What??? Wet Again!

The riders are still enduring rain showers.  Day 3 of the Cannonball ended at Coker Tire in Chattanooga, TN.  Corky Coker hosted a dinner for all of the participants in his museum and a great evening was enjoyed by all.  Thanks Corky and crew!!!!

Steve said that both his bike and Ziggy's ran well today and they again completed the full mileage.  They rode with a different set of guys and enjoyed getting to know another group of enthusiasts. What an awesome ride with the scenery today and then took in the views from Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga.  Steve says about 9 bikes broke down today and a dozen guys got lost along the way, but apparently made it in time for dinner! 

Steve worked on the bike of  one of the women Cannonball riders last night.   Dottie Mattern #43, who is riding a 1936 Indian Scout needed some help with a few things, so the guys went to work to help out.   Steve says they've got a few more things to work on, but she's still running and he will tweak it as they go.

No results in yet tonight, so I'll have to post tomorrow when I get some more pictures of Sunday's run from Steve.  They were all still trying to dry out this evening.  Bikes, riders, support crews, spectators got soaked this evening when bikes were on display at Coker Tire.

Tomorrow's ride is 237 miles which will take them from Chattanooga, TN to Clarksville, TN.  Looking for a rain-free day, fingers are crossed.



Here's some random pictures that I thought you'd enjoy.....


Don't worry, it's not what you think.  Doug stopped to help some fellow Cannonball'ers work on their bike and got some safety help from the officer and his car.  Way to go, Doug!   Doug has had some issues with his bike, but he's up and running.

Here's a picture of the rally box map holder that most all of the riders have mounted on their bikes to hold the numerous pages of directions for each day's ride. 

This is one of the drones that flew around in Daytona Beach, FL taking pictures.  Thought you'd like to see it.

Yesterday, one of the riders had a mechanical problem coming off the off ramp and it caused him to put the bike down.  Rider is fine!  However, here's a picture of some of the welding repairs to his running boards that occurred to get him up and going for today.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Rain, Rain, Rain........and oh, MORE RAIN!  Steve & Dick got up early Saturday morning in a panic when they realized the full extent that it RAINED.  They had parked in the grass the night before and just knew they were gonna be stuck.  Out in the rain they went and by the time they got to the Excursion and trailer they were wading in 8 inches of water.  But the rain took pity and let them very slowly pull the rig out and up to higher, paved ground in front of the hotel they were staying at.  Others weren't so fortunate and were stuck and even the rollback that came to get some of them out got stuck as well. 

An early morning meeting was called and it was announced that the Cannonball would have a rain delay due to the safety factor involved in riding in the flooding areas.  They were told to trailer their bikes to the lunch stop, where everyone would unload and finish the day's mileage.  Steve and Ziggy's bikes ran beautifully and they finished the day with another perfect score.  However, there were some that just couldn't take the weather and weren't so lucky.  At the end of Stage 2, the count is down to 77 riders completing total mileage for both days.  The endurance part of this race is certainly starting early with the weather playing a big factor in the event. 

Day 3 will take the riders 244 miles from Columbus, Georgia to Chattanooga, TN to Coker Tire for a hosted dinner and a tour of his museum.  Corky is such a gracious host, so I'm sure the event will be awesome!  Steve & I  have been there several times, normally with a piece for Corky to add to his collection.  For those of you who's visit is a first time, ENJOY!

Ride safe and hopefully, out of the rain for now!

Mileage

Scores are based on 1 point for every mile ridden, so mileage is the first part of the scoring puzzle to win the 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball. Then, the motorcycle's age and the rider's age are other factors in determining the overall race winner.  However, to most of these guys, it is all about the ride!  Riding from the east coast  to the west coast and all the fun they have along the way. Good Luck to all!

Day 1
Originally 105 riders were signed up to ride.  When they left the beach yesterday, there were 98 actual racers.  At the end of Day 1, 83 rode the entire 140 mile trek and 15 had some sort of trouble.  Day 1 took its toll,  but bikes were worked on last night and they are up and ready to take on Day 2.  Stay dry!

Rally map back in the groove

The riders took to the beach to start the 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball race this morning. 

Rose on Daytona Beach

The lineup!

Ziggy's bike ready to roll this morning to the beach.

Spectators gathered to watch the start of the race.

The guys started off under sunny skies this morning with the drones in the air taking pictures galore.  Can't wait to see some of them---if we can.  Early reports from Buck when the guys rolled out were about 4 didn't even make the start and  that in the first few miles, there were about 9 bikes down already. Unofficially, Steve thought about the same numbers when I talked with him this evening.  So, when day one results come in you will see the toll.

Everyone was nervous and excited for the start.  The beach picture was an awesome idea, but in reality the 10 inches of sand made the numbers about 3 to 1 in getting a bike off the beach.  Three guys pushing to every bike to get it out of the sand.  A few rode theirs but most didn't want the abrasive sand on the chain anymore than they could help.

Steve said Rose ran NICE!  But he said that he fully expected to take a turn on the sweep trucks before they made it to Tacoma.  They rode in and out of rain showers most of the day.  They went from being wet to an hour later, being warm, muggy and sticky!  So, in my interpretation, he was wet all day.

The evening's meal was hosted by Interstate Cycles  in Lake City, Florida.  A big THANK YOU for feeding the crew!  It was wonderful.

Dick Jones, official Buck's Indian rally map mapper, says he's now back in the groove.  He cuts, tapes and marks up gas stops, etc on the 20 plus pages of the daily rally map that Steve uses every day. 


Go Cannonball #7!


Stage 2 is a 250 mile day from Lake City, Florida to Columbus, Georgia with bikes leaving at 8:00 am and arriving by 4:25 pm.  Try to stay dry tomorrow!  Weather looks like it will be pretty wet!

Rested up and ready to go!

Today the guys rested, yes, did nothing but rest for coming days ahead!  Here is their trek over the next 17 days.

This evening was the mandatory riders meeting and then the Motorcycle Cannonball opening dinner followed by another meeting for all participants.  As of 9 pm this evening, the guys are all still tied up in the final meeting. If you were there,  I am sure you could feel the excitement and adrenaline rush of being geared up and ready to begin.


They will ride for their shortest mileage of the race tomorrow, a distance of only 140 miles to Lake City, Florida where they will stop for the day at Interstate Cycles.

The Official Start will begin at 8:30 am on the beach, Daytona Beach itself . Good Luck and Safe Travels  to all 2014 Motorcycle Cannonball Riders and ENJOY YOUR RIDE!

Rules, details, map reading, etc.

Finishing Touches

So...Rose is ready to go but Steve had to put some last minute finishing touches on Ziggy's bike once they arrived back in West Virginia from the Blackhawk Chapter Meet in Davenport, Iowa.   Can't miss the Davenport meet, he's been going there for over 20 years, it just wouldn't be right not to go! 

However, the mad rush was on.  The guys arrived back to WV late Sunday night, got up Monday and headed to shop to unload the trailer with Davenport "stuff" and repack it with Cannonball "stuff" which included everything but the kitchen sink (and maybe that when I wasn't looking).  Steve and Ziggy made some last minute adjustments, loaded luggage and the crew and then left by Tuesday at noon.

So far, I've heard they've made it through registration, bike inspection and are just chilling out!  I've gotten some beach pictures and have been told how nice and hot it is.  Not cold, like when I get to go in March to the Sunshine Chapter's AMCA meet. 

Here are a few pics.....

View of motel from the beach at night!

Views from their room!

Sunrise on the beach on Thursday morning!

Packing Stuff, Stuff and MORE Stuff

So............saddle bags are packed full, tool roll filled complete with brass hammer for those "heat" of the moment fixes (which I hope he won't need), and all items required are complete.  Bike DONE!

Now, what to pack .... to clean up, tune up, fix up, or repair anything that could possibly happen on the trip.  If he learned anything from the last Cannonball, it was to expect the unexpected!

Before the last Cannonball, Steve had dreams of hitting a buffalo for several nights.  Then the morning they left Yellowstone, Steve met his "dream buffalo" and was ready for him.  They eyed each other up and came to an understanding as Steve slowly eased by him in the road in  the early morning fog.  I don't know what he's been dreaming about before this one, but I do know that he's been kicking the dickens out of something....whether it's to kickstart his 84 cu inch Chief or if something been chasing him, but I'm gonna be glad when he goes...I'm starting to get sore. (Ha!)  I also believe that he's made every possible repair already at least 3 times since the TV comes on at 3 or 4 am in our bedroom and he's wide awake.  So whatever comes his way for the trip, he should be ready for it.  I've told him to hang on and enjoy the ride!!!!

 

Saddle bags packed!  Bike ready!