On Saturday, May 3rd, me and a group of 60+ riders left Harbor Island in San Diego at 9:00 a.m., exactly 100 years to the minute from when Erwin G. Baker had left on his historic journey to New York City. About half of the riders that day only rode for 1-2 days, then the remaining group settled down to retrace Baker’s route and approximate daily pace. As planned, the group arrived on Manhattan on May 14th, 100 years to the day from when Baker did. I’d like to thank our sponsors who helped make this ride possible: Yamaha Motor Corp. USA was the Presenting Sponsor of our ride. In addition to Yamaha, other companies who stepped up to offer needed financial and/or technical support for the ride were Barnett Tool & Engineering, Butler Maps, Continental Tires, Cycle Visions, DP Brakes, Moose Racing, Motion Pro, 100% Goggles, ICON, Star brite, Saddlemen and Touratech. Also, Cycle World Magazine sent a journalist on the full coast to coast ride to cover it in a planned feature story. We appreciate all their help, interest and support greatly.
We were proud to have the Motorcycle Industry Council as our Centennial Partner. Their corporate charter dates back to 1914, so we worked together to help spread their message of the great work they do to keep the motorcycle sport and industry strong. The MIC funded an additional journalist, Gary McKechnie, who went on the full ride with us and produced a daily blog and video report. See his reports at: Motorcycles.org.
We want to say thanks to Toyota Motor Sales USA, who provided a 2014 Tundra support vehicle for our ride, and Boyko Racing for their service and technical support of the motorcycles that we rode over the past three years.
Thanks also to Marty Kamery of the AMA District 38 Road Riders who stepped forward to help us get the ride kicked off right. Marty arranged for us to begin the ride at Sunroad Resort Marina on Shelter Island near downtown San Diego. Following a breakfast for the group sponsored by District 38, the group assembled for a group photo and then exactly at 9 a.m., just as Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker had done 100 years before (to the minute!), we departed for New York.
Thanks for your interest.
Don Emde
donemde@me.com
Riders of the Cannon Ball Centennial Ride (Full entries – not inc. numerous other day riders)
Randy Aron
Jack Broomall
Court Butler (San Diego to Trinidad)
Chris Carter
Bill Cooper
Glen Dickerson
Don Emde
Ken Freund
Barry Hathaway
Perry King (San Diego to Trinidad)
Denny Laidig
Yermo Lamers (Dodge City to NYC)
Catherine Long
Keith Mashburn
Dan Maxey
Gary McKechnie
Ron Niemeyer
Perry Noel
Robert Pandya
Pete Pfeifer
Steve Read
Roland Rose
Ryan Rose
Tom Seymour (Socorro to NYC)
Bob Shurley
Tim Snodgrass
Gerald Tims
Ralph White
Tom White
Rob Watt (San Diego to Trinidad)
Bill Wheeler
Cannon Ball Centennial Ride Crew:
Nancy Emde-Steward
Chris Steward
Joe Colombero
MIC Video Production:
Brian Hardyman
I was getting my truck serviced at a COOP gas station and talked with you guys for a moment. Was curious about the whole story after you mentioned what you were doing.Good luck and I will be keeping up with your story and progress.Bryan Thom Ellsworth, Kansas
Nice surprise. It was great talking to you Bryan. You can read Cannon Ball’s written account in the section “Baker’s Route” and you will see that he stayed the night there in 1914. We plan to be back there in 2014.
Don,Put me in your notes for any logistical support or info on facilities for riders.Enjoyed reading the story about Baker.We live in a house that belonged to a Doctor and was his clinic around the teens.I’m doing some research just for fun to see if it might have been the same Doc that treated him for his crash.LatThomer,Bryan
Thanks Bryan. Anything that has a direct link to Baker’s ride, including getting patched up after hitting a dog there would be of interest.
Would love to make this ride on my 03 MZ, with my girlfriend on the back? Is it open to the public? What do I need to do?
Greetings. The ride became an invitation-only event and at the current time we have filled all of the available rider slots. We will keep your name and contact info and let you know if we get any openings.
Don, just letting you know Ralph & I definitely would like to join in on this ride.
Hi Tom, great to see you guys at the Hopetown Reunion. I will send you the Entry package via email. That would be great to have you and Ralph go with us. Thanks, Don
Don – I saw your presentation at the San Diego Adventure Riders meeting a while ago and I guess since it’s invite only, I’d like to maybe catch the first 3 days.
Please send info to my email.
thank you
Ken
Will do Ken. We have a waiting list now for people to add onto the full coast to coast ride, but as an Adventure rider, the first three days would likely be the most interesting anyway, as al of the dirt sections are on those days. its all paved from there to New York. I will send the info. Thanks, Don
Hello Don, I’m still very interested in doing the first 3 days. I sold my Dakar and now would be riding a KTM 950 SE.
Chris Nelson
Hi Chris. That sounds great. We are getting quite a bit of interest for the Three Day ride. I will send you some info on some options on how you can do that. Thanks, Don
Nice commentary. Last Month I stumbled onto this site and wanted to let you know that I have been gratified, going through your sites posts. I will be signing up to your blogs feed and will wait for your next post.
BE SAFE OUT THERE BROTHER CRISS!!
PABLO.
What’s going on with this. Waiting for a schedule for the route from Philly to New York. Some vintage riders would like to ride along.
Hello Harry. We will depart the Courtyard Marriott in Malvern, PA on Wednesday, May 14th at 7:30 a.m. riding east on Rte 30 or the street that parallels it until we get to Route 1, then north past the Newark Airport to the Holland Tunnel, then down to Battery Park, arriving hopefully between 11- 11:30 a.m. As you would know being local, traffic can be heavy on Rte 30, so its difficult to say exactly where we will be at any given point. I hope that is helpful and yes, it would be great to have you ride along. We have a Facebook page that will be posting our news and progress.
Just left Oklahoma City on are way,cant wait to start the ride.
Great! See you soon Gerald. Ride safe.
Wish you all a great journey, look forward to the updates. Great job Don!
Cheers to you 21st century ‘pioneers’.
(it’s still a long ride… enjoy!)
If your itinerary permits,you should consider the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife refuge at Socorro,N.Mex. Safe journey,sounds like an adventure to me!
Dave
ps I heard of this re-enactment from my lovely niece Sidona Malone who I understand will be joining you as far as Yuma,Az. Adios amigos!
If you need anything when your in Newburgh let me know!
Thanks.
Don,will your schedule allow the coffee stop at
K&C Cycle on Monday morning after the AMA
Thanks,
Cristy
We really enjoyed our stop there Monday Christy.
Seen the Trailer with Cannonball logo @ the Marriot In Indy last night while going to the COA awards Banquet for the Car show that was @ the 500 track that day.
Did not know about the ride till now, It would have been great for it be part of Saturday’s festivities at the track.
As Cannonball race there I know a least once.
I have a car he drove in 1920 & set 2 records with. A 1920 Templar.
There should be a movie about this great man!
Have a Safe Ride!
Hi Jerry, if the Indy car race had ben Sunday instead of Saturday we could have done something, in fact we went to tour the museum at IMS Sunday. But my ride couldn’t leave San Diego until Saturday, May 3rd as that was the 100th anniversary of when he left and that was the concept of the ride to be on this schedule as best we could.
Hey Don – you should have emailed me about this we could have done interviews while your on the road! Email me when you get back home and we will get you on the show ASAP.
Best of Luck ride well and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Steve The Producer Johann
The Hog Radio Show
425-743-6161
Will do Steve.
Don, it was a pleasure meeting you and the other riders at Greenville, IL on Friday night and Saturday morning. I had a good time comparing notes about our Super Teneres with you and other riders of this model. I think that Keith had a good time riding my Tenere that I had the ECU flashed on.
Best wishes to you and the rest of the riders. I hope that you all continue having an enjoyable ride.
Thanks Fred. It was nice to meet you in Greenville.