Hello, my name is Bob Fuller. I’m looking forward to riding in the cannonball again in 2023 on my 1924 Harley. See you down the road!!!!

My name is Donard Maniaci, I grew up in Southeast Michigan. I was born in 1960. My dad worked at Ford Transmission as a Engineer, I guess this would lay down the foundation as a future gearhead. One day my brother John, who is 12 years older than me, brought home a Suzuki 125cc. Our mother was not very happy with him. My grandfather and dad rode it to the end of the block and back. They said they didn’t like it but smiled all the way. He had a white COP helmet that he would wear when he rode. To be honest it looked a little dorky. As with many, time improves things. My brother dumped the Suzuki and went to 650 Triumph Bonneville. That bike was beautiful with a purple and white tank. This was the magic point when I thought motorcycles were cool. My best friend’s dad was also into motorcycles also. The time was around 1969. They had Norton’s, Triumph’s and BSA’s. Not many people had Harley’s at that time. I’m not really sure why. One thing for sure, I knew I needed to be part of this, so I set my sights on minibike. In fifth grade I worked all summer long shining shoes and cleaning a barber shop that my older brother managed. I scrapped together $60. My dad and I looked at minibikes for $60 and found nothing but junk. My dad decided to match what I earned. We found a Lil Indian minibike with a 4 HP motor. It had fold down handlebars and a suspension. It just so happened to be big enough so my dad could ride it. My buddy Mike also got a minibike, we rode almost every day in a field near us. As I entered college, I decided it was time to buy my own motorcycle. I didn’t know what I was doing and picked up a Kawasaki widow-maker. This was a 3 cylinder, 2 stroke motor that screamed. When the bike ran well, it would just smoke all my friends 4 stroke bikes. Unfortunately, it was just hard to keep running so I ended up selling it. After that I received my degree, got a job as an Engineer, got married and raised kids. I knew I was going to get back into motorcycling. I picked up a used KZ1000 then to a 1985 Goldwing LTD, yes it was gold with EFI. That bike was way ahead of its time, but it was top heavy and lacked power. I had to hit the marriage reset button and I met great lady. We met on Match and started dating. I noticed she had bike and loved to ride. She was riding a Yamaha Raider, 1900cc. That bike smoked my Goldwing. As a man, that just can’t happen. (yes, I said it) I then moved into a Kawasaki Concours. That bike handled like a dream and was fast. We kept both bikes until a accident. We then moved into Harley Ultra, with a sidecar and a pull behind Time-out camper. It’s the most domesticated Harley you’ll ever see. Today we own 3 bikes: 2017 Harley Ultra 1968 Triumph Chopper. Yes, it has a Bonneville motor. Ron Finch did the paint work, and it has won many trophy’s including Bike of the year in open class for 2022. 1928 Griffon. This is going to be my Cannonball bike.
At 66 years young I’ve been riding since the age of 12. My first bike was a 1969 Honda SL90 that I bought with a worn out and broken engine. I soon had it running and literally wore it out again. After a number of progressively larger dirt bikes I stumbled across a 51 Harley Davidson that I purchased and like so many others at that time chopped. That led to my next machine, a 76 super glide. After that it was a 31 VL and many other bikes of all kinds. I spent some time running motorcross and then hare scrambles. A few drag races too. I am maybe most proud of a wheel stand challenge that I was invited to by Evil himself. I had got to know him as a bartender in my family’s restaurant where he used to frequent. I became aware of the Cannonball after a group of my fellow members of the Allegheny Mountain chapter of the antique motorcycle club rode to meet up with the riders in West Virginia in 2018 I think it was. My initial reaction and impression made one of my friends comment that I would be doing this too. He was right. 2019 found me running in the inaugural Cross Country Chase and that was a great challenge and accomplishment for me. I initially was going to run a VL that I found but it was a disappointment and wasn’t going to work so I used my tried and true 47 Chief. The bike performed really well requiring only the most basic maintenance, chain adjustments and lubricants. The next Chase was more challenging. Wanting to enjoy a better handicap and being familiar with the VL Harleys I started looking at the VL. It was going to be a challenge. It soon became apparent that the “restoration” was just superficial and I had a really nice looking static display piece. Thankfully I know people who are skilled in this sort thing and within a year and after many hours and a considerable amount of money I had a rideable bike and entered and finished the second Cross Country Chase earning a top 10 finish. Wanting to stay involved with the people that I met and knowing that my pals George and Tom Banks needed a chase truck driver I signed on to help their effort in the last Cannonball. That was fun and rewarding but not really my cup of tea. I’m a rider and not being in it just left me wanting for more so I decided that next time I’ll be entering as a participant. So here I am writing this biography getting ready for my attempt at this years Cannonball. I’m very fortunate to have as my support crew Mark McClain and his son Dylan who did the lions share of the work on my bike. What could be better.

I have been associated with the Cannonball since 2014 in various roles of support and staff, decided it time to enter one as a rider. Since I have 12 Harley VL’s the choice of bike was easy and will be riding a 1930 VL which I also rode in the 2022 motorcycle chase. I am currently living in Colorado but by the time the cannonball starts I will have relocated to Camp Verde Arizona so it will be a busy year which also makes the decision to ride the 30 vl easy. I don’t have time to prepare the 25 JD i thought about riding. Will be teamed up with Pat Patterson and Terry Richardson along with super crew members Chris Coos and my brother Bob Deister. We are all in it for the fun of riding cross country on back roads with great friends

Hello, my name is Greg Allen from the beautiful Marshall MI – rider #32; many of you know me as “the motorcycle insurance guy”. For the 2021 Mini Chase I was riding my 1932 BMW R2.  My first ride was a 1972 Yamaha DR-125, followed by a 1972 Kawasaki H3-500 Triple.  My first cross country trip was on a 1977 KZ-1000 LTD which I bought new and own to this day.  Next up was my 2001 Harley FXDWG2 Switchblade, followed by my favorite – a 1968 BMW R60US.

After my first taste of the Cannonball in 2014, I continued on as a riding sponsor in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023, Chase 2019, and was a sponsor and rider in the Chase 2021.  In 2016 I rode my ’68 BMW from Michigan to Atlantic City and then rode all miles to Carlsbad, CA; 2018 I rode Michigan to Portland, ME and then to Portland, OR on the Cannonball; 2019 I rode to Sault Ste Marie MI to Key West, FL, and rode back to Michigan with friends Roger Green and Jim Gilfoyle.  This year’s Cannonball I will be riding my 1932 BMW R2.

As a life-long biker, an insurance agent for 20 years, and Hagerty’s largest vintage motorcycle agent in the country, my mission is to make sure my fellow riders have adequate protection when they need it, and for a good price.

Outside of riding my passion lies with our veterans.  As an event coordinator, Guardian, Bus Captain, ground-support crew, I am very active with Talons Out Honor Flight, whose mission is to take WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans on one last mission – an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C to see the memorials built in their honor.

Jason and Leeann do a wonderful job with the Cannonball and the Chase, I look forward to continuing to sponsor and am very excited to be a participant this year.

greg@gregalleninsurance.com  (269) 781-2247

 

Rick is a native of Wisconsin Rapids, WI where he was born to parents Harvey & Jean Erdman in 1959. Both parents owned & rode their own motorcycles so it was only natural that Rick developed a passion for riding at the early age of about 10. Rick lived in Colorado & worked as a carpenter through the 1980’s then returned to Wisconsin where he resides with his wife Laurie in the small town of Lodi. He became a member of the Carpenter Union, Local 314 & retired in July of 2022. All throughout Rick’s life he maintained his passion for motorcycles. In the early 1990’s Rick decided to take his interest to a new level. His good friend, Steve “Doc” Hopkins, sold him his first Top fuel drag bike & speed became an integral part of what makes Rick who he is today. By 1993, Rick had set both national & world records in drag racing. Today Rick continues as a drag racing pilot for Doc’s Harley-Davidson’s Top Fuel Drag Racing team. He feels it is a genuine honor & privilege to be included on Team Doc’s for the 2023 Motorcycle Cannnonball race.

My name is John Roppel. I am a retired CPA. My wife Sheila and I live on the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario Canada. This year, 2023, marks the 56th year I have been riding motorcycles. After participating in the Cross Country Chase 2022 on a 1949 Harley Davidson FL I wanted to try an older motorcycle the next time around. The next time round came with the creation of a new class in the Motorcycle Cannonball 2023. The motorcycle I will be riding is a 1935 Harley Davidson VLD that has been in the family since 1936. This motorcycle was ridden in all 4 seasons of the year from 1936 till 1948, when the previous owner my Uncle purchased the 1949 Harley Davidson FL. Selling the 49 in the mid 50’s he again rode the 35 till he bought a brand new 1961 Harley DuoGlide. I have that motorcycle as well. The 1949 Harley FL is the motorcycle I rode in last year’s Cross Country Chase. Both the 1935 and 1949 Harleys required extensive restorations. Each restoration took more than a year to complete. The 35 Harley has been ridden over 9000 miles since the restoration. I got involved with motorcycles when I was little kid watching my Uncle repair Harley Davidsons and Indians in his shop during evenings and on weekends. The first motorcycle I owned was a Yamaha 100 Twin and then, while in university, a 250 Harley Sprint. After university and working for a year, I bought a 72 Harley Davidson Sportster. Since the 72 Sportster, came a 69 Sportster XLCH and a series of Hondas. One of those Hondas was an ST1300. The ST1300 went to the edge of the Arctic Circle twice and had 170,000 km on the clock when I sold it. My Uncle passed on in 2008. He quite simply gave me the passion for riding old motorcycles. I have been asked many times, “Why don’t you just ride the new bikes? It’s a lot easier”? My answer is: “You know they are just old motorcycles. But I like them!