helicopterjim R.I.P.

Miguel DuHamel crashed while leading Daytona 200 but is still riding but back in 4th!! Bell 214B still has excessive lateral vibration in main rotor but is expected to be down to less than 0.2 ips in another 2 runs!!

I'm at the hangar today, test fying a Bell 214B. Nothing unusual, just standard procedure after any work is done to the flight control system. In between flights I am checking on the Daytona 200 race on the internet. I see the Buell of Jeremy McWilliams is currently in 9th and Erion Honda intends to protest the Buells after the race. I'm also troubling shooting a few snags on my new truck. My wife had a little drama about 3 weeks ago with my old truck and it ended up not passing the unusual attitudes test so I had to find a new one. I came across a 2001 Chevy Silverado with a Duramax diesel for a very low price. It was repo-ed last September and the towing yard bought it out cheap and sold it to me. I spent quite a lot of money on the engine because of the contaminated fuel (long story - involves drug dealing and the dent in the side of the box but I don't even want to know) so 8 new injectors and a fuel pressure regulator later I have a really nice truck. Leather seats and almost every option (it only has regular air conditioning - not climate control) and a couple of electrical snags from sitting for 5 monthes and now I have a great truck. One more snag to go. The electrically heated seats only works on the drivers side and my wife is not happy about that so I must get that taken care of today. I hope to get over to the Guzzi shop later today if only so I can disrupt their day. I've buzzed the shop 3 times already this morning so they will be expecting me. That is the best part about test flying on weekends - the victory lap!! When all has checked out I usually wick it up to about 150 kts (173 mph) and make a low pass by the hangar. The boss figures the boost in moral is well worth any complaints from the neighbours!! Cheers!! Jim

What kind of bike were they using for the testing?

No.

The X style looks like a Stucchi - I don't know about the other one.

No.

No.

How did you change it? What sytem are you using - the FIM flash map, Cliff's MY15M or some other system? I hope your connecting rods don't mind.

Because it isn't a Kreidler!!

I've got it!! He doesn't want to be a fim star, he wants to be a VIM STAR!! .... und if you vant to be a Cherman Vim Star ... ... then there is the "I have the cleanest Guzzi" Vim Star ... ... or the join the Mile High Vim Club ...

I believe that fim should be FIM as in Federation Internacionale de Motocyclisme so perhaps Belfast wants to be the next Rossi or Hailwood. Then again no one will ever know just what Belfast wants ....

The 'Worlds Fastest Indian' has finally made it to Canada and it is playing at the Cinemark Tinseltown for anyone interested. The theatre is on the corner of Pender and Abbott Streets. Check here for more info. It will be coming out next week at Famous Players but their website does not show where yet.

The 'Worlds Fastest Indian' has finally made it to Canada. I think maybe they were worried about racial slurs and such and want to keep it low key. After all we here in British Columbia know that the world fastest Indian is the one who found out his paycheck was under his workboots .... Anyways it is playing at the Cinemark Tinseltown for anyone interested. The theatre is on the corner of Pender and Abbott Streets. Check here for more info. It will be coming out next week at Famous Players but their website does not show where yet.

No.

Yup!!

Too bad there are no Motorcycle Moth movies!! Little Foss or Big Halsey? You could play David Essex's part in Silver Dream Racer!! Wait!! I have it now!! You can be the Girl on a Motorcycle!

No.

No.

Bloody 'ell!!! You may have found the cause of gobal warming!!!!

It seems that Jeremy McWilliam is getting the Buell sorted out. His qualifying time is about 1.6 seconds off the pole position and it is a long race so he may be able to get the Buell up there after all. Eric Bostrom and miguel have a lot of experience though so it may be a good race all round!! Daytona 200 FX Qualifying Results Thursday, March 09, 2006 Pos. Rider Team Bike Time 1 Miguel Duhamel American Honda Honda CBR600RR 1:40.928 2 Jason DiSalvo Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R6 1:41.014 3 Eric Bostrom Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R6 1:41.341 4 Jake Zemke American Honda Honda CBR600RR 1:41.911 5 Josh Hayes Erion Honda Honda CBR600RR 1:42.154 6 Aaron Gobert Erion Honda Honda CBR600RR 1:42.189 7 Ryan Andrews Honda CBR600RR 1:42.283 8 Jeremy McWilliams Buell XBRR 1:42.536 9 Geoff May Suzuki GSX-R600 1:43.520 10 Danny Eslick MPTracing.com Suzuki GSX-R600 1:43.717 11 Alastair Seeley Yamaha YZF-R6 1:43.928 12 Eric Wood Honda CBR600RR 1:43.943 13 Pascal Picotte Yamaha Canada Yamaha YZF-R6 1:44.332 14 Rico Penzkofer Buell XBRR 1:44.359 15 Mike Ciccotto Buell XBRR 1:44.538 16 Steve Crevier Buell XBRR 1:44.604 17 Blake Young Suzuki GSX-R600 1:44.785 18 Tyler McDonald Yamaha YZF-R6 1:44.990 19 Ryan Elleby Honda CBR600RR 1:45.194 20 Ty Howard Honda CBR600RR 1:45.450

Got any questions about your life? Someone has an answer for you!! Fruit Cake Lady video

Thankyou. I see that the Buell's were racing in BOT Formula 1 as well and even with Jeremy McWilliams riding one the MGS was still on top. I wonder what model Moto Guzzi Andrew Cowell is riding? BOT FORMULA 1: 1. Gianfranco Guareschi (M-G) 2. Dario Marchetti (Duc) 3. Jeff Jones (Hon) 4. Mike Ciccotto (Buell XB-RR) 5. Jeremy McWilliams (Buell XB-RR) 6. Jonathan Glaefke (Suz) DNS: Dan Bilansky (Buell XB-RR), Rico Penzkofer (Buell XB-RR), Steve Crevier (Buell XB-RR) BOT FORMULA 1: 1. Gianfranco Guareschi (M-G) 2. Dario Marchetti (Duc) 3. Sadandra Hikita (H-D) 4. Greg Nichols (Duc) 5. Andrew Cowell (M-G) 6. Jeff Jones (Hon)

No. No.

I bought a video of some IoM stuff, all onboard video and some is of the Guzzi V8 (in green). Don't know how to post it but it is not too bad. I'll try and get a copy if anyone is so inclined!

OH my!! I'll keep my mouth shut about this one on the next tour, mate! (beers an whiskies!!)