Motorcycle Cannonball 2016 Now with pics from the finish

[jas67]

That CL100 front brake is a very small diameter single-leading-shoe brake, so, while quite an improvement is still going to require some advanced planning for stopping.

I can't imagine what a white knuckle experience it would be to ride with only that original back brake.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

What surprised me the last time I saw the early bikes do this Cannonball run on Rte. 66 was the size of the early spark plugs compared to their size today.  They were huge back then (assuming that's what they looked like then). 

Probably 18 mm plugs - same as many old tractors and cars, my '64 Gravely L uses them.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Several of us are planning to meet at the Cumberland Airport tomorrow, check out the bikes as they roll in and are put on display and then go for lunch at a nearby pub. Everyone is welcome to join us. From our "ring leader" Joe:

FYI for anyone interested

Carol and I will be at the Cumberland Airport around 11:30 AM on Sunday.  After the Cannonball bikes leave (around 1 or 1:15PM, we'll probably ride over to Patrick's Pub http://www.patspub.net/ for a late lunch.  Join us if you want to.  (Dutch treat!)
Joe

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Photos from yesterday. Huge turnout of locals and other spectators, so it was tough to get photos of the bikes. Did the best I could. When we left for lunch around 2 pm, only about 25 bikes had shown up. Quite a few never made it - when I went back after lunch, only the chase trucks were there with perhaps 8-10 bikes loaded up. Lucky 13 Racing (the Indian Joe W. rebuilt) seemed to be doing well.

Lots of interesting spectator bikes and cars, there was an autocross going on at the airport as well and some very cool cars were doing that as well.

Last photo is on my ride home the "long way". Taken from a church parking lot at the peak of Coopers Mt. on US50, just west of Capon Bridge, WV.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/98421140@N05/albums/72157670498236094

[Guzzistajohn]

See you at university plaza hotel in Springfield, mo where rt 66 was named. I'll be the dude on the CX100.

[Arizona Wayne]

Photos from yesterday. Huge turnout of locals and other spectators, so it was tough to get photos of the bikes. Did the best I could. When we left for lunch around 2 pm, only about 25 bikes had shown up. Quite a few never made it - when I went back after lunch, only the chase trucks were there with perhaps 8-10 bikes loaded up. Lucky 13 Racing (the Indian Joe W. rebuilt) seemed to be doing well.

Lots of interesting spectator bikes and cars, there was an autocross going on at the airport as well and some very cool cars were doing that as well.





Last photo is on my ride home the "long way". Taken from a church parking lot at the peak of Coopers Mt. on US50, just west of Capon Bridge, WV.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/98421140@N05/albums/72157670498236094

Thanks for sharing your pics.      Looking forward for when they get here to Kingman, Az.  I'll ride my MuZ 660 single to meet them after they go right by our house.   

[jas67]

Cycle World did an article on Fred and his Indian:
http://www.cycleworld.com/preparing-103-year-old-1913-model-e-indian-motorcycle-for-cannonball-run?cmpid=enews092216&spMailingID=26585992&spUserID=NzM4NjMxMTIzNzUS1&spJobID=883571433&spReportId=ODgzNTcxNDMzS0#page-11

[John Ulrich]

Great article!

[rodekyll]

Probably 18 mm plugs - same as many old tractors and cars, my '64 Gravely L uses them.

we had huge plugs on hit-and-miss engines and other farm equiment that could be disassembled for service.  You set the gap by raising or lowering the center electrode screw-wise.

[Arizona Wayne]

We caught the tail end of their lunch @ Kingman Harley dealer today.  Saw a woman kick start her bike(#39) and leave for the next ride today.  Talked to a rider who had a 240cc single bike w/bicycle brake, tires.  He said he could go 110 miles on a tank full.  But then we saw him put his bike in the back of a PU so don't know if the bike is running or not.  Saw 2 other bikes on trailers so apparently they aren't running any more. Weather perfect today.   Windy yesterday. Before today we've had rain off & on since Tuesday so wonder what their weather has been like getting here.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Joe W has been busy lately, essentially totally rebuilding the engine of the Lucky 13 Racing Indian.

Posted on Facebook.

Sept. 20th @ 4:28 pm. Important update. Yesterday's complete run gives us 8 of 9 completed stages and moved us up to 31st. However, the heat and miles have taken its toll. While installing a new clutch in Pueblo, as planned, the oil has bronze partials in it, not large enough to feel but, there none the less. With fresh oil in the case, valve clearances checked, I could not get the bike to fire. With some assistance from some local gear heads, I diagnosed a failed magneto. About 2am I got the bike to start but, there is a new noise, and not a good one coming from the motor

We've elected to scratch for stage 10, drive to Durango and tear the motor down to hopefully, with the help of our fellow gypsies, repair the bike and start tomorrow.

Cracked crankcase:


Fortunately another team had one:


Reassembly underway late into the night:


Starting fresh the next morning:


Back in the bike at 9:45 am:


11 am:


7:45 pm:
https://www.facebook.com/joe.walano/videos/10154506065108607/

[Aaron D.]

That is great! Thanks for posting!

I know the bikes are simple and all but that is a great feat in any event. And I love the spirit-"Yeah, I got a spare..crankcase".

[Scud]

I stumbled into something I would have planned my day around, had I been aware of it. The Cannonball finished today in Carlsbad, my home town. For this 100th anniversary run, all the bikes had to be made in 1916 or earlier. They finished their 3,000 mile cross country journey today. Here are pics in a slideshow:

http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/timscudder/slideshow/Cannonball%202016%20Carlsbad

And here's some more info about the event:

http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/theroute

I saw a bunch of them riding North on Pacific Coast Highway today. It was really cool to seem them on the move, instead of in museums or shows. Realizing that they were on the final leg of a cross-country adventure... even better.

[oldbike54]

 Scud , we have been discussing this for several weeks , where ya been 

 Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

No way, 100 yrs?







(I caught them in the middle)

[Scud]

Scud , we have been discussing this for several weeks , where ya been 

 Dusty

I guess I missed all the discussion about it. Apparently, I was just waiting for it to drop in my lap. Which today, it did.

But now I've "been-there, got the T-shirt." Literally, I bought a T-shirt.

[oldbike54]

I guess I missed all the discussion about it. Apparently, I was just waiting for it to drop in my lap. Which today, it did.

But now I've "been-there, got the T-shirt." Literally, I bought a T-shirt.

 We really do appreciate the pics , if my stupid search window would reappear I would do a merger 

 Dusty

[Scud]

(I caught them in the middle)

Sadly, that Grey Exelsior in your post was crashed - see photo #5 in my slideshow. I didn't notice the Sears bike in Carlsbad.