More on the Stampede

     Twenty six people started the 2010 Stampede.  These are the finishing times as near as I can tell.  Wess said, "There's a ton of stories surrounding most of these people and the ride. I've been riding motorcycles for over 40 years and without exception, these are the most dedicated motorcycle people I have ever met. Most I've known for a few years through the Smoke Out West, but until I rode up in North Carolina I really didn't get it. Now I do."
     I've read a few of the stories but for the most part this race is unknown, run by anonymous people who do it for reasons that are kept to themselves.


1st      Charlie The Nomad                                  50:00
2         Mr. Miyagi                                               53:03
3         Buck Blankenbaker (aka – Sharkboy)         66:00
4         Medusa Mike                                           68:44
5         Grampaw
6         Jim Snell                                                75:03
7         Wes Keysor                                            76:23
8         Eric Barnett                                            77:32
9         Nick Robinson                                         77:53
10       Andrew Jaramillo                                     78:54
11       Mack                                                      83:39
12       F. Bomb                                                  89:20
13       Dan Coen                                                90:30
14       Jason (The Canuck)                                 99:26
15       Friesz                                                    100:53
16       John Dollar                                            102:03
17       Fred (Quang tri)                                     107:25
18       El Butche                                              141:48
19-26 DNF

The Stampede

     The Stampede is a cross country race for choppers. The rules are simple: rigid frames (no rear suspension), no windshields, no fairings, no hard saddlebags, no rubber mounted engines, no chase vehicles.  I've been fascinated since I first heard about the Stampede a couple of years ago.
     Wes lives in Tuscon, Arizona but I usually run into him at the Laughlin River Run and this year at Sturgis.  When I learned he did the Stampede this year and finished 7th, I wanted to know more.       
     Wes' time for the 3050 miles from Santa Monica, California to Rockingham, North Carolina was 76 hours and 23 minutes.  Wes sent me the photos and comments below.

Santa Monica Pier @ 0600 - F-Bomb & Friend. F-Bombs girl friend, Lori, was killed last year during the race. She was hit by a semi in AZ. Shes remembered as the Queen of the Stampede.





Santa Monica Pier @ 0600 - Miyagi. Finished 2nd.

 


Santa Monica Pier - Booze Fighter Mack - Riding a strutted Sportster with questionable license and registration. Finished 11.




Santa Monica Pier @ 0600.




Santa Monica Pier @ 0600 - Sharkboy, Snell, Wes.




Santa Monica Pier @ 0600




Hotel in Santa Monica. Two days before the race the courtyard of this little motel in old Santa Monica was taken over. The manager finally went ape-shit. I negotiated a peace arrangement and we moved the bikes to a lot behind the motel. This was a good example of life-style clash. Keep in mind these guys were doing repairs to their bikes, everyone, with the exception of Snell, had ridden between 400 and 3000 miles just to get to the start.




Leaving for Santa Monica, Tucson @ 0300.




North Carolina, 3048 miles later.