2014 Cannonball

[montmil]

The previous 2013 Cannonball coast-to-coast Endurance Run was eagerly follow by myself and Mike 'Bengt Phorqs' Crenshaw as we both were small financial supporters of race #52 Darryl Richman and his 1928 BMW R52. Sadly, on the very last day and while approaching the finish line, Darryl had a serious get-off that sent the R52 down a heavily wooded mountainside; nearly destroying the bike in the process. Darryl suffered injuries serious enough that kept him in rehab for many months.

Happily, both Darryl and his R52 were put back together and are now doing well as they approach the end of the September 5-21 cross country adventure. So far, after 13 stages, Race #52 is 5th out of 13 bikes in Class I -those under 700cc. Mike and I are following this event and continue to ride with Darryl, if only in spirit. Check out Darryl's blog on the Cannonball site for photos and such.

If you're interested in bikes and riders with real character, visit http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/ There are some amazing old motorcycles and their riders.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Oops, don't know what happened to Darryl but the last two days have not been kind to him.  http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/images/MC%202014%20Stage%2014%20Scores.pdf
Hopefully he can get back in the saddle and at least cross the finish line.

[Mike V]

Here's the latest information I have on Darryl...

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Re: Darryl's Issues on Stage 13

Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:46 pm (PDT) . Posted by:

"Darryl Richman" darryl_ri

Sorry I haven’t been able to participate here or on the Vintage site, but I have been too busy/tired to look at the computer, let alone write anything.

The gear (not really a gear, but looks like one – the Germans call it a Kupplungsklaue, a clutch claw) that is on the transmission input shaft and meshes with the teeth in the middle of the clutch plate is a problem on my bike. It’s shallower than stock. I actually came home from Germany this summer with 5 of them, in three different widths, but they all stick forward more than the one that came with my bike.

After the last Cannonball, this “gear” was highly worn and needed to be replaced. A machinist I know cut off the teeth and machined a ring with new teeth that is attached with 8 set screws. It worked for about 3500 miles (including break in/test miles), but the screws sheered on yesterday’s leg and left me stuck.

Last night we installed the thinnest of the gears I got in Europe. The clutch teeth are 4mm thick, and this gear meshes on about 2-3mm of that. We tried it out last night and it seemed to be ok, but this morning, very shortly after the start, it was clear that it wouldn’t work – the gear managed to get in front of the clutch plate and out of mesh. So I rode in the truck to Lewiston today.

The machinist had given me a second ring and another set of screws, so we’ve installed that now. The bike shifts fine again and, based on the previous experience, we believe it will get me to Tacoma. But clearly this is not a long term fix. That will have to wait until after the CB.

 --Darryl Richman

[clonmore1]

We wish him well, hell of an achievement!!!!!

[Mike V]

Unconfirmed but reliable source says Darryl is on the road for today's final leg and should finish...

"... Darryl put in all the miles in stage 15 (243) and finished 60th with 3325 points out of a possible 3796.
Only two days without a perfect score, 70 the first day and none on the second (stages 13 & 14)."

Congratulations Darryl.

[nhmaf]

It is still a tremendous achievement to just finish the cannonball on these old bikes, regardless of where you come in the pack on the final leg.   Three cheers for Darryl!   Hip-hip-hoorah!!!!!
 [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif]

[Tony Smith]

I just read in the airhead Facebook group that some Cannonball support vehicles, containing entrant's bikes were stolen (but mercifully since recovered) I do hope that Darryl's bike was not amongst them.
 
Even though there is apparently a happy ending, the stress would not be good.

[Bob_W]

Norm Nelson from the Florida team and John Landstrom from Blue Moon both finished without penalty or lost miles to take second and eighth respectively on BMWs. Norm was on a 1928 R52 and John on a 1928 R62. The R52 was newer than the winning Scout and the R62 was a class II and newer than the Harleys finishing ahead of him in his class.
While both BMW riders finished the same miles as the others and had no penalties, the Cannonball then takes the class of bike-smaller engine sizes placed higher and the age of the bike-the older the higher it is placed. In case of these being the same the older rider then is placed higher.
Twenty four of the teams had a run without lost miles or penalties.
It will be interesting to talk to the teams and hear what went on during the run to keep these antiques on the road.
Bob

[montmil]

Buck Carson, out of Livingston, Texas, is co-owner of the team that had their tow vehicle, trailer and four vintage HDs stolen in Tacoma WA.

The truck was quickly recovered but it took near four days to find the trailer and the four bikes near Seattle WA. There are some spares and bits off the four bikes missing but hopes are still strong that these may be recovered, too.

Buck had previously purchased a vintage BSA from my former co-worker and the Beezer finished last year's C'Ball. I chatted with Buck and his merry band of outlaws at Barber year before last. The BSA and several others were on display alongside his custom bike hauler trailer... the same one that was stolen. Damage to the beautiful graphics on the trailer is pretty bad; all the Cannonball artwork was sprayed over with black paint. Might be salvaged with some gentle love.

Anyway, Buck Carson is not a man to be messed with. You can bet your last Hall sensor that he will hunt the scum bastids that ripped him off and dispense some Texas-style justice. Now then, where's my rope?


BTW, Buck was not the only one having bikes ripped off. There is also another team with AWOL bikes. These thefts were planned by some lo-life thugs. Not a spur of the moment impulse. Thinking overnight security will be ramped up by the C'Ball organizers. Unfortunately, that will add to the costs that contestants must bear. Better than losing your equipment, I guess.

[Justin B.]

Agree on the rope.  Wouldn't motorcycle stealing be the same as horse stealing?  To the gallows with the lot of 'em...

[nhmaf]

Rope would be too quick - I think I'd use that bungee jumper cord around their necks -