The Scooter Cannonball Run is a coast to coast endurance event for scooters. It is a time/distance/regularity rally where points are awarded based on miles completed and the ability to maintain the standard pace. This year it will begin in Savannah, GA and end eight days later in San Diego, CA covering 2633 miles. There are over 50 entrants riding all types of scooters. From a 1946 Salibury to a modern 3 wheel Piaggo MP3. I have decided join the fun this year. We will leave Savannah on April 22 and head west. I will be riding to raise money for KIDS and LEMUR'S charities. Please help us by purchasing some miles for one of these charities. Don't worry, I will be covering close to 6,000 miles out to California and back to Florida, so there are plenty of miles to go around. ALL monies go directly to the charity.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Day in the life of a Cannonballer

So, what is a day in the life of a Cannonballer about.

The routes are made public well in advance, but at the pre-race meeting in Savannah we were given packets with a time sheet, a map, and driving instructions for each day.

 Time sheet where you enter your start time, the time at each check point and your end time.

 The route map.

Driving directions.

The morning starts with people loading and checking their scooters.  Then Patrick addresses a non-mandatory drivers meeting.  


 "don't crash, slow through towns, don't pass stopped school buses, don't crash"

Then we are off.  The timing is based on the time you leave until the time you get in and the time between each check point.  You can complete leg A and lay around before you start leg B but the clock is still running.  The time is based on the honor system backed up with camera evidence and a master clock.


 You take a picture of the master clock in the morning and evening just in case you have a "drift" in your own clock.

 Picture of the clock in Abilene

 Picture of the hotel

 Picture of the clock at check point A

 Picture of  check point B

 The camera records the time but I also write them on the wind screen

 All the routes and check points are in the GPS, but I write them on the wind screen in case Gladys decides to go off on her own.

 Check point C

 The time

The final check point the hotel


At the end of the day you turn your times in and Patrick puts them in the computer.  If they seem really fast you have to show him all the pictures with the time stamps.

 Melony, me and Gary tussle to get our times in so we can go drink Gary's "apple pie"
Patrick patiently entering data.


Then you go drink beer.



And that is a day in the life of a Cannonballer.  Oh yea, and you ride like hell all day, you don't pee, you never take your gear off when you are fueling and you hope you do not get lost.  Other than that, it is just a ride across country.


 That's funny.  We do that everyday to get to school

 Future "smart" Cannonballer on the way home


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