| Author |
Message |
    
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:38 pm: | 
|
this is the other photo opportunity that Alex had set up with Mr. Lansing at my request, a shot of Madduck's Uly at home plate, signifying the major upper deck home run that the 2006 Buell Ulysses has been.
the challenge was convincing several dozen passionate Field of Dream'ers that some numbskull with a motorcycle could interrupt America's pastime with a...motorcycle???
as i barged my way onto the field as politely as i could, stating loud and often, "Sorry! Thank you!! I have Mr. Lansing's permission to do this!!!" i heard one of my coconspirators explain to an incredulous bystander, "It's ok, he's from California."
that comment drew many "Oh, that explains it!" reactions from the crowd, and was as good a reason as any - all i wanted to do was grab a good shot and get the spotlight off me.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:39 pm: |
|
Madduck, according to Mr. Lansing no other motorcycle has been here before, parked at home plate on the Field of Dreams.
our visit here today meant the world to me, and from the very beginning planning stages of FBRAT these photographs of your Buell on the field were to be an integral part of the adventure.
i hope you - and Erik Buell and everyone at the factory in East Troy - are as stoked about these images as i am. 
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:40 pm: |
|
as i pushed the bike off the field a little boy stood pressed against the backstop, silent and still, with a stoic face and ball glove in hand.
as i rolled slowly by i made eye contact with him and smiled, but got no reply, verbal or visual.
several seconds later i heard a quiet, "Hi, mister," from behind me. it was the boy, who had screwed up enough courage to speak. he melted my heart. i smiled at him again, and spotted his mother, who was nearby.
i asked for her permission to take a photograph of him on the bike, with HIS permission of course, and she said, "Sure, as long as it's ok with Ryan."
well, it WAS ok with Ryan, and this wonderful photograph is the result.
as it often seems to be, a kid and a camera (and, in this case, a motorcycle) are a perfect match.
Ryan cracked me up. when i picked him up and sat him down on the Uly's seat he exclaimed, "Where do I put my feet?"
"Kiddo, I know EXACTLY what you mean!"
Ryan was happy to be perched WAY up there, but only for a moment, long enough for me to get two photos before he said, "I want down now!"
before i had a chance to "save" him from the big, bad Uly, Iamike says, "Hey Ryan, I think the photographer owes you $100 for your time!"
everyone laughed, including me, including Ryan, including his mother.
so as i picked him up Ryan said with a grin, "Hey mister, where's my hundred bucks?!?"
er, thanks Mike!
Ryan, you can send the bill to Erik Buell or Paul Elliott, your choice. it's all their fault.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:42 pm: |
|
 |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:44 pm: |
|
Erik, if you build it...
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:46 pm: |
|
...we (and many others) will come!
i want to take a second here to thank all my great riding partners that afternoon for their patience, enthusiasm and sense of camaraderie.
the photos you've just enjoyed from the Field of Dreams took a great deal of time to capture, and everyone was fantastic regarding all the "down" time, for which i'm extremely appreciative.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:46 pm: |
|
ladies and gents, the 2005 FBRAT Field of Dreams All-Star Team!
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:48 pm: |
|
the ride from the Field of Dream to Waterloo, IA, where we were all staying the night, was a necessary super-drone westbound on Highway 20, and i was struggling to stay awake.
to fight the Z-Z-Z's i entertained myself (and hopefully others) by grabbing some action shots of several of the Hooligans in attendance that afternoon.
the lighting was cool, and the soft green countryside made for a great backdrop as our Buell (and ST1300) train thundered (and whispered) across the soothing Iowa landscape.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:49 pm: |
|
 |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:50 pm: |
|
 |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:51 pm: |
|
 |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:51 pm: |
|
 |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:52 pm: |
|
 |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:55 pm: |
|
whoosh!
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:56 pm: |
|
Kandie, aka Penny Stueve, tries on Shazam's Firebolt for size at our dinner rendezvous at Beck's Sports Brewery in Waterloo.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 20, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 04:58 pm: |
|
"Where do I put my feet?" 
anybody tired of hearing the word "epic"? too bad, today did not disappoint. it was great to be here in Waterloo, Iowa, and many thanks to Craig for setting up our dinner get-together tonight, and to Dale for mapping out such an incredible ride out of Wisconsin this morning.
and to Dave Stueve, aka the Wizard. it's been a hoot hanging with you, my friend - thanks for all your help, enthusiasm and support.
tomorrow? Kansas City, Missouri and the world's best BBQ.
sorry no pix at our shindig at Beck's tonight, but ol' Ferris was whupped, and is painfully shy (altho i try to mask that fact as best i can).
it was great at dinner just to tuck in next to Ralph and bask in the glow of so many good people having a good time. in a perfect world i'd have been up snapping pix and firing off wisecracks, but what i needed most at this point was exactly what i got - a chance to relax and be still among motorcycle friends.
Dave, when you asked me if i might stand up and say a few words, i knew you were right, but i'm serious when i say that i'm shy, and the thought of getting up in front of you all and trying to say something cool was daunting, at best.
if it seemed that my heart wasn't in what i DID say, well, that wasn't the case. my BEST times are often when i'm feeding off the energy of other good people, which i definitely was tonight. my words, admittedly sparse, were meant in part to take the light off me and put it back on you guys and gals, because i was sure enjoying the show.
it's not easy, what i've just written, but it's true, and i hope that no one there at Beck's that night took my retiring ways wrong. i've done a lot of group Buell activities over the years, and i REALLY appreciate it when someone goes "above and beyond" to participate in a gig, like all of you fine people did.
passion, adventure and camaraderie has kept me in the Buell Party for just a few months shy of a decade now, and there was enough PAC going around today and tonight to float a boat.
i'm so very appreciative, and i hope that these words here on BADWEB convey my appreciation better than i did that at Beck's that night.
it WAS a truly epic day. thank you all.
FB
mileage today: 371.0 start, 777.2 end, 406.2 total
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 25, 2005) |
|
