| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
 A day has passed. The pundits, curmudgeons, luddites, naysayer and those who seek but to incite have had their day. I’d like to share some thoughts on the events of the last 48 hours, in fact the last couple months. I feel compelled to append this by offering fair warning that I have nothing but positive thoughts. Having based my opinions on fact, history, experience and feelings, I’m well aware I’m ill equipped to do battle on the internet, so take these thoughts for what they are. . . my opinion. Years ago Erik Buell got this racing thing in his blood. It wasn’t the type of “in your blood” that goes away. He raced, took part in enough personal pain and suffering to become familiar with both race tracks and ambulances. He broke his body and emptied his bank account. He lost love, he lost money, but he never lost the dream. At long last Erik Buell has stood on the grid at Daytona and realized the dream of seeing 4 of his motorcycles start within spitting distance of the pole at the DAYTONA 200. Less than 60 days after the world even knew this motorcycle existed, folks from around the world had gathered, Buell owners in the USA and Europe, caught in the tractor beam of enthusiasm, simultaneously cried “what the hell. . I gotta be there. . I have to see this with my own eyes” and made the trek to Daytona. Opinions will vary, but most agree this years 20% increase in attendance was Buell’s biggest victory. Love’em or hate’em they came to see them. For the last 36 hours as I wandered the area of Daytona Speedway I’ve been stopped about 50 times, owing to the Buell shirt, with “dude, that was awesome”. It’d be tough to deny that Buell has set in motion the restoration of the Daytona 200 as a premier motorcycle race. Let the cole slaw wrestler’s deal with it. How’d we do? You’re all asking that and I can’t wait to answer . . . we WON IT ALL but the race. The Buell XBRR has done many things, most of the obvious well chronicled by the road racing press. Let me tell you a few of the, perhaps less obvious, things it’s SUCCEEDED in doing. Harley-Davidson is a racing company, make no mistake about it. In fact, someone reminded me, during a “we’re back” chat that Harley-Davidson has won Daytona more than any other manufacturer. In addition, I’ll share a touch of inside information with you. . . the Davidson family LIVES racing. Stories abound about the silent family dinner the day the VR program was discontinued. Harley-Davidson wants and needs to be racing. Seeing Willie G. and Nancy Davidson, along with other Harley-Davidson execs, there at track side cheering on and supporting the Buells was fabulous. Willie Davidson, as a styling genius, is no stranger to things that don’t go as planned the first shot out of the box. He’d likely not admit it, but the Buell offers Harley-Davidson the best chance in my lifetime to be a serious competitor in motorcycle racing. To paraphrase a well known journalist during the race . . “this Buell is the real deal. It doesn’t need to be “spun” or wrapped in a story about heritage to command respect”. In a nutshell, welcome back to racing Harley-Davidson, you’ve got a real horse! Someone made a comment to me, following the race Saturday to the effect “I wander what this means for the future of Buell racing?” My thoughts are, based on knowing folks like Rich Teerlink, is that it means Monday morning all the relevant data will be collected, smart folks will collaborate, solutions will be found and the journey will continue. Folks who talk about “giving up” are generally unwelcome in the Buell environment. We have Erik Buell to thank for bringing some great talent together, we have Jon Flickinger to thank for arming them with resources and leading them to be the most effective teams they can be. I told you I was excited, I am. Harley-Davidson loves to race. Know who else loves to race? Buell and Harley-Davidson dealers. Most these guys cut their teeth, early in their careers, as racers and they love this stuff. Individually and as a group they put their money where their mouths were, ordering all the XBRR's begin made and turning out in record numbers at Daytona. I saw dealers like Thom McIlhattan (Vallejo HD/Buell and Buell Racing) and Keith Ulicki of Uke's fame. These guys know good business and what racing can bring to the table. It says much that they were THERE as was Super-Dealer Dave Stueve, leading Buell riders to events and never missed a chance to sell, even while having the time of his life. These guys are the heart of the Buell machine. There’s more to this, so much more and every bit of it serves as a catalyst to my enthusiasm for the Buell racing program. I opened with some thoughts about adversity in the early stages of the Buell dream, I need to tell you about some of the people. When Buell first started building race bikes, there was a guy who arrived at the barn early to light the stove before others came to work. There were a couple other youngsters who worked under tough conditions chasing a dream that seemed to move away like a mirage in the desert. As I spoke to an old friend at Daytona, I was sharing what an emotionally moving event seeing Buell at Daytona was, I told him of some of the tough times in the early days. He commented, “I’ll bet those folks were glad to get out of there and get a real job. Where are they today?” I proudly pointed to Henry in the garage area and Kimmy and Dave Gess waving enthusiastically from the Buell suite and said “oh, they never thought of leaving. Dreamers are like that”. Buell owners, particularly those who’ve met Erik, understand this. Others, and riders of other brands, when told these types of things simply look like a 6 month old puppy looking at an oscillating fan for the first time. Returning to Daytona was huge. The racing, the placing, the winning was all important, very important, just not MOST important, we’ll get there, but first we had to get HERE. We did. The interesting thing about the Buell dream is that it is, quite literally, “Different In Every Sense”. To understand why, you don‘t need to look far in the world of Buell. I continue to be amazed at the dedication, by the folks at Buell, to Buell owners. I’m not sure what the top execs of other companies were doing or if they were even at Daytona. I can’t make a fair comparison, I can tell you about Buell and it fascinates me. A couple weeks before the event, with enthusiasm on the rise by the day, the folks at Buell basically made a “what can we be doing to make this a great time for Buell owners?” contact and set about producing Buell Racing shirts for all the owners we could find at the event. It’d be tough to say the Buell folks weren’t well dressed. I ran into Buell folks everywhere including the airport as I was leaving this morning. The excitement was contagious. I can’t close this without sharing a few very personal observations. Over the years of chasing this dream I’ve seen grown men cry, I watched Erik, suffering from exhaustion, ridiculed by drunks in the lobby of the Adam’s Mark in 1997, I seen in be right within grasp and suddenly whisked away. I’ve seen people miss their kids school plays and family dinners. This isn’t like, with all due respect, a Honda or Yamaha racing effort that’s done by teams, committees and doesn’t require, literally, selling the barn to buy wheels. This was a huge emotional event for Erik Buell. So what was Erik doing, after all these years, the pre-race controversy, 8 consecutive honor V.I.P. dinners and 27 interviews doing after an 18 hour day? You got it, both Erik and Jon Flickinger wanted to know “where are the Buell owners gonna be?” so one of them could sneak away from the corporate doings. Flick got tied up guarding the corporate walls, but I’ll be damned if about 10:00PM Saturday night, his ass dragging, Erik doesn’t drive an hour to join Buell owners, “talk shop” and visit with recently injured Buell ride and host Nick Moody and present him with an autographed piece of body work from the #999 McWilliams Buell. Tell ya what folks, if each of those bikes had sputtered, coughed and never left the starting grid, I’d be proud to be a member of the Buell community. We’re Back! Congratulations to Jon Flickinger, Erik Buell and all the team at Buell and Harley-Davidson for setting the DAYTONA 200 on course to recapture its glory as one of the world’s premier motorcycle races! Court Canfield New York City March 12, 2006 P.S. - too many pictures to post tonight. . . I'll start on them tomorrow. Thank you to everyone for making this a great event. | ||
| Court |
Okay. . . but just a couple.    P.S. - The cool part about being armed with Nikon's top-of-the-line glass is that these pics are easy from 200 yards. I love photography. | ||
| Court |
Going. . . going. . . GONE! Not finishing sucks, always has, always will. But anyone who saw the Buell knows it left about anything on the track in the corners . . This is serious hardware. By the way, I read somewhere that Buell "barely got mentioned". That's patently inaccurate information. In fact, even after all four Buells were out the talk about BUELL RACING continued. Folks, well outside the day-to-day Buell world are caught up in this. The increased excitement at Daytona was evident, even to the non-Buell folks.        | ||
| Court |
And just a few people. . .            (Message edited by court on March 12, 2006) | ||
| Court |
Okay. . . sure . . I took 900 pics. . I inadvertently got a couple "stray shots".   By the way. . . . BUELL RACING was a run away in the Umbrella Girl race! | ||
| José_quiñones |
Court, Excellent as always. During all the excitement/preparation did anybody ever get the shot of all four bikes together in front of the banking, the classic Daytona shot? | ||
| No_rice |
man i wish i could have been there. just because the race didnt end as well as hoped doesnt make me any less happy with the bikes i have and the people i have met because of them. that was a nice read court! im just biting my nails waiting for the homecoming to meet all you guys and tour the plant which i have never been to even though ive been close by so many times. the highlight of my week last week, was this older man walked in to the hd and buell shop i work at in ames and started chatting with some of the guys that have worked there a long time(ive been there a month) the guy that works the parts counter with me, that this older man was talking to came over and said he thought i might be interseted in meeting the other man. to make a long story short, it turns out that this man that had wandered into my store in ames iowa was Jon Flickinger's father. for some reason i just thought that was cool. maybe i'm weird, lol. ok i know i am but hey it brightened my day! | ||
| Court |
Tim: The next time you see Mr. Flickinger, invite him to Homecoming 2006! I'll bet I can arrange a tour he'd like and hook him up with a great t-shirt. In fact, we may try to do the "Enthusiasm Run Wild" tour. Last year I'd talked about doing a special tour and introducing folks to a few of the people you'll never hear about. There are folks, far from the public eye, that are building your motorcycle like it was the one they were planning to give to their own son or daughter. The talent at Buell extends throughout the entire spectrum of employees, they are amazing. Be sure to be at Homecoming 2006 and be ready for a great time, and if you want to bring Mr. Flickinger along it'd be great...but tell him his son has to work that day. Court | ||
| Road_thing |
After all the hoopla and racing and such, Erik went to the gathering at Nick's place... That well may be the classiest thing I have ever heard of, in the motorcycling world! Way to go! rt And, in 40+ years of riding, I've seen some things that I thought were pretty high-class, prior to this... | ||
| No_rice |
hey court, if he comes in before then i will make sure to mention it. didnt even think of it then. was fairly busy so didnt get alot of time to chat like i would have liked. already have my room reserved in appleton for the homecoming. on a side note. do you by chance know if they plan on selling the buell racing shirts anytime soon, or how to get ahold of some? i have already had a couple people that couldnt make it(me included)wanting to buy some. but i have heard nothing on it yet. thanks for any help or info you have on that. | ||
| Toona |
Ditto on wanting a Buell racing shirt! | ||
| Henrik |
Nice write up Court. Thanks Nice "strays" too  Henrik | ||
| Curtyd |
Man, all I did was ride over on my XB9S sport tourer, camp out, catch up with some old friends, meet some new ones, buy the wife and daughter some t-shirts, eat great fried chicken, cheer on the BUELL until I didn't see one again, and YES, p*** and m*** about the darn HD's breaking again. When is someone from their Dirt Track racing program going to transition to Buell road racing? They have been winning races there for over 50 years. I did see the Buell gals and talk racing at the tent for a half hour or so. Sorry I missed the rest of the faithful gathering. There were 500K bikers in Daytona and we still can't fill the seats at the 200. The HD 1000 packed a few of them in for a few years. I wonder if the Buell is actually "HD-enough" to draw a crowd from the HD fanatic loyalists. Most don't even know there is a race going on, or that is how it all started to begin with. I have been away from BADWEB for awhile. Glad it has dumped the "political" threads. I got in trouble with those and the "powers that be". All bikes is safer. PEACE.  | ||
| Court |
Curt: Good news. . . the crowd at DAYTONA was great and the HD folks showed, led by Willie G in full BUELL RACING garb, in force. Badwebbers made a concerted effort to contact Harley-Davidson dealers and I had two of them mention to me, in the Buell race suite, that I'd been "stirring things up again", commenting that they'd had calls something like "Court said to call and make sure you get your ass and as many customers as possible to Daytona". These are good people, great friends and race fanatics. See ya there next year, right? | ||
| Curtyd |
So far I am there at the 200 at least just about every year, going back to the early 80's. I just have to get hooked up with all of you guys. My little yella XB9S makes an interesting pic with me squeezed into the seat between Tankbag and camping duffle with color matched Aerostitch. Almost went for my 3rd Buell, an XB12Ss, last sept, but deferred for another year or so. Hope to get in with you folks soon enough. I have so far been a loyal supporter with my checkbook. The new FZ1 is tempting, but heck maybe Erik should just ward off those protests by hanging a few turn signals and some saddlebags on the the new racer, it can be the new ST-4, OK? 350 lbs, 150 HP and a torque monster, no chains, pleez, I like my clean belt drive.  (Message edited by CURTYD on March 13, 2006) | ||
| Skyguy |
I can not tell you the admiration I have for all of the folks involved with Buell. Court I always look forward to reading your posts. To all the naysayers? I really dont care! I feel good to be riding a machine designed by someone whos hand I can shake (someday I hope). My uncle set a landspeed record in 1970 with a 125cc Aermacchi (he recently gave me the bike) and when he first saw my Buell he about came unglued. He spent two hours looking at every little detail. Kinda weird but I think he felt some real pride seeing that bike. In fact I used to own a Honda F2 he never gave it a second look much less a first look. Keep up the great work, you guys make some of us feel special every time we throw a leg over our bikes. | ||
| Madduck |
Curt, There are a number of people from "every" racing division at Harley-Davidson helping with this product. See Courts comment above about Harley-Davidson being a racing company. It is startling to me, just how many dealers are getting interested in road racing. The idea of making something they can buy and go racing on is surely catching on. Especially the fact that it is configurable for a large number of different classes. It is going to be fascinating to see what becomes of this program over the next few years. Court, any chance of getting a large Buell racing logo for my LSR trailer?? | ||
| Rasmonis |
A few pics of my own. Court, I court not have said it better myself...Here are my pics enjoy.       This was my first Buell event, one I will never forget. I am happy to be part of the family and want to thank everyone for making it such a memorable event. -Ramon | ||
| Court |
Man. . . look at that picture of the McWilliams #999 bike. Is that a "who's who family portrait" or what? Jon Bunne, Tom Anglim, Erik, looks like Steve Anderson behind TA. . . If you think these guys are "down and out" you don't know them at all. . . This is powerful stuff folks. | ||
| Curtyd |
Yes, until Buell I always complained about HD that they have several bikes I would buy a version of, all racing flat track in the 600 and 750 cc class. Under 300 lbs, good torque/hp to weight ratios, quick, handle great, everything I would want in a bike. Yet, how come every bike they sell is over 700lbs and under powered for their weight. It seems like there is a real disconnect between HD racing and Sales/Marketing. I suspect HD racing has existed in their own world for decades relatively isolated from corporate and they probably like it that way. I know HD racing in Flat Track. It's still my all time favorite racing from a spectator's viewpoint. Heck, my dad was the charter president of the Wichita Jeeps, a AMA sanctioned club formed in 1936 in Kansas. They still sponsor enduros, TT's, flat track and the like and still are a club in Wichita. Check this link out... http://jeepscycleclub.com/clubinfo/TtYwJ.htm It's just so frustrating, until Buell, to want to support American made with a long history and NEVER be able to buy buy any bike that is anywhere near to what they are racing very successfully for decades. I hope Buell gets a chance to change that. I know these Buells are a street competent machine, I just really want to see a bike that is losing weight. What good is a Adventure Bike of any marque that is pushing 500lbs? My most fun on the street has still been with an RD 125 that was weighing in under 300lbs. That's what I want on my "wish" list, a 350 lb sport tourer putting out 150 hp or so over a level powerband, 2K to 7500k RPM, or a 300lb off-road at about 100HP, so I can fantasize or actually drive my own Baja or Trans Alaskan Highway trips. Or do an Iron Butt Run, I have the seat-time to qualify, if I don't get too old too soon. I had high hopes for the Ulysses, but that's another matter, It didn't hit the mark I was looking for, and that seat height killed the deal for this short guy. Can't play tipptoe when the wife is perched on the back, without some problems creeping up.  (Message edited by CURTYD on March 13, 2006) | ||
| Davegess |
I have to say that for once Mr. Canfield has UNDERSTATED his case. A great piece of writing but it does not go far enought. This is a turning point in American road racing. The beginning of a huge ground swell of interest in road racing the likes of which we have not seen in this country. Just imagine if you will what the effect on the road races around the country if 10% of the HD dealers went road racing? And attracted some of their customers to the races? Teh single VR running at the back of the pack drew large crowds to AMA races. Think of a pack of Buells running at the front. This is indeed the beginning. | ||
| Court |
Too many e-mails for me to answer off line, so let me tell you what *I* did, yeah, it's just my personal opinion.
President and Chief Executive Officer Harley-Davidson Motor Company 3700 West Juneau Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53208 and basically said that of all the companies with great racing histories, all pale in comparison to the legend of Harley-Davidson. I truly appreciated what Harley-Davidson has done, welcome home to where you belong. . . RACING. I also told him what a visible show of support and their commitment it was seeing Willie G. and Nancy Davidson in Buell race gear cheering on the team. Willie is not a "toss in the towel" sort of a guy and has racing in his blood. So....while the naysayers argue with each other, I'd urge each of you to And most of all thanks to you, the folks who have made Buell an American success story. Court | ||
| Rich |
It was great seeing you all again! | ||
| Kuuud |
What a fantastic weekend. It was a great time at the track with all my fellow Buellers. You said it all, Court; the times they are a changin'! The groundswell of support was fantastic to experience. I would really like to see a pic of Willie G. and Nancy in their Buell gear!!! Kudos to Nick and Sammie for their hospitality Friday night. It was nice to put the faces with the names. After hearing that Erik was there Saturday, I feel like a wuss for feeling 'too tired' to stop by their place again. Special thanx to Dora and demo folks at Buell and HD for helping my Blast riding g/f feel comfortable on the XB12scg, FXDL, and VRSCB. She liked the Lightning best of course! | ||
| Thansesxb9rs |
Court I got a little closer then 200 yards to the action.   | ||
| Diablobrian |
Poor Tim, He looks so sad. | ||
| Court |
A couple more . . .      | ||
| Firemanjim |
Speaking of Buell racing---I have not seen my special t-shirt for e-mailing the required number of dealers prior to Daytona.I was hoping to have it before I went to Aus, but when it was not here when I got home????Bueller---? | ||
| Blake |
I stole it. Since I'm wearing a shirt bearing your image, I feel I deserve it more. | ||
| Court |
Acutally. . .no, the next wave of shirts has not yet been dispatched. I got a felling when you get your package you'll be a happy camper. Call it intuition. |
