by Cristian Curmei from https://www.autoevolution.com The current electric movement is extending further than anyone may have previously imagined. One company pushing electric speed limits is Delfast with their most recent speed record setting action at Bonneville Speed Week 2021. If you haven’t heard of Delfast yet, it’s time to catch up as this team is breaking all kinds of barriers. Since the Ukrainian-based manufacturer of e-bikes set a Guinness World Record for “Longest Range” back in 2017, the company has fallen under the attention of many a circle, even providing their EVs to police forces around the world. Their most recent achievement, and one worth the attention, is their newest speed record achievement at Bonneville. Now, they did go out there with an e-bike, but alongside said e-bike, with an electric motorcycle based on a previous Bonneville visitor, the “Dnepr Electric” motorcycle from back in 2018. This bike set the record at 104.78 mph (168.62 kph) in the “A” Omega category. The rider of the vehicle back in 2018 was Serhii Malyk, a Ukrainian racer and multiple title champion that just so happens to love hanging out at Bonneville and kicking up salt on just about anything that’s fast. Ever heard of Dnepr? Well, this Soviet-ran manufacturer’s history began before WWII. However, it wasn’t until 1952 that the company ran full steam ahead. With a design focused primarily on military use, these puppies are still found today, some still sporting the sidecars of their time. What really brought fame to this brand was their attempt in copying an existing motorcycle design, the BMW R-71. Without any apparent documentation, Soviet engineers decided to copy the BMW model. With a 22 hp engine, four speeds, and shaft drive, the Soviet’s named it the M-72. Well, a most recent acquisition of the Dnepr trademark and all intellectual property rights by Delfast has granted the Ukrainian manufacturer the ability to step into the electric motorcycle game. After all, how else are you going to “grow” a business? With this eye on the EV revolution, Delfast has taken the previous Dnepr Electric motorcycle, and upgraded the version to include an updated controller, and most importantly, a synchro motor inclusive of permanent magnets. Overall, it’s cranking out a top 100 kW of juice, the equivalent to 134 horsepower. However, Delfast states a top 136 horsepower output in their press release. Honestly, at this point, it doesn’t even matter. Why? Because they did it! They set a new record speed of 107.2 mph (172.52 kph), near 3 mph (4.82 kph) faster than the record. Sure, it may not seem like much, but those extra two-something miles are proof that the work and tech this team is developing is on the right track. For this ride, Serhii was the choice pilot once again. After all, he seems to have the most experience with this bike. What does all this mean for Delfast and Dnepr? Well, for Delfast it means a new era of electric research, one that falls into an existing category of vehicles, motorcycles, allowing them to really accelerate their growth, and for Dnepr it means the brand continues to live on. Win-win if you ask me. From here, there’s only one way to go; back to Bonneville next year, with a bigger, better, stronger, faster machine. Can’t wait to see what electric motorcycle they’ll be showcasing for road use.

Learn to tackle your next time-sensitive project with confidence
by Kyle Smith from Hagerty.com

The garage is a strange place.

Some projects you tackle with all the time in the world, and others are on a deadline tighter than ten-year-old denim. Anyone that has rushed to wrap up a project understands the stress and frustration that accompanies a time crunch.

Click Here to Read this Tech Tips on Bikernet.com

Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

MRF Flash Alert – Tesla Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wrote, in a document released Monday, that it has identified 11 crashes since 2018 in which a Tesla vehicle using the company’s driver assistance system, struck one or more vehicles involved in an emergency response situation. Four of those crashes occurred in 2021.

NHTSA now plans on studying the Advanced Driver Assistance System, otherwise known as “autopilot,” in the nearly 765,000 Tesla vehicles produced between 2014 and 2021.

For several years, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), in cooperation with our state motorcyclist rights partners, have warned of the need for increased oversight of this new technology. Allowing vehicles to be deployed on our nation’s roadways, that cannot adequately detect and respond to all roadway users, is dangerous. Regulators and auto manufacturers should work together to ensure tragic crashes, like the ones found in this report, never happen again.

To read the brief report from NHTSA on the Tesla crashes click here.

About MRF: http://mrf.org

Johnny Lewis Presses on at New York Short Track Doubleheader

Ladies of Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. highlight MotoAmerica Pitt Race & New York Short Track

Milwaukee, WI (Monday, August 16, 2021) – It was a big weekend for Royal Enfield race teams, as Johnny Lewis and the Moto Anatomy X team took on Weedsport Speedway for the New York Short Track Doubleheader. The women of Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) also had a doubleheader of sorts, with both Road Racing at Pitt Race MotoAmerica, and Flat Track at Weedsport Speedway taking place on Saturday, August 14. Johnny Lewis carded a fourth-place finish in the American Flat Track Production Twins class on Friday night, followed by seventh place on Saturday evening. In the BTR showdown at the New York Short Track, Jillian Deschenes edged out previous round winner Jaycee Jones for the win, while the BTR Road Race podium was once again dominated by CJ Lukacs, who continues to shine in the MotoAmerica BTR exhibition.

Johnny Lewis and the Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield Racing Team continue to make progress with the Twins FT race bike. After the historic win at the Lima Half Mile, the Moto Anatomy team has tasted success, and are ready to fight for more wins. On Friday night, the first New York Short Track of the doubleheader at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, New York, Lewis was knocking on the door of the podium, right on the heels of Dalton Gauthier, but ended one step away in fourth at the flag.

On Saturday night, the Moto Anatomy X team continued to chase setup on the slick track and changing conditions. In a testament to the crew’s hard work and Lewis’ consistency, he carded a solid seventh-place finish on the Royal Enfield Twins FT.

“These slick clay ovals have been tough to dial in but we aren’t giving up,” said Lewis. “An ever-changing surface made a day of endless changes right up until the main event on Friday. On Saturday we lost valuable time in the opening laps, but held on for a seventh. I’m ready to put this one behind me and we’re all excited to head to Peoria TT this weekend.”

“Johnny continues to improve his impressive performances on track,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “We’re proud to see a solid fourth on Friday night and seventh the following evening on the slick and fast track, where the entire paddock was battling complicated conditions. We’re now looking forward to the Peoria TT.”

BUILD. TRAIN. RACE.

Saturday night at Weedsport Speedway saw the ladies of Build. Train. Race. take to the track for the third round of BTR Flat Track. Once again, it was Jillian Deschenes and Jaycee Jones duking it out for top honors. With one win apiece in the previous two rounds, the duo came into New York locked in battle for the championship. Round-one winner Deschenes answered back with another victory, besting Jones, this time by over five seconds. Malary Lee claimed the third and final podium position.

“Flat Track racing never fails to send me home smiling from ear to ear,” said Deschenes. “But the champagne showers on the podium with my friends are those moments I will never forget.”

The BTR Road Race team was also in action on Saturday, and it was once again CJ Lukacs with a dominant performance, this time at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The former pro motocross racer proves to be taking to the tarmac with ease, and took her second victory in as many races, leaving the rest of the field to battle behind her. Trisha Dahl claimed another runner-up finish while Becky Goebel took third. Dahl fended off a late-race challenge from Michaela Trumbull to secure her position on the podium in third.

Despite her dominant performance, Lukacs admits, “This weekend was a tough one for me. Trying to learn this track with limited time was challenging. I became a little faster as the race went on and just stayed consistent found my flow. Melissa [Paris] really helped me interpret what was happening to help me find my footing. I couldn’t be happier to come out with a second win. I’m so grateful to have the support around us to help us succeed. It wouldn’t be possible without them. It’s humbling; it truly is.”

“Our BTR Program participants continue to amaze me. We are a few races in for both Road Racing and Flat Track, and the women are learning more every time out and honing their skills,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “In both disciplines, the battles on track are keeping us all on the edge of our seats. We came up with this program to empower and inspire more women to get into motorsports and I think it’s working. The support from the community and our racing partners has been more than we could have hoped for.”

Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE.

Round 2 Results – Pittsburgh MotoAmerica

1. CJ Lukacs

2. Becky Goebel

3. Trisha Dahl

4. Michaela Trumbull

5. Alyssa Bridges

6. Kayla Theisler

7. Scarlett Grosselanghorst

Visit https://motoamerica.com/standings/ for detailed results.

Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE.

Round 3 Results – New York Short Track AFT

1. Jillian Deschenes

2. Jaycee Jones

3. Malary Lee

4. Lanakila MacNaughton

5. Sarah Dixon

6. Gabrielle Hughes

7. Bridgette LeBer

Visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default for detailed results.

The women of Royal Enfield BTR Road Racing will be back in action September 17-19 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for the third and final round. The Build. Train. Race. Flat Track program will race their fourth and final round at the Charlotte Half-Mile in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 8. Find more information on the Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Road Race Program at https://buildtrainrace.com/.

About Royal Enfield

The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 125 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

Have a plan

Focus on organization

Spread out as much as you can. If you don’t have enough bench space, grab a piece of chalk and draw squares on the floor, labeling components in the order they came off. Taking the seconds to scribble and sort feels like a lifetime in the moment, but trying to find that one mount or spacer when you almost done is significantly more frustrating. I’ve been there, and I promise it is not a fun place.

Keep out distraction
We love a good garage gathering as much as anyone, but when you’re working on deadline, it is not time to have people over to hang out and bench race. An experienced helping hand can be nice and very welcome. However, you won’t have the bandwidth to teach as you go, or to supervise someone whom you don’t trust to do things exactly how you want them done. A plan is extra important should you have someone over to help. Be sure it is thought-out and clear.

Write your list and cross things off
Your plan should include some milestones. “Rebuild engine” is a poor plan; one that includes steps such as “remove and inspect cylinder head” is better. This gives you guidance and also a feeling of accomplishment mid-project when you cross things off the to-do list. Embrace these moments, because they can recharge your mental batteries when your energy is getting drained by a large task. Breaking up a project into chunks also helps you time food or mental breaks to keep yourself fresh.

Take the time for a final once-over
Tightening the last bolt feels great … but was that really the last bolt? In a flurry of work, it is extremely easy to skip the torque wrench or not run the proper pattern when tightening things down. When you think you are done, take a moment and go front to back—or top to bottom, or whatever makes sense for your task—and mentally put your mind to each part you touched while also physically checking that you did you job correctly. Nothing is worse than thrashing to get something done just to have it break again because of something you missed during a moment of autopilot assembly.

Day 1

Friday afternoon Maree and Graeme Lowen ride the Goldwing to Dunedin. This Ice Run is organized by the Deep South Chapter of the Patriots
Motorcycle Club of which Graeme is in the throes of becoming a member. You must attend three meetings, three of their organized runs and lead an
organized run.

It was a great fine calm day for a ride with dry roads and little traffic, until we hit SH 1 at Clinton and then it became a slow ride to Dunedin. Keep in mind that winter runs from June to August.

This is the first of the Patriot organized runs for 2021.

Day 2

Saturday dawned a bit cold and foggy with a smattering of a frost around as well. We figured that by the time we got started there would have been enough traffic to clear the roads and remove slippery areas.

It proved to be true as we made our way at about 90 kph (55 mph) over the motor way and into Killmog. There were some ten bikes and a backup van with a trailer. It was nonstop from Dunedin to Oamaru, something that I am not used to but
I did manage.

The pace was slower than what I would have liked, but I learned later it was the lead rider’s call.
Apparently, he rides like this all the time. Not good pace when with a group.

Some riders needed to refuel in Oamaru by which time it started to warm up a bit. My handlebar mitts were a boon for me. Oamaru is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometers south of Timaru and 120 kilometers north of Dunedin on the Pacific coast.

Then it was onto Timaru at the same frustrating pace. It’s not often I am in a group being passed by four-wheelers, because we are going so slow.

It was into Timaru, and I refueled there but it was the entry into the Robert Harris Café on the east side of SH 1 in Washdyke that caused a bit of
confusion amongst some of us riders that had stopped to refuel.

We could see all the bikes parked up on the south side of the café but without obvious entry
into it? It never occurred to our leader that the entrance was on the north side. I rode into a large parking area of the building down from the café, did a U turn and rode up the footpath, across bit of a
rock garden and into the carpark on the north side.

About four others followed me. We also met up with some riders from Christchurch and had lunch.

After lunch, Keith took over as the lead rider and picked up the pace as we rode through Fairlie (I did not stop for a pork pie) and on up over Burkes Pass. As we entered the straights around Dog Kennel Corner there were a few police cars out stopping speeding motorists.

We hauled in for a break at Tekapo for refueling. The afternoon started a bit cool. But it
was soon to get a whole lot cooler, as we rolled Out west to the Balmoral Military Camp and headed south and over the Tekapo Canal.

We could see all the fog hanging around the top end of Lake Benmore. When we turned west again, we could see a dense fog bank at the gap known as Simons Pass. Jacko warned us about fog and a hoar frost in Twizel, but it started at Simons
Pass. As soon as you were into the fog, the hoar frost gripped the area as well!

Hoar frost is a type of feathery frost that forms because of specific climatic conditions. The word ‘hoar’ comes from old English and refers to the old age appearance of the frost: the way the ice crystals form makes it look like white hair or a beard.

The density of the fog varied from here on and offered different layers of fog over Lake Pukaki. They appeared rather picturesque if the dense clouds remained in the distance. It was crossing the
dam where the thick fog started to mess with our vision, in addition to the hoar frost all the way
into Twizel.

Keith led us into the township and to the gas station but seemed a bit lost after that. We couldn’t see much in front of us. Another rider with his cell phone acting as a GPS took over and three of us
followed. Only he led us to the wrong camp ground.

When he dismounted, he had a light layer of frosty ice on the front of his jacket. He wasn’t the only one. However, as we were the only ones in the wrong campground. The GPS was reset and we all
followed him around in very dense fog. We could only see about 25 meters. Even then, we had to stop and reset the GPS before arriving at Lake Ruataniwha campground.

We knew we were at the right place when we saw bikes inside the fence. That must have been the bunk block. We went to the main entrance and checked in.

Maree is not fussed about sharing a room with a whole lot of guys, but we got a Motel unit as did several others. It was an hour or so later that we
got a ride in a van to the local RSA for our evening meal. There must have been some 30 of us.

Day 3

Sunday just sort of dawned much in the same condition as the previous day. I wandered around taking photos as hoar frost is not something most of us get to experience.

Up at the bunk house bikes were in various stages of being started, some more reluctant than others. Riders aimed a kerosene blast-heater at a bike to try to thaw out the carburetor. I returned to my bike and although the engine turned over rapidly it wouldn’t fire. I could smell an excess of fuel and the battery began to decline.

I got a jump start from a car, and it fired into life with no trouble. I was not game to turn the engine off as it did not appear to be happy, but at least it did not die on me. A cold ride as well as fogy followed all the other riders out to the main road to head south to Omarama.

Out on the road side young buff guys stripped to the waist taking brave photos with hoar frost background—no girls.

The fog did rise a bit, and we simply rode out of it just around the bend past the turn off to lake Ohau. Then into Omarama and we refueled
and made our way to the Wrinkly Ram for Brunch.

Having eaten some brunch, it was time to hit the road. One of the riders made comment about me not really needing the handlebar mitts any longer. They would look good on his bike. However, they still looked good on mine and away we rode towards the Lindis Pass.

My fears of there being ice over the pass were unfounded and the road was dry. It was the stop at Tarras that provide us with chilly clues. I got talking to a lady who drove from Tekapo in the morning. She told us that the first club group ran into dense hoar frost and thick fog all the way from Tekapo to the Ohau turnoff. The guys who left 20 minutes later missed most of it.

She saw a classic truck and caravan that slid off the road and another 4-wheel mishap.

We were indeed lucky that the Christchurch guys headed south with us. From there on it was a warm ride until we reached Lumsden where, even though we were only half-an-hour from home, I still felt cold enough to put my jersey back on that I took off in Frankton.

Home safe!

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

There was a time, not long ago, when Harley-Davidson wanted a piece of the muscle bike segment action, and gave birth to mighty V-twin racing street custom, or VRSC. The family was successful enough for a while, and Milwaukee made several versions of it, including the V-Rod, before discontinuing production.

The V-Rod would be the muscle Harley motorcycle that gave birth to the family and, after it died, became one of the favorite bikes to modify in the books of shops across the world. Europeans seem to have a special soft spot for the model, and some have dedicated entire lineups to this particular model.

Russia-based Box39 is one of those shops. Most recently, their passion for all things V-Rod comes down to the Giotto family of custom builds, but that passion had to start somewhere. Digging through their relatively short history (these guys have been around for about ten years), and through their past work, we’ve come across this here, unnamed and orange V-Rod that seems to one of their earlier such projects.

As far as custom builds are concerned, this particular one doesn’t really rock our world. We get the usual custom bits here and there, but other than that, nothing really catches the eye, not even the orange on the body, a color not unlike we’ve seen before. Until the said eye falls on the custom wheels on this thing.

Sized 21 inches front and 18 inches rear, the wheels, like many other fitted by Box39 on their builds, have been made to look this way in-house by the Russians themselves, with the shop bragging about being able to make unique such parts, “from the smallest to thirty-inch monster.“

And they kind of nailed it with these ones as, for what it’s worth, the wheels are what make this particular V-Rod noticeable in a world filled with similar builds.

Sadly, Box39 does not say how much a pair of such wheels cost to make.

Box39 website at: https://box39.ru/vrodorange/

from https://www.wbir.com

Community gathers for car, truck and motorcycle show to support families in need.

The 13th Annual Cruisin’ for Kids kicked off on Saturday August 14, 2021, off Clinton Highway, benefiting the Mission of Hope’s efforts to support families in need.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Engines roared down the highway in Knoxville over the weekend as trucks, cars and motorcycles gathered for an event meant to help children in need.

It was the 13th Annual Cruisin’ for Kids event benefiting the Mission of Hope’s work to support families in need across East Tennessee. The event wasn’t just to help raise funds for the nonprofit, though. It was also a competition to see who had the best vehicles in a variety of categories.

Awards included categories like the Top 3 Rat Rods, the Top 3 Motorcycles, the Top 3 Trucks, the Top 3 imports, the Top 3 Daily Drivers, the People’s Choice Award and the Best Unfinished.

“Our money is raised through registration for cars, we have a silent auction and we sell t-shirts,” said Mary Anne Gamble, an organizer of the event.

Money raised from the event will go towards buying clothes and toys to be given to underprivileged children around Christmastime.

Mission of Hope website: https://missionofhope.org/cruisin-for-kids-2021/

by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk

Big bikes don’t come with big scares any more

Back in the day, powerful bikes were thrilling and terrifying, but this naked Italian beauty has all the thrills and none of the terror thanks to a brain that works faster than the rider’s. Well, Geoff’s, although that’s not saying much.

I started doing bike tests in 1846, before bikes were even invented, so I just sat on a fence making bike noises, then hauled out a quill pen and a sheet of parchment and sent in my review to Velocipede Monthly on a passing donkey.

When bikes finally came along, I remember being simultaneously thrilled and terrified by some superbikes, such as the Kawasaki ZX-10R.

You got the feeling that at any moment it would fling you over the hedge, leaving you draped over a baffled cow called Gertrude, although it did get less frisky when Kawasaki fitted a steering damper to later models.

However, I realised at the launch a while back on the Suzuki Hayabusa that I wasn’t a bit scared.

There are several possible explanations for this. Either I’ve taken on board the advice I read from a psychiatrist recently that fear and excitement are just two sides of the same coin in your brain, so when you feel afraid, pretend it’s excitement.

I tried it on my first time back flying after lockdown, and it worked.

Another alternative is that I have become an astonishingly skilled rider, but since that’s highly unlikely, I suspect the answer is that bikes today such as this one are fitted with so many safety features that you’d need to be a complete idiot to end up draped over Gertrude.

I’m talking about cornering ABS, cornering traction control, anti-wheelie control, launch control, adaptive cruise control and so many other controls that before long we’ll be able to send bikes out on their own, and they can come back and tell us what a great day out they had.

And don’t laugh – BMW has already shown off an R 1200 GS which can tootle around without a rider, and that was back in 2018.

Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, just about to climb on board the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory, the Factory bit meaning that it’s got electronically adjustable semi-active suspension, lower bars, better tyres and a more comfortable pillion position than the £15,500 base model.

In spite of the lower bars on the Factory, it’s surprisingly comfortable, even for the taller motorcycling chap, which is a welcome relief from the days when sportsbikes hunched you over like the love child of Quasimodo and Richard III and left you calling by the chiropractor on the way home.

Which left me free to admire the rather useful mirrors and a 5in TFT screen which is much clearer than on the previous Tuono, with bigger, brighter graphics which show you everything you need at a glance, including road riding modes, which can be either Tour, Sport and User, where you can geek out to your heart’s desire. There are also three track modes.

Acceleration, even in Tour mode, is gloriously lusty, accompanied by a visceral howl from the V4, handling is sublimely light and precise, and braking is as brutal but seamless as acceleration.

It’s a bike that’s impossible to unsettle no matter how ham-fisted you are in and out of corners, even on rough surfaces. Remarkable.

I spent a very happy hour getting lost on the rural A and B roads of Armagh, Northern Ireland’s apple country, feeling like I was on a bike I’d owned for years, rather than just picked up an hour ago.

Tweaked fuelling from the old model, and a firm but slick quickshifter to snick up and down the six-speed box just add to the feeling that this is a very well-sorted package indeed – fast but safe, agile but stable, and sporty but comfortable.

Switch to Sport mode, and it’s as if the bike’s been given a large and probably illegal dose of steroids, and yet even with the suspension firmer and the acceleration even more ludicrously breathtaking, it still never feels unsafe or unsettled, with the bike’s brain working faster than yours can to keep the bike stable under all conditions.

Well, my brain, anyway. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll put away my quill pen and roll up the parchment, since I see a donkey approaching, and the editor of Velocipede Monthly is an impatient sort of chap.

Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory
Engine: 1077cc liquid-cooled V4
Power: 173bhp @ 11,350rpm
Torque: 89 lb ft @ 9,000rpm
Colours: Black/red
Price: £18,100

by Joe Foreman from https://www.opinion-tribune.com

Motorcycles & Moonshiners: Motorcycle riders and fans of the popular “Moonshiners” television series were in hog heaven Saturday during the inaugural Bootleggers Run motorcycle rally that began and ended at Loess Hills Harley-Davidson near Pacific Junction.

The rally, a fundraiser for the Northeast Elementary School playground project, included appearances by Tim Smith and Josh Owens – cast members from the “Moonshiners” docudrama that’s been airing on the Discovery Channel since 2011. The show features a cast of characters, many who reside in wooded regions of the Appalachian Mountains, that make their own moonshine. Smith is also well known for his legally-produced Climax Moonshine that’s made from a century-old family recipe.

Saturday’s motorcycle rally attracted more than 200 riders and included scheduled stops at establishments in Shenandoah and Macedonia and Glenwood’s Keg Creek Brewing Co.

Smith and Owens, donned in their trademarked bib overalls, signed autographs and posed for photos at each stop along the rally route.