Frank Westfall with his 1928 Henderson Deluxe. Photo: Ian Allen
Frank Westfall with his 1928 Henderson Deluxe.
Photo: Ian Allen
1936 Harley-Davidson EL. Photo: Ian Allen
1936 Harley-Davidson EL.
Photo: Ian Allen
Sean Duggan rides his 1936 Harley-Davidson EL. Photo: Ian Allen
Sean Duggan rides his 1936 Harley-Davidson EL.
Photo: Ian Allen
Close-up of 1928 Harley-Davidson JD. Photo: Ian Allen
Close-up of 1928 Harley-Davidson JD.
Photo: Ian Allen
1936 Harley-Davidson VLH. Photo: Ian Allen
1936 Harley-Davidson VLH.
Photo: Ian Allen
William Buckingham rides his 1936 Harley-Davidson EL. Photo: Ian Allen
William Buckingham rides his 1936 Harley-Davidson EL.
Photo: Ian Allen
1922 Henderson Deluxe. Photo: Ian Allen
1922 Henderson Deluxe.
Photo: Ian Allen
Close-up of Cannonball promoter Lonnie Isam's Harley-Davidson. Photo: Ian Allen
Close-up of Cannonball promoter Lonnie Isam's Harley-Davidson.
Photo: Ian Allen
Sean Duggan with his 1936 Harley-Davidson EL. Photo: Ian Allen
Sean Duggan with his 1936 Harley-Davidson EL.
Photo: Ian Allen
1924 Indian Scout. Photo: Ian Allen
1924 Indian Scout.
Photo: Ian Allen
1931 Sunbeam M9. Photo: Ian Allen
1931 Sunbeam M9.
Photo: Ian Allen
1926 Harley-Davidson J. Photo: Ian Allen
1926 Harley-Davidson J.
Photo: Ian Allen
1936 Indian Sport Scout. Photo: Ian Allen
1936 Indian Sport Scout.
Photo: Ian Allen
1923 Neracar. Photo: Ian Allen
1923 Neracar.
Photo: Ian Allen
Cannonball promoter Lonnie Isam's Harley-Davidson. Photo: Ian Allen
Cannonball promoter Lonnie Isam's Harley-Davidson.
Photo: Ian Allen
By the time Ian Allen came across the motorcyclists and their ancient machines, they’d already been riding two weeks. They’d worked their way northwest from Florida, crossing the Mississippi River and the great, sprawling plains of the heartland before climbing up, up, up Loveland Pass to cross the Continental Divide. And here they were in Utah, with another 1,000 miles to go.
Allen had chanced upon the third annual Motorcycle Cannonball Run, a leisurely 4,000-mile tour of the backroads between Daytona Beach, Florida and Tacoma, Washington. That’s a challenge on any machine, but these guys were riding bikes built before 1937. The idea, said Cannonball spokeswoman Felicia Morgan, is to “see the side of America that most of us don’t” on bikes few people ride.
Although gorgeous, something like a 1924 Indian Scout or 1936 Harley-Davidson EL isn’t ideal for transcontinental travel. But that’s the point. The Cannonball is a chance for veteran riders from around the world to push their motorcycles, and their mettle, to the limit. “Once you’ve done the Cannonball, your life is never the same,” Morgan said.
Allen knew he’d found a great story. The San Francisco-based photographer had been in southern Utah scouting locations for a shoot when he decided to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats. He ran into a few Cannonballers at a gas station. After chatting a bit about the ride, Allen followed them to the flats. Bonneville holds a special place in the hearts of gearheads, as it long has been a shrine to speed. Racers of every stripe have since the dawn of the automobile age gathered there to set speed records.
The Cannonballers held no such plans. Many of them were lucky to make it this far; breakdowns were common, and of the 105 who left Florida on Sept. 5, only 84 would arrive in Washington on September 21. As folks prepared for the group photo, Allen wandered amongst them, taking environmental portraits of riders and detail shots of bikes. The sun was, alas, directly overhead, so Allen used a fill flash to bring out the shadows and colors.
Allen, an occasional rider, was impressed by the motorcycles, many of which are more often seen in museums than on the road. “It was cool seeing these guys actually out using these bikes for their intended purpose,” Allen said.
Eventually, the riders got their shot, donned their gear and hit the road. Allen was tempted to follow them and continue shooting, but stayed put. He had his own journey to make. “I had to be in San Francisco the following morning and it was a 12 hour drive,” he said. “I would have started stalking them for the next two days if I didn’t have somewhere to go,” he said.
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