I will be on location in Daytona Beach September 5th for the start of the 2014 Cannonball, a coat to coast 4000+ mile endurance run, this year reserved to pre-1937 motorcycles. Among the participants, many friends, including for the 1st time in the run Pat Simmons, a founding member of the Doobie Brothers and a long time motorcycle enthusiast. He will join his wife Cris who already participated and successfully completed the 2010 Cannonball run. The couple will ride, respectively, a 1934 and 1929 Harley-Davidson. During the event, Cris Sommer-Simmons, a well-known author and member of the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Anamosa Iowa, of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Westerville, Ohio, and of the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, will be raising money for “Stand Up To Cancer” in honor of her son, Pat Jr., who battled testicular cancer last year and now is cancer free.
This year Patrick Simmons will be riding a 1929 Harley-Davidson JD, nick-named “Norge” because of its similar blue color to Norge refrigerators once popular in the 1950s. As for Cris’ choice, she explains, “My bike “Buddy” is a 1934 Harley-Davidson, named after it’s previous owner, well-known Hollywood stunt man Bud Ekins. Pat bought the bike from Bud many years ago and I stole it from Pat in 1993, vowing to ride it ‘someday’.”
In preparation for the ride Patrick notes, “Cris and I are excited, and so ready to head out on the 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run. We have been working on our bikes for over a year now.” Cris previously participated in the 2010 Cannonball Run, where she was the only American female out of 45 riders. She completed the over 2,800 miles and finished in 20th place.
Patrick Simmons has spent the majority of the summer on tour with The Doobie Brothers and preparing for their upcoming release Southbound. The album celebrates the band’s iconic hits re-recorded alongside some of country music’s biggest stars (including Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, Sara Evans, and Brad Paisley). After his participation in the Cannonball Endurance Run, Simmons will continue to tour with the band and plan for the upcoming release of Southbound November 4, on Arista Records Nashville.
I publish below the 2014 Motorcycle Endurance Run Calendar. I encourage all of you to join the riders at the start and arrival in a city near yours.
Will go to see these antiques and meet with these guys & ladies when they are in Chattanooga,
Cant wait to see you two, We will have dinner waiting for you! Ride Safely!!!
Thanks Cyril! We look forward to this so much… it’s also a 25th Anniversary celebration for Pat and I. We met in Sturgis in 1989 and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to be riding the Cannonball together.
As you know, I am also riding to raise money for Stand Up 2 Cancer in our son Pat Jr’s honor. Thanks to everyone who has donated. Pat is doing great and is busy being a 23 year old again after a long year of treatments. We are so proud of him. See you in Daytona!
Smile! Here’s looking back at you two. Michael Lichter will again be mounted backwards on my bike, a factory loaner 2015 Victory. As you know, his shots are phenomenal. We are just finalizing some vehicle/camera equipment issues and will see everyone 02Sept
See you at the start, I’ll be taking photos!! We have a few friends who will be on the ride too, looking toward to meeting you two !!
Love it all, what a privilege to participate.
Our Dimple Super Magnetic plugs were donated to DOTTY MATTERN and her 1936 Indian Scout.
A great gal with gusto!
Contact us Pat and we will donate plugs for your 2 bikes………They really help on a run like this.
Say hi to Dotty for me, please.
I will try to be there to meet you all.
Richard 704.320.0700 President, drainplugmagnets.com
Pat and Cris are 2 if the most genuine and caring folks Carolyn and I have ever known. Go for it and may the ride never end.
Hi Friends, Thanks Cyril, and all of you for your support. I’m going to be riding for Ross Tomas and his Family. Ross passed away recently after a tragic accident. He was a huge motorcycle enthusiast, and like his Mom and Dad, loved the old bikes. Mike and Carolyn asked that anyone wishing to honor him should send a donation to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall Of Fame. You can do so by visiting their website at sturgismuseum.com and donating online, or calling the phone number on the site. I encourage you to support this wonderful museum, and to please dedicate your donation to Ross. I myself am an honorary member of the board, and love what they are doing to keep alive the history of motorcycling, and the memories we share. I appreciate so much any support you can give. I hope to see you out on the road somewhere. My best to you all.
Rockin’ down the highway…
You go Chris and Pat …Great Stuff!!!
Fabulous! I heard they will go thru longview,Wa. If so… Do you know an anticipated eta? Thank you.
Safe travels my friends! Take it all in and post, post, post your adventures!