So what's up with this "TeamYIKES!" stuff anyway?

Originally formed in the mind of a young car enthusiast (that'd be me) during hours spent working in a bike shop ("Tonka Schwinn") in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the organization now known as "Team Yikes" was initially an informal idea wandering around without a name. Dealing exclusively with cars in those early years, the direction of the team took a major turn into the motorcycle side of things shortly after a move to Indiana. The team now had a new focus, but still no name.

The first bike, a Ducati 907ie, was quickly joined by a collection of RD350 parts and a lone R5, all of which were joined together to form a fair impression of a racebike after lavishing upon them much time and money. This bike was ridden for exactly one day, just long enough to get a WERA provisional novice racing license.

But this was a historic day. It was late in the season, the sun was shining, and temperatures were well into the 80's. Between the track sessions and generally standing around in the sun all day wearing full leathers, I had gotten pretty tired by the last session, which was the mock race. The mighty RD was easily the oldest bike out there, and as this was the first time it had been ridden there were of course some teething problems to overcome. But at the end of the day, we were still there.

The race started ok, with the RD mounting it's charge from the back of the pack. Up through first gear and quickly gaining on a pesky 250 Ninja, the RD balked going into second gear and much time was lost. Now on the track and struggling with the transmission, the goal became to finish the race without being lapped. Everything was going as well as could be expected, when near the end of the race, I entered a short straight and looked down at the tach.

I was greeted with the sight of the needle doing full circles around the tach face... lazily spinning away. In my stressed out, dog tired, near heat-stroked frame of mind I found this to be one of the funniest things I had ever seen. I laughed in my helmet, and for a moment forgot where I was.

Then I looked up. A tight, right hand turn was approaching fast. As I grabbed for the brake, realizing I was nowhere near where I should be on the track, the team with no name ceased to exist. In that very instant, Team YIKES! was born.

That dilemma finally solved, the turn was made and the race completed. I hadn't been lapped, and I received my novice license. I made the drive home and after a few moments of deliberation, opted to go to bed instead of climbing into the back of the truck and rebuilding the bike's tranny so I could race the next day. I slept for twelve hours that night.

The RD's tranny was eventually rebuilt, and soon after the bike was sold. But not before this rag tag group was joined by a Honda Hawk (650 twin) upon which was lavished much time and money. This bike was taken down to Deal's Gap where it perfromed admirably. It was soon joined by a 1995 Ducati 900SS/CR, upon which was lavished much time and money. Amazingly enough, with the edition of the Ducati, the Hawk didn't get ridden much and was relegated to guest-bike status, to be ridden by a number of esteemed visitors before it too was sold. But not before this group of twins was joined by a down and dirty KDX250, upon which NOT much time and/or money was lavished. Get it dirty, hose it off. Break a part, bolt a new one on. Hmm... I might have been on to something there... but I didn't notice, distracted as I was by the Honda FT500 Ascot that had found it's way into the shop. Sometime after that the KDX was sold. Much time (but not much money, maybe I was learning after all) was lavished on plans to construct a fun little track toy out of the abused Ascot. I planned to start working on the frame when I went "home" for Christmas - my dad had the tools I'd need and could show me how to do most of the work. Just before Thanksgiving I was in the midst of tearing the bike down when my life changed forever... my father passed away.

Though he never rode, he had been a huge part of the inspiration for this project. As could be expected, in the following months life took a few turns. The plan was abandoned. Eventually the Ascot was sold.

I was down to the two Ducati's now, and for various reasons was burned out on bikes. My dad had left me his 1960 Karmann Ghia, and once again, Team YIKES! turned it's focus back to cars. In particular, aircooled VWs.

Even so... deep in the recesses of my brain was seared the image of a Ducati 748. Yellow with white number plates on the tail. Too cool. At first unavailable in the US, I had remarked I'd buy one if only it was sold here. The next year it WAS. I put my money down, but at the last minute backed out of the deal (Not to worry, the dealership got two calls about the bike as I was standing there talking to them about it). With help from the future team CFO I had resisted temptation, all the while threatening "I WILL own one, someday..." And then it happened. Ducati put 5-spoke Marchesini wheels on them. I snapped. I had to have one, and right now. Solo seat, Yellow. A 748S. Perfect!

Sure. Perfect. Except for the fact that Ducati wasn't actually MAKING any monoposto 748S's, despite what the brochures said. But I had come too far to turn back now. I asked about a 996. Oh yeah... The deal was set, the 900ss was gone, and I got one of the last Y2K yellow monoposto 996s to come into the USA. While at first I had my doubts, after the second ride I knew I had made the right choice. I didn't even pay much attention to the new bikes released in 2001. (or 2002, 3, and 4 for that matter) I honestly can't see myself buying anything else for quite some time.

2003 UPDATE: Apparently, one and a half years is "quite some time". Click here for details on the new project bike, a 1974 Ducati 750 GT. Bikes are back. It's been a long time since I've been this enthused about them!

2006 Update: The 750 GT renewed my interest in bikes, although my focus has shifted from the latest superbikes over to vintage bikes. I even took a trip to Italy in 2005 to ride in the Motogiro d'Italia. I had wanted Ducati single cylinder bike to play around with for some time, and that trip inspired me to start looking for one as my next project. As often happens, one bike became two, and I now have a couple projects in the queue.

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