Cross Country Chase

Motorcycle Chase 2021 report

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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. Click Here to Read this Photo Feature Article only on Bikernet. Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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The Cross Country Chase

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Kicking off from the Canadian border and motoring towards the Florida Keys, riders on the Chase lit out on their eight-state odyssey just as the weather witch turned the thermostat down and set to soaking the scenery for exactly half of the group’s 2,368-mile route. If you were betting that crappy weather would dampen the doings, however, you’d be dead wrong. Nothing diminished the heightened anticipation of this inaugural run as enthusiastic riders from 28 states layered on weather gear and set their sights on the warm sun and sandy beaches of Florida. The exhilaration of the gathering for the group photo along Saint Mary’s River extended to the next day’s gloomy send off from Sault Ste. Marie in the early morning of September 6. Riders headed off into the predawn darkness along Michigan’s rain-soaked roads and, ironically, crossed the fog-enshrouded Mackinac Bridge just as 1,500 antique tractors were crossing the five-mile long Mighty Mac. Coming from the opposite direction, the annual trek of the tractors seemed perfectly timed to accent the Chase crossing. Adding an air of excitement as the motorcyclists passed the tractors, riders simultaneously checked out the tractors while eyeing the steel grate of the bridge into the frigid white-capped waters of Lake Huron below. The unrelenting drizzle kept riders soggy until a welcomed break lasting just long enough to enjoy a nice lunch hosted at the Hagerty Insurance headquarters in Traverse City, Michigan, which was followed closely by the group’s first pop quiz. Studious riders stood with clipboards, pondering the 10-question, multiple-choice test that was based partly on motorcycle history and partly on scenery along the miles they had just ridden. This exact scenario would play out every day for the duration of the run and would be a general point of consternation for the group.

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Final Cross Country Chase

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After a short Sunday morning ride over various bridges, the sunburned and heat stressed Cross Country riders arrived in Key West with a 100-degree heat index and heightened level of excitement as the final miles of a 2,368-mile ride came to an emotional and exuberant end. Riders posed for a photo op at the famous Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S. Buoy before the checkered flag waved them across the finish line in the shadow of a massive cruise ship at Mallory Square. Out of the 69 riders who arrived in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan a week ago, 35 of the jockeys arrived in Key West after riding every mile of the 8 state route. Todd Cameron, however, became legendary with his dogged determination aboard the little 493cc, 1930 BSA Sloper and walked away with an award for winning the Class I, a Legend award, a custom bronze by Jeff Decker, number plates for the next Cross Country Chase race, and a whopping $7,500.00 in cold hard cash. Jim Gilfoyle, rider #38, took first place in Class II on his 1938 Harley-Davidson EL while Jerry Weiland, a past Motorcycle Cannonball sidecar dude and competitor, walked away with the first place banner for Class III. Cris Sommer Simmons, who has competed in four of the Motorcycle Cannonball antique races, was awarded a custom wood carving in recognition for being the top female competitor in the Cross Country Chase.

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Cross Country Chase Stage 9

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The last full day of racing included 259-miles of sightseeing through parks, parts of the Everglades and through swampy areas that kept riders eyeing the roadsides for alligators while keeping an eye on the sky for predicted rain, but the weather witch was kind enough to wait until after enjoying a great party and dinner at Peterson’s Harley-Davidson in South Florida to turn on the water works. And tomorrow’s route scant 129-miles into the Florida Keys will bring the run total to 2,368-miles of true grit. Riders will arrive at the checkered flag with hearts full of elation over a job well done, and hearts full of sorrow to see it all come to an end. Class I will head out of Miami at 8:30 with the other two classes leaving at 15-minute intervals and arrival in Key West required by 1:30. Scores are posted at the website and you will notice that there are 10 riders listed as DNS, DNF or DQ.  https://themotorcyclechase.com/routes/

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Cross Country Chase Stage 8

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Excitement is building as we race toward the finish line with two more days of riding under predicted dark skies, wind and occasional rain in the forecast. Today’s weather, however, afforded riders their first look at the ocean as they made their way toward Crystal Harley-Davidson for an elegant hot lunch served on the dealership veranda. Riders enjoyed the hospitality and lingered over lunch before hitting the road again with the hopes of staying dry, which didn’t happen, but the sporadic rain served to cool things off enough to make the trip even more enjoyable. By the time the group pulled into Lakeland Harley-Davidson for the hosted dinner, the clouds gathered for another attack and sent riders off to the hotel with soggy duds. Again. So, race fans, here are the scores from Stage 8. You’ll notice the top five have been juggled again but the top two spots are a BSA ridden by Todd Cameron in first and a Harley-Davidson ridden by Jim Gilfoyle holding second, followed closely by a Triumph, then five Harleys, an Indian and a Norton to round out the top ten spots with a good showing from a variety of marques. The list of bikes that have dropped out includes 1-BSA, 3-Indians, and 4-Harley-Davidsons and the list #5 James Maloney #17 Rick Salisbury #42 Michael Bruso #50 Rowdy Schenk #62 Scott Funk #70 Will Lusignan #77 Brent Mayfield #91 Jeff Fredette There are an additional 5 riders with various issues that have taken them out of the competition in terms of contending, but they continue to ride to finish out the trip and that list includes 2-Harleys, 2-Indians, and the only Zundapp entered: #51 Shane Masters #36 Bill Reese #96 Richard Campbell #22 Don Gilmore #65 Mike Butts As of tonight’s tally, there are still

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The Cross Country Chase Scores

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The first official day of the inaugural Cross Country Chase consisted of a scant 13-miles as a shakedown ride called the Prologue. Riders gathered on the shores of the Saint Mary’s River across the banks of the Canada border to sit for a group photo taken by none other than the world-famous photographer, Michael Lichter. Aune Osborne Park in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan was the staging area as well as the Official Green Flag start. Rider #51, Shane Masters, was the only rider unable to start and trucked his 1948 Indian Chief some 5 hours away to have his bike worked on with the hopes of meeting the group at the Ludington stop tomorrow evening. He received a DNS (Did Not Start) for the day. Rider # 62, Scott Funk, is one of only two Class I riders on 250cc machines and, despite his missing 2 of the required miles, his handicap favored him and his 1946 BSA-C11 afforded him a finishing score of 22.0 points. Rider #5 in Class II, James Maloney, managed only 1 mile and finished with 11 points, leaving him in 68th place. Number 99, Todd Cameron on his 1930 BSA Sloper with a 493cc engine, finished the day in first place with 30 points. Stay tuned folks, it’s sure to be an exciting race as 69 riders on every imaginable motorcycle marque works their way across America. Riders are preparing for the wet forecast tomorrow as they head toward Ludington, Michigan after an arduous 267-mile ride.

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