Stampede Reunion

      Few people know what The Stampede was, The Stampede was a cross country race for choppers,There were a total of 10 Stampedes. The last "Now or Never," Stampede was in 2015.
     The rules were that the bike had to be hardtailed, have a solid mounted motor with no windshields, fairings or hard saddlebags. No chase vehicles were allowed and anyone not in the race was considered a chase vehicle. Strutts were allowed.
     Each year the race started somewhere on the west coast and ended in Pine Bluff, North Carolina. Pine Bluff was near the Rockingham Speedway that hosted a chopper event called The Smokeout. 
     The Stampede was a race. It was illegal, dangerous and it was hard. For me, and I believe most of the riders that competed, a life defining event.            

     I learned about The Stampede just before Stampede 5, but not in time to get a bike together for that race. I rode my Electra Glide to Lake Tahoe to see the start of that race, which followed Highway 50 to the east coast and to Pinebluff, NC. I would compete in the next 4 Stampedes.
     At Tahoe, while taking photographs, I met Jim Hunchuck, who was working on the carburetors of his Kawasaki KZ750. I asked him if I could take a few photos. I found him to be a really outgoing and a nice guy, I knew that Jim and I would be friends.
     In November of 2017 Jim started a Facebook Group called "Stampede Race Alumni." Jim suggested a Stampede Reunion. He asked for suggestions for a location and time. Cottonwood, Arizona was set as the location and the dates were set, June 15-17, 2018.