| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
If Zippers has a 60 HP hop up kit for the Blast... Does that mean we'll be able to get a 120 HP kit for the new air cooled Buell twin? Hiya Rocket!  | ||
| Chuck |
Blake, please ask Erik if my M2 can live without an oil cooler. If not, which one would he buy? | ||
| Court |
I'm willing to bet Valine is going 24/7 right now .......getting ready for August. Court | ||
| Tripper |
And what happens in August? Just a little hint, please? | ||
| Mikej |
A better question might be "What does Gary Valine do?". | ||
| Court |
Good question and one you need to know the answer to in order to understand Buells. I wrote a magazine piece once (the one that got the term "ELVES" semi-officially banned) called "The Buell Elves". In each installment, I featured the interesting background and talents of various Buell folks and how many of them worked, sans pay, nights and weekends to make the dream we all share in, come true. Working from memory, I'll hit a few of the highlights. Gary was a key player in the Rausch Racing Buick turbo V-6's or something like that. Whatever it was, it gave him a keen insight into what works and what does not. It also made him very open minded and willing to try things science can't explain. If you own a 1998 S1WL you owe at least part of your grin to Gary Valine's simply "experiementing". Gary went on to become a school teached. Life was good. Gary fell in love with Carol and moved to WI without a job. The Sunday paper had two ads. One was a power development guy with Briggs and Stratton (another WI firm), the other was a small East Troy start-up, Buell. Gary could only get away on Saturday and drove to East Troy for a look around. Only one guy with a couple kids there. He and Gary talked for a long time. Both shared a love of racing and a sense for knowing that brains, not noise made power. Gary asked the guy, the sole worker on St, his name. "Erik" came the reply. Months later came the frantic "how quick can you get here" call. The rest is either history or hysterical depending on your take on my "M-2 being the best bioke" hypothesis. Gary thinks. Gary cuts and adjusts. Gary tries. Gary retries. Gary rides Repeat Repeat Repeat (Please note that...RIDES. How many firms let their power development folks slap it on the bike, roll it out the door and ride it..ONE IN THE WORLD) Gary's smart. Dangeroulsy smart. Just like Jack Rhinehart, he and Erik have a "cosmic code" they communicate in. Every word carries tremendous gravity. Folks like you and I can stand there and not have the foggiest frickin' idea what was said. (NOTE: If you want to hear a great one about this code, remind me to tell the story of Erik and Ti during the development of the S-1) When Gary talks, Erik listens. Vice versa. I could go on all day but feel compelled, given what I REALLY love about Buells, to tell you that, like Ron Dickey and others, Gary is one GREAT PERSON independant from his talent. He became one of my greatest cheerleaders and friends in my early days of Buelling around the country. He's a GREAT partner, dad and person. I'll break out the old story someday and send if off to one of the mags.... might be fun. OK...need a parting funny.....in the earlty, VERY EARLY, days of BLAST test riding, Gary and I were partners. There were two BLASTS under consideration. When we'd do our "hide & ride" it looked like two bears on bicycles. Gary is instrument in the history and future of Buell.  Court Canfield | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Court, Please tell the story of Erik and Ti during the development of the S-1. While you're at it answer Peter_T's question  |
