Chesapeake Chapter - AMCA Member on the run.

On September 9, 2021 we see the start of the Motorcycle Cannonball Run from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to South Padre Island, Texas. Chesapeake Chapter - AMCA will follow chapter member Pat “Panhead” Settersten, Rider #51 (left) as he makes his bid to complete the rigorous road run on a 1929 Harley-Davidson JD.

Check here for updates on progress and new photos of the whole experience.

Stage 3 of the Motorcycle Cannonball Run was completed on Sunday September 12, 2021. The stage was from Battlecreek, MI to Dayton, OH 240 Miles. Pat “Panhead” Settersten, Rider #51 completed all miles of the stage but was assessed 10 penalty points. Sharon reported "Stage 3 in the books, Over! In a little late, so a penalty. But this place is over the top, great!!! Big thanks for the prime rib. Delish!" Sharon is referring to the venue for the Stage 3 stopping point the Rip Rap Roadhouse in Dayton.
A gallery of photos to date. A couple of these are from Screen Shots of video taken by others. You'll note in one is after the first stage at night doing some adjustments and includes on the left Sharon, Doug Sandhofer and Panhead Pat to the lower right. Some photos by QCWilly sports photographer
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Be Sure To Check Out These Links To Motorcycle Cannonball Coverage 
Motorcycle Cannonball Facebook Page
Article with Motorcycle Cannonball Stops
motorcyclecannonball.com
​Check out QCWilly Photography 
Check out Michael Lichter Photography

​It all started with Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, who, joined by many other literal trail blazing pioneers on bikes that traveled long distances on endurance runs on their ancient motorcycles in the early 1900s.   Photo of Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker (right) appeared in an article in the New York Times and the image is part of The Don Emde Collection.






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The endurance often starts well before the actual run

(Left-Top) you see Panhead Pat's Cannonball ready 1929 Harley-Davidson JD, with run # 51 on the front fender. But it wasn't long ago that this 29 JD was like so many dream projects - crates, buckets and boxes of loose parts often known as a basket case. (Below-Left). This is the case with many of the competing bikes in the Cannonball Motorcycle Run, the endurance starts well before the actual run with a project and and end vision for a bike to complete the run. 

Heading to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan​

Getting to the start of the Cannonball Run in itself is a test of endurance. It takes significant logistical planning and resources on the part of a rider's team just to get everything needed to the start. Often the outfit  of transport vehicle becomes a project in its own right. The outfit needs to be able to haul everything needed to conduct maintenance, repairs and sustain the logistics of the team from start to finish. A well designed and appointed outfit can be a critical factor in successful completion of the endurance run.  Here we see a number of photos by Pat's partner in life Panhead Sharon. Most of the photos we will share unless otherwise credited will be by Panhead Sharon.

​Sharon advises that teams #51 and #95 have combined resources and efforts in support of each other. To the right you see a van pulled trailer used by team #95 Vinnie.

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Getting close to Michigan's Upper Peninsula as the Cannonball Motorcycle #51 crew crosses the Mackinac Straights on the 26,372-foot-long Mackinac bridge. ​
(Top) Here is Pat at the Cannonball gathering area in Sault Set Marie. MI to Pat's left rear in the image is fellow Run participant #95 Vinnie Grasser. Vinnie (#95) can also be seen in the lower image with Pat as they were out and about for a Cannonball photo op. 
 A helpful invention that guides Cannonball Motorcycle Run and other rally participants to their destinations is low-tech Road Book. While the Road Book is a device that mounts to the motorcycle its core value is in the significant work put into the direction scrolls that present themselves as a left-right directive with picture symbols and details about the route. Interestingly the Road Book is sold at an affordable price on the Cannonball Motorcycle Run web site at ​https://www.cannonballstore.com/products/official-motorcycle-cannonball-road-book-map-holder

(Right) shows a photo by Sharon of the Road Book loaded with the practice run for the participants. Other photos here show a Road Book image taken by motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter and photos from the Cannonball web site. More of photos by Lichter can be found here ​https://www.lichterphoto.com. 
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Thursday September 9, 2021 It all starts in Sault Set Marie, MI. Friends and supporting team collaborators Pat (#51) and Vinnie (#95) show their Cannonball Motorcycle Run ID tags and soon they'll be on the road.
The Cannonball Motorcycle Run live Facebook presentation did a video sweep of the 88 participants that would be taking part in the ceremonial "Green Flag" start of the run. Here is Panhead Pat caught with a wave on live Facebook.