Wayne Gardner Riding Video
kyokushintiger posted this awesome Wayne Gardner riding video to YouTube. I first saw it on VisorDown‘s Bugsplat email #126.
What can we learn from the comments?
- According to fackorf (if that is his real name): “It’s a honda VFR750 from 1987, codenamed 6X as it had titanium valves and a few other sweet mods.” Interesting: a rare factory “prototype” that looks like a production bike.
- sprcampbell tells us that this is Oran Park in Australia, and until [February 2010?] you could ride this track but it is being replaced by houses.
OTT Interviews Santiago “the Ironman” Villa: the World’s Toughest Road Racer
Santiago Villa is racing AMA Pro and CCS Florida this year. He also likes to go home to Columbia to race every year.
Why “the Ironman”? You know how riders used to stay on the bike during endurance-race re-fuelings? Santiago was badly burned: ending that practice. He went on to race with major burns and broken bones! Santiago is the type of racer that inspires fans even without (yet) winning the AMA Pro championship.
Here is the video:
How do I log on to WordPress? Where is the WordPress login page?
How-to login to your WordPress.org-based stand alone Web site
If you installed WordPress.org software on your own hosted Web site, than add “wp-admin” to your URL in order to get to your login page. If your URL is: http://dangerismymiddlename.com/ Then your login page will be: http://dangerismymiddlename.com/wp-admin
How-to login to your WordPress.com blog
If you would like to login to your WordPress.com blog, then use this link instead:
http://wordpress.com/wp-login.php
The above link will work for any user that wants to login to WordPress.com, regardless of how many WordPress blogs one participates-in.
It is also possible to specify a language via the third-level domain. In other words I could use this link if I want my administrative screens in English (note the “en”): http://en.wordpress.com/wp-login.php. And I could use this link if I want my administrative screens in Spanish (note the “es”): http://es.wordpress.com/wp-login.php.
If I am interested in logging into the “dangerismymiddlename.wordpress.com” blog on WordPress.com, then I could also use this an URL in this format: http://dangerismymiddlename.wordpress.com/wp-login.php. And if I am interested in logging into my wife’s blog on WordPress.com, then I could also use this an URL in this format: http://kilefamily.wordpress.com/wp-login.php. These work just like this URL that was mentioned above: http://wordpress.com/wp-login.php.
Rossi and Lorenzo Comic Books
Image owned-by, linked-from, and linked-to http://www.leopoldobloom.it/ Click on image to follow.
This is an old post that I updated on 2010-06-21.
A few years ago I purchased Valentino Rossi’s hardcover comic book by Milo Manara. Most of Signore Manara’s art is erotic, and this comic isn’t an exception: adults only please.
The comic book is called “Quarantasei” (46 in Italian), and is only available in Italian, although there is an image of a Spanish cover here. I still haven’t translated it, so the accuracy of my description may be in-question, but here goes: A secret organization is attempting to steal Valentino’s genes in order to create superclones, but first they steal Valentino’s good-luck charm affecting the outcome of the race. It’s up to Guido, and Osvaldo the Chicken to save Valentino! Rossi talks to the ghosts of Steve McQueen, Jim Morrison and Enzo Ferrari in his dreams. The book contains real-world MotoGP events amidst the fantasy elements.
Remember Valentino Rossi’s 2006 Mugello helmet? That was to commemorate the publishing of this book.
Image owned-by, linked-from, and linked-to http://rossihelmets.com/ Click on image to follow.
Interested? Back when I purchased Quarantasei the publisher’s Web site was Italian-only. The good news is that they now have an English option. The book gets shipped directly from Italy, and if I remember correctly, I received it in just a few days. The DVD version is Region 2 only, and Italian only, so that won’t work on American DVD players (Don’t you just love the DVD consortium? Not.), but books can be viewed by anyone.
- Quarantasei may be purchased via this link to Leopoldo Bloom Editore.
- Go here for the Limited Edition version of Quarantasei signed-and-numbered by Valentino Rossi, and Milo Manara (I wonder who got #46?)!
- Quarantasei ArtBook is available from Leopoldo Bloom Editore via this link.
Jorge Lorenzo’s “Lorenzo’s Land” comic book was published in 2009 by Panini Comics and created by Estudio Fénix. Jorge wakes up from a brutal crash and cannot remember being a grand prix motorcycle rider. According to the publisher: “Fiction and reality, celebrities and circuits, are intertwined in the search for a destination that brings us closer to the actual figure of Jorge Lorenzo creative, restless, tenacious, meticulous…”. [2010-06-21 UPDATE] You previously were able purchase “Lorenzo’s Land” directly from Jorge Lorenzo’s official merchandise site. It is not currently listed there.
Image owned-by, linked-from, and linked-to http://www.motogp.com/ Click on the image to go to http://www.motogp.com/.
The World’s Smallest Political Quiz. -AND- Where Does Paul Danger Kile Stand Politically?
This is what happens when the editor chooses to go off topic! This essay existed before this Web page became devoted to motorcycles. The current publish-date represents the latest edits.
If you are interested in The World’s Smallest Political Quiz, but not in my own results, and explanation, then go directly to The World’s Smallest Political Quiz.
Third-parties will always be a losing-proposition in this country. It is simply easier to collect the magic-number of votes if there are only two large parties. (The magic-number of votes is one-more than 50%.)
According to the Advocates for Self Government: a multi-dimensional model is needed as a replacement for the left-to-right-wing straight-line continuum.
My ex-mother-in-law used to tell me that it was evil to be left-wing, because Pol Pot was left-wing, and he had all those people killed. I would follow that up with an almost identical analogy using Adolf Hitler instead. Kids: Uncle Paul does not recommend that you compare your in-laws’ beliefs to Hitler’s. This does not go well. He was young and immature at the time. [2009-01-07] Al Franken just used the same “Hitler” rebutal with Ann Coulter! Maybe he-too is young and immature?
Traditionally Libertarians are thought to be right-wing, but there are many Republican party values that aren’t Libertarian. David Nolan realized that a better model would show how much government control a person wanted over personal issues, and how much government control that same person wanted over economic issues. If we map these two dimensions, then we will have four quadrants.
(The block-quotes are from the “Advocates for Self Government’s World’s Smallest Political Quiz FAQ”. It is no longer available at its URL, so some links have been removed from this page.):
Conservatives tend to favor economic freedom, but frequently support laws to restrict personal behavior that violates “traditional values.” They oppose excessive government control of business, while endorsing government action to defend morality and the traditional family structure. Conservatives usually support a strong military, oppose bureaucracy and high taxes, favor a free-market economy, and endorse strong law enforcement.
Liberals usually embrace freedom of choice in personal matters, but tend to support significant government control of the economy. They generally support a government-funded “safety net” to help the disadvantaged, and advocate strict regulation of business. Liberals tend to favor environmental regulations, defend civil liberties and free expression, support government action to promote equality, and tolerate diverse lifestyles.
Libertarians support maximum liberty in both personal and economic matters. They advocate a much smaller government; one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties.
Statists want government to have a great deal of power over the economy and individual behavior. They frequently doubt whether economic liberty and individual freedom are practical options in today’s world. Statists tend to distrust the free market, support high taxes and centralized planning of the economy, oppose diverse lifestyles, and question the importance of civil liberties.
The Advocates for Self-government have a Web application called The World’s Smallest Political Quiz. (Mark Shroyer: do you remember telling me about this quiz!?) Here are my results:
The red dot shows where Paul is on the Nolan political chart.
I am on the intersection of Liberal (considered to be left wing), Libertarian (considered to be right wing), and Centrist. Really. I am not a Democrat, and I am not a Republican, and neither of those parties will ever accurately represent me.
Kevin Montanaro’s Vespa (www.bluesmokestudio.com)
Kevin Montanaro rides motorcycles and scooters. This is his Vespa. No: it’s not the bike from the Quadrophenia album cover. That was a Lambretta. Kevin I used to hang out in Plattsburgh NY back in the 1980′s. You can find some of Kevin’s amazing art at his Web site (www.bluesmokestudio.com). Here are some pics from his scooter series.
The World’s Best Motorcycle Frame Sliders: Woodcraft 4 Inch Puck!
Kay purchased a Ducati Monster 696 ABS last month. First farkle? Frame sliders.
I prefer Woodcraft’s products; Woodcraft engineers its products for motorcycle racers and it shows. The Wood family is a racing family. They are also affiliated with the Penguin Roadracing School, which is the oldest motorcycle racing school in the United States.
My first look at Woodcraft’s Web site did not look promising though. I wrote to Woodcraft: which began an email exchange with company President Eric Wood. Mr. Wood explained that they would be coming out with their standard Woodcraft sliders for Ducati Monsters within a few weeks. He also made an interesting proposition. Woodcraft engineered large four-inch frame sliders for the Penguin School’s rental bikes (Ducati 900s and 969s). They also adapted them to the Ducati Monster. He offered to send those. I made a quick-call to the company to order them. They were a little more expensive than the standard Woodcraft sliders on my 2007 Suzuki SV650S ABS, but the price was still reasonable. The person that took my order mentioned that the large four-inch sliders will not be added to the catalog. We may never run across another pair at bike night. That said: if you are interested, then by-all-means contact Woodcraft, and let them know.
Apparently one-pair of these saw 25 crashes, and is still in use at the Penguin school.
Here are some features that all Woodcraft sliders share:
- They have solid plastic pucks that will not bend and should not catch (grab traction) on the track.
- The pucks’ mounting bolt is perpendicular to the post. This allows for easy removal of the pucks. Many other sliders will distort over their mounting bolts in an accident. These will not.
- They are exactly the correct length for each application. The slider posts for my Suzuki SV650S ABS were actually different lengths in order to compensate for the fact that the engine mounting bolts are not equal distances from the bikes centerline.
Here is a picture of the jumbo sliders before installation. The slider on the right shows what the parts look like when they are together. The top section of the puck is solid. It is slightly dished in order to mostly cover the post though.
Woodcraft Jumbo Sliders Before Installation, Image © 2010 Paul Danger Kile http://dangerismymiddlename.com
Here is what they look like on the bike. In the immortal words of Wedge Antilles: “Look at the size of that thing”.
2010 Ducati Monster 696 ABS with Woodcraft Slider, Image © 2010 Paul Danger Kile http://dangerismymiddlename.com
Why are the four-inch sliders (the white ones) so much larger than the two-inch sliders (below)? It has something to do with that 2*pi*r thing that we learned in geometry class.
Here is my 2007 SV650S ABS with the standard Woodcraft sliders. I highlighted the slider by drawing a red oval on the image. In this case the puck, and post, are clearly visible, in the above case most of the post is completely covered by the massive puck.
2007 Suzuki SV650S ABS with Woodcraft Sliders, Image © 2009 Paul Danger Kile http://dangerismymiddlename.com
BlingRockets eMag Anniversary Extra Vol. 1 is Highly Recommended
We first learned about Bling Rockets from Aaron Colton: Bling Rockets interviewed Aaron Colton in Issue #4. Aaron is a young, professional stunter, that also does motorcycle road racing. Very cool. Learn more about Aaron Colton from his facebook posts, or from www.aaroncolton.com.
The magazine is online-only, but it’s not a Web site, its a print-style magazine that lives on the Web (read an issue, and you will see what we mean). Criticisms? NSFW bikini shots: other than that? None. It’s a very good mag.
The Bling Rockets Anniversary Extra Vol. 1 isn’t an regular issue of the mag though; instead it’s page-after-page of awesome custom motorcycle images: only this time without any NSFW bikini shots. There are no people here, and few words, just images of one non-chopper non-cafe custom after another. It’s heavy on the stretched-out drag-race-style customs, but there are some sport bikes and naked bikes too.
Want more?
- Here is the Bling Rockets facebook fan page.
- The blingrockets.com Web site has links to every issue of the magazine.
Image owned-by, linked-from, and linked-to BlingRockets eMag Anniversary Extra Vol. 1
Isle of Man TT Videos
2010 John McGuinness Video
Don Emde shared an Isle of Man TT video on facebook. This one is a 2010 video of John McGuinness! Yes, Mr. McGuinness is that good.
2009 Videos
Don Emde shared this beautiful Isle of Man TT video on facebook, and mentioned that he wants to go as a spectator in 2010. The music is “Now we are free” by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, from the movie Gladiator. It was uploaded by Mirko Guzetta. Thank you Don and Mirko!
Isle of Man Tourist Trophy 2009 Steve Plater Onboard:
Scott Harwood shared this 2009 Isle of Man TT video with us:
Scott also shared a video from this year’s TTX with us:
I go like this: motorcycle goes “brrrrraaaaaaaap”.
Superbikeplanet.com's "caption this photo": I chose, "I go like this: motorcycle goes 'brrrrraaaaaaaap.'" Click on the image to go to its facebook page.
