DUCATI NORTH AMERICA AND NCR ANNOUNCE “NEW BLUE”
Ducati and NCR team up to recreate Cook Neilson’s 1977
Daytona winner
Milan, Italy (November 16, 2006) - Ducati North America and
NCR announce today the unveiling of special new project bike
called “New Blue”. This motorcycle is a modern replica of the
historic Ducati 750SS campaigned by Cook Neilson and Phil
Schilling throughout the mid 1970’s.
Cook Neilson, the editor of Cycle magazine at the time,
possessed a unique combination of skills - those of a
successful journalist and those of a successful racer. With the
help of Managing Editor and ace mechanic Phil Schilling, they
were able to build the 750SS into a remarkably successful race
bike. This was achieved by trial and error, superior tuning talent
and riding skills.
Phil soon gave their motorcycle the nickname “Old Blue”, in
reference to the team’s attractive livery. On March 11th 1977, at
the legendary Daytona Speedway, the team celebrated a
monumental victory in the AMA Superbike race. This win stands
out as a significant event in the history books as it was the first
victory for Ducati at Daytona.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of this historic event, a
recreation of this motorcycle was commissioned by Ducati North
America and given to NCR.
“New Blue”, which began life as a Ducati SportClassic Sport
1000S, was sent to NCR’s factory for a cosmetic replication and
race preparation. NCR was able to remove an astounding eighty-
four pounds of dry weight and add an additional 30 horsepower
to the motorcycle. This was achieved by the usage of lightweight
materials such as titanium, carbon fiber and magnesium
throughout the project. The revised engine output is 116hp at
8450rpm. The motorcycle is completed with a titanium plate
bearing the signatures of both Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling.
“This is a very exciting project, and we are looking forward to
seeing Cook and Phil together again” said Michael Lock, CEO of
Ducati North America. “We inducted both of them into the Ducati
North America Hall of Fame at this year’s annual Ducati dealer
meeting, and now we are honoring the special bike that they
built as well. The combination of rider, tuner and motorcycle
made a very successful team.”
The North American introduction of the motorcycle will take place
at Ducati New York on Thursday, January 18th. The motorcycle
will be on display at the remainder of the 2007 IMS Motorcycle
Shows.
In addition, NCR will be building a limited quantity of these
special production motorcycles for the American market.
NCR CEO, Michele Poggipolini, who told me (jim mcdermott )
about the unique technical aspects of "New Blue", and NCR's
future goals with Ducati:
New Blue makes 116 RWHP; NCR produce our own titanium
rods and valves, hi-comp pistons, camshaft, and we worked
with our suppliers to produce a new clutch assembly. The
clutch and alternator cases are magnesium. This engine is 10
kilograms (roughly 22 pounds) lighter than the stock Ducati
motor. This engine has been developed by NCR for the Millona,
and is highly reliable. In three years of European Supertwins
racing we did 25 races and won 20 of them, and we had no
mechanical problems. This is important for our customers;
they can really get an exclusive motorcycle, with the highest
technology, with the best materials, but with minimal weight.
They can go race every weekend, you change the tires, add
fuel, and go. Our focus was to build a twin cylinder motorcycle
that was really light, so the air cooled motor was the main
choice, as this is already 10 kilos lighter than a liquid cooled
Ducati motor. You might look at the specs and think that 116
horses is not that fast, but with the light weight, the bike is
very fast, even against Japanese four cylinders, even at a
track like Muguello, because we don't lose that much on the
straights, because the brake limits are so much higher, and
we have amazing torque. The bike has the same torque as a
999R, and it's so light you just look into a corner and you're
there, like a 250cc bike, but with a Ducati motor. Every bolt,
every fastener is titanium. The Ohlins forks have special
internals developed on the track for this bike, and Ohlins also
produced specific twin rear shocks that are very high
performance as well. The exhaust is custom made by Zard.
The bodywork is very special, it is not only silver and blue in
color, there are actually 7 different paints used for the color,
and our supplier is the same guy who paints the Ferrari
Formula One cars. We don't use stickers anywhere on the
bike, everything is airbrushed. The seat of the bike is done
Schedoni, who does all seats for Ferrari's Formula One and
road cars. NCR's vision is to produce complimentary products
to Ducati, similar to what AMG does with Mercedes. We have
both the passion and the technology to build these bikes,
that's what we deliver to our customers. You can order the
bike (one of 50) through any authorized Ducati or NCR dealer ...
Ducati and NCR team up to recreate Cook Neilson’s 1977
Daytona winner
Milan, Italy (November 16, 2006) - Ducati North America and
NCR announce today the unveiling of special new project bike
called “New Blue”. This motorcycle is a modern replica of the
historic Ducati 750SS campaigned by Cook Neilson and Phil
Schilling throughout the mid 1970’s.
Cook Neilson, the editor of Cycle magazine at the time,
possessed a unique combination of skills - those of a
successful journalist and those of a successful racer. With the
help of Managing Editor and ace mechanic Phil Schilling, they
were able to build the 750SS into a remarkably successful race
bike. This was achieved by trial and error, superior tuning talent
and riding skills.
Phil soon gave their motorcycle the nickname “Old Blue”, in
reference to the team’s attractive livery. On March 11th 1977, at
the legendary Daytona Speedway, the team celebrated a
monumental victory in the AMA Superbike race. This win stands
out as a significant event in the history books as it was the first
victory for Ducati at Daytona.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of this historic event, a
recreation of this motorcycle was commissioned by Ducati North
America and given to NCR.
“New Blue”, which began life as a Ducati SportClassic Sport
1000S, was sent to NCR’s factory for a cosmetic replication and
race preparation. NCR was able to remove an astounding eighty-
four pounds of dry weight and add an additional 30 horsepower
to the motorcycle. This was achieved by the usage of lightweight
materials such as titanium, carbon fiber and magnesium
throughout the project. The revised engine output is 116hp at
8450rpm. The motorcycle is completed with a titanium plate
bearing the signatures of both Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling.
“This is a very exciting project, and we are looking forward to
seeing Cook and Phil together again” said Michael Lock, CEO of
Ducati North America. “We inducted both of them into the Ducati
North America Hall of Fame at this year’s annual Ducati dealer
meeting, and now we are honoring the special bike that they
built as well. The combination of rider, tuner and motorcycle
made a very successful team.”
The North American introduction of the motorcycle will take place
at Ducati New York on Thursday, January 18th. The motorcycle
will be on display at the remainder of the 2007 IMS Motorcycle
Shows.
In addition, NCR will be building a limited quantity of these
special production motorcycles for the American market.
NCR CEO, Michele Poggipolini, who told me (jim mcdermott )
about the unique technical aspects of "New Blue", and NCR's
future goals with Ducati:
New Blue makes 116 RWHP; NCR produce our own titanium
rods and valves, hi-comp pistons, camshaft, and we worked
with our suppliers to produce a new clutch assembly. The
clutch and alternator cases are magnesium. This engine is 10
kilograms (roughly 22 pounds) lighter than the stock Ducati
motor. This engine has been developed by NCR for the Millona,
and is highly reliable. In three years of European Supertwins
racing we did 25 races and won 20 of them, and we had no
mechanical problems. This is important for our customers;
they can really get an exclusive motorcycle, with the highest
technology, with the best materials, but with minimal weight.
They can go race every weekend, you change the tires, add
fuel, and go. Our focus was to build a twin cylinder motorcycle
that was really light, so the air cooled motor was the main
choice, as this is already 10 kilos lighter than a liquid cooled
Ducati motor. You might look at the specs and think that 116
horses is not that fast, but with the light weight, the bike is
very fast, even against Japanese four cylinders, even at a
track like Muguello, because we don't lose that much on the
straights, because the brake limits are so much higher, and
we have amazing torque. The bike has the same torque as a
999R, and it's so light you just look into a corner and you're
there, like a 250cc bike, but with a Ducati motor. Every bolt,
every fastener is titanium. The Ohlins forks have special
internals developed on the track for this bike, and Ohlins also
produced specific twin rear shocks that are very high
performance as well. The exhaust is custom made by Zard.
The bodywork is very special, it is not only silver and blue in
color, there are actually 7 different paints used for the color,
and our supplier is the same guy who paints the Ferrari
Formula One cars. We don't use stickers anywhere on the
bike, everything is airbrushed. The seat of the bike is done
Schedoni, who does all seats for Ferrari's Formula One and
road cars. NCR's vision is to produce complimentary products
to Ducati, similar to what AMG does with Mercedes. We have
both the passion and the technology to build these bikes,
that's what we deliver to our customers. You can order the
bike (one of 50) through any authorized Ducati or NCR dealer ...
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January 18th, 2007 was
Ducati New York's party to
introduce New Blue and
when Jennifer and I had the
honor to meet Cook and
Stepper Neilson and Michele
and Joe from NCR.
That is Michael Lock, CEO of
Ducati introducing New Blue.
Michele is in the black jacket
and Cook in the black shirt.
Joe from NCR promises
these two lovely Ducati girls,
or their equals, come with the
purchase of every New Blue.
Detail images taken that first
night.
New Blue #1 was the first
bike brought to the United
States and toured the US
Motorcycle shows, went to
Barber Motorsports for testing
and then to Daytona and
raced during bike week.
Photo credit to my friend and
professional photographer
Stephen Leukanech
Telephone - (850) 570 5900
Images were take in the
lobby to New York's Javits
Center.
Cook was clocked on his
second of two laps around
Daytona at 164MPH going
across start finish.
That is Cook during Ducati
Day at Daytona delivering the
bike to the ceremony for its
delivery.
Watching Cook with this
motorcycle showed how
proud he was to be affliiated
with it. That is Jennifer,
hugging the shy guy ...
Cook, the Ducati Models, me
and Blue.
The third photo is of Jen and
Me.
Joe, Michele and Cook.
These shots were taken by a
British photographer, name
to come.
This is the original 'Old Blue'
or California Hotrod that Cook
Neilson won Daytona upon in
1977. Cook Neilson and Old
Blue should with respect,
always be addressed with
the man responsible for
creating it, Phil Schilling.
This last image is of Cook on
a 750 Super Sport that had
been crashed during testing,
enlarge the photo to see the
tape holding it together.
One of the famous articles
written by Cook in June, 1977
describing the internals of
Old Blue and what makes it
so fast.
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