The Results for Stage 4 are in!!!
Stage 4
Jamestown, NY to Bowling Green, OH
273 Miles
Riders were awakend by a predicted storm and prepared themselves for what would be an all day soaking before they gathered in the Doubletree lobby to be told the run was cancelled for the day. The lead car that was dispatched early in the morning to ride the route reported that roads were hazardous for the antiques.
Jason Sims took to the bullhorn to announce that, “This isn’t about being wet and it isn’t about being cold. It’s about safety and the raod just are not safe.” With that, riders loaded up ther trailers and moseyed down the road to Harely-Davidson of Jamestown, New York. Support crews, however, were left to figure out what to dowith their personal machines. Several just rode out the weather on the highway, rather than risking the backroads. By day’s end, roads were dry even if volunteers weren’t.
Stage 4 will end at Buffalo Wild Wings in Bowling Green, Ohio and weather is supposed to be warm and sunny. If you’re planning to get support gear, you’d better do it soon since supplies are dwindling.
Click Here for Stage 3 Results
Day two of cruising the country was a cold ride shrouded by dreary grey skies, but the day was filled with sparks of excitement. The theory that the cool weather was why the geriatrics were performing so well during Stage 1 was tossed right off the passenger pad today since sweep vehicles were loaded to capacity with cantankerous motorcycles. Breakdowns averaged 1 every mile by the time they passed the 200 mile mark of a 251-mile route but the most spectacular story to spread through the Cannonball community was when rider # 24, Kelly Modlin, had a bit of a scare. While sitting at a traffic light, a fellow rider pointed out that he had a gas leak and the next thing Kelly knew, he was waist-deep in a gas fire. Tossing his bike to the ground, other riders, including Jason Sims who happened to be behind Modlin, lept into action. Grabbing a fire extinguisher, Sims and other riders quickly extinguished the blazing inferno and Kelly was lucky to have escaped serious injury. The men got to work and, amazingly, managed to get the 1928 Indian roadworthy. Kelly rode the charred old Indian to finish out his day with all his miles. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is just day two of the Cannonball Endurance Run.
Stage I of the Motorcycle Cannonball coast-to-coast endurance is but a happy memory as riders jockey for position on the starting line of the second full day of riding across the United States. Day one of the Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon journey to prove that antique motorcycles are capable of such an arduous challenge was a short and pleasurable 145-mile ride made up of sweeping turns, beautiful vistas and overcast skies that totaled up to be a first day experience never before enjoyed by Cannonballers. Typically, the first three days of the run are grueling as jockeys work to figure out how to read route sheets, get their machines dialed in and figure out how to comfortably position themselves for the 200-300 miles days of chugging along the backroads. As it was, the breakfast provided to anyone who showed up was graciously dished up with big smiles at Big Moose Harley-Davidson in Portland before riders charged out past the green flag into brisk morning temperatures that remained cool all day. Lunch consisted of tasty treats served up under a canopy amidst a packed house at Rochester Harley-Davidson in New Hampshire. Crowds there were all smiles while cruising among the proud iron that sat cooling off in the midday sun. Riders took the opportunity to make adjustments that would take the bikes through to Keene, New Hampshire for the night after an easy ride through the New England backwoods. Incredible was the fact that sweep vehicles arrived at the finish line with just 3 bikes on the trailer, another record breaking achievement. The 2016 run had all sweep vehicles and trailers loaded to the gills and calls went out to individual rider’s support crews to pick up the overflow of broken bikes mostly due to sweltering weather. The 2018 version had none of those first day jitters. All in all, it was a good day for a motorcycle ride.
The first miles of the 2018 Cannnball consisted of a 10-mile ride to Bug Light Park in Portland to stage for the offical group photo taken by Michael Lichter. Crowds gathered to watch the procession of 106 motorcycles squeezing in tight to pose for the Colorado photographer. Immediately afterwards, anxious riders lit out for some local sightseeing and the typical Cannonball chaos began. In the scant 10-miles of coastal cruising, 10 bikes broke down. Machines were trailered back to the hotel, wrenches broke out and the work to get the bikes road worthy got serious before the welcome banquet later in the evening when founder Lonnie Isam, Jr. was celebrated. Portland’s Big Moose Harley-Davidson will be the sight of the green flag send off tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. Everyone is invited to come out and cheer the riders on as they embark on the first leg of their 16-day journey.
The public is invited to watch as the 2018 riders gather for the first official group photo at Portland’s Bug Light Park at 1:15pm Friday, September 7. Photographer Michael Lichter will assemble riders and their machines on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean for the first 10-miles of the historic run that will span the breadth of these great United States. Come out and cheer the adventure on!
For Immediate Release
The Transcontinental Motorcycle Cannonball Run V Schedule
Sturgis, South Dakota, August 8, 2018–Jason Sims, owner of the Motorcycle Cannonball Run, has announced that the fifth iteration of the world-famous transcontinental endurance run for vintage motorcycles is set. On September 7, riders from around the world will line up to take the green flag from Portland, Maine and finish 16 days later in Portland, Oregon. The Motorcycle Cannonball Run is known as the most difficult antique motorcycle run in the world and this year will include a variety of marques produced before 1929 with entrants coming to America from 6 countries. The riders will cover some 3,674 miles by the time they complete their journey on September 23.
Sims has extended an open invitation to the public to come out to see the antique motorcycles and visit with the riders at various stops along the way. At these hosted events, citizens will be able to meet their favorite riders in person and share in the excitement by cheering the travelers on as they make their way across these great United States. Fans are invited to help kick off the celebrated journey at the famous and scenic Bug Light Park in Portland, Maine as riders gather for a group photo on September 7 at 1:00pm. A week into travel, riders will have a day of rest, repairs, and some scheduled festivities after a ceremonial finish on Harley-Davidson Way in the well-known motorcycle town of Sturgis, SD on September 16. A Grand Finish celebration is scheduled a week later in Stevenson, Washington. In between, there will be visits to dealerships, museums, and supportive communities across the country. For a complete list of hosted events, please go to the website at www.motorcyclecannonball.com
Sept. 7- Prologue and group photo at Bug Light Park, Portland, Maine
Sept. 8- Official Start from Big Moose Harley-Davidson, Portland, Maine
Lunch, Harley-Davidson of Rochester, Rochester, NH
Sept. 9-Pit Stop, Hemmings Motor News, Bennington, VT
Sept. 10-Pit Stop, Finger Lakes Harley-Davidson, Cayuta, NY
Lunch, Arkport Harley-Davidson, Hornell, NY
Harley-Davidson of Jamestown, Falconer, NY
Sept. 11- Buffalo Wild Wing, Bowling Green, OH
Sept. 12- Lunch, Kersting’s Cycle Center & Museum, Winamac, IN
Sept. 13- Lunch, Workman Harley-Davidson, Rock Falls, IL,
Finish- The National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa, IA
Sept. 14- Lunch-Harley-Davidson of Mason City, Mason City, IA
Finish-Indian Motorcycle Factory, Spirit Lake, IA
Sept. 15- Steamboat Park, Pierre, SD
Sept. 16- Ceremonial finish at Rally Point, Sturgis, SD
Sept. 18- Beartooth Harley-Davidson, Billings, MT
Sept. 19- Big Sky Harley-Davidson, Great Falls, MT
Sept. 21- Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson, Spokane Valley, WA
Sept. 22- Lunch, Rattlesnake Mountain Harley-Davidson, Kennewick, WA
Finish, Federal Street, The Dalles, OR
Sept. 23- Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA