Day trip to Indianapolis...

[Crawlin]

First let's apologize for the pics, it's just from the blackberry as I wasn't really expecting to have to take some time to bum around. Thought it would be a quick in and out of the city. But definitely was a cool trip.

I had posted about needing a truck to run to Indy last week and today was the day. I ran down to Vance & Hines to meet Eddie Krawiec and pick up my new bike.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy10.jpg

It's a pretty small shop. I mean it's 40,000sqft. Ed said. It seemed wide open, but he said they had just built a shop across the street and that's gonna be 60,000sqft. They are gonna double the workforce to help keep up with orders since they were behind on alot of stuff.

I got there early and Eddie took me through the whole shop. From the engine dyno room, chassis dyno area, fab area, design area, engine work area, etc... Got to see some VERY cool stuff I wasn't allowed to take pics of, haha. Got to see them working on some of the Suzuki NHRA stuff. They had loaded up the hauler as Ed is flying out Thursday morning for the Houstin NHRA race. They were working on a new exhaust for a certain style bike and were trying to see what it would take to make it fit both generations. I was offered two different styles of pipe to go on my bike, but I decided to stick with the "race" stuff instead of the upswept street exhaust. I will say, it looks badass and definitely sounds sweet.

Anyways, they needed some more time to finish up the bike and get it back together, so I took a trip around town. I was born in Indianapolis but was only there for a year after that, so I don't remember anything. Got the address to the house I first lived in with my parents, and drove past that. Was awesome to see that.

Also took a trip over to the Indianapolis Speedway Museum.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy2.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy12.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy13.jpg

Anyways, on the way back through I noticed something.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy11.jpg

So I had to take the turn and see what else was down this strip. It was the same industrial park as Vance & Hines, just a little bit more towards the front. This is what I found.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy7.jpg

This was kind of emotional for the guys who know what happened.

His place was HUGE. It was closed down, not many people there, but the place (the first pic and second pic) was literally as big as the old Roundy's warehouse off of 45 and Burleigh. HUUUUUGE place. Saw a brand new mustang pulled up in front of the building on one of the passes. Figured maaaaaybe...??? Did see a hot chick in a Range Rover HSE Sport leave that looked familiar. But wasn't too sure.

Anyways, these were all on ONE street.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy6.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy4.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy3.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy5.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy8.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy9.jpg

Again, sorry for pic quality. Just wasn't expecting to see all of this stuff. For those that know about a certain safety equipment manufacturer going at it with SFI, I thought this was funny...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Indy%20Trip/indy1.jpg


So the trip was awesome. Left early this morning and got back a bit ago. Dropped the new toy off at work to keep it there for a bit. Have to spend some time playing with it. I'll get some new pics of that tomorrow. Totally forgot since the trip was actually more exciting then picking up the new toy.

[Reverend Cooper]

thanks for the picture text It was cool of you to send it. I love Indy I have been there a million times

[Josepy]

Sounds like the trip went well. Get pics up of the new "toy"

[Holeshot]

Glad it all went smooth for you. Cool pics thanks for sharing.

[97z2801ss]

pretty sweet pics man looks like u had fun

[JC70SS]

how long you keeping this one?:rolf

[jbiscuit]

What are the specs on the new bike? I want to make sure I get it right when I write up your classified ad tomorrow.

[Junky Giorgio]

What are the specs on the new bike? I want to make sure I get it right when I write up your classified ad tomorrow.

hahahaha quoted for truth

[MoCkiN U]

going thru a shop like that is indeed awesome! I still remember going thru Hendrick Motorsports shop last august with my friend who works in the IT department there. Got to see the back workings of all the drivers shops from gordon, earndhart, johnson, martin. Was wild to see 12 CNC machines lined up doing nothing but pistons with them cutting on what I can only describe as a 4 sided spindle with 8 pistons locked into each side cutting them all in the same cycle.

Of all of that and seeing the haulers, paint shops, and everything I wish I could work in the carbon fiber shop. They were all young guys and just working off molds made from the drivers. Everything from seats to winds, front clips. Was awesome!

The team museums were really cool too!

[Crawlin]

Mockin U,

that's awesome. I would love to see something like that too. They all had "visitor" areas to go to, but they were all closed. Monday/Tuesday's they said they were all closed. Force Racing had a BIG front area just for memoribilia and museum. I pulled in just to see if it was open, but oh well.

The bike I got is one of Vance & Hines display bikes. It's in all their ads and on their website. It's #24 out of 30 that Suzuki made to go to manufacturer's. The engine was handbuilt instead of on the assembly line. The chain is actually off of one of Ed's pro stock bikes. He's like, "i can pretty much guarantee that you'll never break it." Hole bunch of neat stuff. 2008 only has 1590 miles on it.

Ed's sending me a "letter of authenticity" for the bike.

And yeah, we know i'll sell it by the end of the year, haha. For what I got it for, it's pretty much imposible to lose money on it.

[Junky Giorgio]

So where's the pics of the new bike Minnich?!?!?!?!

[Crawlin]

I'm at work with it. Just need a chance to take the pic

[MoCkiN U]

take the pic focker.

Now you got me wanting to go to john forces place.

[Crawlin]

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Busa%20Pics%20and%20Dynos/busa.jpg

Quick shitty cell phone pic.

Vance & Hines Sidewinder exhaust
Power Commander III USB
Dyno tuned by Ed at V&H
Rear lowering links custom cnc cut at V&H
Front Brock radial caliper mounts for straps.

Just has a couple small cosmetic things that you can barely tell. The exhaust coming out of the side requires cutting the fairing. They cut it larger so when it's at the shows people could see better

[Crawlin]

Some pics from when we first got there. Still was being fitted for the new not released upswept exhaust.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Busa%20Pics%20and%20Dynos/busa3.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Busa%20Pics%20and%20Dynos/busa2.jpg

[Reverend Cooper]

that is awesome chris

[Z28Envy]

Looks awesome!!

[Crawlin]

Thanks guys!

Can't wait to put the swing arm on it later this year. And definitely can't wait to get it out to the track. This crappy weather right after picking it up sucked.

[Dr.Buick]

Nice ride Chris. Be careful :wooo

[FoxStang]

I like the color, whats the name of that?

[Crawlin]

2008 Suzuki Hayabusa

Color? not too sure, haha.

I do believe it is "Candy Max Orange"

Looks awesome in the sun. Burnt orange color

[FoxStang]

Haha, yeah I meant the name of the color not the bike, knew it was a Hayabusa. Either way, sweet bike, make sure you ride safe now.

[Crawlin]

Took for first "extended" ride on lunch break. HOLY FUCK. nuff said.

[VroomPshhTsi]

Holy fuck balls that is a beautiful bike... hi-res pics needed asap!

Mind sharing the dyno results?

That is the exact same bike (SOM 'Busa) that's on my desktop!

[Crawlin]

Didn't dyno it yet. We were really busy towards the end of the week. Will be doing some stuff soon to see how it is. All I know is I put some miles on it and I am in love. It's like a turbo. Keeps on pulling. Don't think i've been past 7000rpm and don't know if I want to, haha

Can't wait to really get comfortable and start going fast.

[wrath]

It's cool that they let you peruse the shop. I like Indy. There is so much to do there it's nuts. Tons of different places to work because it's pretty diverse and the people are pretty nice even in the ghetto on the east side. The people kind of remind me of Austin, Texas... both even have a peculiar accent. And what gearhead can't like a place that has a city/neighborhood called Speedway?

Next time your down there you should hit up the Broad Ripple Brew Pub. Probably my favorite place for a local barf & puke.