For most, thoughts of “Cannonball Run” bring memories of early 80’s fashion, Burt Reynold’s mustache, and Dom DeLuise’s goofy laugh, but this isn’t 1981, and Burt’s racing days have long since passed; there’s a new, modern Cannonball Run starting on the Outer Banks in September 2010. The 2010 version is a cross-country motorcycle race starting on the East Coast (OBX) and culminating 3,300 miles later on the West Coast (Santa Monica, CA), and although the race may be modern, the motorcycles are anything but contemporary.
The Motorcycle Cannonball Run is the creation of Lonnie Isam, Jr., promoter and owner of Jurassic Racing in Sturgis, South Dakota. The race will launch a pack of riders on vintage motorcycles on an historic ride across the U.S. Participants are required to ride classic pre-1916 motorcycles such as Pope, Sears, Flying Merkel, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian, Triumph, and the Harley-Davidson’s Silent Grey Fellows.
The bikes will be put to the test during this grueling coast-to-coast pursuit as their riders navigate the back roads and byways from the Right Coast to the Left Coast. These are rare antiques, and many may not complete the ride, but the drama is sure to build as the course determines how bumpy the ride may be. Each of the riders and their motorcycles will be pushed to the very limit as the procession rolls from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to Santa Monica, California, during the two-week odyssey.
Contestants are from all walks of life and include museum owners, authors, and collectors as well as restorers, builders, mechanics, and an Iron Butt rider. Entrants come from the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the United States. Some have already begun rigorous training in order to endure the harsh physical demands the ride will require.
The Route
The course was created by Cannonball’s Course Master, John Classen: “Our route was chosen in order to avoid having the riders enter a single interstate whenever possible. We’ll have 12 hours of daylight each day, and a goal of having every rider check in at the day’s ending point 1 hour before sunset.”
Start on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, in Kitty Hawk, the birthplace of aviation. Finish, after about 3300 miles on the road, on the Pacific Ocean beach in Santa Monica, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Approximately a two-week schedule. Start on a Friday in Kitty Hawk, and finish in Santa Monica two weeks later on a Sunday. The route is 17 days total, 16 days on the road, and one rest day in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The two days before the start in Kitty Hawk will be registration, vehicle inspection, an optional practice run along the outer banks of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a short classroom session, and a hosted welcome reception.
A fairly flat route, but also scenic and historic. There is a whole other world out there when you travel cross-country and stay off Interstate highways. The total distance traveled on Interstates will be less than 100 miles…all the way to Albuquerque without a single mile of Interstate.
Cross the Appalachians in the vicinity of the Great Smoky Mountains, climb Magazine Mountain in Arkansas, and summit Sitgreaves Pass in Arizona, but on a whole most of the route will have few steep grades. Travel several scenic National Parkways, follow some sections of historic US 66, and have an overnight stop in Hot Springs National Park.
Participate in this prestigious event by visiting the Contact page.
