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(with the contribution of Felicia Morgan) The 2016 event marks the fourth Motorcycle Cannonball race since 2010. The first ride required pre-1915 cycles; in 2012 the cutoff was 1929, while the 2014 ride called for pre-1936 cycles. This year the transcontinental ride is reserved to pre-1917 machines and is named the coast to coast Race Of The Century. 3304 miles in 16 days from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Carlsbad, California, the 2016 Cannonball is again a grueling test of grit and mettle for each rider and machine.

Yesterday Saturday September 10, The Atlantic City boardwalk was choked with onlookers as 90 antique motorcycles gathered for the Grand Start of the Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Race. Marques such as Harley-Davidson, Indian, Thor, Henderson and others set off for the journey that would take them from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the shining seas of the California to finish on September 25th.

Riders on their pre-1917 motorcycles were safely escorted through the congested downtown Atlantic City traffic by local motor police, then spent the day traveling through the eastern states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before finishing for the night in York, Pennsylvania. By day’s end, the group logged 228 very difficult miles.

Between the oppressive heat accompanied by 88% humidity and the challenging terrain, both riders and machines were truly tested during the first day of the endurance run. Of the 90 riders who took to the course, 63 finished with a perfect score, another 27 received a “Did Not Finish” and one was Disqualified. One motorcycle caught fire, several had catastrophic engine failure, and several were trailered to the end point. By daylight, many of those machines will be roadworthy again after their riders and crew spend the night making repairs. Stage 1 results after the jump.