2012 Motorcycle Cannonball Day of Rest – Sturgis

 

 

Friday, September 14, 2012 is the one and only “rest day” onthe 2012 Motorcycle Cannonball – and it’s happening in Sturgis, SouthDakota. What is called a rest dayis for most of these adventurers really a day to work on their bikes – someeven performing major overhauls. At a number of locations around town, old iron can be seen in variousstates of repair. Some withengines completely missing, others with oil being drained out, and still otherslooking like they are completely intact.

 

Walking amongst the riders and crews and listening to them talk aboutall the work to be done might even make you wonder why anyone would take onthis project. Then you talk tojust one or two of them, and it becomes obvious that their passion for thehistory of motorcycling is the real reason for their participation.

 

One Cannonball rider is Randy Hassler from St. Louis.Randy has restored a couple of oldbikes, and likes working on motorcycles, but he’s never owned anything as oldas 1930. Two years ago, when thefirst Motorcycle Cannonball came to within a few hours of his house, he went toArkansas to see the riders. Heended up helping with some repairs, and was hooked on the concept of doing across-country ride on an old bike. When the 2012 Cannonball was announced, he found a 1926 Harley-Davidson,and bought it. While the bike wasin working order when he purchased it, Randy says he still completely rebuiltit for the ride. Randy’s “roadcrew” consists of three women – none of whom work on the bike. They drive the truck, keep him in cleanclothes and provide moral support – but all of the work that needs to be doneon his bike, he’s the one who does it.

 

 

Just a few yards away from Randy, was the Cannonball’syoungest rider, Buck Carson.Buckturned 21 five days into the ride.Buck says he’s been working on old motorcycles for 14 years (yes,really).He and his dad restoremotorcycles, and he’s a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. Buck says one of the reasons he wantedto ride on the Cannonball is to encourage more young people to take an interestin antique motorcycles. A recentsurvey by the AMCA indicated that the average age of the club’s members is 55,and Buck would like to lower that average considerably. Buck is riding a 1927 BSA single. He’s one of only 8 people in the singleclass, and on his birthday, he took the lead in points for that class. 

 

One of the best things about this ride,Randy says, is people helping people – he says all the riders are great aboutsharing parts, expertise and assistance. Buck considers the Motorcycle Cannonball to be the experience of alifetime.