Where is Duffe going?

Buckland
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380
Joined
1/23/2017
Location
USA
8/24/2026 6:52am
philG wrote:
Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the...

Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the wall,  without ever having to win. 

Its where my favourite phrase of 'there are people that would rather lose, than win with something that wasnt their idea ' comes from. 

I spent the best part of 15 years in F1,WRC and Indy/Nascar , and while there are some great people in there, no doubt, there are also masses of people who just destroy others to make themselves look better. 

Duffe will find out that car people, are very very strange, what few people have tried, have tries and failed at the top levels, just by their lack of understanding of how different 2 and 4 wheel teams operate. 

I have colleagues who now work at Cadillac, just like MX, the whole thing is a big revolving door of personnel, but if you are going to F1 for less hours and more time with your family, i think you made a mistake. 

Even as non travelling factory staff, the hours are long ( and lots of them are free, there is no overtime in Motorsports) , and it gets old quick, the money used to be really good when the teams were smaller, they had less people but paid them well to keep them, but now the salary cap means the money isnt as good, but there are way more people. 

I live within an hour and a half of most of the teams, here in the UK, and i have no desire to go back, even though i get offers most years, it just isnt all its cracked up to be, unless you want to be at it 24/7 . 

And Cadillac are all up in the air right now , i heard they were for sale already. 

 

I met an older guy in college who was a good mechanic and was returning to school to get an engineering degree, in hopes of someday making it onto an F1 level team. He had told me that you needed a degree to even touch an F1 car. I'm sure there are exceptions of course, but is that generally accurate?

savageMX
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Location
USA
8/24/2026 7:13am
savageMX wrote:
There was reference in Hayden's interview after Budds that Brent Duffe is moving on.  Where is he going?  Sounded like he is moving to a role...

There was reference in Hayden's interview after Budds that Brent Duffe is moving on.  Where is he going?  Sounded like he is moving to a role more suitable to having a family therefore not spending every weekend on planes and at races. 

Congrats to Duffe. I am sure he has plenty of stories to tell.   

Got it; F1

Turning off notification to my own post as this is quickly becoming a dumpster fire. 🔥 

Windhamfan
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Location
Mount Pleasant, SC, USA
8/24/2026 7:31am

Getting off the big mouth train before it gets even worse in SX. Deegan has a loooong way to go (Retirement or injuries from the Lawrence brothers) before he gets a title inside or out. 

4
12
smack
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Regina, SK, CA
Fantasy
8/24/2026 9:49am
bigk218 wrote:
You can’t tell me that the deegs and Yamaha  can’t cut duff a two year,  mill contract.  There’s more to the story, or industry and it’s...

You can’t tell me that the deegs and Yamaha  can’t cut duff a two year,  mill contract.  There’s more to the story, or industry and it’s sad.    
 

You're vastly overestimating how much an MX mechanic makes and how much he's leaving for. I imagine the move is more about the experience than anything else 

1

The Shop

8/24/2026 9:54am

GM Performance Power Units has a ton of postings out there right now, based out of Concord. They'll be Cadillac's power unit supplier from 2029 on, with Cadillac using Ferrari PUs through '28. Wonder if it's with them.

I applied for one of the analyst positions and never heard back, unfortunately. Good for Duffe though!

7
DonM
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Fantasy
8/24/2026 11:06am
GM Performance Power Units has a ton of postings out there right now, based out of Concord. They'll be Cadillac's power unit supplier from 2029 on...

GM Performance Power Units has a ton of postings out there right now, based out of Concord. They'll be Cadillac's power unit supplier from 2029 on, with Cadillac using Ferrari PUs through '28. Wonder if it's with them.

I applied for one of the analyst positions and never heard back, unfortunately. Good for Duffe though!

That would be my guess as his GF lives in Charlotte...

1
5
8/24/2026 11:21am

I love motocross, always will...but I'd rather inflate tires for an F1 team than be the most respected wrench in the motocross pits. 

Congrats Duffe

2
philG
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GB
8/24/2026 11:45am
philG wrote:
Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the...

Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the wall,  without ever having to win. 

Its where my favourite phrase of 'there are people that would rather lose, than win with something that wasnt their idea ' comes from. 

I spent the best part of 15 years in F1,WRC and Indy/Nascar , and while there are some great people in there, no doubt, there are also masses of people who just destroy others to make themselves look better. 

Duffe will find out that car people, are very very strange, what few people have tried, have tries and failed at the top levels, just by their lack of understanding of how different 2 and 4 wheel teams operate. 

I have colleagues who now work at Cadillac, just like MX, the whole thing is a big revolving door of personnel, but if you are going to F1 for less hours and more time with your family, i think you made a mistake. 

Even as non travelling factory staff, the hours are long ( and lots of them are free, there is no overtime in Motorsports) , and it gets old quick, the money used to be really good when the teams were smaller, they had less people but paid them well to keep them, but now the salary cap means the money isnt as good, but there are way more people. 

I live within an hour and a half of most of the teams, here in the UK, and i have no desire to go back, even though i get offers most years, it just isnt all its cracked up to be, unless you want to be at it 24/7 . 

And Cadillac are all up in the air right now , i heard they were for sale already. 

 

Buckland wrote:
I met an older guy in college who was a good mechanic and was returning to school to get an engineering degree, in hopes of someday...

I met an older guy in college who was a good mechanic and was returning to school to get an engineering degree, in hopes of someday making it onto an F1 level team. He had told me that you needed a degree to even touch an F1 car. I'm sure there are exceptions of course, but is that generally accurate?

No. 

You are more likely to get into F1 by starting as a weekend warrior working in the sport, if you want to be part of the travelling circus, all the degree stuff will be for design, aero, and electronics and systems.  

Of all the people i have worked with, on the manufacturing side, most are just good aerospace level engineers, and machinists. 

Degree educated people are dime a dozen compared to guys with actual hand on experience making stuff, or working in my speciality of Metrology.  

F1 is full of people who design stuff you cant make, with an unlimited supply of someone elses money, which isnt difficult, the skilled bit is turning that into stuff that you can actually make, and doesnt break at the first opportunity, even though the computer says it will be fine. 

And finally none of it goes anywhere until we say its right, and most dimensional inspection guys i know, or have worked with , none have been anything other than properly trained subject matter specialists, in either CMM measurement, Laser Scanning, or NDT/CT Scanning.     NDT is the only area of motorsports that truly follows the industry standards, with certifications, testing and legally binding training records, because it makes sense to retain the aerospace level of competence, but for everything else, your CV is your way in the door. 

If Duffe is going into OEM engine stuff, i would image he will either be doing engine build/test, he will have to get his head round using less engines a year , than an East Coast SX rider uses, and not being able to strip them down to even see if they are OK. 

Its a different world. 

I had the chance to move to Ilmor in the USA , when i worked there in the UK, but i just didnt fancy it, had too much going on here to want to up sticks and leave, for a job with little or no paid vacation, and all of the other US work stuff. 

 

9
slowgti
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Monroe, GA, USA
8/24/2026 2:41pm

I’ve worked in professional motorsports (imsa/sro/gt car things), it’s a very high pressure environment that doesn’t pay very well at all. If he’s on the road and doing trackside work, Walmart or McDonald’s pays a better hourly rate. I kept track of my hours at Daytona one year and worked out the hourly rate and it was barely above the minimum wage in Florida. You really do have to love it and be willing to make some lifestyle sacrifices in the beginning. You can work your way up to a 6 figure salary but most of the guys have a side gig or work for 2-3 different teams running different series. I was building wiring looms and working for 2 different teams in 2 separate series to keep the lights on and food in the fridge. 

The level I was working at, top of the gt3-gt3 pro class, the budgets were astonishing. $20-25k for a front bumper and diffuser , $50k for a traffic avoidance system, $10k a piece for axle torque sensors. You’re responsible for a lot and you have no room for error, it’s literally a $1,000,000 car your working on. 

7
8/24/2026 3:52pm
kylemenz1 wrote:
F1!  That’s awesome for him. I hope it’s true. F1 is obviously the pinnacle of all motorsports.  To be hired on in any capacity is a...

F1!  That’s awesome for him. I hope it’s true. F1 is obviously the pinnacle of all motorsports.  To be hired on in any capacity is a huge accomplishment. 

philG wrote:
Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the...

Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the wall,  without ever having to win. 

Its where my favourite phrase of 'there are people that would rather lose, than win with something that wasnt their idea ' comes from. 

I spent the best part of 15 years in F1,WRC and Indy/Nascar , and while there are some great people in there, no doubt, there are also masses of people who just destroy others to make themselves look better. 

Duffe will find out that car people, are very very strange, what few people have tried, have tries and failed at the top levels, just by their lack of understanding of how different 2 and 4 wheel teams operate. 

I have colleagues who now work at Cadillac, just like MX, the whole thing is a big revolving door of personnel, but if you are going to F1 for less hours and more time with your family, i think you made a mistake. 

Even as non travelling factory staff, the hours are long ( and lots of them are free, there is no overtime in Motorsports) , and it gets old quick, the money used to be really good when the teams were smaller, they had less people but paid them well to keep them, but now the salary cap means the money isnt as good, but there are way more people. 

I live within an hour and a half of most of the teams, here in the UK, and i have no desire to go back, even though i get offers most years, it just isnt all its cracked up to be, unless you want to be at it 24/7 . 

And Cadillac are all up in the air right now , i heard they were for sale already. 

 

Think Duffe mentioned about more time doing the family thing. I'd imagine he's maybe an assembler type role at the factory.

 

1
1
aeffertz
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8/26/2026 5:00pm

Bed bugs out in full force!!! Grinning

Screenshot 2026-08-26 at 6.57.10%E2%80%AFPM
4
3
8/26/2026 5:33pm
philG wrote:
Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the...

Yeah, and when you get there you find out that it isnt, its just the pinnacle of being able to piss other peoples money up the wall,  without ever having to win. 

Its where my favourite phrase of 'there are people that would rather lose, than win with something that wasnt their idea ' comes from. 

I spent the best part of 15 years in F1,WRC and Indy/Nascar , and while there are some great people in there, no doubt, there are also masses of people who just destroy others to make themselves look better. 

Duffe will find out that car people, are very very strange, what few people have tried, have tries and failed at the top levels, just by their lack of understanding of how different 2 and 4 wheel teams operate. 

I have colleagues who now work at Cadillac, just like MX, the whole thing is a big revolving door of personnel, but if you are going to F1 for less hours and more time with your family, i think you made a mistake. 

Even as non travelling factory staff, the hours are long ( and lots of them are free, there is no overtime in Motorsports) , and it gets old quick, the money used to be really good when the teams were smaller, they had less people but paid them well to keep them, but now the salary cap means the money isnt as good, but there are way more people. 

I live within an hour and a half of most of the teams, here in the UK, and i have no desire to go back, even though i get offers most years, it just isnt all its cracked up to be, unless you want to be at it 24/7 . 

And Cadillac are all up in the air right now , i heard they were for sale already. 

 

Buckland wrote:
I met an older guy in college who was a good mechanic and was returning to school to get an engineering degree, in hopes of someday...

I met an older guy in college who was a good mechanic and was returning to school to get an engineering degree, in hopes of someday making it onto an F1 level team. He had told me that you needed a degree to even touch an F1 car. I'm sure there are exceptions of course, but is that generally accurate?

philG wrote:
No. You are more likely to get into F1 by starting as a weekend warrior working in the sport, if you want to be part of the...

No. 

You are more likely to get into F1 by starting as a weekend warrior working in the sport, if you want to be part of the travelling circus, all the degree stuff will be for design, aero, and electronics and systems.  

Of all the people i have worked with, on the manufacturing side, most are just good aerospace level engineers, and machinists. 

Degree educated people are dime a dozen compared to guys with actual hand on experience making stuff, or working in my speciality of Metrology.  

F1 is full of people who design stuff you cant make, with an unlimited supply of someone elses money, which isnt difficult, the skilled bit is turning that into stuff that you can actually make, and doesnt break at the first opportunity, even though the computer says it will be fine. 

And finally none of it goes anywhere until we say its right, and most dimensional inspection guys i know, or have worked with , none have been anything other than properly trained subject matter specialists, in either CMM measurement, Laser Scanning, or NDT/CT Scanning.     NDT is the only area of motorsports that truly follows the industry standards, with certifications, testing and legally binding training records, because it makes sense to retain the aerospace level of competence, but for everything else, your CV is your way in the door. 

If Duffe is going into OEM engine stuff, i would image he will either be doing engine build/test, he will have to get his head round using less engines a year , than an East Coast SX rider uses, and not being able to strip them down to even see if they are OK. 

Its a different world. 

I had the chance to move to Ilmor in the USA , when i worked there in the UK, but i just didnt fancy it, had too much going on here to want to up sticks and leave, for a job with little or no paid vacation, and all of the other US work stuff. 

 

Been doing NDT for a major airline for over 20yrs. We are retested every 5 years on all our qualifications both practical and on knowledge. I've always felt these top tier race teams get workers in for a low wage due to the prestige of saying you work for such and such.

Hope it works out for him.

3
The Wolf Man
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Suburb, NSW, AU
8/26/2026 7:27pm
Where is a link to prove Fluffer is going to F1? WTF is that turd going to do in F1? He's a glorified umbrella holder and...

Where is a link to prove Fluffer is going to F1? WTF is that turd going to do in F1? He's a glorified umbrella holder and professional deepthroater for the Deegans. He's not a highly trained race car engineer. If he's going to any F1 team it will be purely to open and close the toilet door for the cleaners of the race cars...

DonM wrote:

Such the expert.....If anyone would know what a fluffer does it would be you....

You're one of the biggest Deegan fluffers on here...

2
5
The Wolf Man
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8/26/2026 7:30pm

I love motocross, always will...but I'd rather inflate tires for an F1 team than be the most respected wrench in the motocross pits. 

Congrats Duffe

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

2
8
uncledaddy69
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8/26/2026 7:35pm
aeffertz wrote:
Bed bugs out in full force!!! :lol:

Bed bugs out in full force!!! Grinning

Screenshot 2026-08-26 at 6.57.10%E2%80%AFPM

Vital-bogans, is pussio legit slang or is this dude a weirdo?

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Camo383
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8/26/2026 8:33pm

I love motocross, always will...but I'd rather inflate tires for an F1 team than be the most respected wrench in the motocross pits. 

Congrats Duffe

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

As someone who sternly dislikes the Deegans, please leave Duffe out of it.

I met him at ClubMX back in 2016 while he was working for Justin Brayton and he eventually became a full time resident at the facility. He might stir the pot on social media once in a blue moon, but he's an incredibly down to earth guy who was never too cool for anyone. He'd regularly come out to cheer on kids during training motos and was more than happy to share his expertise. He knew his shit, worked his ass off and took pride in what he did. It would be hard to ask for a better wrench at the races.

It pains me that he ended up with Haiden of all riders, but I'm happy he was able to find success in the sport, working for some of the most desired teams in the paddock and winning multiple championships with his riders. Regardless if his future in F1, or any motorsport, is bright or bleak, I wish him nothing but the best.

10
1
peelout
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Ogden, UT, USA
8/26/2026 8:49pm
smack wrote:
You're vastly overestimating how much an MX mechanic makes and how much he's leaving for. I imagine the move is more about the experience than anything...

You're vastly overestimating how much an MX mechanic makes and how much he's leaving for. I imagine the move is more about the experience than anything else 

I would guess that he's made some really good win bonus money the last few years. maybe not this summer tho 

5
user760a
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8/27/2026 5:13am Edited Date/Time 8/27/2026 5:14am
kylemenz1 wrote:
F1!  That’s awesome for him. I hope it’s true. F1 is obviously the pinnacle of all motorsports.  To be hired on in any capacity is a...

F1!  That’s awesome for him. I hope it’s true. F1 is obviously the pinnacle of all motorsports.  To be hired on in any capacity is a huge accomplishment. 

In my mind, the outdoor nationals are the pinnacle of motorsports.  I Could not care less about F1 or any other sort of car racing. 

4
1
45ACP
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Friendswood, TX, USA
8/27/2026 6:10am

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

And you are known as the biggest jackass on Vital. 

Herr Lick 2.0

6
1
philG
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GB
8/27/2026 6:17am
Been doing NDT for a major airline for over 20yrs. We are retested every 5 years on all our qualifications both practical and on knowledge. I've...

Been doing NDT for a major airline for over 20yrs. We are retested every 5 years on all our qualifications both practical and on knowledge. I've always felt these top tier race teams get workers in for a low wage due to the prestige of saying you work for such and such.

Hope it works out for him.

We are a major OEM, and finding Level 3 NDT guys these days is not easy, or should i say , finding them for cheap is not easy. 

We have spent a ton of money on digital X Ray, but it still isnt good enough for our application, so the guys who can do it are well paid, but most of them, like me are aging out/retiring. 

And most of the jobs i see or get sent, are expecting what is effectively 3(or even 4) skillsets for 2/3 of the wage of one of them. 

Last one wanted NDT certs , and to be proficient in CMM and Laser Trackers.   If that guy exists, i'd like to meet him. 

5
DonM
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Fantasy
8/27/2026 7:35am

I love motocross, always will...but I'd rather inflate tires for an F1 team than be the most respected wrench in the motocross pits. 

Congrats Duffe

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

And you know this all the way from Australia how? 

3
GPrider
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La Mesa, CA, USA
8/27/2026 7:46am

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

45ACP wrote:

And you are known as the biggest jackass on Vital. 

Herr Lick 2.0

i blocked this guy a few weeks ago, wolf guy,  best thing I've done here. I have litterally no idea what his daily bs is anymore and its awesome! Not to mention his anoying avatar which for some reason bugs the shit out of me, haha

 

4
Money
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8/27/2026 8:17am
GM Performance Power Units has a ton of postings out there right now, based out of Concord. They'll be Cadillac's power unit supplier from 2029 on...

GM Performance Power Units has a ton of postings out there right now, based out of Concord. They'll be Cadillac's power unit supplier from 2029 on, with Cadillac using Ferrari PUs through '28. Wonder if it's with them.

I applied for one of the analyst positions and never heard back, unfortunately. Good for Duffe though!

This is correct. He’s going to GM powerplants which will supply engines for the race team. No travel job 

2
DerickYZ
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Salamanca, NY, USA
8/28/2026 6:56am

Deegans can’t really blame the bike anymore so someone has to be the fall guy. Good for Duffe though!

5
Jdog2221
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Location
Burgettstown, PA, USA
8/28/2026 8:00am

Who else is leaving Star? 

Hammer 663s
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Forest Grove, OR, USA
8/28/2026 8:32am

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

45ACP wrote:

And you are known as the biggest jackass on Vital. 

Herr Lick 2.0

GPrider wrote:
i blocked this guy a few weeks ago, wolf guy,  best thing I've done here. I have litterally no idea what his daily bs is anymore...

i blocked this guy a few weeks ago, wolf guy,  best thing I've done here. I have litterally no idea what his daily bs is anymore and its awesome! Not to mention his anoying avatar which for some reason bugs the shit out of me, haha

 

My blocked list is about 12-15 now. It really cleans up my feed and I don't have to see all their bullshit. 

2
Sandusky26
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Eastern, NC, USA
8/28/2026 11:59am

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

45ACP wrote:

And you are known as the biggest jackass on Vital. 

Herr Lick 2.0

You have to try really hard to win that award and he wins by a long shot, not even close.

2
1
DonM
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Location
USA
Fantasy
8/28/2026 12:24pm

He's not the most respected wrench in the MX pits. He's Haiden Deegan's little fluffer boy...

45ACP wrote:

And you are known as the biggest jackass on Vital. 

Herr Lick 2.0

Sandusky26 wrote:

You have to try really hard to win that award and he wins by a long shot, not even close.

I don't think he tries....he's not that smart...

1

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