Conquering the Wind

Today's ride was lesson in control...controlling the bikes in the wind gusts which ranged anywhere from 20-40 mph.  Steve said it was a challenge in this flat country with no wind breaks to ride the wind and hang on, keeping it in the road. 

The bike is running well between 45-50 mph, but it is pushing them to make times and Steve is thinking of changing up his sprockets.  I told him not to ruin a good thing as it would soon no longer be flat country and those Big Horn Mountains are looming and he would just have to change sprockets again.  We'll see if  "he leaves well enough alone" or not.
 
A shout out to the Kutter HD in Monroe, Wisconsin for a great hosted lunch and to the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamose, Iowa for a wonderful dinner and reception.   Today's hosted lunch at the HD of Monroe City found him meeting up with Lee & Kathy Strawn,  my brother and sister in law.  They were on hand to see them arrive and show their support.  The dinner hosted by the new Indian Motorcyle Company was very nice this evening and included a live band during the evenings festivities.

Last night, Carl Temple, who races one of our 101's in the antique hand shift race circuit, came up from Davenport to deliver a blown motor to Steve in case there were parts that could be used. 

Steve sounds like he may finally be winning in the battle of the cold. Yay!

Today's 101 repairs included a rear fender on Josh Wilson's 101.  It was hanging with 1 bolt left when they stopped for gas and 30-40 minutes later when they were through, they had to run hard to make up the 20 minutes they lost to get to the hosted lunch on time in case it was one of the scored checkpoints on today's routes.  As a side note, it was Josh's 101 that got the hillbilly beer can repair, not Ian's.

Ian's bike apparently has been like riding a see saw as it has steering problems.  They stop to tighten up the front end and then stop to loosen it when he can't steer.  Neck bearings and races have been ordered from Randy Walker and are being shipped to Sturgis where Steve hopes to replace them on their rest day.

Doug is looking for a rear cylinder as the wrist pin buttons came loose and tore it up today.  He lost the front cylinder on his way to the Cannonball from Alabama and came to our shop on Sunday night before the start where Steve tore it apart, machined out the gouges in the cylinder and replaced with a new piston to get him on his way to make it to Newburg in time.

Marcin smiled for the first time today as Steve put him on the Kawasaki Drifter that he had brought along for his dad, Buck or Dick Jones to take turns riding with him.  They decided since Marcin's bike had bit the dust the first day to have him ride the Drifter which Steve had dressed up to look like an Indian (It is black and silver and has a black Indian headress tank decal and the front Indian headlamp installed and a luggage rack.)  The 101 riders have made Marcin the official timekeeper for their gas and break stops to keep them on pace.  Their bikes would really love to run out at 40-45 mph, but the event is set up to make their pace 50-55 mph, so they're afraid that it may take a toll on their bikes as the ride goes on.

I learned that Steve was not the only one to lose a saddlebag.  Apparently, on the first day when Steve had the "extinguisher" mishap he should have been riding more closely with Josh, as his one saddle bag burnt up with his all his clothes.  They could have helped one another out with their problems.  Ha!

According to Buck, it seems the 101's have been congregating together in the motel parking lots and it looks like they are "on the reservation" when looking at them all together in a corner away from the rest of the riders. 

The Cannonballers are having the experience of a life time and after talking with Steve this evening, I can postively say he went to bed with a smile on his face and was looking forward to making South Dakota by tomorrow evening.  Tomorrow's ride will put them in Murdo, South Dakota after a 326 mile day.  This will be the last over 300 mile day of the race, so I wish them luck in not having to push them to hard.

Remember, the old sales slogan --- "You can't wear out an Indian Scout!" :)

A Dose of Bad Gas

Talked with Steve this morning and was relieved to hear that it WAS NOT another blown head gasket.  Several others experienced loss of power and trouble to keep their bikes going, but they feel it was a dose of bad gas at one of the pit stops they made. Thank goodness!!!

Since it's a relatively short day (214 miles) they were able to start late 9:00 a.m. instead of the normal 7:00 a.m.  and with the time difference of an hour that gave the riders even more rest.  Steve said his cold is about to "kick his ass" but I told him to continue taking cold medicine and hang in there.  It's turned out to be another beautiful day and they should be at their lunch stop at Kutter Harley-Davidson in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Steve said last night's experience was great - even if it was at the Harley-Davidson Museum, and Willie G forgot to mention anything about an Indian in his welcome.  The ferry arrived at Milwaukee and they were greeted by the Milwaukee Police Motorcycle Motorcade and escorted through town to the museum.  It was like a parade all through town.  He said there were at least 5000 people waiting to see them at the museum and Willie G was on hand to welcome them and they were treated to a first class dinner and reception.  Their bikes were on display in the Parc Ferme' and it turned out to be relaxing evening.

As far as an update on the Indian 101 riders - Steve & Jeff's bikes are doing well.  Ian from England's bike was treated to some hillbilly repairs by Steve which involved a beer can, but hey--it worked.  Doug from Alabama didn't dry out his magneto from the rain and has had trouble - I think that he cleaned and dried it out last night as it is going today. Josh from Virginia is running but is in need of a few repairs which Steve says he hopes to work on this evening at the motel. Marcin from Poland has been riding with Buck & Dick since Day 1 and Steve hopes to work on his to see what size piston they're gonna need shipped to Sturgis where they hope to get him running on their rest day.  He dropped a piston at the start of Day 1.

It's flat country now so the bikes should run well the next fews day without any stress or strain.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.  :)

Not ANOTHER one!

Talked with Steve again this evening just as he was finishing the final 30 miles to the Lake Express Ferry which would take them to Milwaukee.  He said it had been a gorgeous day.  About an hour before I talked with him Ginger began to lose power again and he's been playing with the carbureator to keep her running.  He knows it is yet another blown head gasket!  So he will be taking the cylinder off again to replace it tonight after all the festivities at the Harley-Davidson museum.  I told him he needs a different batch of head gaskets.....but I know it's not that simple (sounds like I expect him to run to the nearest auto parts to get them - ha!)

The ferry was scheduled to leave at 4:00 pm and he arrived about 3:40, so he had time to spare.  All he had to do was get the bike to the museum to finish for the day.  He says several others are starting to need repairs after today's run.  He passed a Henderson that was done for the day with serious engine trouble.  All in all, despite the odometer issue, he remained on course throughout the day.

Tomorrow's run will be a relatively short day as it will only be 214 miles with a lunch stop in Monroe, Wisconsin hosted by Kutter Harley Davidson, followed up with a hosted dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamose, Iowa.   It will also be a day where they don't have to start until 9:00 a.m.  Awesome!

I'll keep you posted........

She doesn't like the rain...

By 8:30 am the rain began and continued soaking the riders on Day 2 of the ride.  Steve had his ToadSkinz on and was completely dry on the outside, but hot and wet on the inside.  Ginger began to protest and lose power in the wet, rainy mess and finally just before lunch blew a head gasket.  She's been doing that recently in the prep for this race to lead Steve to question the head gaskets he's gotten recently. ??? So the new race was on to make to the motel in Sandusky, Ohio where he met up with his dad, Buck and Dick Jones and son, Justin Rinker.  Justin knew what to do, and amid the video camera, camera flashes and questioning, he and Steve tore into replacing the head gasket and check for any other damage.  They completed the repair, serviced the bike - which included cleaning out and drying out the magneto -- and Steve took a test ride around 10:30 pm ....only to have a flat tire.  Tires were swapped out and Ginger was put to bed with the promise of a better day.

Steve left WV with the start of a cold and talking to him on the phone includes "gentle" reminders to take his cold medicine that I packed as I can tell he's now got a full-blown cold.

Buck & Dick spent a big part of the day trying to track down parts  for Marcin Grela from Poland, to no avail.

Steve also told me that he and his dad sat down for an hour interview with reps from the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburg, NY before the race began, so it will fun to go up for  a visit after this is over to see their video of all the interviews, pictures and start of the race, when it's complete. 

Day 1, Steve received a perfect 210 scores along with 56 other riders.  However, 4 riders did not start, 3 received no score, and 8 others received only partial points.  Day 2 scores have not been posted.

I talked with Steve just after he blew his head gasket and didn't talk with him anymore until I was awakened this morning by a phone call from him singing "It's a beautiful morning", so I knew he got everything repaired and was on  the ride for Day 3.  He said everyone was pushing to get to the Lake Express ferry in time ... if not, they were done for the day.  He is currently riding with Josh Wilson (a fellow 101 rider) from Virginia this morning and expecting Jeff Alperin to catch them soon,  which will be a good thing as the new front tire is not close enough to the magnet for the odometer to read correctly.  He fears that it may be an interesting day to follow the route map and that he may be taking a few minor detours.  It's quite ironic that I'm always the one to blame when we're "LOST" when I'm with him regarding "my" map reading abilities, but he just calls them "minor detours" when I'm not.

He's promised to call when he's on the ferry as it will be a 2 hour ride across the lake to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Today's ride is a total of 300 miles and will include a hosted dinner at the Harley Davidson Museum with a Parc Ferme' for all the riders bikes which will close at 8 pm this evening.

Go #7!

And her name is Ginger....

Just got final text from Steve this evening.  He reports that Ginger has been serviced and put to bed. :)
The 1929 101 Scout was christened "Ginger" at the start of the Cannonball today, a far cry from "Damn-It" and she apparently has responded to the gentle touch and words of encouragement rather well on Day 1.
Today's ride was a gorgeous day and the bike ran really well ...... others weren't so lucky.

Earlier in the day, Steve reported that he is paired up with fellow Cannonball Rider Jeff Alperin and "the Beast" (his 101 Indian Scout) and they had a great ride from Newburg, NY to Wellsboro, PA for a total of 210 miles.   There were a couple minor malfunctions, the first being that Steve's antique doctor's bag on his luggage rack is quickly coming apart from the dry-rotting leather.  He had hoped it would hold up longer, but he's got a back up that he installed this evening during service.   The second, more comical, as the saddle bag came off on the one side of the bike which held tools, his spare gas can and one of two small fire extinquishers he is carrying.  Jeff was following at the time and thankfully was on the opposite side of the bike, so he got to see it all unfold....... and extinguish.   Yeah, the fire extinquisher was the only fatality.  Everything was gathered up, pictures were taken and the riders were on their way again.

Tomorrow's run will go a total of 320 miles from Wellsboro, PA to Sandusky, OH where he hopes to meet up with Justin and Jared and crew.

Still getting ready....

It is 10:00 pm the night before the Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Race and I've just talked with Steve.   There are still riders and pit crews in the parking lot making repairs and getting bikes ready for tomorrow's start.  He's been helping out fellow 101 riders with their bikes.   However,  he has decided to call it a night, hoping that his excitement doesn't keep him up as he'll be up and out by 6:00 a.m.   His start time is just past 7 a.m.

Today's practice run and rider's meetings went well.

Tomorrow, Day 1 of the race will have the riders traveling 210 miles to Wellsboro, PA. 

And so it begins.....

Bringing you up to speed!

Well......after the last post Steve decided that the blogspot must be jinxing him with his progress on getting his bike ready for the Cannonball.....so he decided NOT to post anything else until the race.   So, while I won't go into detail on his glitches or preparations, I will say that they guys left this morning and have arrived in Newburg, NY.  They are registered and have passed inspections and are ready for tomorrow's practice runs and rider's meetings.

Here's just a few things that I do know:
1 - He's decided to talk more softly to his girl and she has taken a liking to him.  While I don't know her
            name, it is no longer Damn-It.   :)
2 - That after riding many evenings following him on my bike over the last month, I know that he can go  
           90+miles before he runs slap out of gas.
3 - That he is determined that he will ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no matter what it
           takes to get his girl there.
4 - That he was loaded and ready to go on Friday and then unloaded when fellow 101 rider Doug Wothke
            #88 called and needed a hand on some repairs on his bike on his way up from Alabama.
5 - That he's decided that his cannonball number #7 is his lucky number.

So, I hope to update with information about the day's runs as I get the info from him.

Go Motorcycle Cannonball Rider #7!!!