They can be fun!
I shared with you all last week one of the down sides of the business world for an avid sport motorcyclist; getting stuck in a business meeting on a prime weekend riding day. I made it through the week and learned about an interesting “business meeting” scheduled for Friday evening, Aug. 7 in a popular art district in downtown Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Downtown Artists & Dealers Association (IDADA) stages a First Friday Art Tour event on Massachusetts Avenue the first of each month. The media announcement for last Friday’s event stated:
“MOTORCYCLE-RELATED ARTWORK - ranging from custom bikes and helmets to live paintings which will occur on the street - will come to Mass Ave on Friday, August 7th, as part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s festivities related to the MotoGP weekend coming later in August.
In celebration of the 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP racing scheduled for August 28-30, IMS officials will stage a business meeting on August 7th at the Athenaeum, leading to the evening’s activities to be coordinated with First Friday events.
The evening’s schedule was not complete at press time, but planning involved participation by INDY DESMO Owners Club, a DESMO/DUCATI Owners Club, which planners believe will draw a unique crowd to the Mass Ave Art & Theatre District.
IMS is working to have MotoGP pilot Nicky Hayden who rides for Ducati Marlboro in attendance during the event.”
Well, the “business meeting” at the Athenaeum turned out to be a very exciting event, revving up the local hospitality industry to the upcoming Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Nicky Hayden did make it to the event and was introduced by IMS executive Mel Harder. Nicky even participated in a live painting by motorsports artist Bill Patterson. Also on display was the newly created 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP first-place trophy, mounted on one of the original Brickyard bricks from 1909. This was definitely a much better “business meeting” than the one I got stuck in Lansing, Mich., for part of last weekend.
Be sure to look for more local activities to come over the next couple weeks as we count down to the second running of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Aug. 28-30, 2009.
I’ll see you all next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
Big fish stories…
OK, I’m a week into my summer vacation and so far not a single “chore” on the decade old “need fixing” list has been done. Now that’s what I call a good start to a lazy month of July! I think the only constructive thing I’ve accomplished so far is writing “The Experience” blog for my friends out on West 16th Street the past two weeks.
I have managed to spend a fair amount of time on two wheels in-between spouts of rain, storms and cutting grass. Two Sundays ago, Ducati Indianapolis and Commonwealth Motorcycles in Louisville, Ky., hosted a track day out at Putnam Park Road Course. I picked a nice, twisty back road route out to Mount Meridian, Ind., and spent the afternoon watching the guys play.
It’s always fun to hear the stories from the day of exploring the limits of man and machine. One of the guys from Ducati Indianapolis experienced his first knee plant during the day. We’ve all seen the pro’s dragging their knees around a road race course but the first time you plant and drag your knee pucks on a set of race leathers is a big story to share with your friends. If Mike could only get his elbows on the pavement, we could call him “Elbowz II.”
This past weekend saw the MotoGP teams journey over the big pond to central California with the running of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on July 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Our local MotoGP hero, Nicky Hayden, had the best event yet in his maiden season aboard a Ducati, qualifing in eighth position and finishing fifth behind his teammate, Casey Stoner in fourth place. Check out the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Race Report by Paul Kelly at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
The big story of the Laguna Seca weekend was the unveiling of the 2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition by Ducati North America. This US-exclusive model features an American inspired paint scheme, aptly fit for its introduction on the 4th of July and personally autographed on the gas tank by Nicky himself. You can visit the Nicky Hayden Web site to get all the details; www.nickyhayden.com.
Well, like all big secrets, this one was all over the motorcycle forums for weeks before with photos popping up during the preceeding week. Given my passion for very special motorcycles, several friends were immediately teasing me that this could be the next addition to the collection. The power of digital photo editing dangled one big fish that took several of my buddies hook, line and sinker. Gotcha, Paul!
I think my stable of bikes is max’d out for now, and I’m not sure Greta over at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum would let me order any more specialty license plates! If you want to check out the 2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition, rumor has it Ducati Indianapolis is uncrating one today up in Zionsville, Ind., and that’s not a “big fish” story.
I’ll see you all next week with more vacation experiences at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
The ultimate motorcycle accessory experience!
In the
motorcycle industry, this time of the year tends to see a lull in the market as those of us in northern climates are in hibernation mode and many others are still trying to recover from the holiday spending frenzy. Given this typical market cycle, what better time for the city of Indianapolis to play host to an annual motorcycle dealer accessory show of epic proportions – the Dealer News Powersports Expo.
Once again I was afforded the opportunity to attend this powersports dealer-only industry event, which could be a very dangerous place for a gear junkie to be. Thank goodness this is a dealer expo and not a retail venue! It would be Christmas all over again.
Almost a year ago now, I shared with you all my experience at this event where the folks over at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway shared plans for the September 2008 inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP. This year’s exhibit once again featured the 1910 Indian ridden by Nicky Hayden for the first lap of the new road course at the Brickyard last April but also featured a very special treat for show attendees. The new Red Bull Indianapolis GP champion’s trophy, with its first champion’s inscription representing Valentino Rossi’s record-breaking 69th victory, was on display. Visitors to the booth were given the opportunity to get their photo taken with the new trophy that will be posted here at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com later this week although I don’t think Ellie’s and Sean’s photo will be posted there.
This week also marks another milestone here at www.redbullindianapolis,com. Just about one year ago this week, I wrote my first entry for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Web site, so this week also represents the one-year anniversary of The Experience. I’m looking forward to another year of sharing many of my experiences as we all count down to the second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Sunday, Aug. 30.
I’ll see you all here next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
Greg
A little bit of Italy comes to Owensboro.
As the seasons change here in central Indiana, the seasonal changes are occurring in the world of MotoGP starting with the first tests of next season’s teams yesterday at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
Back on September 15th we all learned here at http://www.redbullindianapolisgp.com about our 
local MotoGP hero, Nicky Hayden, making a move to Ducati for the 2009 season. This photo of Nicky and Ducati’s, Casey Stoner from the 2007 MotoGP season turns out to be a very prophetic view. The 2009 MotoGP season will see the Australian and American, both world champions, aboard the iconic Italian red machines as teammates.
Nicky Hayden bid a fond farewell to his Honda team of seven years after Sunday’s final MotoGP event of the 2008 season in Valencia. He was greeted Monday morning in the Ducati MarboroTeam garages, ready for his first experience aboard the Ducati GP8 and GP9 motorcycles. Nicky’s first ride is chronicled here at http://www.redbullindianapolisgp.com. His move to the Ducati Marboro Team was commemorated with a small decal on the bike that simply stated “Chapter 2.”
Well you should all remember from my earlier blogs what a Nicky Hayden fan I have been for many years. You may also recall I have a couple very special Ducati sport bikes that seem to accumulate the most miles during the riding season. Are you starting to get the picture of a match made in heaven? Nicky Hayden on a Ducati represents what could be a spectacular alignment of stars.
I hope all the good folks in Owensboro, Ky., are ready for a bit of Italian flare to come to town. A Kentucky tradition since 1963, the Moonlite Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, voted the “Best Barbecue in Kentucky” by Kentucky Monthly and Kentucky Living readers, may need to add Italian sausages to the barbecue pit.
I’m sure the other fine Kentucky tradition in town, Earl’s Racing Team, will be adding some Ducati memorabilia to the family collection.
I know I’m anxious to start “Chapter 2” of my collection of Nicky Hayden memorabilia.
I’ll see you all in a couple weeks 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
How to beat the GAS man!
Finally, a full week of beautiful weather in central Indiana. I was able to park the H3 Hummer for most of the week and make the daily commute with two wheels. It’s still pretty amazing to spend over $10 to fill the tank of a motorcycle, but that really beats the $75 it takes to feed the Hummer its full meal. Starting a typical workday off with a ride definitely gets you in a great state of mind. About the time the joy of the morning ride is starting to wear off, you start thinking of a good, winding route back home for the evening commute. Wow, am I glad the dreariness of winter is finally gone away.
This past weekend a local motorcycle accessory dealer, Adam’s Biker Outlet, hosted an open house at their store in Carmel, Ind. The Brickyard marketing team had asked if I could bring my Honda CBR1000RR Repsol up to Adam’s for this open house event. Sure, what a great way to spend what turned out to be a glorious day of sunshine, good cooking, great music and new friends. If you ever what to get your motorcycle detailed, I can highly recommend Adam’s detailing team. This customer was very satisfied with his motorcycle detail experience! 
I ended up bringing the Honda Repsol Nicky Hayden replica bike and a new ’08 Yamaha YZF R1 Fiat M1 replica I’ve recently added to the stable. I figured what better way to represent this September’s Red Bull Indianapolis GP front grid than putting two former MotoGP world champions, Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, together at Adam’s open house event.
Not to be shown up, Mel Harder from the Brickyard popped in with a very appropriate vehicle to pace this fast crowd, the 2008 Corvette that will be pacing this year’s Indianapolis 500 in May. Now that was quite the display of both two-wheel and four-wheel sports vehicles for Adam’s guests to enjoy.
Well, it’s now the start of another week. The dreary weather is back with both rain and frost. I’m back to the four-wheel commute, wondering once again if spring is ever going to stay around for a while and if the Hummer still likes the GAS man.
See you all next week on redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
A photographic history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in Nicky Hayden’s first historic motorcycle lap of the new road course at the Brickyard. After all the morning activities, a small group of enthusiasts was treated to a couple hours of watching Nicky make evaluation laps of the new course on a Honda CBR 1000RR for the IMS Facilities group.
While watching Nicky from the new Turn 4 near the south entrance, I met Dave Hilberry, the curator of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum photographic archives. Dave was shooting photos of Nicky’s first Brickyard experience, two of which I featured in my April 8 blog entry.
Over the next couple hours, I was treated to an outstanding review of many of the historic events at the Brickyard that are captured on film and preserved in the photographic archives at the museum. Dave has been a lifelong resident of Speedway, Ind., and has been a longtime part of IMS’ ongoing efforts to maintain and document the history of motorsports.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum offers a constantly changing display of motorsports history over the past 100 years. A visit to the Museum is a must-see during any trip to the Brickyard to see and experience the historic elements of the collection.
The photographic archives are located on the second floor of the Museum, and that area is easily missed if you are unaware of it. Just ask any of the always-friendly Museum staff at the information counter, and they will direct you up to Dave Hilberry’s area. Be prepared for a very informative journey into the history of the Brickyard. Chances are you will find a photo of one of your past Brickyard experiences to take home with you.
See you all next week on redbullindianapolisgp.com .
Greg
Not all Mondays are blue
After all my confessions last week about my fair-weather riding tendencies, central Indiana was finally blessed with a beautiful spring weekend. The mornings were still crisp, but that ideal 50-degree point was quickly surpassed, giving forth to a couple ideal spring riding days.
After such a glorious weekend, Mondays can really be a major drag, especially when the forecast is a continuation of the first bright spring weekend of the season.
Not so on this particular Monday!
April 7, 2008 marked the first major track event of the upcoming Red Bull Indianapolis GP with the first motorcycle laps on the new 2.620-mile, 16-turn road course at the Brickyard. Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP world champion from Owensboro, Ky., piloted a recently restored bright red 1908 Indian around the new course, complete with vintage racing regalia, at a blistering speed of 45 mph. This amazing piece of racing machinery made its first laps around the original Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 14, 1909. Check it out here.
Shortly after this first historic lap, Nicky jumped into a telephone booth and emerged 100 years later in modern day motorcycle racing gear, trading the 1908 Indian for a 2008 Honda CBR1000RR roadracing machine sporting special livery for this event. The ensuing laps were a bit quicker on this World Superbike spec machine. Nicky put on a spectacular show for hundreds of enthusiasts who gathered around the south end of the facility by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
After Nicky’s series of hot laps around the new course, a small group of guests were afforded the opportunity to experience their own lap of the new Brickyard road course. Since red seemed to be the color of the day, my ’06 Ducati 999R Xerox seemed the logical choice for my first lap of the new course. Jarrod, my co-blogger here at redbullindianapolisgp.com, myself and 30 or so other lucky guests took a leisurely lap behind a pair of our city’s finest from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department motorcycle division.
Unfortunately, all good dreams have to come to an end, and now Tuesday feels more like Monday. But oh, what an experience to remember.
See you all next week on redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg
Will spring ever come?
Being a motorcyclist this time of year in central Indiana can be a very frustrating experience. It has been three or four months of snow, sleet, rain, bone-chilling weather and short, sunless days. When March rolls around with April just around the corner, the glimmer of spring is in the air, and the siren song of two wheels begins to tempt the senses for the first ride of a new season.
One of the rituals of the impending new season is the annual Dealer News Powersports Expo at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. This is one of the largest gatherings of all things motorcycles in North America. If you are lucky enough to get an entry pass to this powersports dealer-only industry event, there are treats to tempt every facet of the motorcyclist experience.
Last week I shared with you my experience visiting the Hayden family compound in Owensboro, Ky., to pick up Nicky’s 2006 MotoGP championship-winning motorcycle. This very special machine spent the following weekend in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s exhibit at the Dealer News Powersports Expo, along with a KTM 125 GP bike from the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup and a very special Indian from the IMS historic vehicle collection. Motorsports legend Army Armstrong shared some of his life experiences with up-and-coming Red Bull Rookie rider Jacob Cunningham while visiting the exhibit.
This event provided a great forum to share the plans for the September 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP with North American motorcycle and powersports dealers. Over the course of three days, thousands of Expo guests visited and experienced the IMS and Red Bull plans for this very special event kicking off the 
celebration of 100 years of racing in Speedway, Ind. One of the more notable motorcycle racing legends to visit the exhibit was 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz.
Now if only the spring weather would make its way to Indianapolis with some 50-degree-plus days, I will finally be able to get out of my four-wheel cage and back to the ride.
See you all next week on redbullindianapolisgp.com
Greg