Cliff Gullett Remembrances & Video

[KIRIAKAI]

To all LSR members:
When Cliff was lost to us last September, most were in shock at his passing, including all of us closest to him.
It was initally noted on the site that there would be a separate forum topic later.
Team Bullett is preparing Cliff's Road Star Warrior to be ridden by his brother Dale during Speed Week. This run will be in his memory, but as nearly nine months have passed, and we have all the magazine headlines, stories and e-mails that surrounded his passing, including a wonderful Eulogy by the late Paul Harvey about Cliffs effort on the Friday after his tragic accident, I wondered if members of the LSR community could post their thoughts, comments, memories, and stories about Cliff here.
We are working on a memory book for LeAnne, Nicole and Casey, and we want to incorporate all the input from his colleagues in Land Speed Racing, who knew him best as the competitor who was so thrilled to become a 2 Club Member, always concerned about other riders who went down, and always had stories about the people he met -----
your stories would be added to the memory book for the family - and it would mean a great deal to have the posting, thoughts and stories of all of you who knew him over his years at Bonneville.

Also, his friend, Kurtis Nason prepared this great video tribute to Cliff and thought that some in the LSR community would like to view it.

The site address is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68DuzPRH3pM

Just copy and paste to your browser.

Curt Lance
General Manager
Team Bozeman Motorsports

[sheribuchta]

Last year Willie and I were introduced to Cliff by Jack Costella. He had such a magnetic personality about him. I only wish that we could have known him sooner. He has a mark on our hearts as one of our fonder memories of Bonneville. We wish to send our condolences to the family and friends.

 God Speed Cliff.

Willie and Sheri Buchta

[Pat Kinne / Salt201]

   My time with Cliff was short but memorable - His induction into the Bonneville 200 MPH Club meant a lot to him and it showed. He was proud of what he accomplished and shared it with his team memebers.  As a racer he will never be lost to us. I know the Club's emblem states "Life Member" but the truth is he will be a member for our current members liftimes and all those that follow --- Pat Kinne. Bonneville 200 MPH Club

[Jonny Hotnuts]

I never met Cliff personally but followed the Team Bullet progress closely.
I did however snap this pic of a rider on a bike having a few quiet moments before a run in 02 (my first time on the salt). In the pic Cliff just sat there without the motor running and didnt move....was this way for about a minute or so.
Without ever meeting him, this pic has always stuck in the back of my head and has reminded me to "be cool" even when faced with inevitable adversity. I was amazed how anyone could find even a moment of peace and solitude before the run, and is something I try and do before my runs.

Truly saddened by his passing.





If anyone wants a high rez pic let me know.

~JH

[Cuder]

JH,
 I am trying to get Cliff's bike together for Speedweek. I would like to have a copy of that pic.
Dale Gullett

[Jonny Hotnuts]

JH,
 I am trying to get Cliff's bike together for Speedweek. I would like to have a copy of that pic.
Dale Gullett

Give me an email address (PM if you want) and I will send it ASAP.
The original file is somewhat large....2.2 meg or so and mesures 28"X21".

~JH

[Glen]

I met Cliff a couple of years ago on the salt. He was a good person and was in my club the Gear Grinders. It was taken very hard by the membership.As he was new to the club we didn't have a lot of his racing history. From what we read he was a real asset to the sport of LSR. Missed but not forgotten.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Curt sent me a note today -- about this thread.  He's still interested in having us post stories about Cliff Gullett -- so I'm going to set this as a "sticky" thread so it'll stay on the top fof the pile for a while.

Okay -- my first Cliff Gullett story -- was back in '02 or so, I think.  I remember I was still wet behind the ears (I know, I still am) about racing -- and didn't even have enough tools to change the rear sprocket on the ZX12R.  I wandered through the pits looking for what I needed -- and eventually showed up at the Team Bozeman pit.  I asked, and Cliff -- who had, I suppose, never seen me before that moment -- Cliff grabbed a couple of sockets and a ratchet handle and was about to give 'em to me.  He saw the quizzical look on my face -- and got on his 4-wheeler ATV.  He told me to hop aboard.  I told him I could walk back, and he wouldn't hear of it.  He drove us back to the SSS pit -- got off the ATV and proceeded to sorta push me out of the way and remove the old/install the new sprocket, while I watched.  I could've, I protested -- but he wouldn't hear of it.  It went down so quickly that I hardly had time to think of saying "Thanks" before he went back to his pit to work on his bikes.

I vowed, after that incident, that I would ALWAYS help a fellow racer when I was asked to do so.  Thanks, Cliff, for setting such an example to me.

[Freud]

That sounds like a Vesco story. Cliff and Don must have been cut from the same fabric.

FREUD

[fastesthonda_jim]

Hey, Curt,

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=68DuzPRH3pM&feature=PlayList&p=5928DFA86A4BA5F9&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

Is that link down?  Or are my fingers/brain not working?  You tube says they can't find it. 

Jim

[mtkawboy]

I cant either, it says cant find page

[LittleLiner]

I searched youtube for "gullett" and got this link.  It worked for me . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68DuzPRH3pM

great video tribute.  Never met the man - wish I had.

[Freud]

Not only did Cliff do a great job, so did the people that did that video.

Tastefully done and vastly understated.

FREUD

[Luckyontheducky]

Is the Paul Harvey article available?

[Seldom Seen Slim]

AS the website owner I'm occasionally sent things that are interesting and certainly worth posting.  I got this today:


Everybody’s got their reasons
Some think we’re all just nuts.
Racing down a bed of salt
With wet spots, holes and ruts.
There’s car guys, bike guys, roadsters,
Craftsmen everyone.
The big budget racing team is no better off
Then that of the father and son.
The starter gives a final tug
To the seatbelt or helmet strap.
He’s sincere when he wishes you the best of luck
And pats you on the back.
You push off, the tires spin
The motor growls real deep.
To break that mighty record
The learning curve is steep.
Then one day you finally do it
That record you chased for years.
There’s no silver cup or even a check
Only the recognition of your peers.
Speed racing is a game of odds,
Sometime the house takes a few.
But those remaining will never forget,
Their fondest memories of you.
Another season is upon us
It won’t be quite the same.
But racers do what racers do
It’s the nature of the game.
 
We’ll be thinking of you out there, Cliff…