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*Liam's Wild Ride*

More fun stuff just "hanging out" at the shop :teeth

Little known fact: the Italian company Verlicchi makes the frames for both the Ducati Superbikes, and for Buell. Go figure, as both companies are teased by inline four lovers as having "tractor" motors. I have to disagree, as I prefer to call them "traction" motors. . . gimme that Torque, baby!

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Yet another rarity! A late-eighties Ducati Paso racer! Wow! I hadn't seen one of these before, and it was fun for me to crawl around. From it's stubby pipe, to it's full bodywork (this is regarded to be the first sportbike to "sport" full bodywork), it was magnificent. Alberto tells me it handles like a dream, corners like it's on rails - very neutral steering and easy to ride. I wish I could take it out and see for myself. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get into the guts and see if it had the popular Weber Carb conversion, which the American versions needed to run well. If I remember correctly, you can still pick these up for a song (sub $3500) but you gotta make sure the bodywork is in good shape because it's getting scarce. . . .

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Think Termignoni started making 'shorties' for the Yamaha M1? Think again!

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My second favorite racebike in the shop. Suede seat, glass-fiber full cell, gorgeous machine full of heritage and history. Who can tell me what this is? Winners get a custom wallpaper emailed from me of something cool :)

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While we're on the subject of rare vehicles, who's gonna point out what this is? Yes, I know it's a Ford, so get technical.

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Sunday's MotoGP races were great, and I had fun watching on Spanish TV (live) and also on MotoGP.com, in English. It was fun bouncing back and forth, and what a crackin' race! I'm disappointed Rossi didn't have a chance to run up front, but stellar performances from all the rookies! Stoner, Elias? Wow, they were hauling, particularly Elias. Who's to say what would have happenned if Rossi was in it. His start was uncharacteristically awesome, and he was right up there before he got nudged off the track. Seeing as how this race was fifteen seconds slower than last year. . . I think he would have done just fine, "vibration" problems or not. I tried my best to get to the race itself, but the timing just wasn't right for me, and besides, I had just seen these guys. There's a delicate balance between being around, and being a nuisance. Also, I thought this was going to be one of the more packed races, and I'd rather have the time and ability to speak more, when it's quieter and when the teams aren't as stressed out. I'm sure to run into them again :teeth. Instead, I decided it would be better for me to seek out other avenues, so it was on this beautiful sunny day that I went to the train station. After I watched the race.

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It was a nice train ride down the coastline, and I chose to upgrade to first class to rest my knee. I knew that they would also serve a snack/lunch, and I had always wanted to see what it was like to enjoy a nice meal and some vino on the train. The weather became gray the further south I went, but it was still nice.

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I didn't realize the snack would be so small! This was my juice "shooter", and a pack of cigarettes as a size reference. The rice candy was a special treat, and came with a fake tattoo of a koala bear. The cracker-jack of asia!

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A friend of mine had invited me to come spend some time, and getting out of BCN was just what I needed. I woke up early the next day, around seven, to a beautiful sunrise. This is the view out my window when I awoke. "The next thing you know, you'll be sleeping in a van down by the river!" Actually, I was sleeping in a big truck.

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I was here because World Superbike (SBK) was having their first official test of the season (I know! Weird that their official tests come after the first two races. The other tests before this were all unofficial). That meant everyone was here, SBK, World Supersport (which is like Formula Extreme, to the extreme), and World Superstock. I think I bumped into Chris Perris, formally tagged to ride for WCM in MotoGP, because not too many people are wearing leathers with Traxxion Dynamics on them! He was busy getting sorted, so I left him alone. Maybe I'll see him again and see if I can score an interview. This was another great opportunity for me to spend some time with the teams and get to know the scene. While there is a lot of glamour and money in MotoGP, there's a much different feel here in SBK. As Tomo-san (Nissin Racing brake guru, who I met in November and several times again, at just about every event I've been to!) pointed out to me, SBK feels like it's more about the racing, and there are several reason for this. Maybe the money changes things, but I feel that a lot of teams out here are running on passion. Some teams are fully funded (i.e. Xerox Ducati, Ten Kate Honda, etc) but the rest are coming out here because they love to race. They live for racing. Maybe they don't have all the unobtanium, but they're still putting a bike on the grid on the world scene, and that's doing something! I'm still coming up with the differences between the two World Championships, and I'm still having a good time.

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On a sadder note, Karl Muggeridge, #31, crashed shortly after this photo and broke his back. It's a sobering moment whenever a rider has a big crash, but fortunately, he's expected to be up and riding again in roughly forty days. Godspeed #31.

I should also mention that there was no speed limit in pit lane, so people were ripping through the pits, popping long wheelies, and revving the crap out of their bikes. Brrappppp! It was great, though a little wild.

Gotta run for now, but I'll throw up some more pictures later.

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The car is a Ford Cortina?

edit: just noticed the Moto Liam wrench above the Ford!!

The bike with the Moto Liam stick (nice photoshop job btw) is a 750 Paso?
 
Thank god you used a ? it is old chap a CAPRI although i can't see if it is a 2.8 or 3 litre injection.

Takes me back to bodie and doyle the Professionals.

and yes after a long time in the wilderness it is comming into cool again but please don't confuse old with cool.
 
yo liam -

does the owner of desmo BCN own an mh900e? or is there one in the shop? you know why i am asking, as i don't currently have an owner registered in the owners club from BCN, so if you can pass on the word of the owners club tyo them, grazie mille dude!

ciao,
johnc

p.s.: ducati WPM2006 is finalized now ... we will be @ mugello for the entire weekend!!
 
fatshady, I believe is correct. I do belive that is an old school capri. My dad worked for Ford when I was a boy and for some reason when I helped him move after he retired we found a stack of Capri promo postcards in an old drawer in the garage, sporting the very fashionable 70's rootbeer brown paint :p


I think the old duc is a 750 sport?


Also, Liam is that really a Passo? I thought the Passo's didn't have a trellis frame? Maybe just the motor was from a Passo? Dunno.

Glad to see you are still on the move. As usual, keep the photos and stories commin' bro-ham!!

~WL~
 
It's a Ford Capri 2.8 injection, 135mph, limited slip diff, pepperpot alloys and I've always wanted one. It was the european equivalent of the Mustang. My mum had a Capri 1.6S in which I learnt to drive. I have very fond memories of that car as I used to borrow it all the time. One day when we were bored my Mum went to test drive a 2.8i and I tagged along. Suffice it to say my Mum likes to drive at a spirited pace (even today) and set up the 2.8i as a dream car for me. Thanks Liam for reminding me of this blast from the past.:teeth




MotoLiam said:
While we're on the subject of rare vehicles, who's gonna point out what this is? Yes, I know it's a Ford, so get technical.

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