They were 70 to be registered, but mechanical difficulties encountered by some entrants to rebuild or restore pre-1916 machines have reduced the number of participants to 44.
Finished the pre-start jokes around “who is going to break first? Me or the machine?” This morning at 10am in Kitty Hawk, NC with butterflies in their stomach, they were launched for the first 164-mile leg of the run. Pre-1916 motorcycles now running through the hills of North Carolina include 9 bikes in Class 1 (single-cylinder, single-speed), 8 bikes in Class 2 (multi-cylinder, single-speed) and 27 bikes in Class 3 (multi-cylinder, multi-speed). The final field includes 22 Harley-Davidsons, 7 Indians, 5 Excelsiors, 2 Hendersons, 2 Sears, and 1 each representing BSA, Flying Merkel, J.A.P., Militaire, Premier and Pope.
Please, go to see and encourage them on the road and at arrival of each stage. Email your best pictures and news to editor@cyrilhuzeblog.com.
The Route:
Stage 1 Sept. 10, Kitty Hawk, NC, to Greenville, NC 164 Miles. Stage 2. Sept. 11 to Concord, NC 223 Miles. Stage 3 Sept. 12 to Maggie Valley, NC 208 Miles. Stage 4 Sept. 13 to Chattanooga, TN 193 Miles. Stage 5 Sept. 14 to Muntsville AL, and Tuscumbia, AL 204 Miles. Gain an hour—time zone. Stage 6 Sept. 15 to Tupelo, MS and Lula, MS 202 Miles. Stage 7 Sept. 16 to Stuttgart AR, and Hot Springs, AR 186 Miles. Rest Day Sept. 17 Hot Springs, AR. Stage 8 Sept. 18 to Danville, AR and Fort Smith, AR 143 Miles. Stage 9 Sept. 19 to Ada, OK and Lawton, OK 276 Miles. Stage 10 Sept. 20 to Clovis, NM 293 Miles. Gain an hour—time zone. Stage 11 Sept. 21 to Albuquerque, NM 234 Miles. Stage 12 Sept. 22 Gallup, NM 193 Miles. Stage 13 Sept. 23 to Flagstaff, AZ 196 Miles. Gain an hour—time zone. Stage 14 Sept. 24 to Kingman, AZ and Laughlin, NV 221 Miles. Stage 15 Sept. 25 to Victorville, CA 221 Miles. Stage 16 Sept 26 to Santa Monica, CA 115 Miles. Total: 3272 Miles.
Hopefully the valvetrain will hold together in that Spaeke engine powered bike in the foreground. Riding any of those old bike accoss country is one heck of an accomplishment. Good luck everyone!
Just a shout out while on the subject of long distance rallys, A fellow Brit called Tim Scott has just started the Peking – Paris rally in a 1922 Fabrique National… The only bike entered, 11 countries, 9000 miles over approximately 40 days on mostly poorly maintained roads all alone without support and a backup car.
Go Buzz Kanter. He’s out on his 1915 HD. Has it setup very nice and ran through. Good luck bud!
This sounds like great fun and adventure! Ride safe and the best of luck to each of you!
Over & Out,
Jeff
Go Shinya!
44 it was a very good year.
Best of luck.
Ride Fast and Safe.
ray usa
I had the pleasure of talking to Dale Walksler as he was testing his 1915 Harley a few weeks ago in Maggie Valley. I was showing him a photo I’d taken in front of his museum that Buzz Kanter had published in American Iron Baggers, so he called Buzz and the two got to discussing their bikes, since they’re both the same year. Between Dale, Buzz and that classic iron I felt I was in the presence of greatness.
I was saying on my site that making a coast-to-coast trek on any pre-1916 motorcycle would surely be more trying than doing it on a modern moped. Ironically there’s a Scooter Cannonball Run that started Thursday going from Vancouver to Portland, Maine. I bet most of the scooters are faster, more comfortable and more reliable than any of the machines going the other direction.
best of luck and enjoy ye bunch of mad bastards 🙂
What a truly amazing and historic adventure!
This has to be the ride of a lifetime. Keep the updates coming Cyril. Beats the hell out of reading the useless drivel about the Hoka Hey.