THE CHASE! GRAND FINALE

GRAND FINALE – MIAMI FLORIDA TO KEY WEST FLORIDA

Earlier in the run I received a good omen. In the change I was given at one of the gas stops I found a wheatback penny. The best thing about it was the year, 1947, the same as my bike!

In the morning we took our last quiz – boy were these a challenge. Over the entire event I ended up with 41 of the possible 100 points. This was 11 over my goal of getting a 30. If you go to the chase website they have scoring posted. Generally, the scores were in the range of what I earned. 

As expected, the day started off very humid, we broke into a sweat walking from the room to the bike. The temperature rose all the way down to Key West where we proceeded to bake again. Luckily no rain today.

At the finish Tom Banks and I can’t believe we made it all the way. Wow, what a ride!

Here is old Blue – we made it all the way with several bandages. Here is a short list of the issues I had. Some of which still need to be addressed.

• The top motor mount bolt fell out, so I ran without it part of the way

• The rear intake spigot developed a leak which lead to plug fouling and rough running

• Water in the carburetor

• Short in the lighting wiring circuit. I tried to track it down in the parking lot with no luck. So I just ran with no lights on the bike for several days.

Bikes lined up in Mallory Square

That evening we had the closing banquet on the beach. It was a lot of fun. Hard to believe it’s all over.

A big thanks to Team Smoky Mountain! With your help old Blue probably had the greatest adventure it has ever experienced.

THE CHASE! Update 10

Lakeland FL to Miami FL

The day was dry until the end. We got soaked leaving the hosted dinner driving to the hotel.

Probably one of the more interesting things I noticed today were the panther crossing signs along a long stretch of the road. Not a place to break down at night!

The only WLA on the chase.

Dinner at Harley-Davidson of Miami.

Today I made the entire ride on one spark plug. The rawhide and goop seal on the intake is working pretty well. Notice fouling around the outside.

THE CHASE! Update 9

Tallahassee FL to Lakeland FL

We started out today a bit cooler but really high humidity. Today’s ride was not so much the scenery or winding roads, but knocking out miles.

Riders lined up in the hotel to get the days route instructions.

This is my rear cylinder leaking intake experiment. I wrapped rawhide covered in goop around the intake. The bike ran the best it has so far and I didn’t have to change the front spark plug every 50 miles. When I checked it at the 200 mile lunch stop it had light fouling and probably could have gotten me to the end but I changed it for good measure.

Surprise checkpoint and daily test.

We are enjoying peak love bug season. All of those black dots on my helmet are love bugs that landed on it during a gas stop. They are everywhere and so thick that you can’t stand outside at the gas stop to drink a bottle of water or you’ll be covered!

Tonight I spent some time trying to track down the intermittent short in my lighting systems, 72 year old wiring. I just don’t have the right tools or time. So I found a ride to a local sporting goods store and bought a bicycle headlight so I will comply with the headlight “ON” law in Florida.

THE CHASE! Update 8

Macon Ga to Tallahassee FL

Today started out hot and sticky. The ride took us through the hometown of Jimmy Carter, Plains GA. We also experienced love bugs as they hovered all over pummeling our helmets and bikes - nothing a good rain won’t wash off!

The stop was at Harley-Davidson of Tallahassee where I took advantage of the air conditioned shop to adjust my primary and rear chain. When we left the dealership I found an auto parts store where I picked up some oil and more spark plugs. Then it was off to the hotel for an oil change. I received a surprise gift from Smoky Mountain Chapter member Liz. She found a tube of the goop I have been slathering on my leaky intake. I was able to find a strip of rawhide and wrapped that around the intake also - hopefully it’s more airtight now!

THE CHASE! Update 7

Chattanooga TN to Macon GA

Today’s ride started with a climb up to Rock City. The temps were really nice and roads windy. It didn’t start to get hot until lunchtime. Then it was real hot!

Getting gas in central Georgia.

The hosted stop was at Macon Harley-Davidson.

They opened up the shop for bike repairs and it was a full house.

The dealership owner is posing with a knucklehead. He may have sold this very bike. He is 98 years old and has been a Harley-Davidson dealer since the 1930’s.

Failed battery- notice it’s swollen. Is it from overcharging or heat?

THE CHASE! Update 6

Bowling Green KY to Chattanooga TN

Today was another challenging day primarily due to the heat. When I pulled into Chattanooga the thermometer read 98, it was cooling down!

The roads out of Bowling Green had really nice sweeps and were a nice start to the day.

Here is a photo of the front plug after 100 miles. I either clean or replace then I am heading down the road again.

At the lunch stop in Murfreesboro the Harley dealership let a couple of riders bring their bikes indoors to access power to recharge their batteries. Both bikes have failed generators and are running off the batteries only.

Joe Gimpel taking our daily test at the surprise checkpoint.

This evening I got the pleasure to hang out with several Smoky Mountain Chapter members who showed up at the finish line in Chattanooga. It was great to see everyone.

THE CHASE! Update 5

Urbana, IL to Bowling Green, KY

Today was the longest day at around 317 miles. It was also the hottest so far. We spent about 10 hours on the road to include 50 miles running 55 on a 70 mph highway. It was exhausting! After the display at Harley Davidson of Bowling Green, parking lot duties kept me up til midnight!

No photos today as I had the sweep truck parked across from me during a gas stop and spark plug change just before lunch. This means I was the last bike on the route! Within 20 miles I passed 8 bikes at their gas stop which put a buffer between me and the sweep truck. That was a relief!

After crossing a river on an old railway bridge (wooden trestles with rivets - sketchy to ride on 2 wheels) I ran into Bill Page pulled over in front of a farmhouse. His generator had failed and his battery was depleted which means a dead bike. I had a small 6V emergency battery which got him to the lunch stop where he rounded up a couple others which got him to the finish. At the evening stop we found a local gentleman who was willing to drive us to Batteries Plus where we identified and purchased some higher capacity 6V batteries which should get him through an entire day.

So here is the big problem I am fighting, front spark plug is fouled after 60 to 100 miles and has to be cleaned or replaced. There also appears to be an air leak on the rear intake. We don’t have the time, tools, or facilities to fix this properly. So it’s either quit and repair properly or bandage and go.

THE CHASE! Update 4

Today we started in Milwaukee Wisconsin and ended in Urbana Illinois. It was the longest day so far at about 278 miles and it included three stops at Harley-Davidson dealerships to display the bikes.

Above: Here is parking lot action at today’s start. Within a few minutes of leaving the start, the rain came. This continuous bike wash lasted until after lunchtime.

Above: At this gas stop I still had about 100 miles left for the day but was able to remove the rain gear. We took a lot of interesting roads through the farmlands. The scenery was great but the roads were pretty rough which beats the riders up physically. We are all feeling it!

The bike ran well today. She’s not an oil burner but the front plug is running a little sooty. Tonight’s maintenance included adjusting the points, rear chain and topping off fluids. I also did laundry. I’m looking forward to the six hours of sleep I’m gonna get tonight!

THE CHASE! Update 3

Cruising across Lake Michigan and an easy day (not!)

We started out the day loading up on the coal-fired ferry USS Badger (built in 1953).

Here I am with the USS Badger in the background.

Bikes being loaded into the hold.

A view from the deck, this was a very enjoyable 4 hour ride.

Once we landed in Wisconsin we had a short 100 mile ride to the Harley Museum.

This is when it fell apart. The bike was kicking and spitting. I ended up on the side of the road working. Had water in the carb and a fouled plug. The bike was not running right but I made check-in at the absolute last minute.

Once we got to the hotel I started working on the bike again. Turns out the rear intake spigot was loose in the head creating an air leak. I thought I was going to have to call it quits but with Joe Gimpel’s help we scrounged up some sealer and worked on the bike till 11:30 pm. I was up at 5:00 am and got her running again about an hour before start.

So I am off again - cross your fingers!

THE CHASE! Update 2

DAY 1

Today we started the run south and it was turned into the endurance run we were promised! The day started with heavy rain and ended with light rain…

Parked under the overhang of the start hotel. I needed some dry space to load up the paper scroll that has our route for the day.

This is a surprise checkpoint where they administered the 10 question test we have each day. It was pretty tough!

Parking lot action at the end of the day.

Today’s route.

Mike McCloud has tears in his eyes when he thinks of all the patina on my ‘47 Harley that has washed off and is forever lost on the roads of Michigan. It’s a very sad day…

THE CHASE! Update 1

DAY 1 – PROLOGUE

Yep – After a quick trip we were crossing the Mackinac Bridge. It was a beautiful rainy day in Michigan. Weather was much cooler than what we were experiencing in Alabama. This is it, Key West or Bust! After being dropped off and unloaded, my support driver John Zibell pointed the White Whale south and as you read this the Ford Transit is sitting in my driveway in Alabama. I am on my own…

Bikes arriving in rainy Michigan

I decided to take a short tour around Sault Ste Marie. I found a great drive in across from one of the many ferry’s up here. Great food and great weather

Smoky Mountain member Joe Gimpel jumping in to assist Steve Rinker working on a Chase bike that was having ignition problems

Today we have the riders meeting where we get our instructions. In the afternoon we have a short ride and display the bikes for the public. Then this evening is the opening banquet. Tomorrow we hit the road, can’t wait!

THE CHASE!

TEAM SMOKY MOUNTAIN and the 2019 CROSS COUNTRY CHASE

It’s a fact – It took the entire SMOKY MOUNTAIN team to get my 1947 Harley Davidson FL to the start of the 2019 Cross Country Chase. If it wasn’t for the attendees at the various Tech Days held over the past year, I would have never gotten this bike road worthy in time to attempt this crazy challenge.  We have a bunch of hardworking gearheads in this group…

The Cross Country Chase is the new event put on by Jason Sims who runs the Motorcycle Cannonball Run. The Cannonball has been run every two years since 2010 and is traditionally restricted to the earliest motorcycles manufactured. I have run three of the five and am signed up for 2020.  In 2016 they had to be 100 years old or older. Jason decided he needed to do something during the off year between Cannonballs. He wanted an event that was easier for your average collector to participate in. The bikes are probably less expensive, and it requires less time off from work.  Even though the bikes are “newer”, 1930 to 1948, the event is incorporating challenges that make it more daring than the Cannonball. Probably the biggest twist is that you must carry everything you need on the bike. Tools, spare parts, and clothes. Where on the Cannonball you have a support vehicle to do this for you. That means you really must do a lot more planning to determine what is necessary. If you break down during the Chase and can’t get your bike repaired to rejoin the next morning, you are essentially stranded. The ride continues and you are where you are! The cherry on top is a 100-question test that is one of the tie breakers.

https://themotorcyclechase.com/

The Chase starts the Friday after Labor Day and you can imagine I am starting to get the pre-run nervousness. Trying to take care of those last-minute problems while the clock seems to be moving forward quicker than I like. What parts do I need to pack, do I have room to pack them, what tools do I need, what clothing and gear will I need, what is the weather going to be? So many things going through my mind! I just replaced the rear tire as the one on the bike was probably not going to make the trip. I have had an intermittent problem with the rear brake where it seems to grab occasionally. I have been ignoring this problem as I had a lot of other things to work on and I thought with some riding the brake shoes would wear in and the problem would go away. Well after 1000 test miles it was not going away.. So, with a week left I thought I should dig into what is causing it which meant pulling the rear wheel again! We had the Huntsville Smoky MTN breakfast meeting yesterday and I decided to host a mini-tech session afterwards to get the brain trust to weigh in on the issue. We had special guest star and mechanical genius Roy Chapman in town which was a plus. We came to a consensus and I also decided to deal with the loose actuating shaft that is in the brake baking plate. I hope to have everything back together by the middle of this week for one last test ride, and an oil change.

The way these things go is you can have a 2500 mile trip or a 1 mile trip. It’s a real unknown with these old machines. Keep in mind the last time this bike was on the road was 1976 and I have not been inside the engine, so who knows? I have my SPOT satellite tracker on the bike and if you are really bored at work you can follow my progress for this 10-day challenge.

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=1cc755c7d4ca376fe0&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes

I will provide daily Blog updates on the ride via Cecil.

Again, many thanks to Team Smoky Mountain for helping me get to the start line!!!