1928 Harley-Davidson JD

Greetings from Visalia, California . . . Gateway to the Sequoias!
My name is Bill Kitchen and I’ve been an avid motorcyclist for most of my life and a commercial banker for forty of those years. My motorcyclist journey began as a pre-teen on a Montgomery-Wards mini-bike, motocross and flat-track racing in my teens; later to cruisers and now collecting . . . albeit, on a modest scale. My initial exposure to the Motorcycle Cannonball dates back to my attendance at the 2011 MidAmerica motorcycle auction in Vegas . . . where this wondrous collection of 2010 Cannonball finishers were being displayed and their stories told. This harkened me back to an earlier desire to ride the breadth of the USA, at that time I was envisioning on my Honda 90, to experience whatever challenges one would encounter along the way. So, here I am . . . smiling like a Cheshire Cat after receiving a phone call from Jason informing me my name was chosen! This effort will be a family affair as my brothers Eric and John will assist with logistics, wrenching duties and Eric as an alternate rider. So, our team name, aptly, is the “Band of Brothers”.
As a special treat to me, will be that portion of our trek through the Carolinas. My daughter, son-in-law and four grandchildren recently relocated to North Carolina and the 2020 Cannonball provides a venue for “grandpa” to showoff to four darling grandchildren.
We will be championing a 1928 Harley-Davidson JD, christened “Rosie”, in honor of our mother, on its second trek across America. This noble stead was rebuilt from a basket case by Chris Price in 2011 and went on to successfully complete the 2012 Cannonball from Newburgh, New York to San Francisco . . . and, after a few modifications, she’s ready to do it again!
So best wishes to all of my fellow riders and a special thanks to those whom have been most helpful with assistance, advice and encouragement . . . namely Cole Deister, Jon Neuman, Keith Milne, Vince Martinico and Cris Sommer-Simmons!
I’m looking forward to seeing you all at Sault Sainte Marie in September!