Erwin "Cannonball" Baker aboard an Indian during on of his first cross-country endurance runs in the teens.

Remember those bad late 1970s/early 1980s movies featuring David Carradine and a host of B-grade actors bombing across the U.S. in a madcap coast-to-coast dash? Inspiration for those flicks came from auto editor Brock Yates' Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, a protest against Richard Nixon’s 55mph speed limit. Yates was inspired by the legendary endurance runs of Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, who made his first cross country dash in 1914 aboard an Indian twin. Today, Lonnie Isam, Jr., promoter and owner of Jurassic Racing in Sturgis, S.D., is adding to the Cannonball thread, making final preparations for a coast-to-coast endurance run for pre-1916 motorcycles, the Motorcycle Cannonball.

Unlike Cannonball Baker’s solitary runs, Isam’s September event will see some 70 classic bike fans working their way across the country. Taking off from historic Kitty Hawk, N.C., the 17-day event starts on Friday, September 10 and ends 3,325 miles later on Sunday, September 26 in Santa Monica, Calif. Eligible bikes are limited to machines built before 1916, and so far 38 of the 70 registered participants have said they’ll be riding 1914 or 1915 machines. Oldest registered machines a 1908 Thor and a 1908 Triumph.

Entrants will compete in one of three different classes including single-cylinder single-speed, multi-cylinder single-speed, and single or multi-cylinder with multi-speed machines. Riders will average 208 miles a day over the 16 days of riding, although there will be one 300-mile day and the start and finish days will be short days. Single-cylinder single-speed machines are expected to take the longest to finish, with the later multis expected to make the best time.

Course master John Classen has mapped out a route that avoids Interstate highways where possible, with only 100 miles mapped for the entire trip, all of it west of Albuquerque. In March, Classen will personally drive the shore-to-shore course for the Motorcycle Cannonball in the first of two pre-run trips to produce precise driving instructions for entrants and to smooth out any wrinkles along the way.

This is decidedly not a race, but an endurance run, which is an appropriate stance given the age of the competing machines. Fast as they may have seemed in their day, and in fact some of them were very fast at least for short bursts, there were few machines built in the early teens capable of sustaining speeds much over 40mph for any kind of duration with any kind of reliability. That said, we’re sure more than a few riders will be feeling their competitive oats.

Although the Motorcycle Cannonball is named after Baker, who set 143 driving records from 1910 through the 1930s, the top prize in the event, the Wyman Cup trophy, is named for George Wyman, who set the first trans-continental record in 1903 riding a single-cylinder California motorcycle.

The Wyman Cup will go to the best time of the single-speed, single-cylinder class, the class of machine that Wyman rode. The trophy is being crafted by renowned motorsports artist and sculpture Jeff Decker, who is sculpting a large bronze cup featuring George Wyman and his 1903 California. Decker promises the cup will be a one of a kind masterpiece, and knowing his work, we’re sure it will be.

Michael Lichter, best known for his Harley-Davidson and motorcycle lifestyle pics but also an extremely accomplished commercial photographer, will document the entire transcontinental trip.

Isam says that registration for the Motorcycle Cannonball is closed, with 70 official paid entrants and a small waiting list of riders who may be added later. Regardless, we’re hoping to catch up with riders during a planned rest day September 17 in Hot Springs, Ark., to see how they’re faring roughly half-way into the run. That should tell us a lot about how the western leg might go, although the potential for more extreme winds and higher temperatures will increase as they go west, ensuring a challenging ride. We’ll post more as we know it, in the meantime, you can keep abreast of developments at The Motorcycle Cannonball rally website. – Richard Backus 

California Scooter Company's new "Classic" was directly inspired by the Mustang, which was built from 1947-1965.

New retro bikes continue to grow in popularity. Royal Enfield, Triumph, Harley and Moto Guzzi all build motorcycles geared to riders whose tastes lean to yesterday’s classics. Add one more to the list thanks to the newly incorporated California Scooter Company, which is launching a line of bikes directly inspired by the classic Mustang motorcycles built in Glendale, Calif., from 1947 to 1965.

The California Scooter represents company founder Steve Seidner’s enthusiasm for motorcycles in general and passion for Mustang motorcycles in particular. Seidner has a long history in motorcycle sales, with extensive experience designing and marketing motorcycle accessories.

Now, he’s building motorcycles, with deliveries of production machines starting in March. Like the Mustang that inspired them, the new bikes coming out of Seidner’s Pomona, Calif., facility will be almost Lilliputian compared to the average Harley-Davidson. Wheels are only 12-inchers (just like the original), while power comes from a lightweight, all-aluminum 149cc 4-stroke single. The original Mustang Colt used a 122cc Villier’s 2-stroke. [Update: Several people have written in to clarify the fact that very few Mustangs were built with the Villier's 2-stroke engine. In 1947 the company introduced the Model 2 with a 320cc side-valve single and a 3-speed Burman gear box. In theStandard Catalog of American Motorcycles, Jerry Hatfield suggests a little over 200 Mustang Colts equipped with the Villiers engine were sold.] Saddle height is a low 27 inches, and the entire bike is only some 6-feet long. But that means relatively light weight of around 240 pounds wet. That basic formula worked well for the original Mustang, which was actually a surprisingly good performer thanks to its excellent power to weight ratio and low center of gravity.

Some 20,000 Mustangs were built during the original bike’s almost 20-year production life, and Seidner’s clearly banking there are still thousands of boomers like him with fond memories of riding or wanting to ride a Mustang as a kid. Three models are planned, including the aptly named Classic, which is almost a dead ringer for the original, down to its steel disc wheels. The modern engine gives it away, as does the front disc brake (early Mustangs had no front brake at all), but other than that you’d be hard-pressed to spot the differences until up close. The other two models include the very pink and tarted up Babydoll and the flat black and somber Greaser, a sort of mini bobber complete with red wheels.

The mini-bobber "Greaser" from California Scooter Company.

All three retail at $4,995, and while it’s hard to say without riding one whether they’re “real” motorcycles, chances are good they’ll surprise cynics just as the original Mustang did, which proved itself in a variety of competitive events including the famed Catalina Grand Nationals at Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. – Richard Backus

This original 1895 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller "motorrad" will be auctioned by Bonhams April 25

Bonhams will auction one of the few surviving Hildebrand & Wolfmüller motorcycles, a circa-1895 model that’s been in the same ownership since the early 1930s, at its annual International Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford, England, April 25.

In the early 1890s, brothers Henry and Wilhelm Hildebrand decided to build a Motorrad (German for motorcycle), the first machine to use the term. Partnering with Alois Wolfmüller and his mechanic, Hans Geisenhof, they developed a 2-cylinder, water-cooled 4-stroke engine. Displacing 1,488cc, it produced 2.5hp at 240rpm.

Instead of a chain or driveshaft, the machine used direct drive, with connecting rods from the cylinders acting directly on the rear wheel via eccentrics, much in the way an old locomotive engine connects its driven wheels. Top speed was estimated at 30mph.

Patented in 1894, fewer than 2,000 Hildebrand & Wolfmüllers were built in Germany and France (where it was licensed to an outside firm) before production stopped in 1897. Although it was ultimately a failure, it was the first-ever series production of a motorcycle, marking its place in history.

Pre-sale estimates for the apparently original and unrestored machine range from $65,000 to $100,000 for what must be one of the world’s most exclusive motorcycles. Look for a follow-up report in our next issue or go to www.bonhams.com/stafford – Richard Backus 

1970 Husqvarna 400 Cross, made famous in Bruce Brown's seminal motorcycle movie, "On Any Sunday." This bike was displayed at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, as part of the "Malcolm!" exhibit.

Husqvarna, the legendary make that ruled AMA Racing off-road competition throughout the 1970s and 1980s, has recently made a full-throttle return to national championship contention. This July 9-11, the iconic brand will celebrate its heritage and build toward its future as the Marque of the Year at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

Recognized as the world's largest gathering of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days attracts tens of thousands of fans of all ages, eras and brands. The event takes place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Ticket information is available at MidOhio.com.

"Arguably the most dominant off-road racing brand in the United States for a generation of racers, Husqvarna has recently returned full force to AMA Racing national competition,'' said Tigra Tsujikawa, AMA special events and marketing manager. "We're pleased to showcase both Husqvarna's history and the company's renewed investment in motorcycling's present and future at this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days."

"Husqvarna Motorcycles is delighted to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year for 2010," said Husqvarna Motorcycles North America President Mark Brady. "Launching the new decade with this prestigious recognition is indeed an honor. Everyone at Husqvarna Motorcycles is very much aware of the great history of the brand, and we are determined to bring back the glory days.

"We believe that developing a closer relationship with the AMA is an important part of growing and protecting the rights of every rider in America," Brady added.

As part of Husqvarna's participation in AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, fans will be able to get up close and personal with the Husqvarna's moto-history, from its genesis in Sweden in the early 1900s to the high-tech off-road, motocross and dual-sport bikes the company sells and races today.

In addition, every year an individual with ties to the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year is selected as Grand Marshal for the event. The 2010 Grand Marshal will be announced shortly.

Although many U.S. riders first became familiar with Husqvarna in the early 1960s, the company had been selling motorcycles since 1903 when it fitted Husqvarna frames with engines from makers such as FN and Moto-Reve. In 1920 Husqvarna began building its own engine, a 550cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin. Another early milestone was the legendary "Svartkvarna," built in 1946. It was a lightweight, reliable two-stroke that could endure hard use with minimal maintenance. The machine established a reputation that would define the Husqvarna marque for decades to follow.

By the early 1960s the two-stroke revolution had yet to reach the United States. U.S. riders were still tackling the woods and deserts on converted Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs and BSAs. It was about this time that a man named Edison Dye, now a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, took a motorcycle tour of Europe during which he became instantly enthralled with the European sport of motocross, and a new breed of lightweight two-stroke bikes favored by its competitors.

A few years later, Dye put a Husqvarna motocross bike in the hands of a young American rider named Malcolm Smith for evaluation. Smith, also an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, gave the bike a thumbs up. This persuaded Dye to become the U.S., Husqvarna importer in 1966. As part of a marketing campaign Dye organized visits to the U.S., by the reigning Swedish world motocross champion Torsten Hallman, who also has since taken a seat in the Hall of Fame. Not only did Dye sell Husqvarna motorcycles but he also introduced a new style of motorcycle racing to America.

While educational displays and seminars at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will focus on Husqvarna's rich history, the machines also will be among the many brands that amateur racers will test on the racetrack in the multiple racing disciplines that are part of the weekend's competition schedule.

In addition to vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features North America's largest motorcycle swap meet. Also on tap: bike shows, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the AMA Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum's website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009, visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

Kenny Eggers on his BSA Shooting Star at Daytona Beach, 1954. He later constructed an exact replica of this bike. 

Sad news comes from the vintage racing world, where it’s been reported that Kenny Eggers, one of the top riders of the 1950s, has passed away at the age of 80 of natural causes. Eggers shot to national attention in 1954 when he sailed to fifth place in the Grand National Series opener at Daytona, riding a BSA Shooting Star. BSA took the top five spots, and the famed BSA Wrecking Crew was born.

We chronicled Kenny’s 1954 exploits in the January/February issue of Motorcycle Classics in an article penned by Margie Siegal and accompanied by great photography from Stephen Jacobson. The sub-plot of that article was Kenny’s creation of a replica of the BSA Shooting Star he rode to victory in 1954, which Kenny said was “an exact replica” of the bike he rode at Daytona and later at Willow Springs, where he took first place. Kenny built the replica Shooting Star in 2005 after years of building replicas of some of the other bikes he rode in his career.  

Kenny in 2005 with the replica 1954 BSA Shooting Star he built.

Kenny was a respected and much-admired member of the racing fraternity, and will certainly be missed by all who knew him and appreciated his successes on the track. Our deepest sympathies to the Eggers family. We’ll let readers know if and when a public memorial is planned. It would be great to see someone establish a race fund for novice racers in Kenny’s name. – Richard Backus

 
1969 Munch Mammut to be auctioned at the Jan. 7-9, 2010 MidAmerica Vintage Motorcycle Auction. This Munch has a claimed 1,722 original miles.

January is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for MidAmerica Auctions’ annual, highly anticipated classic motorcycle auction in Las Vegas, Nev. The MidAmerica Las Vegas auction is widely seen as one of the most important auctions of the year, with many collectors viewing it as a barometer against which to gauge prospects for the coming year. The 2010 event is no different, with collectors around the country anxious to see how the market is holding up in an uncertain economy.

Although the economy has taken a beating over the past year, classic motorcycle values have held up fairly well. The high-end of the market has remained fairly stable, although so-called “near collectibles,” mostly Japanese bikes from the 1970s and 1980s, have seen a drop in interest. Overall, however, the market has remained quite healthy; if anything, the poor economy has actually increased interest in classic bike auctions as people look for safe havens of investment, something classic bikes have long represented.

The 1976 Yamaha TT500 we featured in the November/December 2008 issue belonging to Gordon Mizuhara will be looking for a new owner, one of a dozen or so Yamahas scheduled to cross the auction block.

MidAmerica anticipates a lineup up of around 500 bikes, plus memorabilia. The auction kicks off at 7pm on Thursday, Jan. 7 (doors open at 10am), and then continues all day Friday and all day Saturday. Admission to the auction is $15 a day; three-day passes are available for $30. There’s also an auction dinner on Thursday night.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to take in some short track racing on Friday and Saturday night, as the West Coast Flat Track Series debuts its 2010 season at the South Point Casino Arena adjacent to the South Point Casino where the MidAmerica auction will be held. Spectator gates open Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm, with the first race at 7:30pm.

If you’re in the greater Los Angeles area or have reason to be around Las Vegas, this is an auction not to be missed. Cool machines, interesting people, and it doesn’t hurt that it all happens in Las Vegas, where folks tend to let it all hang out.

More details on the race and the auction can be found at www.WCFTS.com and www.MidAmericaAuctions.com – Richard Backus 

Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisc., is adding new event features to its annual vintage motorcycle weekend, and Motorcycle Classics is joining in on the fun.

The Road America Vintage Motorcycle Classic, June 11-13, 2010, will mark the return of American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) racing, with the addition of motocross and cross country and trials on courses built specifically for vintage racing. Motorcycle Classics will be there, hosting the inaugural Road America Motorcycle Classics Ride and Show. This promises to be a killer show and an amazing weekend for classic bike fans, as Road America and AHRMA strengthen their ties to produce a top-level event for classic bike fans in 2010. 

“Road America is acknowledged as a world-class road racing facility. When we discovered that the property had hundreds of acres of prime off-road terrain, we were pleased to add AHRMA National Off-Road events to the traditional schedule of road racing,” said AHRMA Executive Director David Lamberth. Road America has a large motorcycle racing fan base and always encourages vintage motorsports enthusiasm.

Track president George Bruggenthies is pleased with the expanded event, “The world of vintage motorcycling is a vibrant, diverse family that includes, collectors, restorers and enthusiasts who just love to ride old bikes, as well as racers. Road America is a great place to celebrate that spirit,” he stated. Other race-weekend features are being added through a partnership with longtime motorcycle events producer Will Stoner. Stoner is coordinating a swap meet, club corrals and a moving bike show. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to do a swap meet and bike show in such a fantastic location. The swap meet area is one of the best I’ve seen, the roads are fantastic and Wisconsin hospitality is great,” Stoner said. The swap meet is open to all brands of motorcycles, but is limited to bikes, parts, memorabilia and tools. The on-site bike show will include judging with awards presented in multiple classes and a leisurely 40-mile ride through the scenic Wisconsin countryside. Club Corrals will be open to all vintage motorcycle clubs and organizations wishing to have a corral spot on Club Row.

The spaces will be free to any club that registers by June 2, 2010. Clubs will be able to park their bikes, sell memberships and club regalia, as well as have a picnic for club members. Participants only need to purchase an advance event ticket to use the Club Corrals. Participant information for the swap meet, bike show and club corral is available by contacting Will Stoner at willstoner@classicswapmeets.com. 

Other event details will be posted as they become available at www.roadamerica.com and at MotorcycleClassics.com. Road America is a 640-acre, year-round motorsports facility entering its 55th race season. In addition to major race events, Road America offers motorcycle and supermoto schools, corporate ATV and karting programs, and top-of- the-line hospitality. Season Passes, which include the event listed above, are $370 through Feb. 15, 2010. For up-to- date event information visit www.roadamerica.com.