Cook Neilson at Simeone Museum
Cook Neilson and renowned neurosurgeon, Dr.Frederick Simeone with the Ducati 750 Super Sport, "The OverDog", a pre-production 750 now owned and restored by Roy Kidney.
That's Cook in 1977 on the Ducati, winner of the 1977 AMA Daytona Superbike race. This race was as critical to the Bologna-based manufacturer's ambitions for the big-bike market as Paul Smart's win at the Imola 200 in Italy a few years prior.
This night was also a special reunion for Cook and Charlie Kowchak. The last time the two speedsters saw each other was a chance meeting in 1973 at the dragstrip in New Jersery. Prior to that Neilson and Kowchak set a land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1969, where their bike, a highly modified PS class (partial streamliner) Harley-Davidson Sportster set a World Speed record at 190.8, the two-way average, with the second clocked at over 192 mph, eclipsing his own 1965 record of 153.mph..
The former editor of Cycle magazine tries out his old Harley after a forty plus year absence. In the background the photography of world-class photographer Dawn Deppi. Dawn owns Eye of the Beholder, Inc, a photography and marketing company in the Philadelphia area. Ms. Deppi supplied the photos for this blog post unless otherwise noted.
Ms. Deppi jumps in for a photo with Cook.
Photo by Bill O'Connell, 'Rally Meister' of Radnor Hunt Concours.
As the evening wound down, I was privileged to interview Cook for the crowd. His resume is lengthy and his achievements many. The 2006 AMA Hall of Fame inductee was a gracious and well spoken guest. He concluded his remarks with a reading of his 1997 article " The Reunion", a look back at his time at Daytona Speedway twenty years after his historic win on the Ducati 750. He made sure his longtime cohort and former Cycle magazine editor Phil Schillng was credited for his efforts in the project that has come to be the defining moment of both of their impressive careers. His sincerity was matched only by his modesty in his own achievements, preferring to heap praise on the talented individuals who helped make his life so rich in experiences.
The Ducati 900cc GP Due project, one of the many machines that are on display until September 8, when the exhibit closes. This amazing Alex Ortner built Ducati is one man's interpretation of the ultimate Desmo track day weapon. Photos of the Due and Red Bull Ducati supplied by Gilbert Patterson.
Contributor Gilbert Patterson also brought along the Red Bull sponsored Ducati 996 featured in these photos from Daytona Speedway a few years ago.
You don't question authenticity when Doug Polen's World Superbike AGV helmet is presented for display from Larry Ferracci, son of Eraldo Ferracci. Polen and Ferracci won both the World Superbike series and the AMA Superbike series on the potent Ducati 851.
Please visit http://www.simeonemuseum.org/ for details and hours of operation. The Ducati exhibit continues until Sept 8, 2011 when the motorcycles are transported to the nearby Radnor Hunt Concours for judging. Dave Hailwood, son of the late 'Mike the Bike ' Hailwood, MBE will be our special guest at that event. Details can be found at http://www.radnorconcours.org/
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the late Claudio Castiglioni, a central figure in Italian motorcycle brands during the last three decades, MV Agusta, Cagiva and Ducati. Godspeed Claudio.
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