| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
It was 1974 when Dave Loggins, no relation to Kenny, penned the lyrics. . . “Please come to Boston” . . . . . well, know I know what he meant. Yesterday I headed out of New York City for a wonderfully relaxing 4 hour road trip, and my first exposure to using a GPS navigation system (possibly the coolest thing since sliced bread) and headed for the fabled Larz Anderson Auto Museum in the Brookline suburb of Boston. Erik was on the way from a resounding and successful press launch of the new Buell XB Super TT in Los Angles, Strat slung over his shoulder, aboard a commercial jetliner. Most the business folks on the flight were headed home for dinner with family. It’d be Saturday before Erik would join his wife and kids this weekend, but Friday night, in it’s own special way, was going to be like dinner with family. Not more than 3 minutes after MikeyP and I had pulled in the parking lot Erik arrived with John Sweeny,long time (as in 20 years long) Buell RR-1200 owner and Executive Director of the oldest private car collection in the United States. John had been trying to work Erik into the museums lecture schedule for the last 2-1/2 years and tonight could not have been a better night. The event kicked off a couple hours before Erik was to speak as folks gathered to look at an impressive display of current and vintage (I hate to use that word to describe a bike I proudly bought new) Buell provided by Precision Harley-Davidson Buell. John’s RR-1200 lives in the museum and graced the entry as other Buells were scattered around the spectacular facilty. Within minutes of arriving I got to meet the Larz Anderson Museum Director of Education and Lectures, Mr. Sheldon Steele. Sheldon and I had spoken on the phone and meaningful “what time does the event start?” conversations were sidetracked the moment I found out he was a double bass and electric bass player. I’m unsure I understand why my interest in Buells has introduced me to so many musicians, but I like it. As Precision HD/Buell employees delivering bike struggled to weave through the gathering crowd, Sheldon ushered all of us to a display gallery in the back of the building. This it turned out was a “good thing" as the folks from BBQ Town (voted best BBQ in Boston) were laying out one of the finest spreads of food I’ve ever snarficated at a Buell event. I’d associated Boston more with beans and tunnels that BBQ . . . this was “Texas Level" chow! By around the time Erik was to speak the place was packed. Local Buell owners, by the way a rather cool and rabidly enthusiastic group who embarrassed me (not an easy thing to do) with their “Wayne’s World – We’re not Worthy" fall-to-the-floor rendition, were in fine form. Not only are these guys enthusiastic about their Buells, they’re down right fun to hangout with! I admit to asking everyone I met “how you get here tonight?” . . . just to hear the word “Cah” . . . over and over. I listened to Car Talk this morning just to rekindle the memory of a great night spent with new friends. It was finally time for Erik to do what he does best . . . visit with Buell owners and enthusiasts. I’ve watched this for years and still marvel . . . Erik’s enthusiasm, even as a top executive in the motorcycle industry, has not diminished one bit since the moment I first met him something like 20 years ago. When he starts talking motorcycling he goes into a zone. You immediately get the sense that this guy's not trying to convince or persuade, he’s just genuinely imbued with enthusiasm . . . he REALLY likes what he’s doing! I’d seen the talk before but confess to learning something every time I hear it. Most folks, I always get the feeling, really never had a clear comprehension of how comprehensively Buells are designed, engineers and tested. Lots of folks, after last night, now know just how much analysis something as ostensibly simple looking as a plastic front fender goes through. Each and every part is designed, challenged and . . . perhaps most importantly. . has an “owner”, someone on the team who is responsible for it. Time allows Erik to reveal more and more things that either would not have been understood or believed in the past. I heard one tidbit last night that I found shocking that I’ll be following up on, as well. Erik, as has been his modus operandi since about 1988, spoke lots longer than he intended. . . . the standing room only crowd was riveted and the 10 or 15 minute question period went for the better part of an hour as he went into detail about his involvement in the VR-1000, how the VROD program started at and left Buell and his passion for racing. As the last of the flyscreens were signed it was no surprise to me that all the musicians quickly came out of their shells and Erik shifted gears as quickly as a rider in the corkscrew shifts direction and began a slideshow of pictures of the new Buell electric guitar and playing an MP3 audio file of a song he wrote, about 2 Buell owners, and became engrossed in explaining how the echo was added to make the guitar part sound just right. A great song, like a great motorcycle, is more than the sum of its parts. It’d been a long week for everyone. . . folks began to filter out, Erik got ready to head to his hotel room to commune with his Strat and MikeyP and I began the midnight ride back to Gotham. The entire evening was like a halcyon gathering around a fireplace in someone’s living room on a cold winter night. . . just friends talking motorcycles and another reminder that in the world of Erik Buell motorcycles are just the tip of the iceberg. . . it’s the passionate people they attract. To all the folks in Boston . . . a huge THANK YOU and let me share a personal secret with you . . quote me if you will . . “Erik Buell enjoys these types of evenings more than you do". I think I’ll go back to Boston. Some photos . . . in no particular order. . .                        | ||
| Damnut |
oh oh I know I know!!!!! | ||
| Mikeyp |
Court Great Time man... It was a long day, i finally got into bed 5AM this morning.. It was great to see Erik, and i was surprised that he remembered me, he came up to me and said hello...kinda cool. And you know, not to mess up a good thread here, but after seeing and talking to Erik last might, you really see how genuine and excited he is about bikes, music, and just life in general. I would suggest to anyone who has a dislike fior Buells, or even Erik for that matter, to go and attend one of these functions, and see his passion in person. The open question part of the night was very interesting. It was worth driving over 8 hours roundtrip with you for this, but next time, i'm bringing my damn Ipod! | ||
| Court |
Wait? . . . you got an iPod too? I am calculating the total load that you placed on the electrical system of my car and thinking next time we split costs of our communal travel based on KWH . . I mean did we look like two guys in the electrical business or what? I've never see a 12 volt cigarette adapter with 28 taps! By the way . . . I must tell you I'm having British voice fantasies . . something about the thought of that, albeit electronic, voice telling me . . "I'll be back in a minute to help you get off" that obfuscates all memories of the fact she was referring to an upcoming exit ramp! | ||
| Signguyxb12 |
"I'am not worthy"....  that was me. Thanks to people like you and Sheldon the event was amazing...Again a thousand thank yous. | ||
| Blake |
Sweet. Thanks for sharing all that Court. Well said Mike. Nice face hair. Gray? | ||
| Court |
>>>>The open question part of the night was very interesting. Yes it was. There were two things Erik said that need following up on. Either he slipped or I misheard on the first. Well, the second your sharp ears caught as well . . I haven't breached the subject with him yet, but I can nearly guess his reaction. I'd like to see that videotape . . | ||
| 2kx1 |
I think it is a Puma GTE, manufactured in Brazil. | ||
| Damnut |
hey court....... did ya get my email???  | ||
| Mikeyp |
Yeah Blake, that's what happens when you turn 39..  The gray's are beating out the brown i used to have. As long as it's still in my head, i could care less what color it is. Court....i'll be waiting...i wanna spend some money again with Buell. I need to have the same feelings i had when i first saw an S1W. That..."I neeeed to have that motorcycle!" feeling. And what, no one's guessing on what make that car is? | ||
| Damnut |
hint............ It's German!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Imonabuss |
Begins with B? | ||
| Court |
That's right . . . it's brought to us by the same folks Ike copied the U.S. Interstate system after. . . the Germans. I thought it was Germane, (pun intended) as Erik spoke about record Buell sales in Brazil last year, that he was standing directly one floor above one of 25,205 VOLKSWAGONS produced in Brazil to circumvent the closed import laws. Read about the Volkswagen SP2 HERE or HERE or HERE. Kudos to whomever guessed Puma. I'd not heard of Puma, but as I read up on the SP2 I found Puma was another Brazilian manufacturer. Cool stuff . . . now that video. I've got a couple probing questions. | ||
| Blake |
"As long as it's still in my head, I could care less what color it is." Hey! I resemble that unfortunate alternative! I have an alternative saying that I prefer: "If that is the only thing that falls off, Life is good."  | ||
| Court |
    | ||
| Seth |
I was curious about what you all were looking at on that laptop | ||
| Seth |
Court, Did you happen to notice the drive system on the toilet car?  ...chain drive, pretty cool  | ||
| Rocketman |
Porn is my guess?  Rocket | ||
| Mikeyp |
Hey Seth, belt drive woulda worked much better.. Court,you left out option C Seeing a pic of a motorcycle designers one off custom made guitar. |
