| Author | Message | ||
     V2win |
The bike is packed. The tank is full. The body is old, But the spirit is willing. Leaving at daybreak. | ||
| Ferris |
V2Win, me 'n Dino Dave (i call him Dino 'cause he's SO old :-) will have a coupla cold ones waiting for you and RBoy Thursday at Furnace Creek. (and DON'T be getting sidetracked -- for too long, anyway -- when you, um, come thru Pahrump)  lookin' forward to puttin' faces to the names, gents! Ferris | ||
| Ebear |
Howdy Ferris and Buellers! Now isnt that just a HOOT of a name for that place ???(Pah....RUMP)  I wonder if they considered naming Main Street "Bordello Boulevard" ?? What time do ya" think youll be around The Springs ?Im still trying to get Free for Sat Morning.Hopefully Ill see you there! And maybe Sparky too ! | ||
| Ferris |
EBear, i'm actually pretty concerned about the boys getting stuck in Pahrump on their way thru, um, sampling shall we say the local color, then calling me 'n Dino up in Death Valley and making up some half-baked excuse about one of the bikes going toes-up somewhere in west Texas or something and how they're gonna be just a little bit late!  re: ETA for Willow Springs, well, i'm hoping we launch from Kernville Saturday morning by 0600-ish (we'll need to fire up early to get everyone to San Diego in plenty of time Saturday afternoon). if we're successful with an early lift-off, i can envsion being at Willow by 0900-ish or so. the boys wanna get some pix of the place, and i'm sure will be easily smitten by the racing going on, but have also made it real clear that they don't want to drag into San Diego anywhere close to late. that being the case, i don't think we'll be at Willow more than an hour or so. i posted my cell number above; call Saturday morning if you need to update me on a possible ETA for you. if you DO call and i don't answer (coverage can be spotty up here in the mountains), be SURE to leave a voice mail, k? i'll check for messages periodically throughout the morning. ride 'til you're raw, Ferris | ||
| Ferris |
Tuesday 5/14/02 2055 PDT i apologize in advance for my language: SHIT! i just got off the phone with Racerboy. his exact words were, "Ferris, stick a fork in us." he and V2Win are in Tulsa, OK, and near as they can tell V2Win's S3 has a seized piston. their grand adventure is done. i'm way bummed, for them, for me. more, of course, for them. i've been busted on the road before, a long way from where i wanted to be, and i know the feeling. chances are, most of you reading this do, too. Racerboy was able to laugh, and laugh heartily, as we spoke, a credit to his good-natured outlook on life, and i can't give him enough credit for that. i told him, in all sincerity, that laughter would be in short supply if i were in their boots. i also told him that the GP was still a go, that dammit, we are gonna do this thing in their honor, the whole enchilada, Death Valley on Thursday, rippin' the Sierras on Friday, Willow Springs and Rim of the World and Big Bear on Saturday, and plenty of hoisted toasts each evening in their honor. i've made a couple of good friends out of this deal, men i've not even met yet, and i look forward to the day we get to toast each other in person. in the meantime, the 2002 California Grand Pre-ride is for them. Ferris Bueller | ||
| Al_Lighton |
Ferris, I think the censors will have to overlook that one. Sometimes a nasty four letter word is called for, and this is one of those times. I feel for those guys. I'll lift one in their honor at the other stops on the ride. At least they're in Tulsa. There's a lot of land between there and here that would be much worse to break down in. Bummer. | ||
| Sparky |
Bummer about our long distance boys. Maybe it's easy enough to fix and they'll meet up with us on the course somewhere. FB & Ebear, Jen & I are having lunch with my mom this Saturday. She's in town to visit us & keep my son (who's graduating high school) company while we're out riding. We'll catch up with everyone at the dealer Sat afternoon. I've got some amazing stories to tell. Thanks, Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| Choptop |
You boys that are gonna be on the ride from the start, you gotta convince Erik that he needs to stick with the ride until it gets to Modesto. | ||
| Blake |
Bummer! Crap! Surely he can get a top end done rebuild on an emergency basis? | ||
| S3dave |
I'm travelling from Kelowna B.C. on Thursday morn, first night in Klamath Falls. I checked my route and I will be going past Kernville on Friday night. Sounds like there might be some buellers I can hook up with and ride with to San Diego on Sat. How will it be to get a room there?? and where will everyone be??? | ||
| V2win |
Hey guys, I just arrived at the house. A friend of mine drove to Tulsa last night to haul the Beast back to St. Louis. Racerboy rode back to St. Louis via Arkansas backroads instead of taking the Interstate back. Thanks for the thoughts.The "big adventure" came to a quick close the first day out. Bummer. If I had stock cylinders and pistons, I could have had the engine repaired but I have the 3 13/16 jobs. No parts, no chance of repair. I dont know what else to say. Im tired, pissed, and hungry. Ride safe. Later. John | ||
| Sarodude |
For those stopping in Ventura on Monday I might be there to meet some BadWeBers... -Saro | ||
| Ferris |
V2Win, there's a bunch of us thinkin' of you, and i guarantee at least a few (dozen) dark beers will be sacrificed in your honor in the coming days. as best i can with limited on-the-road computer access, i will keep this page updated as the GP begins and progresses -- we're gonna do it just as if you guys were with us; as far as i'm concerned, you will be. S3Dave, i'd be honored to put you up Friday night in Kernville! you've got a pretty frisky day of riding on Friday to get all the way down here from Klamath Falls -- that's gotta be 600-plus miles (sorry, someone will have to convert to kilometers). plus, as you've indicated you're overnighting in K-Falls on Thursday, it's obvious you're avoiding the interstate, which means even more seat time. in any event, you're way invited to bunk with us Friday night if you make it this far. we're staying at the Pine Cone Inn, 13383 Sierra Way, Kernville, phone 760/376-6669, easy to find (Kernville is all of about three or four square blocks small :-) call me on my cell (760/379-7883) sometime Friday when you have a better idea of your ETA, k? if i don't answer, BE SURE to leave a voice mail. also, my home number is 760/379-2218, just in case. we (me 'n Dino Dave) should be arriving at the Pine Cone sometime early to mid-afternoon, and i'm expecting Fireman Jim sometime after that. PLEASE come in quiet on your bikes --the ol' gal that runs the Pine Cone has had some bad experiences with inconsiderate Harley riders in the past (Loud Pipes Cause Hives), and i had to do some sweet talking to secure a room. Sparky, i won't be going all the way to San Diego on Saturday, that never was in my plans, but i'll see you and the rest of the gang Tuesday morning in Bakersfield ride to lean, Ferris | ||
| Ferris |
ps to Sparky: i'd like to guide any interested Hooligans on the day three leg from Bakersfield to Fresno via Lake Isabella and Sequoia/Kings Canyon, but don't want to get stuck (i.e. bs'ing) trying to get out of Bakersfield Tuesday morning (um, i DO know how to burn serious time shooting the shite :-) how's this sound for a plan? we (anyone interested in a small, informal, high-performance but safe-'n-sane group-flog led by yours truly) meet at the Denny's across the street from the motel on Tuesday morning for an 0600 departure. too early? not early enough? thoughts, ideas, suggestions? also, i second the notion of Erik doing the whole frikkin' tour!!!!!!!!!!! FB | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ferris,that sucks.I was lookin forward to meeting them boys.Too bad he wasn't closer as I now have a spare bike.I picked up the (almost) new S-2 today(5900 miles).1000+ miles there and back.Its a beaut.You'll see on friday.I think James finally decided to go to friends house after all(fingers crossed)so I should be heading out fri about 900am.Gotta get a rear tire tomorrow and some fiddlin to do.This one's an old one.Built 7/94. | ||
| Ferris |
cool for you, FMJ! i'm outta here about noon today, for Death Valley w/Dino, see you at the Pine Cone on Friday! ride mass quantities, FB | ||
| Al_Lighton |
Weather forecasts: Looking good for the next week, except tuesday. The bakersfield to Fresno stretch is currently promising to be a wet one, possibly a thunderous one. Bummer, that one was going to be one of the best. If it hails, I stop! Al | ||
| Eeeeek |
Come now, I've learned that the weathermen are always off by a day. I bett the storm will hit Wednesday. Vik | ||
| Ferris |
on the road...............again ride safe, people. FB | ||
| Ebear |
AAAHHHHH Come on AL ! You wouldnt be havin' memories of Hail like in Colorado would you ? Whats a little Hail , Rain , Thunder , Sleet and a Huge Mud Slide gonna hurt ??? Heck we dont get Weather like that now do we ?? Be good to see you on the ride. And like Ferris said "Ride Mass Quantities!!"  | ||
| Ferris |
saturday morning, the GP's been a riot so far, perfect weather (108 in Death Valley--yowza!), we sure miss our brothers from Missouri. there have been many toasts to you; Sam Adams, Jack Daniels, and Mr. Guinness give their regards Fireman Jim beat us to Kernville, and S3Dave from British Columbia pulled in almost right behind us yesterday afternoon (the guy is a riding machine!) Dino Dave is still along, too, and in a few minutes we're off to Willow Springs to hook up with BuDu (and maybe EBear???) will write more when i can, sure wish you guys were here, the stuff we've seen and done so far woulda blown you away. ride to lean, FB | ||
| Ferris |
it's saturday night, the GP is done (all 937 miles of it, tack on a couple hundred more for Dino to get back to Portervlle), but the fun has just begun! Racerboy and V2Win, you guys were sorely missed. the past two days have exceeded my wildest expectations, and the ONLY thing that coulda made this deal better would have been the honor of your company. parted ways with FMJ and S3Dave early this aternoon, them pointed due south toward SD, after having literally shredded some of the best roads outside of Heaven. and what a treat to root on our buddy BuDu (Bob Setbacken) as he ripped around the big track at Willow Springs on his S1BWL, the thing all black and nasty and loud. i am exhausted, and i am still amped, and i would gladly jump on the scooter and do it all over again RIGHT NOW! i stink badly, and a long, hot shower beckons. i'll write more -- this deal deserves it -- but it'll have to wait for a bit. in the meantime, the BRAG boys and girls should be partyin' hard in San Diego even as i type, and it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that awaits them. gents, it must be tough, but you ARE with us in spirit. ride to clean, Ferris | ||
| Gotbuell |
Man it's Sunday morning and - ITS RAINING! How's that song go, "It never rains in Sunny Southern California"? I was planning on joining up at Oceanside Buell this morning so it looks like I'm gonna get wet. Oh Well | ||
| Matty |
Ugh. My race can finally let go this morning on the way to Oceanside. I waved farewll to the rest of the Buellers and scratched my head while standing in the rain. Solution? Pulled the muffler remnants off, threw them in my backpack, and rode home with a 100 decibel race header soundtrack annoying the sleeping Orange county residents at 7a.m. I'm bummed. If the rain goes away I may throw the Forcepipe on and meet the folks in Victorville.  | ||
| Miguel |
 Yer supposed to be BAD WEATHER BIKERS Godammit! | ||
| Gotbuell |
Well I still haven't met up with the tour. I left in the rain and if you don't know anything about So Cal roads and rain, let me slpain. Because we don't get much of the wet stuff, our roads are well saturated with oil and other slippery stuff. When the rain comes the roads make ice look like good traction. As I headed up the freeway on ramp, I nailed it in third. All traction was lost, the tach pegged instantly, the rev limiter tried to keep up, and the end result was a bent pushrod. Limped it back home and it's now in pieces. Whose stupid idea was it for XL motors to have one piece pushrod tubes? Anyway if I have the parts in the shop I will try for tomorrow at Victorville, otherwise its over before it started for this S1WL as these were the only days I could sneak away from the shop. Hope the others are fairing better. | ||
| Ferris |
geez, Miguel, we're two-and-a-half months and 250-plus posts into this thread, and you FINALLY decide to contribute by dissing somebody? well, it's hard to tell your tone, so i'll take the high road and assume your fingers were smiling as you typed. but i'll say this, also: you do NOT want to ride the roads of SoCal in the rain, ESPECIALLY after the first rain in several months. the pavement, as stated above, is slick as snot, and every cage driver out there is freaking out trying to remember how to turn on their windshield wipers. worse, much of this tour traverses mountain roads, and there is the very real possibility of snow and freezing rain in the next 24-36 hours. not sure if you've ever had fifty or a hundred fellow riders counting on YOU to get them safely thru a blizzard, but it's a heavy-duty responsibility. i doubt that ANYONE has rain gear for this trip, unless they purchased it along the way, and we've ALL ridden in enough crappy weather in our riding careers that we don't have to ride thru even more just to prove we're "real" BADWEATHER Bikers. anyway, i'm sure you were just having fun. right? ride to lean, FB | ||
| Court |
I love you Ferris....you always sat the nicest things. This time....mygoshallmighty, you sound "Courtwise". Leaping on a motorbike and heading onto a freshly rained on road is the 2 wheeled equivalent of unsafe snacks....er...sex. He was just joking. Court | ||
| Ferris |
"Courtlike"? wow, i've been called a lot of things in my life............... i AM pretty proud of myself, tho, as i just woofed down a delish double-mocha (Big Blue Bear, Kernville, CA, ask for Michelle), so am pretty well amped, and still was able to be, well, Courtlike just finished watching the Weather Channel, they just got a report of a funnel-cloud sighting near Sacramento, and the NWS has just issued a tornado warning for the Sac area. snow level tonite is s'posed to drop to 5000 feet, and by 10 tomorrow morning -- unless the weather chases us away -- we'd already be above 6000 feet, up on the Western Divide Highway. the troops are heading to Ventura Buell today, then inland on 33 from the Santa Barbara-Ojai vicinity, and judging by the satellite pix they're getting pounded on. it's dumping here at Lake Isabella as we speak, and i'm heading out in the 4-wheel drive in just a few minutes to check out the Western Divide first hand. keep fingers crossed, kids, this could get ugly..... FB | ||
| Matty |
Oh man,oh man, oh man, I'm still cold! Well, after a phone call from the guys on the trip and hearing Erik yelling in the background to get off my bum, I turned my attention from the Big Kahuna race to the M2. Threw the force pipe on and headed over the Crest, through Wrightwood, and on to V-ville. Weather was great - chilly and LOW clouds but no rain. I think the best part was watching the clouds swirl over the road as they drifted over the mountain ridges. Got to V-ville HDB as the party winding down and moving on to continue at the hotel. FUN! This morning started great, but the route had to be adjusted to avoid fog, rain, ice, snow. Yes it snowed at 6k feet. I think most folks opted to take 138 and go round the long straight way. I was an idiot and went through Wrightwood to big pines road, to some other road, to Mt Emma road, to Angeles Forest (the low road on the Crest). So instead of ice, snow, and rocks I hit rain, fog, rocks, and coldcoldcold - did I mention I was horribly underdressed? Great fun though and not to be missed. For the folks up north planning on riding - look good! The cameras and film crew are very busy!  Thanks to Leslie and all the hard work everyone put into this! Can we do part 2 next year? |
