To be able to offer another venue to enthusiasts in the alternate year, The Cross Country Chase was started.
The difference between the two events is The Cannonball allows riders to have a support team / trailer with spare parts, tools and shop equipment to follow the rider Coast to Coast. This allows early machines to be repaired and often rebuilt at night before the next days race. In the Cross Country Chase, the Rider has no support and must carry all spare parts, tools and gear on his own bike and make his own roadside repairs as did riders throughout most of history.