| Author | Message | ||
     Jimduncan69 |
Greg_e: HD has released him from from his contract early and he does plan on making production bikes again. i know this because i heard it straight from Eriks mouth. he is looking for investors as we speak. | ||
| Froggy |
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| Stirz007 |
That's kind of weird. EB was VERY talkative at SBK weekend. I wonder if something changed between then and now. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I just KNEW somebody would get the word from the horses mouth! THANKS Gary!  | ||
| Stirz007 |
JimD - that pretty much is consistent with what he told me almost a month ago - unsolicited I might add. Also the 1125 engine upgrade package. I've been keeping this to myself expecting the big confirmation - hopefully at some point... | ||
| Svh |
I was waiting for Gary to chime in as there was that info floating around but didn't want to "steal" it from Gary. I can't wait to see what may be coming. | ||
| Court |
Man . . nobody ever tells me anything ! | ||
| Stirz007 |
Court - I tried, you spaz!! (With all the love) JM | ||
| A_s_r |
I thought I overheard Erik say something at MMP about H-D lifting some of the restrictions he was under, but I was busy taking photos of the race bikes at the time. And I certainly didn't want to mis-speak about it and start any unfounded rumors. Thanks Jeff and Gary for confirming my suspicions! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Why on earth would HD do that? Unless they figured they had something to loose if it went to court, and they thought it was going to go to court. Or some other deal was cut (did thay make the payment to Rotax?). Or maybe some departing executive pulled some strings right before he signed the exit papers... That could do it also... Guess I'll have to wait for the next book! | ||
| Court |
>>>>Why on earth would HD do that? There were 3 reasons and we'll not be discussing them for a bit. You were #3. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Guess I'll have to wait for the next book! By the way . . . Dave and I were contacted at about 11:20am on 10/15/09 and the next book is (kind of) in the works. It'll be a darn good read and many parts will be nearly unbelievable. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Wait to publish so it has a happy ending.  | ||
| Hootowl |
I love a happy ending. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Court- That's great. Will it be a totally new book or a new edition of the previous book with events through October 2009? | ||
| A_s_r |
I like bikes. . .errrr. . .books. Wait. . .what? | ||
| Hootowl |
I bet it will have bold new colors! If it doesn't I won't be able to tell it from my old copy. Gotta separate the model years you know. | ||
| Delta_one |
The book of Buell American bald eagle flaming skull edition I'd buy it  in all honesty a second edition would be sweet, I could park it right next to the first | ||
| Augustus74 |
If Erik builds the Barracuda, will there be another fire sale - on used fire sale bikes so people can buy the Barracuda?? | ||
| Kenm123t |
We need to start a Badweb Investor Fund to invest in Eriks new venture. 1 would he welcome it 2 will it help the cause 3 would it be too much of a distraction 4 we need a fund manager etc Court we may have to draft Vickie tell us if we are crazy or not We love Buell motorcycles More Important we believe in Erik and the Elves | ||
| Hootowl |
I'm sure investors are lined up at the door already. The paltry amount of cash we could raise wouldn't pay one person's salary for a year. Unless someone won the lottery and wanted to hand a big chuck of it to the Elves. I would, with no strings attached. Silent partner. I know when to keep my trap shut. No, not really, I'd make him produce a sport bike with no fairing. Don't want it to actually lOOK like a sport bike.  | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
i'm betting he's got a pretty good group of friends when it comes to finding investment capital! | ||
| Stirz007 |
Bombardier may want some of that action (If they don't have some already). | ||
| Court |
Actually there is something that folks could PROBABLY do but it sounds kind of silly. There's been talk of putting together a "donation" site. I know both my Porsche site and the Nikon site have a simple button where you can click and Paypal a donation. Racing is incredibly expensive. At the same time, when you are Erik Buell Racing, it'd darn near a part of "fixed overhead" in that if you are a racing company who's not showing your stuff in some venue . . . well, you're a big hobby. At present racing represents both the single largest opportunity and the single largest threat to the future of Buell. On one hand . . . . to make any sort of business case . . . . one needs to show stuff like the results Jens and Geoff May are providing. Shawn Higbee added a neat podium finish last week. On the other hand . . . . a "Buell Parts Business" can in no way, shape or form support, at ANY level a racing effort. Be mindful that this is not like the privateers at Willow. When the folks from ERB are there, they (by law) are "on the clock" at overtime. Once we get over the hump I suspect sponsor acquisition will be easier but at present it's a huge undertaking for Buell. I'm not sure how it'd work . . . internet fun raising never seems to really fly. But . . .the folks of Badweb REALLY came through on the TEAM ELVES effort 10 years ago. I'd be wide open to ideas anyone would have as to how we could marshal contributions to help fund the rest of the race season. Sell some sort of "membership". . . the "name on the bike4" . . . special "racing supporter" shirts? I'm all ears. | ||
| Guell |
Court, at an old site that i used to belong to before i sold the car, one guy was doing drag races, and he did the name on the car bit, and it was pretty successful. I think the special shirts would work too. | ||
| Stirz007 |
I think you are on to something here. At SBK I asked EB whether he was going to campaign the entire season. His reply was that he hoped so, but really needed to pick up some sponsors. My read is that there is a fixed pot of money for racing, and when it runs out, so does the racing. Tee shirts, shwag or other tokens can be given, depending upon donation level, just like any non-profit. Side question is EB Racing a non-profit (501 c 3), or 'for profit' entity? http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/ten_nonpro fit_funding_models/ http://www.business.gov/register/incorporation/non -profit/ EB Racing per se does not have to be the direct beneficiary of donations - the money does not necessarily go directly to EB, but to a EB Racing Booster Club or some such intermediary. EB would benefit from the Booster Club donations and would be taxed. I'm losing it here - my expertise is not in setting up a business - can a bro get some help? There is probably an easy way to get to where you want to be... The 'team' has to be paid (by law as you mention) only if they are non-exempt, i.e.; hourly pay guys. Us salaried guys don't have that benefit - we work until we're done regardless of how long it takes - Paycheck stays the same, though... Court - that dog might hunt.... | ||
| Kenm123t |
Court a product and or service used by most riders is what Erik Buell Racing needs to get the cash flow up. Something like an American Chopper show. But showcasing the positive spirit of the Elves and Erik. I think it would be a winner. We need a positive example of American Innovation Then there is the Band! We another Team Elves program would work The Mission needs to be defined | ||
| Froggy |
A racing TV show knockoff of American Chopper would be awesome! "Tonight on American Racer, Erik gets pissed and throws a large wrench at Court after finding out that Court blew a shock on a test bike again" | ||
| Stirz007 |
How much funding are we looking for here? I don't want to appear indelicate, but a $10,000 idea may not work for a million dollar problem.. Any feel for where the zone is? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Get to work on that book... And get Erik Buell Racing racing to put up a $20 sticker, a $50 T-Shirt and a $100 garage banner for sale to support the racing effort. |
