Fan Appreciation Day

 We are ticking off the states one by one and will be in Michigan for all of today. This tour is getting a lot of attention on Social Media, in a good way.  People have been riding out to meet us en route or at our hotels.  The Norton Owners Club is following us like hawks.  Of course, Richard Asprey is president of that club's North Texas chapter and well known for Cannonball Run exploits.  We had a Cannonball vet with us for dinner last evening and a lovely couple caught up for us at lunch in Blissville, Mi. Then there are the inevitable random folks we meet along the route wondering what this is all about.  Most are left in disbelief that we are actually going to California on 70-year-old motorcycles.

We have been getting better about staying together on the road, a real challenge with 10 motorcycles.  Technology is is a huge enabler.

Meet our Road Captain, David Belleville, of Los Angeles California.  His helmet and bike, a K75 BMW, are festooned with communications gadgets.  There is a cell phone and a GPS, of course.  He talks to both with a Sena helmet device.  Several others have similar setups including Greg McBride, and Richard.  They can all phone each other and act accordingly if riders at the back get held up or have problems.  Everyone is also responsible for pulling over if the rider following disappears in the rearview mirror.  That works its way to the front and things get sorted out quickly.  We have not lost anyone yet!

Near the end of our ride yesterday, a secret side trip was made to the country home of Suzi Haines, "President For Life" of the International Norton Owners Club.  What a character she is.  

Suzi poses with her 97,000-mile Norton Interstate.  Yes, she put all those miles on herself  She is holding a Triumph Racers in America Book that she asked me to sign.  In the book is a complete photo essay on the 1967 Triumph works racer that I campaigned in 1983 to the Canadian Vintage Road Racing Championship.  Suzi owns the ex-Buddy Elmore 1966 Daytona winner.  There was an excited discussion about all that only hard-core motorcyclists can have.  The following scenes are around Suzi's place.  Check out the details.  

With her first motorcycle, BSA Bantam.

1. A storied garage and shop, much larger than the house, as befits a true enthusiast.
2. Some of the group went straight for the shady porch.  
3. Bob Reimer, Ventura, California, a Norton expert, closely inspects Suzi's Norton.  

So, how are we doing on the mechanical front?  The Rapide that Ian was riding had shifting problems right from the start that progressed into unrideable status.  That meant that we were down 2 Vincents.  A second backup bike was brought into play, another hotted-up Triumph T160.  Last night I fixed that with the help of Bob Reimer.  Meanwhile, a new clutch has been ordered for my Rapide.  It should be waiting for me to install it at the hotel tonight.  That will put the Texas contingent back up to full compliment.  Bob Reimer has decided to wait for the 1-day rest stop (Deadwood, SD) to deal with his Vincent (sheered Magneto pinion).  It is a long job that cannot be handled in one evening.  

This brings up an interesting point.  Our schedule is so packed, that we really only have 2 or 3 hours each night to deal with anything serious.   The crew only gives what a friend of mine calls "a spa treatment".  They top off all fluids, wipe down the bikes, and check for anything about to fall off.  Anyway, if it cannot be done in a couple of hours, out comes a backup bike.  The show must go on ....