... These are NEW, developed for this bike, units that essentially allowed one of Ohlins Engineers (Brad) to do some things he's long dreamed of doing but ben constrained by cost and convention. This bike is to an 1125 as a Maseratti is to a Mini and about the same number of parts interchange. It's a whole new world ...... | ||
| Blake |
You're one of my personal heroes Pat. I'm already looking forward to next year's 200. That umbrella girl of yours is spectacular.  | ||
| Blake |
Bill, I too am amazed; the level of attention to detail is unprecedented, amazing. Canfield actually has his fly zipped! | ||
| Court |
>>>Canfield actually has his fly zipped! Good point. I'm slowly recapturing my sterling reputation after that ugly incident. We were at a moto-meeting last week and Vickie was actually telling that story . . . man. . . that's one I NEED to forget. Remind me to tell you not to tell me sometime. I'm pretty much seeing Pat Mooney and the James Gang Pit Crew, under the leadership of Mike Kirkpatrick, as the 2001 Buellers of the Year. This was ultra-cool on so many levels. | ||
| Hootowl |
Can such a title be applied retroactively? | ||
| Court |
>>>Can such a title be applied retroactively? Yes. In fact, it must be. You see motorcycling, partially due to the economy, partially due to changing demographics is operating at about 85% of the level of excellence it was in 2001. It'd be a disservice to all these guys, in view of their collective performance, to short change them by declaring them heroes under the waning current standards. Therefore, under a little known codicil buried within the Badweb Standard Terms and Conditions concerning declaration of "Significant Buellers and Events" . . I have invoked 18 U.S.C. § 32 Sub-Part 1901.23 ¶9B. It's also about the time that Pat Mooney would have been an "age appropriate" rider mixing it up with all those 20 year olds. | ||
| Hootowl |
"-under a little known codicil buried within the Badweb Standard Terms and Conditions concerning declaration of "Significant Buellers and Events" . . I have invoked 18 U.S.C. § 32 Sub-Part 1901.23 ¶9B" You sir, are a pompous know-it-all.  |
