Justin Rinker from Robinson, IL (originally from Romney, WV) is rider number 6. He is riding a 1916 Indian Power Plus similar to his twin brother Jared (#37). Justin and his wife, Melody, have three kids; Karson, Landon, and Isabella. After being taught by his father and grandfather, Justin has been riding Indian motorcycles since he was nine years old. At the age of 16, Justin obtained his motorcycle license on a 1941 Indian 741 custom. Over the years, Justin’s passion for adventures on the Indian motorcycle has continued to grow. He has successfully competed in a past Cannonball, Great Race, and The Race of Gentlemen. Now at age 32, Justin prepares for his second Cannonball adventure. During his 2016 Cannonball journey, Justin missed portions of day 1 and day 2 of the expedition due to transmission issues, but after a couple of late nights, he successfully completed every day thereafter. He looks to improve his performance in 2018 by taking “Cali” coast to coast again, and hopefully this time without headaches from his transmission. Feel free to come meet Justin in September during his adventure and check in on his performance.
Steve Rinker (#7) of Buck’s Indian, located in Romney, WV, Is returning for his fourth Motorcycle Cannonball. Participation in the Cannonball to me is much more than just man versus machine, it’s making the imagination of a 12 year old boy come true. It all started with my dad, Buck, who had his first motorcycle at the age of 12. My dad always tells about when he and his buddies were 12 and they had an old Indian, with no motor, which they would take turns pushing to the top of the hill, climb on and ride it to the bottom pretending to be on some grand motorcycle adventure. Wonder if they ever had visions of crossing the Mississippi River, riding through the fields of the Midwest, or riding up and over the Rocky Mountains?
When the Cannonball was first born in 2010, Lonnie Jr. invited us to participate, but we had no bike to compete with. I’ve always wanted to do something rare and unique with our bikes, so when the 2012 Run came around and the cut-off was 1929, it was time. It would be a once in a lifetime event to complete with my father. I ran my 29 Indian Scout and after 3 days of breakdowns, I learned that old bikes, no matter how much love you have for them, they will not always perform to our hearts desire. Having packed up and headed home 83 miles from the finish on the last day, I made a promise to my dad to attempt it again more prepared to be successful.
In 2014, I ran a 36 Chief, and successfully completed the Endurance Run with a perfect score completing every mile with no penalties! Greeting each other at the finish line, it was more than father and son, it was the culmination of making a 12 year olds adventures become a reality.
In the spring of 2014, we had purchased a 1916 Indian Power Plus at the Oley swapmeet and I can remember Lonnie Jr. admiring the bike and telling my dad how much he would love to see us get the bike up and running and compete in the Cannonball with it. For me, something that early was going to be a whole new learning curve. A new challenge! During the prep for the 2016 Cannonball, as I started gathering as many parts as I could, I found that I ended up buying basket cases to get the parts that I felt we might need for spares. In the spring of 2015, I got the idea of really trying to do something big to make it a 3 generation challenge for our family. Justin and Jared knew we had enough parts to build a second bike and they contacted Lonnie Jr. and secured a spot for the second bike for them to share and ride. They were excited! Well, we all were!!! As building progressed, and we continued to acquire spare parts, a third bike was born. Once again, Justin and Jared contacted Lonnie Jr. to let them put the third bike in. It ended up that Buck’s Indian had three 1916 Indian Power Plus bikes starting on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ and crossing the finish line in Carlsbad, CA. Two of the three bikes completed every mile and finished with a perfect score while the third only lost a few miles on the first and second day and completed every mile thereafter. What a ride! This time, at the finish line, father, son and grandsons hugged. And as my father said with a proud voice, “We did it,” it was at that moment that the dreams of a 12 year old came true.
At Bloomington, Indiana, we even had a 4th generation, my grandson, Karson, pitch in and do his part on the nightly maintenance. So, as he learns to ride his bikes, we will only wonder where his imagination takes him. As a 4th generation Indian enthusiast, hopefully one day it will take him on a great Cannonball adventure.
Now, with 2018 here, Cannonball fever is in full swing. I will be riding a 1928 Indian Scout and my sons, Justin (#6) and Jared (#37) will be riding their 1916 Indian Power Plus motorcycles again. (45 mph)
Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, an adventure awaits!!!
I have been an active motorcycle enthusiast since 1978. Since then I have racked up over 500,000 miles on two wheels and have owned 50+ motorcycles. I have been lucky enough to have ridden on some awesome trips: Alaska, Mexico, Australia, and extensively in Europe. I am by nature a competitive person and have enjoyed competing in some motorcycle events from Field Games to long distance endurance rides. From the first Cannonball in 2010 I have keenly followed along as a spectator. I was in attendance at the Harley-Davidson Museum in late 2010 when Cannonball ride Bill Rodencal held an informal talk discussing his experience on the 2010 ride. I was hooked. Then in 2012 when the Cannonball route came through Milwaukee and stopped at the H-D Museum I was there to welcome the riders to Milwaukee. Goosebumps the entire night as I mingled with the riders and their machines. Fast forward to 2016 I thought I would follow along for a few days and drove down to Bloomington, IN and met up with the Riders, and followed along to Cape Girardeau, MO. Wow is all I can say.
In late 2015 I was able to acquire this one-owner 1911 Excelsior Model K Single from the Hazen family. 30.5 cu.in. engine producing four horsepower. The restoration process is continuing and I will be riding the bike yet in later in 2016. This will give me time to put some miles on and become acclimated to the riding nuances the machine will dictate.
Being selected for the 2018 event is a dream come true for me. I want to thank the Reising (Hazen) family for trusting my intentions with this bike. I also want to thank my wife Nancy who provides so much support in this monumental project (restoration) and encouragement to participate.
See you down the road!
JOURNEY OF THE CANNONBALL
By Bill Page
It was the spring of 2014, my friend Kelly Modlin was preparing his motorcycle for the 2014 Cannonball. To keep him company, I started following him around on my old Knucklehead. As we put miles on his old bike and visited with people along the way, I started to slowly contract this addiction, or sickness, called vintage motorcycles. For some the fix might be 35 year old bikes, for others it might be 50 year old bikes. But for those of us who have it bad, the only fix is very, very old and the older, the better.
When the 2016 Cannonball was announced that it would run from Atlantic City, New Jersey to San Diego, California and that required entry was to be at least a 100 year old bike, challenge accepted. Now I just needed to round up enough parts to build a 1915 Harley Davidson that would endure a journey like that. Why did I choose this bike? Well, it was easy. My drug of choice has always been Harley Davidson and the 1915 was an awesome looking machine with the seat position lowered and the square cornered tank.
Kelly called my bike the “Johnny Cash Special” because I really did build it one piece at a time. If you’ll get the tune in your mind it would sound something like this; first came the engine, single cylinder model 11b and then I got a frame. Found me a front end then I bought some wheels. Then came the fenders, handlebars, seat and finally a tranny.
Piece of cake, now just put it all together and ride it, right? Well ride it I did, but every time I rode it something either broke, came loose and just wasn’t working right. Yea, it would start up just fine, ride around the block and 3 miles to town, but whenever I tried to put major miles on it I would uncover problems that would arise from heat, vibration and age. Some hiccups were not things you would put on a checklist, like the lifter pin problem. The lifter pin on a single cylinder is different than on a twin, none are re-pops so you have to make them. The most common to use would be either drill rod or drill stock. On a long ride they have to be just right, if they’re too soft then ends would mash but if they’re too hard the ends would chip off, both cases affecting the valve operation. The cam on a single doesn’t have a long duration so when the intake valve opens you need every bit of opening you can get. Other problems we had to tackle were: valve pockets, exhaust valve sticking, and the stock HX carburetor not being big enough to sustain long rides at a constant speed. Early on I would take rides with my motorcycle club and I couldn’t get the bike to go over 35 mph, at best. It just wouldn’t pull hills or maintain speed. It was not only frustrating for me but for my friends as well because they would hang back with me while others rode on.
After a full year of riding and experimenting with this motorcycle it seemed as though all the bugs had been worked out, it was time to go to Atlantic City. At the riders meeting the night before the start of the race we were told that days 2 and 3 would be 2 of the 3 hardest days of the ride, oh boy! I only had enough parts to rebuild the engine two times so I thought that come the fourth day I might be riding in the truck.
The first day of the race was the shortest day at only 156 miles, the farthest I had ridden the bike thus far was 70 miles so I didn’t know what to expect. We ended up finishing that first day with no issues other than a sore bottom! The second day was 360 miles through the hills of Pennsylvania with 4,000 feet elevation changes. This was the day that took out nearly 1/3 of the riders in the 2016 Cannonball. 108 riders started on day 1, I believe only 52 started on day 3. The 1915 “Johnny Cash Special” not only completed all 360 miles that day but went on to run 13 of 15 days with a perfect score. 3,175 miles total. The day we rode through Carlsbad, California towards the finish line my heart was pounding, I had a huge smile on my face and if you looked real close you probably could’ve seen a tear in my eye. 2 years of hard work and dedication to a cause had come to an end. We finished in 24th place, only 52 riders finished that day with enough miles to go on record as finishing. This was far beyond my expectations, the entire field of 100 year old bikes performed beyond anyone’s expectations.
We were a team and it takes a team effort from family and friends to make this journey. My friend, Eric Erickson, spent countless hours helping me prepare for this race, without him I don’t believe I would have even made the start. My son Billy, even with 2 new babies at home sacrificed 3 weeks to go along with me and work on the bike night after night alongside Eric. My friends Kelly and Ellen Waddell rode many miles at 35 mph early on, (which was not easy on Kelly if you know what I mean!) and Kelly Modlin, who I have ridden with a lot in preparation for the next Cannonball as well.
Over the next few issues I am going to preview the 2018 Cannonball. I will let you know how our bikes are coming along as well as the other Sunflower Chapter entrants and keep you informed of any news about the upcoming event. As of right now, all we know is that it will start in Portland, Maine and end in Portland, Oregon with a day of rest in Deadwood, South Dakota. 3,800 miles total. Riders who have been accepted in the field for 2018 from our chapter are: Kelly Modlin, this will be his 4th Cannonball and was a big influence for getting me involved in the event. Billy Page, my crew chief from the 2016 race will be riding his own 1916 Harley. And Terry Richardson, this will be his 3rd Cannonball.
Oh, and I will be riding the ole “Johnny Cash Special”
Till next time, we’re gone.
Billy Page will be riding a 1916 Harley Davidson twin cylinder 61 C.I. 7 1/2 h.p. bike, with magneto ignition. Billy went along with his father Bill Page on the 2016 run, and was a big reason that ole #10 kept on going. He is a good mechanic and tends to be patient in figuring things out. He has a nice antique car collection and has several bikes that he enjoys.
Billy’s riding career started at the age of 4, and had been involved in some sort of 2 or 4 wheel motorsports since. He has competed in motocross, traveled several years riding in the arena cross series, and was 7 time national sand drag champion, setting a record in the 2 cylinder class, running the 300 ft race in 3.39 seconds at 101 mph. That record still holds. Try that sometime, 0-101mph in 3 seconds, in dirt.
His main focus is getting he and his dad across the country, but will enjoy riding. He put on a couple hundred miles on the bike last fall, and is planning on more in the spring.
Billy is married to a great girl, Marcella, and they have two children. Kate will be 3, and Liam will be 2. Marcella is planning on making the journey with him, and she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, jumping right in to help.
Hello, my name is Dean Bordigioni and I�m number 13 in the 2018 Motorcycle Cannonball (CB). This will be my fourth Cannonball, oh my, even though before the start of my third in 2016 I thought that would be my last, and then especially after ï¬nishing I thought I was done for sure.
Welcome to the �Vortex of Insanity”. The CB is a bit of a disease. It has replaced over 90% of my motorcycle riding energy, which is OK as I have a lot of other things that interest me and I�ve had quite a life on motorbikes. It takes months to recover from the ride, and then months and months to get your bike together for the next one. You wake up in the middle of the night with a start, �damn, I forgot to order yada yada”. This goes on for months. Forgettabout the last few weeks. You are basically insane.
Then you pack your bike and your gear and you or someone drives it across the country, at least for me as I�m in California. This may be the worst week of the entire two years of prep as your little baby is vulnerable. Regardless of your cautions, something can happen including accident and theft – the bastards!
I was an athlete once a long time ago. Before the game there was always the butterflies, and then that ï¬rst hit – football obviously – and it was all good. All the anxiety and preparation builds within the vortex, especially when you arrive at the takeoff point, this year Portland, Maine, even though you�re really happy to be here and see your once-every-two-years friends. Everybody is jazzed and the feeling of privilege and wonder start to erode the vortex. Just like that ï¬rst hit, when we leave that ï¬rst day it is glorious and it all makes sense again.
Our ride across America, on vintage bikes and mostly vintage, two-lane roads is magniï¬cent. Exhausting and painful at times, but magniï¬cent. I�m truly looking forward to seeing the Cannonballers again, getting stoked after passing inspection and waking up way too early on that ï¬rst day, putting on the gear and wearing the game face. My nature is to do my best, so I will try with all I have once again.
We are Team Vino. We have had a very successful run in the Cannonball over the past 6 years and we�re going for it again. I�m proud and honored to have Ciro Nisi of Italy on Team Vino this year, rider #102. We met at the 2016 CB and have become friends, amici. His lovely daughter Frederica may not be able to attend this year, but we�re hopeful she can.
Chrystiano Miranda has been my road mechanic for the past three CBs and he�s returning this year. Chrys once worked for me at my Harley-Dealership in Marin County, CA – Golden Gate Harley-Davidson. He is a brother now.
Fellow Cannonball rider Robert �BIG SWEDE” Gustavsson will be riding shotgun again as driver and mechanic.
My brother Tom Bordigioni, great friend Kurty Kurt Campbell and all around good guy and cheap cigar buyer Bruce Cooper will once again be crossing the country on modern motorcycles and meeting up with the team at the end of the day.
My ï¬rst CB build, my �23 H-D J, was built by Marty Schilber, my former Service Manager at Golden Gate H-D. That engine has crossed the United States twice on that build, winning Class II in 2014, and its returning for the �18. I�ve decided to start with my 1914 Harley Single, but the �23 will be with us just in case.
Steve Huntzinger built some of my �23, but he was the only one who touched my 1914, the bike I piloted in the 2016 CB. That bike made a historic run across the country, ï¬nishing every full mile and winning Class I. We didn�t win the overall, but that was my fault, not the bike�s. I truly believe my 1914 Harley-Davidson Single Belt Drive is the ï¬nest motorcycle to ever compete in the Motorcycle Cannonball.
To read more about Team Vino, please check out my winery website: annadelestatewinery.com. There is a Team Vino page in About Us.
I want to thank Lonnie Isam, our hero, for founding the MC, and Jason Sims for carrying the torch after Lonnie left us. You are doing a great job Jason.
Thank you for reading if you got this far!