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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