I'm entering the 2012 Cannonball

[montmil]

Holy Guacamole! Three stages completed and Team 52, Darryl Richman and the outstanding 1928 BMW R52 have surged into First Place.

Long way yet to go but Team 52 is showing what good bike and crew prep can accomplish.
[smiley=clap.gif]

[Melena]

I noticed that too!   8-)  What a fantastic adventure.  Go Darryl!   [smiley=clap.gif]

My partner and I just ordered some stickers.  Wish I could donate more, but I'm sure that everyone supporting a little bit is really helpful.

I just realized that the last night they will be in Cotati, which is basically my back yard.  We'll be riding over there to watch everyone roll in.  You never know, maybe we'll even be riding with some of them.  

[montmil]

Melena, That's fantastic that you'll see a part of the Cannonball Rally.

If you should have the good fortune to see Team 52 and Darryl Richman, give the fella the Official R65 Forum Salute... whatever that is.  

How cool is that!

[Melena]

I'll do that Monty.  I've actually met him.  Once was at the BMW MOA rally in Redmond Oregon.  We also met up at the Autumn Beemer Bash in Quincy, CA.  So if I see him I will surely give him the R65 salute!    (now just to figure out what that might be   )
  

[montmil]

Looking at the daily Stage results of the Cannonball, I note there are thirty riders "tied" in points for first place. I've read the limited amout of rules posted on the Rally web site and nothing explains how the rankings of 1st through 30th are determined.

Also note that our man Darryl is riding in Class One. His nearest Class One competitor is in 33rd place riding a 1926 Sunbeam.

Wish I knew more bout the scoring system.

[wilcom]

Wish I knew more bout the scoring system.  

I got this back from the "Cannonball" folks. answers some questions but certainly not all.

"Hi Joe,


The riders are given the rules with registration and they are posted on the "Rules" page of the website, but that doesn't explain the scoring. Scoring is a bit complicated since it includes a combination of many factors, including accumulated miles ridden, Class, and Year of bike. Points are subtracted for a variety of infractions.


Class is determined by: Class I-bikes with displacement of 749cc or less, Class II- bikes with 750cc-1000cc displacement-Class III-bikes with 1001cc or more displacement). Rider age only facors in case of a tie.


Hope this helps some.


Felicia  

[Bengt_Phorqs]

So Monte, if you were riding in Daryl's class, you would be #1 since ties  go to the Geezers!   [smiley=clap.gif]

[Melena]

Uh oh!  Darryl's down to Rank 43 after stage 5.  And it looks like he only got in 7 miles on this stage.    He hasn't posted on his blog yet today.  We'll all keep an eye on this one to see what's happening for sure.

[montmil]

Uh oh!  Darryl's down to Rank 43 after stage 5.  And it looks like he only got in 7 miles on this stage.    He hasn't posted on his blog yet today.  We'll all keep an eye on this one to see what's happening for sure.

May be his head gasket issues. :-/

I hope Darryl and Company can get Team 52 back up to speed for tomorrow.

[nhmaf]

Darn - that sounds like bad luck.  I read on his blog about all the toasted head-gaskets..  I cannot imagine how that could be unless he does indeed have warped heads.   I hope that he can get back in the game soon, but it sounds like some very touchy machining is going to be needed to true it up if they can do it without removing too much metal.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

What can be causing Daryl's head gasket problems.  Isn't that normally an indication of excessive heat or possibly carbon build up on the top of the piston?  I've never had that problem before myself.

[Melena]

Darryl made it to his blog and told his story of the day.  Yep!  The gasket problem, but you've got to read it.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.

[Melena]

Whooeee!  He made it all the way to Sturgis today.    [smiley=clap.gif]

This is really getting exciting for me.    I love following the Cannonball Run when there's someone riding it that I know.   That makes it all the more interesting.  Plus there is the bit of mystery to it all.

[montmil]

I think the Cannonballers get a day's rest in Sturgis. Me thinks Darryl and Team 52 with be sawing out some 0.060 copper head gaskets for the R52.

The daily photo slide shows are pretty cool... There's our man Darryl on the side of the road giving his cylinder head a good talking to.

"Snug up and run right, I'ma tella you."

Climbing back up into the standings, Team 52 is. [smiley=clap.gif]

[Melena]

I've been trying to figure out the route they will be taking from Fortuna to Cotati to make the 240 miles.  There are a few different ways they could go and they are very different routes for sure.  So I guess I'll just have to meet up with them in Cotati rather than trying to ride a ways with them.

Hopefully Darryl will have his piston problems fixed in Burns, OR, and be able to ride the rest of the way.  It's sad that he's had these problems with the bike.  But he's meeting great people and getting in some great riding anyway.