Motorcycles have been around for over 100 years, and while the industry is building faster and safer bikes these days, the old time feeling just is not there. Similar to automotive enthusiasts who revive old iron for the sake of nostalgia, motorcycle enthusiasts put forth great effort to restore these two-wheeled machines to their former glory. Some antique motorcycle collectors like to present their bikes as flawless pieces of history, and choose to never get out and ride to keep the bike’s pristine condition.
Others choose to get out and ride their vintage motorcycles in cross-country events.
The event is called the Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run and it is held from Friday to Sept. 21. Starting from Daytona Beach, Fl., and wrapping up in Tacoma, Wa., the Motorcycle Cannonball is a true test of determination, with three classes of bikes that are not capable of the constant speeds required to travel on modern Interstate highways. With that said, the endurance run will be held on small roads, to keep the riders and bikes out of harm’s way.
Coker Tire is the only supplier of antique motorcycle tires bikes built before 1936, and will provide new tires if punctures occur out on the road, or if the tires wear out during the 3,938-mile trip across America. It is called an endurance run for a reason, as these vintage motorcycles will battle modern roads on this amazing journey. More than 100 riders are pre-registered plan to take on this two-wheel journey, which is stopping Chattanooga.
When the developers of the Motorcycle Cannonball discussed the route, there was a great interest to visit Chattanooga. The riders will roll into Chattanooga, beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, to take part in a tour of the Coker Tire facility, and see the Scenic City. The event is free to the public, and the riders will be busy repairing their motorcycles for the next day’s adventure during their stay in Chattanooga. The riders will head out toward Clarksville, Tn. on Monday, Sept. 8, and continue westward toward the end goal of Tacoma, Washington.
If you would like more information on the Motorcycle Cannonball or Coker Tire’s involvement, feel free to visit www.motorcyclecannonball.com to see a more in-depth description of the event, and the folks who plan to participate.