VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 17, 2003 09:49 PM
 Edited By: VincentHill on 18 Nov 2003 08:20
Gainesville World (No outsiders) Finals & Bear Racing!
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!)
I have now re-read what I wrote Please note that with the exception of RG, everyone involved was "White"! So this is and never was a "Color" Issue! It is only that the feelings which I had and have not felt in close to 40 years, I felt for the first time again at Gainesville!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
  
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted November 18, 2003 02:26 AM
wow vince! great report. an exciting read, tho at times sickening too. i have no idea what the issues causing all the BS and hatred were, but they sound pretty fricken stupid. given how good a welcome RG got when he went to SA, it's pretty inexcusable that pierre& co would get such lousy treatment when they come here. and it always especailly pisses me off when an official gets in onthe act. they're supposed to be the people who DONT take part in that kinda bullshit. hope next race is a little more civilized.
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Hells Dark Lord
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living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted November 18, 2003 04:41 AM
its a sad, sad day when we have to resort to actions such as these.......I wish the team the best, and will have to follow them, and their progress...
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 18, 2003 05:43 AM
Since I wrote this at 1 AM this morning and a comment TB made, I am going to re-review what I wrote just to make one thing clear, This was not a "COLOR" issue I wrote the following to TB
"TB, When I have a little more time, I will re-read what I wrote at 1 AM this morning. Of course it was not a "Color" thing, they are all white, the rider, owner, sponsors the builder! I mention it as a reference about how someone being qualified to do something was denied and the same GUT Feeling I had in my Stomach! Yes I taped the inspections because of what they were doing. They do not need a "Camera" (That cost $750.00), they need a sticker that would cost less than $000.075 cents! Most likely about 1 penny per sticker and the pen to put the time or date on it!"
I will also say that how much RG Makes, I would not even want his job and the pressures for twice as much for even one day! He is truly the MAN!!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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ra12r
Zone Head
Posts: 919
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posted November 18, 2003 07:28 AM
Vincent, since the guys had "NO SHAME" being ignorant in public, or discriminatory while on the job as a track tech, feel free to name them. MEN should never hide after they CHOOSE to be a certain character. Judge a tree by the "fruit" in bears......... You told us the type of fruit. now tell us what trees!
What is also interesting to me, as many folks as there was from this page at that race,,,,,,,,,,,,,why NO ONE ELSE, before now had posted anything about the discusting actions and behavior of the PROSTAR/Gainesville track officials. It is apparent that a computer was at the track as some folks here posted while there. There should be a complete outrage regarding this, cause if you set quiet, it will be YOU next that gets screwed!!!
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All must bow to the "Ra Supremecy"...
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 18, 2003 08:37 AM
RA, I have them all on tape if I need it. The reason there is no need to name names, is if you were at a Clan meeting, would you need to name the individuals when it was everyone involved?
In fairness to everyone else, some of them ride in Pro-Star and do not want to be tarred with the same brush, SOme of them were busy dealing with their own problems and only knew bits and pieces of what was going on. SOme of the others, just may think that this is acceptable and that nothing needs to be done. Others may just be getting home and have yet to write about what they saw. Remember, this is a big place and no one was "Advertising" that they were screwing the SA Team. My wife had to tell me about the guys that threatened RG and the SA Team, because I was on the otherside of the truck and saw the people, but had to go there for the end of it and get her story. I was there when the Official got under the bike while they were working on it and draining oil when he made his statement. So it took several people being is different places at different times even to know anything was wrong! The truth is, the officials and competitors were hand in hand in this! SOmeone would make a complaint and they would act on it. As I also said to someone, another way to look at this was how a beautiful woman is treated. Since everyone thinks that she is getting all of the breaks because of her beauty, they decide to bend over backward the other way to try to even the field! The problem is everyone thinks they are being given the breaks, so everyone decides to bend over backward to mis-treat them to make it fair!
That is just how it is when you are on top! BTW I personally think that their bike with a little time could make a sub 7.40 run there and know it will run in the 7.50!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted November 18, 2003 09:19 AM
I actually heard most about it from Vince, and do I think it is a load of crap, Yes. but then again, why at the Atlanta Race was I told my stock chain guard was 2" to short (and is plastic and wouldent even deflect a chain let alone stop it) and I would not be able to race after driving all of the way from Iowa, 18hours one way..... oh and my kill tether was a coil plastic and they would let it go but... I need to change it to leather. Ok rest of the year at every Race other then Atco (I did not attend that one). there were people all through the lanes that had way short chain guards If they even had chain guards at all???? I know this is not as severe as the treatment of the SA team. but I tell you what if you are going to enforce a rule, Then do it to everyone!! not pick and choose. some of the rules that they have are crazy! I have to have a ballestic blanket on the bottom of my bike because I cut the plastic off. but a naked bike can run all day long in pro et. as long as they dont have nitrous. But I can not... oh well only $220 to buy a blanket to race in a Box class that cost's $60... LOL... sometimes I really miss the IDBA! to bad she ran it into the ground!
Now I do race at Prostar and will keep racing there untill they go to far in my eye's. and I understand what they did to me was for my own protection. But just be fair and do it to everyone. do not single people out.
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200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 18, 2003 10:31 AM
AMEN Mike! If they treat everyone badly, then it is fair! I just looked to see that Fransie on the "Bad" Wheelie 3 to 4 times ran a 7.667 and RG best run was a 7.67. SO Francie even ran a better time than RG. Since we know that RG is the better rider, Francie had the better bike!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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extremelean
Pro
Posts: 1651
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posted November 18, 2003 06:28 PM
Sounds like someone needs to file some official complaints with the AMA....and maybe speak to the Press.
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RAC4IT
Needs a job
Bergie
Posts: 3009
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posted November 18, 2003 06:52 PM
photos coming soon!!
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vozizm
Needs a job
Got Nothing Witty To Say
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posted November 19, 2003 04:38 PM
What happened to the world beating Buglys?... no finals yet again!! 
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 20, 2003 05:27 AM
quote:
What happened to the world beating Buglys?... no finals yet again!!
But by having a "Timely" Blow up kept the Kawasaki's out of the finals!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted November 24, 2003 07:32 AM
Here is some of the "Special" Treatment given to Bear by ProStar not given to anyone else! (Trust me, he was angry and was "Nasty" when he spoke!) This is also the exact same person that then started showing up at the tech "After" Each run and "ONLY" Teched Bear's bike and would leave! (I have him on film, but not pics because I needed sound to make sure each time he said the words, "OK To leave")!
Here he us looking under the bike wiping everythiong with his hands! If he had looked at the belly pan, he would have seen that no oil leaked "Down" from the bike!
Here is when he said that if "He" saw 1 drop of oil "Anywhere" the bike was disqualified!
Checking his fingers to see if any "Oil" was on them!! 
It was this kind of "Personal" attention along with the lies about going through tech and everything else that I saw no one else receive (After all, since he spent 100% of his time watching Bear, what else did he have time for?) I am sure made Bear feel so welcomed here!
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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