That P89 race was the most fun I've ever had at Loudon, and I've been going there since 1973. Thank you very much Mr. Cranky!
Bill

Dear Pat,
I'm sorry I didn't get back to Loudon before you left today, to say good bye. It was wonderful to see you again and I hope you had as much fun at this event as I did, you had quite a bit further to travel. I think the most important thing I learned from you was a renewed appreciation for the classic British expression "PISS OFF!". I'll think of you every time I put it to use from now on. Thank you for coming such a long way.
Bill

I just got back from the Symposium. Others, who are better with words, can tell the stories, but the highlights for me were (in no particular order):
- Watching the TT's and F1's put on a great show during the LRRS and USCRA races
- Watching Ralph start and ride the Cagiva 500GP bike
- Riding the spirited parade laps on Monday
- Snapping a pic of the great Pat Slinn sitting on my bike

It was a lot of fun being part of another great weekend with the TT's and F1's. Thanks to Cranky for getting it organized, Marty for getting me there (again), and everyone that came out and shared their bikes and stories.

More:

Great pictures Scott. Your bike is an absolute knock out! Sorry I missed telling you in person.
Bill

Scott,
Great to meet you and Bill is absolutly right your bike is a knock out. That said each and every bike at the symposium was over the top and their owners a group of really great individuals . So many details and so much effort put into these gems by current and past owners. Sad I couldn't get the Romanneli TT2 to the event. Non the less still a splendid way to spend a holiday weekend.

Mark

I Thank all you guys for putting on a great show! what a bunch of great people u guys are all are I had great time talking to some of you. I hope to have my own next time you guy's have the 5th symposium. I was a big fan of pro twins racing at a young age growing up around a bunch of DUCATI'S. here is a pic i took in 87 at age ten and the crazy thing is that most of those bike i saw this weekend!

I can't believe it happened again! TT/F1 enthusiasts are committed, or should be. First and foremost a big thanks to Pat Slinn for making the long trip and letting us ask him a million questions and never losing patience, and just to show he knows what he is doing he helped my friend Jane set up her rear suspension on a 93 900ss and she knocked a second off her lap times! But this all wouldn't have happened without Mike Weber (Cranky Roller to the long time Forum readers). He deserves all the credit for making the 4th Symposium a huge success. Congratulations to you Mike and thanks again. Well done. As always the bikes were nice but it's the people that make these events special. We are all so fortunate to have a place to share our passions with people from all over the world on the Forum and when we finally meet in the flesh it is very rare and special. I'm sure we will start to see more pictures in the following days and I hope everyone enjoys them. We are already planning next years event. Although we don't have a location as of yet we do have a theme. 2013 will be twenty years since the death at Daytona of Jimmy Adamo. He was, and still is a beloved racer, and with Reno Leoni as his tuner was Ducati racing in the 70's and 80's in the USA. We will celebrate there accomplishments at the next Symposium with hopefully at least 10 of the old bikes they raced. Many details still have to be sorted but for now this will be the mission. Reno should be there and hopefully we will have Jimmy's wife and two daughters as well. Wish us luck and as soon as we get the dates and details we will post them on the Forum first. Lou

Wow! three of the front row bikes in Duke$'s pic were in the garage..

That was an exhausting, weird and wonderful experience for me. I didn't think it would take 3 days to finish the bike and at first it was kinda stressful working on the machine in front of all those people, but by the middle of the 2nd day it felt just fine. Always great to see everyone and hang out - and especially cool to watch the racing. We definitely need to keep doing these events at the track. And after the brief time I spent on the track, it didn't look too bad; which means I'll probably come and play in P89 next year. Richie and the boys have inspired me.

The video of the Cagiva start-up is on YouTube now http://youtu.be/hMy29QyAgX4, but I think Lou may have forgotten to press the trigger to start recording the parade lap, 'cause there was nothing on my camera..

Up until we put the bikes in the line-up, my bike was a 'project' - it wasn't until I looked over at the machine after the group photo that I realized that I owned a TT1. Huge thanks to Mike, Lou, Gary and Bruce for all the advice, hand-holding and encouragement through what had to be the most difficult build I've taken on. Thanks as well to Marty for the burgers (it was all I had time to eat most days) and to Mike for pulling the event together. A full hour of bad jokes in the restaurant parking lot Tuesday night, quality time with Pat, sharing space with Chris, snippets of great conversation with new and old friends - it's all part of an experience that's become one of the highlights of my year. Scott - great pictures - you captured the essence of the event in a wonderful photo essay.

Steve, Having you finishing your bike amidst all the commotion, especially when the race bikes were darting in and out of the garage for practice and races, was brilliant. Old bikes, new bikes, race bikes, and even one being built! It's like Cranky planned it that way! hmmmm

Mark - great to meet you too and put the face with the bike, of which I have several photos saved on my h/d. (Excellent username!)

Bill - great watching you race and ride during the wet track day. I'll be better prepared next time!

duke$ - great photo! Were you the one with the Darmah?

Already looking forward to next year...