“Route 66”

Endurance • Speed • Navigation • Knowledge

Springfield, IL to California

September 15th – 25th, 2022

 

In September of 2022 the Cross Country Chase will once again make way for the next epic adventure of Man vs. Machine!  A cross country challenge for riders with motorcycles that were manufactured between 1930-1960, The Chase will be a test of Endurance, Speed, Navigation, and Knowledge.

Endurance

Riders and Machines will compete an average of 250 miles per day over a 5-day period. Riders and Machines could endure fatigue, mental exhaustion, cold, heat, elevations, and all the ferocious elements of Mother Nature. Riders will navigate the course of The Cross Country Chase on their own, no support crews of any kind will be allowed during the event. Riders will have to think about what they need to pack to make it the duration; tools, parts, and luggage must be packed on your motorcycle. It is just you, your motorcycle, and some of the best 2-lane roads of North America.

Navigation

Riders will have to successfully navigate the 9-day, 2400+ mile route without going off course or getting lost. The Cross Country Chase will provide riders with a Navigation Map each morning that will give turn-by-turn instructions based on mileage.

Speed

Riders and Machines will compete an average of 250 miles per day over a 5-day period. Riders and Machines could endure fatigue, mental exhaustion, cold, heat, elevations, and all the ferocious elements of Mother Riders and Machines will be challenged to complete stages in a timed fashion, which will require maintaining certain speeds, strategically planned stops, and managing time throughout the day to check in to the final daily checkpoint at the required time.

Knowledge

Riders will be given a 100-question test that will cover aspects of the route and American Motorcycling history which will count towards each rider’s final score.

This event will be open to the first 100 people that successfully complete all of the required entry requirements for this event.

Qualifications:

Entry Requirements:

  1. 1. Have Qualifying Motorcycle
  2. 2. Paid Entry Fee
  3. Completed Entry Form
  4. Pictures of Motorcycle (Due by March 15, 2022)
  5. Rider Profile Pictures (Due by March 15, 2022
  6. Rider Video (Due by May 15, 2022)

Motorcycles:

  1. A Motorcycle manufactured between 1930-1960
    1. Note: Custom bikes such as bobbers and choppers are allowed and encouraged, if they meet the rest of the qualifying criteria.
  2. Motorcycle will be handicapped on the following:
    1. Age: The older the motorcycle, the higher it will be handicapped
    2. Engine Displacement: Motorcycles with smaller displacement engines will be handicapped higher than motorcycles with higher displacement
    3. To see handicap worksheet, click this link
  3. Must have Original Manufactured Engine Cases (No Aftermarket modern cases allowed)
  4. Must Have Original Manufactured Transmission Cases (No Late model Transmissions)
    1. Note:  Electric Starters will be allowed but will be assessed a handicap penalty
  5. Period Correct Carburetors (No Late Model Mikunies, S&S, etc)
    1. Note: later model Carburetors will be allowed but will be assessed a handicap Penalty
Riders:
  1. Age: 18 and older

Jason Sims

Director of Operations

Motorcycles have been part of my life since the early age of 5 when my grandfather put me on my first minibike a Honda 70’s XL70.  To this day it is truly one of the only memories that is etched in my mind as a youngster.  This love affair never surrendered and only got more out...Read More

John Classen

Course Master

John Classen returns for the second time as the Course Master of the Cross Country Chase.  The inaugural event in 2019 brought a new challenge where John’s navigation took competitors on some of the best, two-lane back roads of America from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Key West, Florida.  He awed riders again in the 2021...Read More

LeeAnn Sims

Administrative & Travel Coordinator

LeeAnn handles the everyday administration and management of the Motorcycle Cannonball and the Cross Country Chase.  With Jason taking over the Cannonball daily operations in 2016, she recognized a serious need for the lodging and travel portion of the event, and launched a travel business extension, appropriately named “Cannonball Travel,” strictly to meet this important need,...Read More

Michael Lichter

Official Photographer

In 1977, after a stint simultaneously playing drums, bussing tables in a restaurant and doing personal photography, Michael decided he was a better photographer than a drummer and hung up the sticks. He started riding his 1971 Harley Davidson shovel head (which he still owns) and photographing bikers. In 1979, Easyriders started to publish some of...Read More

Vicki Sanfelipo

RN, Health and Wellness Coordinator

Vicki is a Registered Nurse and EMT who cheerfully escorts Cannonball riders across the country, providing medical attention as needs arise. She is the author of “A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist” and established the non-profit organization Accident Scene Management (ASM) in 1996 in order to reduce injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists through First Response training....Read More

Teresa Martinez

Health & Wellness

Teresa “Trauma Mama” Martinez is a masters prepared Registered Nurse who is excited to be joining the Medical Support Team escorting Cannonball riders across the country. She has been in Healthcare for 30 years primarily Pre Hospital, ER & Trauma. She is a Lead Instructor Trainer for the non-profit organization Accident Scene Management (ASM) since 2008...Read More

Ray Rodi (Coach)

Merchandise

Coach is a motorcycle enthusiast as all of you are.  He got involved with the Motorcycle Cannonball in 2016 when Jason entrusted him with the Merch Van and he continues in that capacity with the both the Motorcycle Cannonball and the Cross Country Chase. He was a teacher and coach for 34 years until he retired...Read More

Morgan Williams

Sweep Operations

Morgan Williams is driving a sweep truck this year in The Cross Country Chase and The Motorcycle Cannonball. He wasn’t born into a motorcycle family, but has been in love with them all his life. He has been riding for over 50 years starting out with  mini-bikes and then he bought a Panhead Chopper in the...Read More

Marjorie Kleiman

Media

Marjorie Kleiman, a.k.a. Shadow, is a veteran moto-journalist, having worked with a number of major motorcycle magazines such as Thunder Press where she was Editor-in-Chief, American Iron Magazine where she served as a columnist, industry publication American Iron Retailer, where she was the inaugural editor, and Cycle Source Magazine where she contributes articles and photographs. She...Read More

Joe Sparrow

Motorcycle Sweep

Known as the Wandering Sparrow, you can often find Joe traveling, working various rallys for J&P Cycle, or riding motorcycle sweep on the Motorcycle Cannonball and Cross Country Chase.  Joe has helped many riders fix their bikes to get back on the road and avoid having to load on the sweep trailer.  Joe is known for...Read More

Ryan Allen

Motorcycle Sweep

I’m Ryan L. Allen and motocycles have been part of my innerworkings since my late father Tommy R. Allen had me interested in old Indian motorcycles. As a youth he asked me; “Son what do you want to do with these old machines?” Pontifically saying something like: I would ride them across the country competing in some...Read More

Cris Sommer Simmons

Media

Cris has enjoyed a lifetime love affair with two wheels. An eager passenger on her stepfather’s motorcycle at age 9, she got her first motorcycle at 14, her first Harley at age 19 and has been riding ever since.  She was a longtime member of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association and in 1984, co-founded the 2nd Chapter of Women in...Read More