INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 2008 MOTOGP DUCATI EVENTS

Update March 27

"I wanted to give you an update on where we are to date with "Project Mugello".

Ducati Grandstand:

As of today, Zach Huston at the speedway is starting to assign seats and charge everyone's card. If you want a 100% guarantee your members will be seated with their club they should call in the next couple of days. He's going to leave some seats open next to each club for people that call in and ask to be added but the grandstand is down to just a couple hundred seats left so it's reasonable to assume this will sell out and sooner is better than later if you want to be part of this fun and historic part of the weekend.

Putnam Ducati Only Track Day Sponsored By Ducati Indy:

Tickets are on sale for $170 for Novice, Intermediate and Advanced track time. The link is up on SportBike Track Time:

http://www.sportbiketracktime.com/cart/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=56&cat=M%29+SEPTEMBER+2008+TRACK+DATES

Scroll down until you see DUCATI ONLY Putnam Park.

We are looking for STT Instructors that ride Ducati's. Please contact Mark at info@woundedduc.net if you would like to be involved. It's important that we make this FULLY a Ducati only day and instructors on Non-Ducs does not send the message that we as Ducati Owners Club "super enthusiasts" are trying to send so lets make sure we spread the word on this.

Plans are still forming as to what else will be going on at the track this day but Demo rides are expected as is $10 charity donation touring laps behind a control rider. I also expect there will be a nice lunch offered. Details as they solidify but this day will certainly sell out well in advance so if you plan to take part I strongly suggest you get signed up.

HOTELS:

We still have a few left. Here are the choices of the three that have rooms in the immediate area of the DOC Central hotel, the Country Inn and Suites, where the parking lot activities will be centered. All "Ducati Hotels" are on the North side of town near the Ducati Indy dealer where the Thursday night open house will be held, so roughly 15 miles from the racetrack itself. These hotels are for Ducati owners and traveling companions only.

Holiday Inn - This hotel has a huge parking lot to accommodate trailers and has a top rated sports bar and a 50,000 square foot water park on the grounds - $179 per night for single King rooms. Booking code is Project Mugello. 317-872-9790 (They may have some doubles available but we don't have a negotiated rate for those so I think they are $229)

Red Roof Inn - This is a newly redone hotel, they still have singles and doubles. $105 per night. Speak to Vicki, the hotel manager to book. Booking code Project Mugello. 317-418-0981.

Finally, I am now organizing the AMA/GP Volunteer schedules for all events OTHER THAN INDY. If any of you would like to join "Team Ducatisti" and help staff the Ducati North America areas at any of the events starting with Barber AMA please mail me directly.

Regards,
Vicki Smith
clubs@ducatiusa.com

More Indy Event News

Entries are now open and the link is now up on the Sport Bike Track Time website for the Ducati only track day at Putnam Park (Mount Meridian, Indiana) on Monday, September 15, sponsored by Ducati Indianapolis and supported by Ducati North America. Please pass the link to your friends; it's filling up fast!

Highest Priority Missive From Ms Vicki!

Dear D.O.C. Presidents,

I am really happy to announce that Project Mugello at Indygp is officially open with the availability of special grandstand seating for the Desmo Owners Clubs. The battle you always fight with seating at a large track like Indy is that the competition is waaaay down below these giant grandstands that offer a sweeping view of tiny little machines battling it out below. We have that battle won. These seats offer prime viewing of the Turn 1 - 4 infield. The grandstand is roughly 15 feet from Pit Out and 25-30 feet from the apex of Turn 2, which is expected to be a massive passing zone. This is serious real estate - fans will find themselves 10' from Casey Stoner as he rides out for his sighting lap, and 30 feet from one of the top passing zones on the track, all the while having a excellent view of 4 - 5 corners all within 150 yards.

It's an extension of Ducati Island, so all the activity and Ducati Only Parking will be right there just yards from your seat. What better place to show our team spirit by re-enacting the famous Italian Mugello grandstand Ducatisti Display? At the beginning of the warm up lap everyone seated in this grandstand will be part of this world famous tradition.

Tickets are $125 which includes general admission ($50) and a seat in the Ducati "Project Mugello" grandstand ($75). To purchase tickets contact Zack Houston at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway who is our group sales agent. 317.492.8411. Ask for a seat in the "Project Mugello" grandstand. Your members must be able to verify which club they belong to and the name of the club President. Zack can also exchange any previously purchased tickets for these seats. These tickets also include a special Project Mugello fan package that among other items includes a lap of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on your Ducati!

These 1000 premium seats are being pre-offered to Desmo Owners Clubs exclusively so please make sure that your members understand they need to buy tickets immediately. We are planning to show the world that US D.O.C. members are "super enthusiasts" and that we take our red passion seriously. Please fill these seats with people that share our spirit and our determination to show the Ducati Corse team and Casey Stoner how much we appreciate what they did last year and how much we would love to see Ducati have another year like the one that just passed.

One final note. If you have members that still need hotels I have some still in the DOC Central Hotel immediate area. I will send out an email next week with availability and pricing.

Oh man, is this going to be fun. :-)

Vicki Smith

"Project Mugello" at Indy MotoG

"We are making great progress on "Project Mugello" at Indy MotoGP and I've recently received confirmation that Ducati Grandstand tickets will be ready to go on sale in two weeks. Price including General Admission and the grandstand seating will be $125.

If you have members who have already purchased tickets from the speedway, but would now like to exchange them for seats in the Ducati Project Mugello grandstand, this will be possible as well. The entire process is all being handled through a special liaison in the group sales ticket office, so it will be simple 'one stop shopping' - exchange the ticket and get the new one with one phone call.

The speedway is constructing a special grandstand for the DOC club members and Ducatisti with the emphasis on great viewing and nearness to "Ducati Island". Anybody that has ever been to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can tell you that the size and layout of the facility produces a staggering amount of walking so efforts between the Speedway management and Ducati North America to make sure we are well taken care of have been tremendous. You may want to go exploring but you won't have to, Ducati Island, Ducati parking, and the Ducati Clubs grandstands are all coordinated together.

Finally, please let anybody that has asked for a hotel room in one of the DOC hotels that has not called and reserved it on a credit card know that the remaining rooms will be reallocated to those on the waiting list in a few days. So if they want a room, and have not made final arrangements, they will find themselves at the bottom of the waiting list if they don't get organized immediately.

More details when the ticket sales open."

Vicki Smith, North American DOC Liaison

Ducati Corner at Indy?

I am sure everyone has heard by now that MotoGP is coming to the Brick Yard in 2008. The date is September 14. Ducati Owners Club's liaison, Vicki Smith, has challenged us to come and set up a Ducati Corner similar to what you have seen on television at Mugello. You remember the stands where everyone has a white or red placard that they display when signaled and it spells out key things like DUCATI or the rider's number?

The plan, started by a local club, DRILL - Ducati Riders of Illinois, and now picked up by Ducati North America, is to try and get a block of 500 seats so this can happen. They are also working with local hotels to have a Ducati Central and keep the Ducatisti together. Of course, if the response is greater, more seats and hotel accommodations would be sought! I for one am excited about all this and plan on going.

Come out and support the team!

Jim
il Capo

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