How To Celebrate Your 70th Birthday? Run The Cannonball And Raise Money To Help Others.

Dottie_and_IndianThe 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run will start from Daytona Beach on September 5. The coast to coast vintage motorcycle ride will be the most challenging to date. Among the participants, Dottie Mattern, who will be at 70 the oldest woman ever to participate to this event. But Mattern is not a beginner: 

Aafew years ago, she set a motorcycle speed record of 94.7 mph at the Maxton Mile. If that doesn’t sound so fast, consider, except that at the time she was a 62-year-old grandmother (five times over) and riding a 1937 Indian Scout. Dottie has ridden motorcycles since her college days at the University of Maryland. Her current ride is a 2006 Suzuki V Strom, but she still has an abiding interest in antique motorcycles with her favorite brand being Indian.

In 1979, Dottie joined the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, served on its board in the position of National Secretary for 15 years, and received the high distinction of being named an AMCA Honorary Member in 1998. Today she is on the board of the non-profit Antique Motorcycle Foundation. She will ride the 2014 Cannonball \aboard a 1936 Indian Sport Scout. The purpose of her ride is two-fold: to raise funds for the Antique Motorcycle Foundation and the Colon Cancer Alliance… and to celebrate her 70th birthday!

Dottie is a colon cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with the disease in September, 2001. Colon cancer is in the top three cancer killers, yet is one of the most survivable cancers provided it is diagnosed early. She explains, “My brother died from colon cancer that had spread because it was not diagnosed early. The Colon Cancer Alliance is dedicated to education, early detection, funding research, and providing the highest quality patient support services. Hopefully, my riding the Cannonball will help create an awareness of the importance of early screening and the work of the Colon Cancer Alliance.”

Her goal is to raise $70,000 by completing the 4,100 mile trip. The Antique Motorcycle Foundation is helping organize Dottie’s campaign, but all expenses for the actual ride will be paid by Mattern and sponsors, not from AMF funds. AMF President Emeritus Dennis Craig has volunteered to prepare her 1936 Scout on a pro bono basis. For more information and to support Dottie’s charitable effort, go to Ride Dottie. Money raised will be divided equally between the Antique Motorcycle Foundation and the Colon Cancer Alliance. Your donations are tax-deductible.

7 Responses to “How To Celebrate Your 70th Birthday? Run The Cannonball And Raise Money To Help Others.”


  1. 1 Lyle Landstrom Jan 7th, 2014 at 9:22 am

    Way to go! I hope I’m still riding my Scout when I’m 70. And 94 mph is a respectable number for a 77 year old Scout. That’s the bike Polaris should be basing the new Indians around.

  2. 2 CHOPMONSTER66 Jan 7th, 2014 at 9:40 am

    wow! that is two great reasons to ride the cannonball , wish her all the best , have a great ride!!

  3. 3 Dan Gannon Jan 7th, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    You are a great example of why I love the motorcycle culture. You go get em girl.

    DangerousDan

  4. 4 Iron Horse Jan 8th, 2014 at 7:09 am

    Good on her! I hope to still be riding at that age. The fact that she’s raising money for a really good cause is a great bonus as well.

    You GO girl!

  5. 5 Johnny Gypo Jan 8th, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Good stuff!!

  6. 6 courtney Jan 8th, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Just awesome. I don’t know if I could do the Cannonball in my 40’s, much less 70! Envious…. Oh, and Love the Indian!

  7. 7 Cris Sommer Simmons Jan 9th, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Congrats Dottie! So glad you get the chance to ride the Cannonball. It’s an amazing journey that you will never forget. So happy there are a few of us women ridng this year. See you in Daytona!

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Cyril Huze