A new sidecar record for the Three Flags Run- Canadian border to Mexican border- 1717 miles in 2 days, 17 hours and 53 minutes
As a young fellow, E.G. Baker enjoyed many physical fitness activities, including boxing, sparring, wrestling - and motorcycling. He worked for the United States Tire Company in his home town in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he rose to the position of superintendent of the motorcycle tire testing department, and it was there that he found an outlet for his remarkable stamina. Baker had an ability to complete fast, long distance rides without experiencing fatigue - a useful skill for testing tires. from http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121:baker-hits-the-road&catid=36:history-stories&Itemid=58
By 1917, Erwin Baker had been racing motorcycles and setting records for 13 years. He was an Indian rider from Indianapolis with a valuable reputation. After a quick coast-to-coast ride, he became nationally known by the speedy and marketing-appropriate nickname, “Cannonball.” Long before racing vehicles were covered in corporate sponsorship, Baker earned the support of some of the biggest names in automotive manufacturing. from http://goodsparkgarage.com/the-brilliance-of-cannonball-baker/
Found on http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com
In 1924 he made his first midwinter transcontinental run in a stock Gardner sedan at a time of 4 days, 14 hours and 15 minutes. He was so impressed by the car, that he purchased one thereafter. In 1926 he drove a loaded two-ton truck from New York to San Francisco in a record five days, seventeen hours and thirty minutes, and in 1928, he beat the 20th Century Limited train from New York to Chicago. Also in 1928, he competed in the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, and set a record time of 14:49.6 seconds, driving a Franklin.
His best-remembered drive was a 1933 New York City to Los Angeles trek in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, setting a 53.5 hour record that stood for nearly 40 years. This drive inspired the later Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, better known as the "Cannonball Run", which itself inspired at least five movies and a television series. In 1941, he drove a new Crosley Covered Wagon across the nation in a troublefree 6,517-mile run to prove the economy and reliability characteristics of Crosley automobiles.
information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Baker
above Pikes Peak and Frankin Special found on http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2013/03/cannonball-bakers-greatest-record.html
living in San Diego I found the info that he spent a good amount of time in San Diego interesting: His 7 hp, two-speed electric model twin was provided by the Hendee company, who arranged for him to be supplied with a machine from the stock of San Diego Indian dealer, C.A. Shepherd
FYI, next year there will be a cross country motorcycle run for pre-1937 motorbikes!
In 2010 and 2012 ,the brave riders of the Cannonball proved that antique motorcycles could indeed be put to the ultimate test. A test that would pit rider and machine against the North American continent. Reviving a tradition as old as the motorcycles themselves, they took a ride into history. Not only proving the capabilities of the machines,but also confirming the pioneering spirit this great country was built upon
Eligible Machines.........This will be a difficult ride, only the best machines should be considered for it. Much will have to be done to your machine if you decide to run the cannonball. No motorcycle built after 1936 can run for the prize. The machine must be powered by an original engine. Many things could be changed on a machine, and updates made for safety sake, but the core of the machine must be 1936 or earlier. http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=256&Itemid=61
