Real Time Satellite Tracking

Available Tracking Maps:
Last Known Position  •  Today's Progress  •  Trip Progress

Trip Progress

Commonly Asked Questions

How do you get scooter to Vancouver?
I ship the scooter using ForwardAir out of Allentown to Seattle. They provide a shipping container designed for motorcycles with center supports & tie downs inside. I ship a week before I leave - it takes 4 days, I will pick it up in Seattle and ride to Vancouver.
How many riders participate?
25-30 riders from all over the United States/Canada. Average age 35-50 years/old.
Hotels?
All of the hotels for the 10 overnight locations are planned & booked in advance.
Route/Course, Start/Finish & Checkpoints?
Each day has a defined start & end point - usually the hotel. Each day has 3-4 predefined checkpoints. Checkpoints are usually significant landmarks, state lines, national/start parks, monuments  etc. The checkpoints are strategically placed so riders have to take alternative (usually small obscure backroads) roads to reach them. The average day is 350 miles, 8-10 hours of travel.
How is the route decided?
Traditionally routes are proposed by riders who have previously participated in the Cannonball - proposed routes have been voted on a 9-12 months prior to the event start.  Previous routes include:
2008 = San Francisco to Ocean City, MD.
2006 = Portland, Oregon to New York City.
2004 = Virginia Beach to LA.
How does scoring work?
Each day has 4-5 legs/segments with pre-defined checkpoints. Each rider is scored against the "standard" time for the leg/segment. My "handle" on the score sheet is "Feb31st".
It is not a race. 
How are you getting to Vancouver?
I am flying Alaskan Air from Washington DC to Seattle. I will be riding the scooter from Seattle to Vancouver the day before the Cannonball starts.
How long are you gone?
16 days. 4 days travel to Vancouver, 10 days across country, 2 day travel home from Portland, Maine.
Where did you get scooter?
January 2008 at Eurosports in Coopersburg, PA. I will have 13,000 miles on it at the start of the 2010 Cannonball.
Doesn't your ass hurt?
Can't speak for 2010 (yet) but in 2008 my ass felt fine! I do have a custom built seat with gel inlays. Unlike typical motorcycles, the scooter seat offers many seating positions to ride in comfortably on long stretches.
How big scooter? Fast? Gas Mileage?
4-stroke fuel injected 250cc engine. I will cruise at 65-70 MPH with bags/gear/gas. 60-70 MPG City, 50-60 Highway.
Package Deal? Cost?
Each rider is responsible for booking their own shipping, travel & accommodations. Hotels/group rates are pre-arranged by organizers. My total cost to participate is $3000-4000.
Are there teams?
Scoring is done at the rider level only - no team scoring. Teams do exist. I am teamed with JimT and HelixGeoff out of Florida. The three of us are apart of the East Coast Support Team headed by "mogeewogee".
What happenes if you break down?
This years event does not provide official support. Riders are responsible for organizing their own support teams. I am apart of the East Coast Support Team out of New Hampshire - they have a truck "sweeping" the course for broken down team members. Hopefully no miles on the support truck!!!
Navigation?
I am using a Garmin 376c. It is an old school GPS but very reliable. It also has NEXRAD weather and XM Satellite Radio. Each day is pre-programmed ahead of time using Garmin's MapSource software and loaded into the GPS for routing.  GPS is not required - many riders do it the old fashion way.  I am just lazy.
How the tracking map work?
I am using a SPOT Tracker to send position reports. It uses satellite/GPS to transmit your location (or distress call) out to the world. I have programmed a system to retrieve that data from SPOT, via FireEagle at a timely interval, stores/caches the data and is then displayed on a friendly map using Google's Map API.
Riding Gear?
Scooter Setup?
Electronics?
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