We loaded up Michael’s UAV and fortified ourselves with Transamerica Beakfast en route to the IMS show last weekend in chilly Greenville SC. Apparently there was some religious festival going on as we were challenged at the stoplight pulling into the Carolina First Center by one of those Porsche Cabanas full of someone that wasn’t willing to burn the gas necessary to propel the hard move. We glided into the parking area and set forth!

The smiley goth girl at the front gave us our passes and we sallied into the hall. Behold, the new Ducati booth greeted us. Pretty cool, if I say so myself! The block thing they had the last couple years has been relegated to the annals of history (hooray) and the cool new booth has a center raised platform, there’s a cool new Service area staffed at our show by the Inestimable Elliott Cho, some very presentable young ladies Rachel, Jillian, gracing us with their smiles. Danny, whom lots of you know from the Ductruck, the Indy GP, our annual Spring Demo Events, or the Twilight Bicycle race last April, kept everything humming and made the PA and Powerpoint thing work when I did my spiel on the Multi. Thanks Gents and Ladies. (Jillian, Michael thinks you’re swell.)

Lots of familiar and unfamiliar faces at the show-feels good in these times of uncertainty to know that there are still people excited about the new bikes. Feels really good to see people I only get to see occasionally, customers and old friends that live some distance away. Glad to know they still love the sport and are interested enough to come say hey. Also nice to see newer faces, and from my point of view there’s nothing more gratifying than having someone come over and introduce their friends when they need a new Ducati (especially those who are from other brands!)

Michael got people up to speed and explained what was cool about Mark’s race bike, the #278 848 Ducati graciously allowed us to display (thanks Chris, Ray, and Kristina) which garnered a lot of attention and looked right smart, as they say here in the woods. He’s a little miffed about the 1198S tank, but he’ll get over it. Emulation is the most sincere form of flattery, I would say. (Unless of course, you’re big H and trying to coopt the ELF swingarm-then it’s all lawyers and nastiness.)

Paula got her head stuck in a hat appropriate to her distinctive shape, thanks to Rob and Brianna at the Service Pavilion, Arai fitters extraordinaire (thanks y’all-did Rob get over the giggles yet?) That proved a battle, but now she has a helmet that will provide superior comfort and safety for many years to come. She smiled her zillion-watt smile at the showgoers and talked herself out pointing out Ducati features & benefits. Have to watch that or she’ll out-sell me. At the end of the show she got the reward though, I looked around for her and of course, she was over making friends with the 796, her dream bike. (I promise we’ll find a way to afford one for you this year! Donations gratefully accepted.) I didn’t want to disturb her, but couldn’t resist and went over to where she was sitting on it, not quite making riding noises but close to it. Looking pretty scintillating, I have to say.

Jim did his usual kickass job with a zillion people throughout the day. Sure is cool to have him around-the guy is a pro and has been involved with Ducatis for lo these many years. (Don’t ask me how many…) He has a way of passing his enthusiasm along that’s unique, but never misses a trick. It’s cool to see people respond to him in these events.

Eventually the show wound down and there were plenty of festive types, but we had a ways to get home and I had trees to chop down the next day so we just went to dinner with some friends and a well-deserved glass or two of wine and then homeward bound. (Sorry to all that wanted a rousing finish a la Milan or Indy but I was tired! Besides, I didn’t have KS to bail me out.) Lots to work on for this season, and we’re booking along with some uber-cool things to do in the coming season. Lots of riding of all shapes and fashions, some track stuff, some racing, some riding, some partying, some horizon-chasing, some exploring, all kinds of stuff. Keep in touch!

PB

Kick Some Ass this Year Nicky!

Doing my spiel on the cool new MTS1200S

mark your bike misses you

Business end. They got the bars right for me. Dash nice and big. Adjustable shield.

Gotta show your colors girl.

Elliott, where the riding mode for bunny hop?

Best part of the Show for me:)

PB

Just a quick note to all the friends out there-Happy New Year’s and I look forward to riding with y’all in 2010!

PB

Ciao Bella

I read this morning that the Motor Company is shutting down Buell for good and planning to sell MV Agusta as well. This is tragedy that’s the spotlighted example against the backdrop for the economic downturn, folks.

Those of you that know me well will snort disgustedly and say, “Well, damn, you never had anything particularly good to say about those wierd Wisconsin bikes anyway” or “But you always made fun of their alternative engineering and silly brakes.” This is true. But you also would have heard me say that Erik Buell realized his dream and made a difference in the motorcycle industry landscape. As bizarre as some of the features were, this was indeed an American Sport Motorcycle. And a pretty good one, even if they resorted to that quasi-Teutonic engine. I first met Erik in 1985, I think, when I was working at a BMW-Honda-Kawasaki dealership in Milwaukee, and he was already known as an eccentric that was friends with my eccentric boss at the time. Watching him craft his bikes and build his business over the years has been edifying for me. Pretty valuable foil too, I hear you say. Maybe that’s true, as Buell’s have required all sorts of rulemaking twists and gerrymandering to remain competitive on the race scene in the USA. Even this year with their latest and greatest. Fine by me. I like some diversity, although they seemed to be over the top this year, and it got a little ridiculous. But the fact remains that Buell made a lot of people happy with their weird and sometimes wonderful bikes, and they were a source of not a little pride to those looking for an American Sportbike.

Good luck to you in the future Erik!