Thomas and Eric Trapp from the Harley Factory Frankfurt took part in the American “Cannonball” on historic Harleys
• 5,500 km “Coast to Coast” on motorcycles that are at least 100 years old. • Thomas and Eric Trapp reach the finish on a 10-E and a 16-F.
(Neu-Isenburg, October 20, 2016) If you drive from Sagres, Europe's most southwestern tip, to Moscow, you accumulate fewer kilometers on the clock than the Frankfurt Harley-Davidson dealers Thomas and Eric Trapp did within two weeks - on historic Harleys. at least 100-year-old two-wheeled equipment – an adventure that pays homage to the racing driver Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, who conquered the USA on a motorcycle in just eleven days in 1914 crossed.
Thomas Trapp, senior boss of the “Harley-Factory” trading branch, knew only too well what he was getting into, as he was taking part in the “Cannonball” for the second time. While he himself drove a gearless 1914 “Model 10-E” this year, which only uses a hub gear in the rear wheel as a starting aid, his son, junior boss Eric Trapp, rode a 1916 “Model 16-F” with a three-speed gearbox at.
Thomas and Eric Trapp: With historic Harleys at the “Cannonball” in the USA 17
On September 10th, the two Germans and 93 other riders set off from Atlantic City, New Jersey, on the 16-day journey west. There were 3,400 miles (approx. 5,500 km) to cover until the destination, Carlsbad in California, was reached. Father and son sat on their scrap iron for eight to nine hours every day. Stages with hours of continuous rain, morning temperatures around freezing, heat waves of up to 45 degrees, fog, sleet, a desert storm and two 3,600 m high peaks characterized the hellish ride. Instead of GPS and maps, the mileage counter and icons had to be used for navigation. If there were technical problems, you had to do the screwing yourself; all spare parts and tools had to be carried on the machine.
After 35 bikes dropped out on the first day, the starting field was reduced to just over half after eight days. Eric, on the other hand, was happy day after day about the unconditional reliability of his 100-year-old Milwaukee Iron and Thomas' 102-year-old Harley also withstood the strain without any damage, apart from a defect in the ignition magnet. “The only part on this machine that didn’t come from Harley-Davidson was messing around – but of course I got there anyway,” grins the Frankfurt Harley dealer. He was all the more pleased with Eric, the youngest “Cannonballer” at 28 years old, who, thanks to no breakdowns, reached the finish line with only 20 other riders on time and on the exact mile.
If you want to meet the time-honored iron ladies and their riders, just stop by the Harley Factory at Waechtersbacher Str. 83 in Frankfurt. Harley-Davidson Germany congratulates the Trapps and looks forward to further historic trips for the two Frankfurters.
