| Author | Message | ||
     Nobuell |
The Hero guys I meet at Road America were quit friendly once we were able to get them talking. They just appeared have low key personalities. They all were very nice guys. My pit pass at Indy Moto GP was essentially worthless. All of the bikes and riders were hidden from view except for a rare case. You cannot beat the accessibility of the AMA riders and crew. | ||
| Ljm |
I defer to your all experience. I tried twice and no joy trying to talk to them. I was, interestingly, maybe the only person there wearing an EBR hoodie. On the other hand, the guys at the transporter and Geoff, Aaron, Larry were great. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Call it the luck of the draw, but the two experiences we have had at Laguna with the WSBK guys have been awesome. We have made it mandatory to leave Monday, which gives us all the time in the world Sunday when all the crews are breaking thing down...and the racers are milling around often just hanging with their crews. It's all so relaxed with the weekend being done--which makes all the difference in the world. My favorite experience was with Tom Sykes the year he won the title. We probably spent a good 15 minutes just shooting the @#$# with the guy. There wasn't anyone else around, just us and Sykes. I liked him before and became a huge fan after he spent that kind of time with us joe average fans. And if you saw any of his press conferences after the races last year, he is a true nut (in a good way.) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Funny, this is the guy who I have seen totally rushed and short with the fans (although some fans need to get a clue and realize someone has rushing to get a job done and just leave him alone) and also really accommodating at most other times. Thus, I conclude their friendliness is usually revolving around their stress level at the time. I think we can all relate to that. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
MotoGp is the a joke. They drive the top names in and out in cars with blacked out windows. They are ushered from the pits to their reception areas as quickly as possible. And at Laguna it's a complete mess of people in the GP area, so we don't even try. And from our experience, you actually get lucky running into the racers when you aren't trying to stalk them. Boom, you turn the corner and run into someone you recognize. | ||
| Davegess |
All the big time racing is like that. It seems to be the price paid for making a ton'o money. Same is true for all the really big time sports; kid used to hang out by the athletes entrance at NBA arenas and guys who give away used shoes and t-shirts. If you allowed that today the players would never get to their cars. | ||
| Jaimec |
I just found it odd that anyone and everyone has access to the AMA garages and they all have the time to talk with you. In MotoGP, you have to PAY $100 a day (and I understand Indianapolis is one of the CHEAPER tracks in that regard) in order to get access to that area so it's not like everyone in the facility is there... but no one has the time to give you the time of day. | ||
| Nobuell |
Jaimec, Indy was even worse. You cannot see into the garages at all. You can only see the back side of the garages but each one is blocked off. You may catch a glimpse of a rider if he is going to the bathroom or to one of the eating areas. I have been there three years running but only caught a glimpse of a couple of riders. | ||
| Crusty |
Ha! I don't buy the access to the pits, but in 2011, my ex and I stayed at the Marriott Hotel (Thank you Hotwire.com!), and we got to ride in the elevator with Jorge Lorenzo. I didn't bother him by acting like a goofy fan,(what are you supposed to say to a World Class racer?) but I still thought it was cool. | ||
| Nobuell |
Good luck and I will be there watching? | ||
| Fast1075 |
To be successful in any sport, it takes intense focus. Some are better at turning it on and off than others. Some people are genuinely nice, some pretend to be nice, and some are flaming arseholes. As a former drag racer, and Bass angler, I have met and competed against many personalities. They all need their space. It isn't a hobby for them. The best of the best can divide their time and be warm and open on their "fan" time, but rest assured when it's time they have to have the mindset of a stone cold killer. Remember that sometimes clawing your way to the top takes some of your humanity. | ||
| Ljm |
I work with athletes who compete on the world stage in another pursuit, and that was probably the best description of the mind of an elite athlete I ever heard. | ||
| Jaimec |
Durocher (sp?) was right: "Nice guys finish last." | ||
| Smoke |
we are here at COTA with the Thrashed Bike EBR 1190RX to sort it out prior to this week's official tire test. MotoA would not allow Max to participate in the trackday this weekend so Walt Sipp came down and provided the initial riding and suspension tuning inputs. all good so far! Cory West was also here riding a stock RX but unfortunately will not be riding in the series this year. will update later in the week tim | ||
| Smoke |
official practice over with Max getting a best time of 2:20 flat. need to pick up a couple more seconds to run with the next group but our race simulation went well. was surprised at the light turnout. 14 in SB/SS 1000 and 17 SS/SST 600. The conditions started wet and improved to full dry the first day followed by fog the 2nd day to overcast and then sunny back to overcast. Max gets along with the bike and we are looking for a good result next month! wish us luck!! tim | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I hear COTA is a tricky track to get the fast path figured out. Best of luck! | ||
| Firstbuell |
hey Smoke, what was that BS about Max originally being shut outta the test? on what basis? what changed? did good ol' Buell soljah Walt Sipp end up helping you 2 at COTA? West Coasters await supporting you in person at Laguna Seca SBK | ||
| M2typhoon |
I really hate to bring this up but I have seen this morning in Dustin Dominguez's FB page that Dane Westby (The Wolverine) has past away. This guy was so fun to watch. R.I.P. Dane. | ||
| Badgerbueller1125 |
Godspeed Dane. | ||
| Smoke |
there was a ridesmart trackday the weekend before the tire test that Max was not allowed to participate in due to it being less than 30 days before the race but any licensed AMA Pro racer could pay for the tire test practice and participate on a homologated motorcycle. Dane was the fastest in the Superstock 1000 class and we are all going to miss him. RIP Dane. tim | ||
| Crusty |
Any more information? Was it a racing accident? I really hate it when a talented rider dies. Godspeed Dane. R.I.P. | ||
| Crusty |
I just found this on Roadracing World: http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/racer-dane-wes tby-rip/ | ||
| Fuzzz |
Dane was a great guy, he'll be sorely missed... | ||
| Smoke |
Nightime street incident. Tim | ||
| Hughlysses |
Cory West, Danny Eslick, and Erik Buell all had nice things to say about him on Facebook this afternoon. RIP. | ||
| Riohondohank |
Cory, Danny and Dane were close friends with Oklahoma roots. A a few years ago they made it an all Oklahoma podium at Barber. Maybe my favorite motorcycle racing photo. Now one is gone. RIP Wolverine.  | ||
| Smoke |
first race starts next week at COTA. we're going to miss Dane! stop by and say hi. We are looking forward to a lot of work and a reasonable result! see ya there! tim and max #888 | ||
| Hughlysses |
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/geoff-may-to-r ide-yamalubewestby-racing-yamaha-in-motoamerica-su perstock-1000cc-class-at-cota/#.VSLJ_Zj-vBo.facebo ok Go Geoff!!!   | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hmmm, I was hoping Eslick would carry the torch for Dane. | ||
| Jaimec |
Crap. The races won't be shown on television for a whole WEEK!! No way I won't know the outcome by then.  http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2015/Apr/150406c.ht m |
