Earlier this year, in one of my magazines, I read about a cross country motorcycle race with vintage, actually pre 1916, motorcycles. The Cannonball Race was going to venture through parts close by, and in fact, during a weekend. Well I put it on my calendar as it was something I really wanted to check out.
Ada, OK is just about 140 miles north, so a good day trip there and back. The riders were going to have a lunch stop there, and spectators would have a chance to see the bikes and riders. We decided to celebrate some other good news and made an overnighter out of it, Sunday through Monday.
It was a great weekend, the bikes and stories were incredible, we rode some great roads returning Monday and overall had a much needed mini-vacation.
But back to the bikes. These are all engineering marvels, both in their original form and in some cases, their current forms.... To think that 100 year old motorcycles would traverse the country in 16 days is pretty freakin' incredible. I have ridden some long days, and long weeks, upwards of 3000 miles, and I ride an easy chair compared to these bikes. Most, nearly but not all, have some level of support, and additionally they riders are very intimate with their bike and repairs. Apparently one crew is even traveling with a lathe!
I met Michael Lichter, one of the most recognized and renowned motorcycle and motorcycle culture photographers there is, and other industry notables. Kevin Bean're, Laura Klock, and many others who are either racing, supporting or otherwise partipating in this glorious event. There were two stories in particular that really speak volumes to this event and the commitment. Cris Sommer Simmons, and her team, were inspired by Effie Hotchkiss, who ninetyfive years ago she wanted to travel coast to coast and chose to do so on a 1915, 3 Speed V-Twin Harley-Davidson. Her mother, Avis, told her she couldn’t make that trip alone so the deal was made between mother and daughter that Effie would buy a sidecar, and Avis would make the trip with her. Story goes that Effie carried a bottle of water from the Atlantic ocean with her so that is what Cris is planning to do, dump the bottle of water from the Atlantic Ocean she is carrying in her saddle bag into the Pacific Ocean upon completion.
The second story, is of couple from Germany who are making the trip, she, Katrin Boehner, is on the oldest bike, a 1907 JAP, and he, Dieter Eckel, is on a 1913 BSA, both single cylinder machines.
These motorcycles require constant care and maintenance along the route. Besides the pounding these riders get, the bikes require constant attention as well.
