A weekend of fast pursuits
Wow. The weather gods blessed central Indiana with a spectacular string of perfect days this past Memorial Day weekend. Of course, all the local weather forecasters were patting themselves on the back for their forecasting prowess.
Friday, May 22, saw record crowds out at The Brickyard on W. 16th Street in Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 Miller Lite Carb Day. Now there’s an interesting bit of memorabilia in today’s world of automotive technology. Indy cars haven’t had carburetors for decades now. Even all my motorcycles are carb-less with advanced electronic fuel injection systems, as are most all the vehicles we drive today. Some things should never change for nostalgia’s sake!
Another major event occurred across North America Friday evening with the national premier of the new Ducati Streetfighter sport bike. Our friends up at Ducati Indianapolis in Zionsville, Ind., hosted an unveiling party at the dealership complete with lots of Italian food and beverages. Oh, did I mention gastronomic delights again? Remember, that’s always an important part of many of my experiences!
Friday evening was also a memorable experience for me. I took delivery of a new Italian stable mate for my other two Italian stallions. To commemorate their third World Superbike championship with Troy Bayliss last year, Ducati released a commemorative edition of their 1098 R model early this year: 1098 R Bayliss LE. OK, I’m weak, no willpower, no restraint and no level of conservatism when it comes to exotic two-wheeled toys. Yes, I bought one and picked it up this past Friday evening during the Ducati Streetfighter premier party. Number 217 of 500 is now residing comfortably in my garage!
Saturday dawned clear and bright with a forecast any weatherman would be proud to proclaim. With lots of fan activities around town surrounding the Indianapolis 500 out at the Brickyard, our friends up at Ducati Indianapolis continued their event-filled weekend with a demo day. Friday evening saw the unveiling of the new Ducati Streetfighter, and Saturday was the opportunity to test-ride one, along with an assortment of other Ducati models. My duties for the day consisted of leading or trailing groups of test rides and attempting to keep these swarms of Ducatista aboard demo bikes within the “rules of the road.” This was kind of like herding cats!
To wrap up the perfect weekend of Ducati experiences, Ducati Indianapolis and Commonwealth Motorcycles in Louisville, Ky., hosted a track day at Putnam Park Road Course in Mount Meridian, Ind. While 33 drivers were experiencing the 2009 Indianapolis 500 at the Brickyard, a larger group of sport motorcycle enthusiasts were fulfilling their own pursuits for speed on Putnam Park’s 10-turn, 1.766-mile (2.843 km) road course.
I spent Sunday morning exploring various twisty back roads on my new Italian steed, eventually finding my way out to Mount Meridian in western Indiana to hang out with the folks at the Ducati track day. Riding up to the Ducati Indianapolis pit area, I was greeted with several of the guys approaching me with rolls of tape to prep my new 1098 R Bayliss LE for a little track action. No, I held my ground and averted the temptations to break in my new toy on a racetrack. See, I do have a little bit of self-restraint!
My congratulations go out to Helio Castroneves for his spectacular month of May, culminating with his third victory at the Brickyard, becoming only the ninth driver in “500″ history to win the race three times. Everyone who participated in Sunday’s track day at Putnam Park Road Course also fulfilled their own pursuit for speed in a safe and controlled environment.
Oh, did you happen to catch a glimpse of an old, gray-haired guy in Al Unser’s pit stop or a flash of a bright orange Nicky Hayden Repsol replica motorcycle on that famous 2.5-mile oval on W. 16th Street at the start of ABC’s broadcast of the Indianapolis 500? I’ll save that story for a future installment of The Experience.
I hope you all had a memorable Memorial Day weekend, and I’ll see you next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
Greg
Ray Harroun (Jan. 12, 1879 – Jan. 19, 1968) was an American race car driver, born in Spartansburg, Pa. At the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, his use of what would now be called a rear-view mirror, rather than the riding mechanic specified in the rules, created controversy but was ultimately allowed. Harroun went on to win at an average speed of 74.602 mph.
Harroun, who came out of retirement to race in the first 500, would not race after 1911. Harroun’s historic Firestone-shod yellow #32 Marmon “Wasp,” in which he won the Indianapolis 500, is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
After retiring from racing, Harroun continued engineering work for Marmon, and later for the Maxwell racing team. In 1917, Harroun started his own automobile company, and he continued to work in the automotive industry until his retirement at age 79.
Ok, now what does this Indianapolis Motor Speedway history lesson courtesy of Wikipedia have to do with fashion and design? From our friend Dave Lewandowski at www.indy500.com:
“This past Monday, May 18, the entire starting grid of the Indianapolis 500 visited the Big Apple, New York City, to participate in the opening of a spectacular exhibit. Fronted by the yellow car that started it all - the 1911 Marmon Wasp - and the biggest prize in motorsports - the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy - drivers competing in the May 24 race lined up in the traditional 11 rows of three for a photo op in front of the Macy’s flagship store (where it’s been located since 1902).
The event, which preceded a media gathering at Calvin Klein’s Lookspace in Times Square South and followed multiple national TV appearances by front-row starters Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Dario Franchitti, was held in conjunction with IZOD’s exhibit “In Pursuit of FAST: 100 Years of Indy Racing, Fashion and Design” at Macy’s on Broadway through June 3.
The historic exhibit - featuring multiple generations of race cars from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, 500 Mile Race-winning driver helmets, original photographs and memorabilia — dresses the large display windows and lines the (Broadway to Seventh Avenue) aisles. After the outdoor photo session, spectators/shoppers stopped to photograph the Borg-Warner Trophy, which occupied a center-aisle display space reserved during the winter holidays for the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball.”
After their visit to the Big Apple, the cast of 33 drivers will be making all their final preparations this week. Be sure to check out www.indy500.com for a complete schedule of events throughout the week. If your not going to be part of the single largest sporting event in the world Sunday, May 24, be sure to check out all the TV coverage on ABC, VERSUS and ESPN Classic throughout the week.
Keep an eye on the early part of the Race Day telecast on ABC. If you catch a glimpse of a bright orange Repsol race bike flashing by, you’ll also be sharing one of the most memorable experiences from my month of May.
I hope you all have a memorable Memorial Day weekend, and I’ll see you next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
Let’s celebrate!
According to Wikipedia, a milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at regular intervals. Milestones are constructed to reassure travelers that the proper path is being followed.
This past weekend, a couple events celebrating some significant local milestones took place here in the Racing Capital of the World, Indianapolis.
Known to many as the Circle City, Indianapolis is home to many race teams from many different competition disciplines.
The epicenter of this local racing industry is the Town of Speedway, home of the Racing Capital of the World, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Founded in 1909 by several local businessmen including James Asbury Allison, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway launched its three-year Centennial Era celebration Friday, Feb. 27 with a spectacular Gala event at the Indiana Convention Center.
A Who’s Who list of champion Indianapolis Motor Speedway drivers attended the Centennial Era Gala, as 19 or the 27 living Indianapolis 500 winners and an Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner were honored guests. Check out news, notes and quotes from the legends at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
Earlier last week, the return of an iconic American sports car to the Brickyard was announced. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Feb. 26 it has selected the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro to pace the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2009.
The Camaro Pace Car was unveiled during a ceremony at the IMS Hall of Fame Museum with IMS President and Chief Operating Officer Joie Chitwood and Indianapolis 500 winners Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser Jr. and Eddie Cheever Jr. Check out the IMS news release here: 2010 Camaro Pace Car
A little less-known icon in the world of racing is a young gentleman in a southern outlying suburb of Indianapolis. Owner and founder of 35 Motorsports, Reuben Frankenfield is a 20-year veteran of several North American motorcycle sprint and endurance racing series. Reuben holds several national championships and is regarded as one of the premier builders and tuners of two wheeled racing machines. 35 Motorsports
A Who’s Who of local motorcycle racers, friends and family attended our own Gala event to help Rueben celebrate his milestone of reaching his 40th birthday. Intended as a surprise event, Reuben performed admirably expressing his surprise as several dozen of us bellowed out a hardy rendition of “Happy Birthday” at a local pub and eatery. I don’t think we could hold a candle to Wayne Newton’s performance at the IMS Centennial Era Gala the night before at the Indiana Convention Center, but we tried our best!
Well, that’s all the milestones I can think of this past week, so enjoy the links to each of their stories, and I look forward to seeing you all next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
Historic traditions at the famous oval
Have you ever been so close to a destination you could almost see it but just couldn’t seem to get there? Indianapolis has some areas around town where city planners thought the idea of one-way roads made sense. It’s always entertaining to see a vehicle with out-of-state plates turning onto a one-way road and the subsequent look of terror in the eyes of the driver when they realize their predicament.
This past weekend, all roads led to Speedway, Ind., as hundreds of thousands of race fans from all over the world journeyed here to experience the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500. Now that’s a tradition that’s hard to top! The folks over on West 16th Street are also getting ready to launch what many motorcycle enthusiasts hope will become another longstanding tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS); the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Sept. 14, 2008.
Weeks of planning went into every movement of the day to execute a very special demonstration to give the fans attending “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” a chance to experience a MotoGP bike first hand.
2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden made a couple laps of the IMS oval before the start of the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500. I didn’t personally experience this special demonstration, but from the brief glimpses during t
he televised pre-race activities, it appeared Nicky was having no problem finding his way around this one-way road just off of West 16th Street.
Here’s a shot from IMS photographer Brad Love of Nicky Hayden making his way around the famous oval. Also, check out IMS media correspondent Pat Sullivan’s interview with Nicky after his historic demonstration lap at redbullingindianapolisgp.com.
See you all next week as we continue our countdown to September on redbullindianapolisgp.com.
Greg
Time for a major speed week in Indy
Bump Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has now come and gone. The weather gods gave the track two beautiful spring-like days for the final weekend of qualifying, setting the field for the running of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25. The following day, the entire starting field then celebrated with a trip to the Big Apple, New York City, for a media blitz and museum tour. Monday morning, every weather forecaster in the Indianapolis area was, of course, taking credit for delivering the perfect weekend of weather.
For me, a perfect weekend of weather translated into two full days in the saddle of several of my favorite sport bikes. Saturday started off with a cruise on the Ducati 999 R Xerox up to Ducati Indianapolis for an espresso and a preview of the new Ducati Monster 696. Hey Jarrod, if you’re looking for a middleweight addition to your stable, this looks to be one awesome bike for your ride. After a second pastry and another espresso shot, I joined several of my riding buddies and Bill Carr, owner of Ducati Indianapolis, for a monster lunch at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. Now that’s a hamburger to experience!
A quick run up to Westfield to check out some new Yamaha motard bikes was followed by a trip down to West 16th Street to check out the newest addition to the Indianapolis bike scene. R. Falcone Motorsports has created a showroom glistening in German modern functionalist style with the recent opening of the BMW Motorcycles of Indianapolis dealership. The BMW guys have already experienced Jarrod last week, and they can now add Greg, Mike and Craig to their lounge list.
No day of cruising local motorcycle dealerships is complete without a trip around the Soldiers and Sailors monument in downtown Indianapolis, and no lap of the circle is complete without a stop at The South Bend Chocolate Company for a scoop of tasty ice cream in a chocolate dipped waffle cone with not one but two chocolate malt balls in the bottom of the cone. Now that’s a treat to experience!
A trip down to the old Greenwood Dog & Suds is always a must-do experience on a lazy sunny Saturday afternoon. Given this day had already been dedicated to cruising and gastronomic treats, the Dog & Suds is a cruisers nirvana of automotive classics; both the cars and their owners.
Sunday morning broke crisp and clear with the monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Honda Sport Touring Association (HSTA) on the agenda. Not to break company with my riding buddies from Saturday, I jumped on the Ducati 1098 S Tricolore and joined them for the ride down to Story, Indiana, for the HSTA meeting at the Story Inn. Guess what we did; more good food and sharing experiences with great friends.
After “The Meeting,” my riding buddies headed for the dual-sport roads with their dual-sport bikes, and I joined several other sport bike-mounted HSTA members for a responsibly spirited ride through the paved twisties of Brown County to wrap up the perfect weekend.
Well, all good things have to come to an end; MONDAYS. The 33 members of the Indianapolis 500 class of 2008 experienced a perfect weekend followed by the sites, sounds and epicurean treats of The Big Apple while I dined my way from Zionsville to Story, Indiana, and back.
Be sure to catch the pre-race activities this coming Sunday morning, May 25. A very special preview event is on tap for around 11 a.m. as 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden laps the legendary oval on a Honda RC212V MotoGP bike. That should be a very special event to experience.
See you all next week on redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
No weirdness here in Indianapolis
The flight back from all the weirdness of Austin, Texas, last week ended with a spectacular flyover of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on a bright sunny afternoon. Wow, the Turn 1 through Turn 4 section of the new road course looked amazing from the air. It also looked like Mel’s crew had put down a LOT of fresh green sod just in time for the opening weekend for the Indianapolis 500.
Over the weekend, I watched a 2005 comedy crime film starring Tommy Lee Jones, “Man of the House,” much of which was filmed in Austin on the University of Texas campus, when what do I see? A pizza delivery van covered in Keep Austin Weird graffiti and the delivery kid sporting a Keep Austin Weird T-shirt. Now that’s weird!
Did I mention I brought back a Keep Austin Weird refrigerator magnet?
It sounds like Jarrod’s got the hot ticket for track activities this month with his Indy Racing League-issued hard card for prime access and parking. I only hope somebody catches him having to walk his bike down the lineup in the garage area. There just isn’t anything manly about that, but it would make a great photo!
With all the fast cars at the Brickyard the month of May, there’s not much going on with the Red Bull Indianapolis GP in my activity calendar this month, so I’ll try to keep my eyes peeled for any signs of weirdness here in Indianapolis and report back to you next week on redbullindianapolisgp.com .
Greg