| Author | Message | ||
     Blublak |
Well here we are, reporting from VIR at the AMA Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. Got here Thursday afternoon in time to see some practice work on the track and spend a little time in the paddock wandering around some of the pits. The weather here has been great, just hoping none of these storms (from the mid west and the south) roll into our area until AFTER the races are over. Visited the Hoban’s and Hal’s Pits. Walt Sipp didn’t make it in until Friday. Also wandered by some of the huge pits.. and I do mean huge. I’ll post pictures later, showing the ‘privateer’ Buell pits and the ‘factory’ pits.. Honda brought TWO full rigs. One for Miguel and one for Jake. Each had about four bikes in them with at what appeared to be two techs on each machine. Dayum! Friday practices started and went pretty good, followed by the qualifying for the FX race on Saturday. All three Buells made it into the race, with Mike Ciccotto in 12th, Jeff Johnson in at 24th and Walt Sipp at 27th. Miguel Duhamel is on the pole with Jake Zempke in 2nd and Barney in 3rd. During qualifying, one guy managed to run off the track at least three times all in turn 7 (a 90* right hand up hill), he also helped at least one bike I saw off the track and had one follow him off once as well.. Lucky for him, the place he kept running off is where the North track connects to the South track. So he had some track to run onto. One of the guys he ‘helped’ off didn’t have that much space and had a slight lay down in the grass. Other incidents I’m aware of, Ciccotto went down but wasn’t hurt, one of his bikes was a little banged up but he’s got his second and as you can see above, did pretty well with it. While I was in the pit he was mentioning some problems he had with the bike and they are, as I type this, working on it. This could be kind of scary since the set up will be kind of new and they will only have a 30-minute practice for him to get it fixed. Damn, I hope everything is straight for him, there’s a very good chance that we’ll be sending some of that BadWeb money out this week Blake. As far as BadWebber sightings go. I ran across Mikethebike27 (I think I got the number right) and Jose showed up later today. We had someone ask us about the bikes we were on; Mike and I are both on ‘R’s (he a 12 and I a 9). Heard from Jlance, hopefully he’ll manage to find us at some point tomorrow. Ok, with the FX race at 4:20pm, I hopefully will have a report on that as well. But, for those of you that wish to watch it on Tuesday, I’ll put it under a separate heading. | ||
| Blublak |
 Walt and Jeff at practice.. A bunch of folks coming through the turn.. Yep, Jeff's leading.. Yep, Jake Zempke.. It's Jeff.. Solo.. Yep, Barney is here.. Big Number One - Miguel Walt Sipp leading Mike Barnes.. More images.. later.. (Message edited by Blublak on August 27, 2005) | ||
| Blake |
Thanks for trying Peter. Darn BadWeB server ghost ate your pics.  Try again? ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) | ||
| Blublak |
OK... Here we go again.. Hope these work.. The average size of the original image is about 3meg. So I'm really crushing them down, and trying not to loose too much of the image.. so please be kind with your comments..  Walt and Jeff at practice  A small bunch coming through a turn, Jeff is leading..  Jake Zempke  Jeff Johnson  Mike Barnes  Miguel Duhamel & his big number One..  Walt Sipp leading Mike Barnes at turn 4.. | ||
| Blublak |
 Mike Ciccotto .. It's a close up and I've really had to smash this one.. hope it's not too blurry now..  In a turn, of course you should get off the controls for a tear off moment.. Sorry, I don't know the rider, we'll have to look him up. | ||
| Jlnance |
Peter - It was nice seeing you today. Thanks for the picts. I see you figured out how to size them.  | ||
| Blublak |
Well, Saturday dawned kind of overcast with a threat of rain for the first half of the day. Of course, none of it showed so the racing was good. As I stated before, I won’t mention results for those of you that want to watch the TV coverage, which starts a little later today. There are all kinds of things going on here, from a stunt show that keeps running every so often, to TV coverage, vendors. I got a new lid, an Arai; Hayden (last years scheme in blue) RX-7 Corsair. The deal was pretty good and they custom fit it too me right there, changing pads and what not to get as close to a perfect fit as possible. I managed to get out of there with the lid, a replacement mirror tint shield and two ‘helmet doughnuts’ for changing shields etc, for just at $500. There are other vendors here of course, and Suzuki (as you can imagine) has a huge display of bikes and a ‘hospitality’ area for Suzi riders. Of course, if you want to park in ‘their’ reserved parking area, you have to be on either a GSXR, ‘Busa or TL1000. All other Suzuki riders need not apply. WTF? Oh well, that’s how they are doing it and it’s their customers they are doing it too. Friday I scored a ‘Paddock Parking’ pass.. Thanks to a little help from friends in low places and even got one for the wife on Saturday. They have secured the pit area from vehicles not associated with race teams and on top of that the Friday ‘bike only’ parking area within the paddock area has been co-opted by the AMA 18 wheeler. I guess they don’t want any filthy bikers types parking motorcycles near their nice black rig (we might give them a bad name). Oh well.. With the pass, we can ride in and out at will. Much easier when hauling my backpack of camera goodies around the track. The pits were humming yesterday, as the teams got ready for the first two races and more qualifying. The crowds throughout the day have gotten.. well.. Pretty big and compared to Thursday/Friday morning.. Well.. It’s going to be a lot harder to spot friends. After the last race of the day, the FX race a good portion of the crowd started to head back to campers or out of the track area trying to get back to hotel rooms in town and what not. The traffic jam caused by all these vehicles trying to enter the little two-lane road that feeds VIR must have been quite a sight. If you’ve never been to an event like this, well.. My wife has spoken about the ‘thrill’ of ‘feeling’ these machines blitz by where you’re standing at the fence, in a rush of power and speed you almost feel like you can reach out and touch them, or that the glance your way was the rider spotting you and saying.. ‘Thanks for coming out and supporting me’. Face it, on TV you may get lots of angles and commentary.. But at the track, there are the little things, like the looks I mentioned, or wheelies that some of riders pull to ‘wave’ to their fans. You get the smell of race gas, chatting with the people around you who are strangers, except for at that moment when you are talking about this rider or that, or who went off track, or when will this rider make a pass.. Then you get the anticipation of who’s going to come around that curve first, and the visceral sound of engines wound up to the maximum as the explode past you, heading for the next turn. Am I suggesting that you attend a race? Oh hell yea, at least once in your life you have to do this. There was still a lot of stuff going on, last night they ran ‘Faster – The Movie’ and today, Speed Channel is letting their big screens show NASCAR for all the fans here. There’s a band playing near the paddock area and there are of course, some wild goings on in the camping areas with intoxicated people riding around and lots of hollering and yelling and what not.. You folks can guess the rest. Met up with Jose again, finally and his lady and we went to dinner in Danville. It was one of those things where some folks just needed to get away from the track for a little while and we found a nice place called ‘Hams’ that had good food at a reasonable price. Well, it’s practice time here, or course, and the bikes are once again humming around. Earlier there was fog so the first practice was a little slower and the sky is still kind of overcast but it’s burning off now and the racers have picked up their speeds. I’m gonna try and post a couple more shots before I log off.. Then, head home tonight and see if I can spot anything I recognize on the TV (that hopefully recorded these races).. Later. | ||
| Blublak |
Whoops.. Sorry... I'll correct that.. I won't be posting any pics right now.. I have a few other things to do.. (who knew there were honey do's at a race track?) I'll check back in later... | ||
| Mikethebike72 |
Good pictures. To think you were worried about the few hundred you shot. Good to meet you and wife. As for name, I am glad it is not 27 as that would make me 78 years old. Hope trip home was good. And I agree, nothing like seeing the race live, especially the boom of the Buells as they go by spreading the perfume of race gas. | ||
| José_quiñones |
That was fun all the way around. Agreed, TV does not do the racing justice, it's better than nothing, of course, but it does not come close to the feeling you get by seeing it live. Great to meet and hang out with the Hals, Hoban crew and Walt and his new wife. Shame what happened to his bike on the start there and the shifter on Mike's bike sucked too. Hey Mike, did you see yourself in the background during the podium interview with Mladin on Sunday? Pete/Robin, got you the Event Shirts and a program, mail it to you or meet somewhere? I left the track at around 5:15 pm, got to the DC area just before 9 pm..... Bike Ran great! some pictures later | ||
| Mikethebike72 |
I missed the race replay. Will have to track down a copy. Thanks for the info. | ||
| Blublak |
Well heck, Jose.. we should meet up somewhere.. I need to 'break in' that new lid and a few miles on the road may be just what the doctor ordered. Let me know when you're available.. I should be free this weekend.. or maybe sometime in the evening.. or.. well.. you get the idea.. Mike, Jim good seeing you guys.. hope to see you all again.. soon enough.. As for the race gangs.. Walt, Mike, Jeff.. as soon as I'm done sorting.. I'll start sending pics your way.. Oh, yeah, and I promise to start posting some more of them here as well.. | ||
| Spike |
Great pictures Blublak! I had a good time despite having to leave early and missing out on the FX race. Maybe next time the superbike guys can try to keep it on schedule.  As always it was good to see you guys. Now I'm itching to do another track day. | ||
| Blublak |
Hey man.. I'm still sorting out all the images I took that weekend.. I'll be trying to post some more of them soon.. have over 1200 total shots taken.. So after I dump the junk.. then I have to pull the best and crush them down to fit.. It'll take a little while, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.. (also have to send out a bunch of shots to three different folks.. Walt, if your watching.. I did get some good ones of ya! and Mike.. and Jeff..) | ||
| José_quiñones |
Since Blublak did such an awesome job covering the on track racing action, I'll just post some pictures of different areas of the VIR event.   Say hello to Mike & Mike. They both own a Firebolt (vin #'s separated by ONE number), they both work/worked at one time at Ray Price HD/Buell. They both decided to be at the same place at the same time and I was able to take this picture. | ||
| José_quiñones |
At the Suzuki tent, I found this very familiar display.  BTW, Suzuki did a nice job for their owners, with a GSXR/TL/Hayabusa only parking area, and free parade laps on Saturday and Sunday. Ducati had a very nice hospitality trailer/parking area also. | ||
| José_quiñones |
The stunt show was pretty good.  I wonder what she's thinking.....  This trick got the loudest applause after, I caught him as he's getting ready to extend his legs out, cool trick. | ||
| José_quiñones |
a few of podium pics  AMA FX podium, nice to see Robert Jensen up there in third.  Supersport podium, Tommy looked bored....  Superbike podium, Mladin holding the flag and the $2,000 Big Kahuna Check underneath.  Bling bling on the Podium | ||
| José_quiñones |
Buells, you want Buell Pictures, ok  Walt's bike}  Jeff's bike  Mike's bike  The failed shifter linkage that ended Mike's race | ||
| Jlnance |
Sorry I missed you Jose. I rode up with Mike. I looked for, but never managed to find you. I did manage to find a lot of people who knew you were there. | ||
| Blublak |
OK... Here's a couple more.. once again.. Crushed and cropped to fit.. Hopefully.. Hmmm.. Anyone know who this guy is? Ok, How about him? Does he look like he's having fun? The only Buell to finish the race.. Good going Jeff.. Yeah, just a few folks in a turn.. Turn that machine! Mike Doin' the do.. Yeah, it's the race leaders.. Quick, name this rider! Workin' his way through the pack.. Number 12.. Lookin' mean.. and green.. Those two again.. Miguel.. Into Turn 4 with Jeff.. Mike, lookin' for someone to pass.. This is one cop you don't want to try and run from. Our race winner.. lookin' like it too.. Walt Sipp, lookin' quite intense.. Jeff, draggin' a little knee.. Wheeeee.... Celebrate good times come on! | ||
| Blublak |
Damn it! This is getting on my nerves... OK, I'll try again later... Maybe, we can find someone that will host the full size crops for me? I don't know.. but for right now, I'm just too frustrated to continue.. Later. | ||
| Jlnance |
Peter, You can keep your photos on yahoo or one of the other free sites and use the \imagelink{} tag to reference them from here. For example, the following picture is hosted on yahoo, not badweb:  Of course if you ever take the picture down then it disappears from badweb. update: And it seems that yahoo changes the url around each day so you can't do this.  (Message edited by jlnance on September 03, 2005) | ||
| Blublak |
OK.. Testing another method of sizing these down..  This is Walt Sipps' pit, with his full crew working on the bike and his support system supervising.. OK, it's Walt and his wife..  This should be Zempke starting to pass in turn 3. | ||
| Blublak |
Ok, that seems to be working.. Let's try a few more shall we?  This is ONE of two Team Honda pits. There are four bikes in there, and about two techs per bike. Plus a small dining area and what not.. compare it too the image of Walts' pit above and wonder at the money being spent to race by the BIG teams..  Here's Jeff From Hobans..  A small group going through the turn.. | ||
| Blublak |
Ok.. Here are a few more..  The one Cop you really don't want to try and run from..  Walt, on the track and looking quite intense..  Here's the Hobans Pit. The entire team is in the picture.. hehehehehe..  Here's one inside Mikes pit.. I think he was asking that we don't show and of the top secret gold lettering used on the tail section..(it gets warm and Mike has to go faster to try and cool down or something like that)  Jake concentrating on catching Miguel..  Now who's this guy in Mikes Pit? Hint, he works with some other guy(s)North of this race track... Anon, no hints to the crowd.  Another shot of Jeff working the track..  running a little wide on the turn..(oops)  Yep, racing for real..  Mike in the pack..  and..  Out of the pack..  The race leaders, fighting it out..  Trying to catch the guys above..  Mike C. Stuck in traffic..  The Attack Kawi.  Miguel Leads Jake.. this was a dog fight between these two..  Jessica, her first pro-race here (I think) and she's hangin' in there pretty good. She'll crash on the white flag lap in turns 8-9.. Hope she's OK.  Another angle on Jeffs ride..  Mike looking to pass..  Miguel, doing the do...  Walt.. looking for that speed..  Big number one - lapping traffic..  Jeff looking for someone to pass..  Congratulations on a well run race..  Wheeeee.. Yes, I have even more.. maybe I'll post some of those later.. | ||
| Blublak |
Next round of pics.. Different place on the track, so there's a different angle.. These are still FX racers.. Ok, this next one.. I have to call... Police.. Pursued  Hereeeesssss... The Gecco! Yep, I wonder if he's just got a good sense of humor, or if he ever lies awake at night, wondering why he signed that contract.. Jason Pridmore, not quite 100% yet, but he's back working.. And Miguel runs down another lap rider.. Here's Hobans rider Jeff Johnson again.. Walt Sipp .. In the same turn. | ||
| Blublak |
Next round of pics.. Different place on the track, so there's a different angle.. These are still FX racers..     Ok, this next one.. I have to call... Police.. Pursued   Hereeeesssss... The Gecco!  Yep, I wonder if he's just got a good sense of humor, or if he ever lies awake at night, wondering why he signed that contract..  Jason Pridmore, not quite 100% yet, but he's back working..  And Miguel runs down another lap rider..  Here's Hobans rider Jeff Johnson again..  Walt Sipp ..  In the same turn.   | ||
| Blublak |
Ok, here's some of the Superbike Stuff..        Oooopppss.. yep, turn three can fool ya..  He's run off the track..  Perhaps a little too much throttle?  This is on the back straight.. showin' off..    The pack from one of the starts..  This last one is the snake at VIR, just coming out of turn 5. | ||
| Pdxs3t |
Very nice pix's...Thanks for sharing them! | ||
| 1313 |
Blublack- Glen Veatch is the mystery guy in Hal's/Mike's pit picture. Do I win a prize? 1313 | ||
| Blublak |
Heheheheh.. Good one. I take it you know the man? Or at least know of him? Hmmmm..  I could give you a big 'No Prize' if you'd like..  or would you like a Hi-Rez of one of the images you've already seen? Or.. If you have a another rider you haven't seen yet.. tell me who and I'll see if I've got a good shot of him for ya. Now, does anyone know why I listed him as a mystery man? Or should we just not say? | ||
| Buell2001b |
great pics you got better pics then what i see in magazines | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Peter, if you can zip file in one or two files the fullsize images and send them to wycked (at) wyckedcafe (dot) com I would really appreciate it. I have some free time and could probably get larger images out of some of your earlier ones to post. Not to mention I would just love to have that collection of pics to look at as a screen saver Thanks Mikel/Wycked | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Ok boys and girls...here is a link to a PDF slideshow of the pics Blubak has sent me so far... VIRslideshow |
