Motorcycle Cannonball Update (Part 3)

Felicia Morgan, Cannonball spokesperson, reports that the weather was riding perfect between Maggie Valley NC & Chattanooga TN (208 miles) and yesterday to Hunstville, AL (204 miles). When possible, flat tires, broken belts, damaged gear sets and many other mechanical issues are fixed on the road with riders and support crews trading parts and helping each other.

In Maggie Valley, Dale Walksler founder of the Wheels Through Time Museum and expert vintage motorcycles restorer offered his shop to the participants in need of grinding, welding, machining, etc. Dale is one of the entrants, is an accomplished fast rider with a sound machine and very few see him, except at stage arrival…In Chattanooga, home of Coker Tires, the tire brand used by many riders, Corky Coker hosted a dinner and offered a free set of tires to each rider in need of new rubber. Today September 14th, some upsetting news: at mile 53 of stage 5, Matt Olsen wrecked his Sears motorcycles,  broke one arm and collarbone and was taken to surgery.

Cris Sommers Simmons, the only US woman in the Cannnoball Run reported to me “Having a blast out here Cyril! The parking lot repairs and brother(sister) hood is amazing. Everyone needs to try and make one of these stops to see this to believe it. I’m so loving this experience.”

11 more stages to go. Again, if you are on the Cannonball route, please go to each stage arrival to admire the beautiful pre-1916 machines and support their riders. (photography all bikes by reader Val Herod, pictures Dale Walksler and Pat & Chris Sommers Simmons by Felicia Morgan)

In all, the Motorcycle Cannonball riders will pass through 11 states before concluding in Santa Monica, CA on September 26. There are entries from around the world. At the end of stage 5 in Tuscumbia, Alabama , the ranking is as follows.

4 Responses to “Motorcycle Cannonball Update (Part 3)”


  1. 1 Kirk Perry Sep 15th, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    Wow . History recorded thanks to the internet.

    The few left are getting road weary we reckon.
    The riders might benefit from “chair massages”. It might put them to sleep though.

    So, after the chair-message “cool down”. The riders can all form a circle by holding hands.
    Outside of the circle a person with a model-T ignition crank-coil can turn the DC voltage up by increments and send a wake-up jolt through everyone gradually to find out who the weakest person of the group is, by how fast they break the circle. 🙂

    Roving minstrels do that in Tijuana at places like the Long Bar, to wake up a table of drunk-tourist, before they cross the border to go back home.

  2. 2 Pepper Massey Sep 16th, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    Photos are fabulous!
    What an amazing adventure – so many passionate people riding these incredible machines.
    Thanks for keeping us updated, Cyril.

  3. 3 nicker Sep 16th, 2010 at 2:42 pm

    Great machinery!
    Thanks for the pic Cyril.
    “old is new”……. 🙂

    -nicker-

  4. 4 maroco Sep 19th, 2010 at 9:48 am

    History in movement, simple the best. I wondering whit the hub steering system of the bike number 20.
    All the best to partecipants and there bikes.

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Cyril Huze