Cross Country Motorcycle Cannonball Run Includes Stops In Arkansas

As a motorcycle enthusiast, I am very excited to report that tomorrow is the official start of the Motorcycle Cannonball Run-the coast-to-coast ride across the U.S.  Stops through Arkansas are included in the journey. 

The ride, named after Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, a famous motorcycle and automobile racer who set over 140 endurance records from 1910 through the late-1930s, departs the Outer Banks of North Carolina ( from Kitty Hawk-the birthplace of aviation)  tomorrow ( Sept. 10) making its way across the U.S. on a 16-day, 3,300-mile trek to the Pacific Ocean’s west coast in Santa Monica, California.

Nearly 70 riders have signed up for the first-year event, in hopes of proving the durability and reliability of their nearly century-old equipment.The ride is the brainchild of Lonnie Isam, Jr., owner of Jurassic Racing in Sturgis, South Dakota. The ride is being divided into 16 stages and requires that participants ride classic pre-1916 motorcycles such as Pope, Sears, Flying Merkel, Excelsior, Henderson, Indian, Triumph, and the Harley-Davidson’s Silent Grey Fellows.

Riders will be on the road around two weeks and will journey through 11 states. They will have one rest day in Hot Springs.

The public is invited to meet the riders and view their vintage motorcycles as they journey across the U.S.

In Arkansas, you can catch up with the riders during their venture on the following dates:

Stage 7: September 16. The riders will be traveling 186 miles. They will stop in Stuttgart for lunch (where their bikes will be on public display) on their way to Hot Springs. The first bikes will begin arriving in Hot Springs on September 16 at 4 p.m. The final group of riders will arrive around 4:55 p.m. According to Steve Arrison of the Hot Springs CVB, the riders will come into the city on Malvern Avenue then take a right on Convention Boulevard, then a right on Laurel Street, which runs between the Embassy Suites hotel and the Summit Arena.

“We are asking Hot Springs residents to welcome this incredible event to our city by lining both sides of Laurel Street, where we will have an informal ‘finish line,’” Arrison said. “These classic antique motorcycles then will be parked on Church Street behind the Convention Center where they will be on public display until 6 p.m.”  Arrison said security will be provided for the motorcycles overnight.

September 17 is a rest day in Hot Springs ( the only rest day of the trip!) and riders will be in town all day.

Stage 8: September 18:  The riders leave Hot Springs and travel 143 miles and hit Danville (where they will stop for lunch. The bikes will be on display during this time in town-they are also scheduled to ride up Mount Magazine) and Fort Smith (with an overnight stay in Fort Smith. The bikes will be on display in town).

You will also be able to catch glimpses of them as they travel the roads on their journey through the state. 

The event is bringing together an interesting mix of participants. Among them is Japanese born motorcycle builder Shinya Kimura; Frank Wesley Buddy Stubbs, the well-known and long-time owner of two Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealerships in central Arizona whose background includes stints as a motorcycle racer and a Hollywood stuntman; Cristine Sommer-Simmons, journalist and wife of rock and roller Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers ; Katrin Böhner and her husband, Dieter Eckel, who have ventured to the U.S. from Germany to participate in ride and Arkansan John Hollansworth of Hot Springs Village who will ride his 1914 Indian in the Cannonball.