Where do I begin? (Because I keep losing what I type, I am going to post and edit until I am finished).There are many things to write about so I will start with #1, Rickey Gadson! He is now #1 (The Champ) in the Street Bike Shootout Class! Rickey as good as that is, I think you are #1 in the Diplomatic class also! (The UN could learn a few things from you! Rickey put out more fires at Gainesville than a New York Fireman on 9/11. He was loved, cursed and had his health threatened for speaking up when things went wrong! Hold this thought and I promise to return to it later!
Now for what I saw. I got there on Thursday afternoon / evening and checked in to the Same Motel that Pierre (Owner of Bear Racing) was staying. A few hours later he returned from the track. We talked and here is what he said. They (Bear Racing) had contracted "Muzzys" to build them a "Street Bike Shootout" bike. From what I understand, he spent a good amount of money, but still in the range of what some of the Busa People that post here from time to time have spent! Take the Price of their Bikes they bought new, all of the trials and errors they have spent money on and what they have spent to date, and you are in the Ball park! Pierre sort of has a three year plan for racing here in the US. Remember the statement, "They came, they saw, and they Conquered"! Last year, they came over here and watched and then later brought a bike to test. This year after seeing what they needed, they built a bike to start the process and Next Year, they plan to be ready!
The Bike he had built is possibly the most serious non factory Drag Race Bike in the hands of Privateer! Just looking at the Bike, you must first decide if it is Art Work, Engineering Masterpiece or just a display of Mechanical Genius! This bike should have been on display at the museum in New York! It is also one piece of very serious Racing equipment!
On Thursday, Fransie made some (2) shake down runs on the Bike! The times were not good (mid to High 8 second passes). I personally feel that it was the pressure of his family, friends, Pierre, the world watching and overload of instructions and information all at once! To say the least, Pierre was not pleased and worried! The question in his mind was had he done everything he could to be #1 and fell that short? No one was happy and everyone was worried about how things would turn out! The only thing everything could agree on was The rider needed more seat time!
Friday, we all go to the track for more testing and "Seat time". Fransie had 2 more runs and ran an 8.30 time on his 3rd run and on his 4th run, (a 1.35 60 foot time), the bike did not shift! (One of the things they found was no air in the tank. Remember, the crew handling the bike is also all new to it and Doug Meyer and Rob Muzzy are only there to assist!) The Bike is readied for Saturday qualifying! Everyone is in agreement that Fransie should just go out there and "Do his own thing" and enjoy the ride! On his first run of the day (Run #5) he qualifies #4 With a 7.80 run at 189 Mph. The Black Honda from Velocity Racing has run in the 7.55's and I think the Black Honda turned a 7.45. RG runs in the 7.60's and has either qualified 2nd or third with the red Honda taking the other spot! So we have in the top 4 2 Kawasaki's and 2 Honda's (Sorry, the Busses ran like their name sakes and were just slow)! The second run of the day (#6) was a slow 8.40 because the rubber hose that connected the pressure pipe from the turbo slipped off! (Remember, the people working on the bike are also "On the Job Training"! The bike is serviced and put away for Eliminations Sunday! Everyone is now breathing again and Pierre has a smile on his face that cannot be removed by a surgeon!
Sunday!!! What a Day! The Highest Highs and the Lowest lows by everyone! Ladies and Gentleman, the "DO do" really hit the fan on Sunday! Pro-Star should just learn the rules of fair play and then abide by them! The Bike is readied and the first round of eliminations! Fransie turns a 7.66 on his first round at over 190 Mph (Run #7)! Leaves on the other rider and fights 3 or 4 wheelies to run the 7.66! So we all know that there is a lot more in the bike! Service is preformed again, but this time, the Muzz man starts to makes a few adjustments on the Boost pressures (at least that is what I think he was doing) when the "DO do" hits the fan! Someone comes over and tells them that they are Disqualified The Pro-Star people report that Fransie did not go through "Tech" after the run! They stop work on the bike and find Fransie! He states that he "DID" go through tech and they measured the bike. They go back to the Tech person and he then claims that he does not remember seeing him. They point to the "Oil" on the ground that the bike had dripped while being teched! He still cannot remember, RG Speaks to him and he then states that he "May" have gone through but he is not certain! (What is stupid on Pro-Star's part is there is no positive way to prove or disprove anything! They do not put a sticker on the bike, sign a release, stick a tag on the bike, film it or anything! "Just their word for it"! SO then Pro-Star states that he may have gone through "Tech" but they are still disqualified because they had too many people at the Start line "4"!! Someone also tells me that they have "2" more ways to disqualify the bike if that does not work! But the problem is, that other people in the pit area "KNEW" the bike was going to be disqualified "BEFORE" The run ever took place! This is where Mr. RG Did what ever he does, but brought some sense to the maddness and they finally decided to let the bike run since they had no "Legal" reason to disqualify the bike!
What happens next really made me sick! An official came over, Mad as hell and looked all over the bike! He then told everyone that if he saw "1" Drop of oil anywhere near the bike, it would be disqualified! When the bike showed up at the start line, for round #2, would anyone believe that it was the only bike that had a "Personal" inspection by this same person?? Round #2, (his 8th ever run) he has some problems and "Only" runs 7.77 but gets the win light! I am now down at the inspection station filming everything that goes on there! SOme people are weighed with out their helmet, some missing pieces of their leathers. Then for this class, they are measured by the person operating the station "Until" Francie's run! This very same official shows up and personally measures Francies Bike while I record everything and shine the spot light on him! He states, they bike is OK and he can go! A person on a Suzuki says, you did not check the "Ground" clearance and he states that they are not checking this! Fransie returnes with the Bike and everyone starts working on the bike. A crowd stages itself in front of the Kawasaki Pit area and people are cursing Kawasaki, RG and everyone! This is where one person threatened RG and the Security is called in the break it up! Francie is up for the semi final round along with RG! The problem is a Busa has blown up at the Big end and has just smoked ou the place! The officials look at everything and state that there is no oil! Funny thing is I see them picking up parts and kicking things out of the way! Also funny is that this is the same lane that RG and Francie are to run in!
Semi Final round! RG ANd Francie both lose in the same lane! I watch Francie's run from the Big end and the bike is twitching the last 1/3 of the run after getting 3 bikes on the tree he loses. You can see the bike getting and loosing traction on the Big end, something it has not done before! He loses with a 7.70 run (I think to the Honda!)
SO that is basically it folks, with a total of 4 runs under their belt, Pierre and his crew qualify 4th and finish (I think because the final was not contested) runner up!)
If anyone here has either seen or read how the first Black Base Ball players (Jackie Robinson and others) were treated when they started playing in the major leagues, you would have thought it was happening all over again! When the Bear Racing team was on the line, the other racers were calling Francie every name they could think of, yelling at him trying to break his thought control, doing everything they could think of to ruine his run and stop him from getting a good light!
To me personally, it was the lowest form of sportsmanship I have ever seen. Here is a man that came from another country, built a bike to our rules and when he started being a threat, they did everything they could to stop him from racing, not try to beat him on the track! Last year that laughed at him! This year they lied, cheated and even threatened him when he showed up on the start line! I was treeated like this back in the late 50's and early to mid 60's when I went to school or work! Has America not changed in "40" Years? If we cannot win Fair and Square, is it still by "Any means necessary" (Legal or Not)?? Well that is how it looked to me! Shame on the AMA, Shame on PRO-Star! and Shame on some of the SBS Racers!! (You know who you are!)
Now for what I saw. I got there on Thursday afternoon / evening and checked in to the Same Motel that Pierre (Owner of Bear Racing) was staying. A few hours later he returned from the track. We talked and here is what he said. They (Bear Racing) had contracted "Muzzys" to build them a "Street Bike Shootout" bike. From what I understand, he spent a good amount of money, but still in the range of what some of the Busa People that post here from time to time have spent! Take the Price of their Bikes they bought new, all of the trials and errors they have spent money on and what they have spent to date, and you are in the Ball park! Pierre sort of has a three year plan for racing here in the US. Remember the statement, "They came, they saw, and they Conquered"! Last year, they came over here and watched and then later brought a bike to test. This year after seeing what they needed, they built a bike to start the process and Next Year, they plan to be ready!
The Bike he had built is possibly the most serious non factory Drag Race Bike in the hands of Privateer! Just looking at the Bike, you must first decide if it is Art Work, Engineering Masterpiece or just a display of Mechanical Genius! This bike should have been on display at the museum in New York! It is also one piece of very serious Racing equipment!
On Thursday, Fransie made some (2) shake down runs on the Bike! The times were not good (mid to High 8 second passes). I personally feel that it was the pressure of his family, friends, Pierre, the world watching and overload of instructions and information all at once! To say the least, Pierre was not pleased and worried! The question in his mind was had he done everything he could to be #1 and fell that short? No one was happy and everyone was worried about how things would turn out! The only thing everything could agree on was The rider needed more seat time!
Friday, we all go to the track for more testing and "Seat time". Fransie had 2 more runs and ran an 8.30 time on his 3rd run and on his 4th run, (a 1.35 60 foot time), the bike did not shift! (One of the things they found was no air in the tank. Remember, the crew handling the bike is also all new to it and Doug Meyer and Rob Muzzy are only there to assist!) The Bike is readied for Saturday qualifying! Everyone is in agreement that Fransie should just go out there and "Do his own thing" and enjoy the ride! On his first run of the day (Run #5) he qualifies #4 With a 7.80 run at 189 Mph. The Black Honda from Velocity Racing has run in the 7.55's and I think the Black Honda turned a 7.45. RG runs in the 7.60's and has either qualified 2nd or third with the red Honda taking the other spot! So we have in the top 4 2 Kawasaki's and 2 Honda's (Sorry, the Busses ran like their name sakes and were just slow)! The second run of the day (#6) was a slow 8.40 because the rubber hose that connected the pressure pipe from the turbo slipped off! (Remember, the people working on the bike are also "On the Job Training"! The bike is serviced and put away for Eliminations Sunday! Everyone is now breathing again and Pierre has a smile on his face that cannot be removed by a surgeon!
Sunday!!! What a Day! The Highest Highs and the Lowest lows by everyone! Ladies and Gentleman, the "DO do" really hit the fan on Sunday! Pro-Star should just learn the rules of fair play and then abide by them! The Bike is readied and the first round of eliminations! Fransie turns a 7.66 on his first round at over 190 Mph (Run #7)! Leaves on the other rider and fights 3 or 4 wheelies to run the 7.66! So we all know that there is a lot more in the bike! Service is preformed again, but this time, the Muzz man starts to makes a few adjustments on the Boost pressures (at least that is what I think he was doing) when the "DO do" hits the fan! Someone comes over and tells them that they are Disqualified The Pro-Star people report that Fransie did not go through "Tech" after the run! They stop work on the bike and find Fransie! He states that he "DID" go through tech and they measured the bike. They go back to the Tech person and he then claims that he does not remember seeing him. They point to the "Oil" on the ground that the bike had dripped while being teched! He still cannot remember, RG Speaks to him and he then states that he "May" have gone through but he is not certain! (What is stupid on Pro-Star's part is there is no positive way to prove or disprove anything! They do not put a sticker on the bike, sign a release, stick a tag on the bike, film it or anything! "Just their word for it"! SO then Pro-Star states that he may have gone through "Tech" but they are still disqualified because they had too many people at the Start line "4"!! Someone also tells me that they have "2" more ways to disqualify the bike if that does not work! But the problem is, that other people in the pit area "KNEW" the bike was going to be disqualified "BEFORE" The run ever took place! This is where Mr. RG Did what ever he does, but brought some sense to the maddness and they finally decided to let the bike run since they had no "Legal" reason to disqualify the bike!
What happens next really made me sick! An official came over, Mad as hell and looked all over the bike! He then told everyone that if he saw "1" Drop of oil anywhere near the bike, it would be disqualified! When the bike showed up at the start line, for round #2, would anyone believe that it was the only bike that had a "Personal" inspection by this same person?? Round #2, (his 8th ever run) he has some problems and "Only" runs 7.77 but gets the win light! I am now down at the inspection station filming everything that goes on there! SOme people are weighed with out their helmet, some missing pieces of their leathers. Then for this class, they are measured by the person operating the station "Until" Francie's run! This very same official shows up and personally measures Francies Bike while I record everything and shine the spot light on him! He states, they bike is OK and he can go! A person on a Suzuki says, you did not check the "Ground" clearance and he states that they are not checking this! Fransie returnes with the Bike and everyone starts working on the bike. A crowd stages itself in front of the Kawasaki Pit area and people are cursing Kawasaki, RG and everyone! This is where one person threatened RG and the Security is called in the break it up! Francie is up for the semi final round along with RG! The problem is a Busa has blown up at the Big end and has just smoked ou the place! The officials look at everything and state that there is no oil! Funny thing is I see them picking up parts and kicking things out of the way! Also funny is that this is the same lane that RG and Francie are to run in!
Semi Final round! RG ANd Francie both lose in the same lane! I watch Francie's run from the Big end and the bike is twitching the last 1/3 of the run after getting 3 bikes on the tree he loses. You can see the bike getting and loosing traction on the Big end, something it has not done before! He loses with a 7.70 run (I think to the Honda!)
SO that is basically it folks, with a total of 4 runs under their belt, Pierre and his crew qualify 4th and finish (I think because the final was not contested) runner up!)
If anyone here has either seen or read how the first Black Base Ball players (Jackie Robinson and others) were treated when they started playing in the major leagues, you would have thought it was happening all over again! When the Bear Racing team was on the line, the other racers were calling Francie every name they could think of, yelling at him trying to break his thought control, doing everything they could think of to ruine his run and stop him from getting a good light!
To me personally, it was the lowest form of sportsmanship I have ever seen. Here is a man that came from another country, built a bike to our rules and when he started being a threat, they did everything they could to stop him from racing, not try to beat him on the track! Last year that laughed at him! This year they lied, cheated and even threatened him when he showed up on the start line! I was treeated like this back in the late 50's and early to mid 60's when I went to school or work! Has America not changed in "40" Years? If we cannot win Fair and Square, is it still by "Any means necessary" (Legal or Not)?? Well that is how it looked to me! Shame on the AMA, Shame on PRO-Star! and Shame on some of the SBS Racers!! (You know who you are!)
