This week, I am looking back on all the things I am thankful for on the Motorcycle TransAm, and when it all comes down to it, the answer is simple. THE PEOPLE. The riders, the crews, the staff, the sponsors, the fans who showed up in person, and the fans who supported us from afar. Every single mile of this race is powered by people, and this week I want to shine a light on a group that helped preserve the soul of this event through their lenses, our incredible photographers, and one filmmaker.
First up is Olivier Touron. Olivier was the very first to reach out and ask if he could come along on this journey to document the race, and with his experience, passion, and eye for storytelling, it was an immediate yes from us. For those of you who do not know Olivier, he is originally from France and now lives in Arizona with his wonderful wife, Shelly. He has been a photojournalist for over 25 years and has been published in more publications than I can even begin to count. Olivier is not only an incredible photographer, he is also a rider, which gives him a deep understanding of the machines and the people who ride them. When it came time to gather everyone for photos, he always knew exactly what he wanted and communicated it clearly, confidently, and kindly. That alone is such a gift in the middle of a whirlwind event. We are beyond lucky to call him a friend and even luckier to have had him document this unforgettable journey with us.
“For me the synonym of the Transam race is “Giving up? I don’t know the meaning of the word.”, for the grit the racers showed all along the road to address any kind of adversity without ever thinking to give up. A beautiful statement and life lesson.” -Olivier Touron
Next is Ed Harriger. Ed does not photograph full time yet, but that did not stop him from taking time off his day job and committing nearly three weeks of his life to follow the TransAm and tell its story through his camera. The amount of preparation Ed put into this race was truly impressive. He spent countless hours researching the route, studying maps, and scrolling through Google Earth to find the perfect spots to capture riders as they rolled through. We are talking serious dedication, the kind that happens long before the first bike ever hits the road. His thoughtful approach and commitment did not go unnoticed, and we are so grateful he chose to spend his time and talent with us.
“Being able to document the TransAmerican was a true honor. I had no expectations going into the event, I never did anything like this before. What I came away with was an amazing experience. To see the country, take it all in appreciating what we have here in America. The riders and crews who participated in the event were amazing. I knew a few going into the event but came away with so many great friends. I also learned so much about all these vintage machines from the riders who worked so hard on them during the day on the side of the road, but especially during the evening in the pits where you never knew what you were going to encounter. Helping on the road was fun, finding a lost chain a mile away someone lost coming down large hill, blocking traffic for slower riders, stopping for riders who broke down to offer any assistance could so they could complete their miles. Looking forward to 2027.” -Edzo Harringer
We were also incredibly fortunate to have Kazuo Matsumoto join us alongside Kat and Kiyo. Kaz traveled all the way from Japan to document their experience, and in doing so, he also captured so much of the broader TransAm story. Kaz is wonderfully talented, and we know just how busy he is, which makes it even more meaningful that he chose to come be part of this event. Getting to know him was such a joy, and when he showed me the dog portraits he creates, I knew immediately we were going to be good friends. His work carries such emotion and care, and we are so thankful for the perspective he brought to the race.
And then there is Bryan Helm. Bryan came along to document Danger Dan’s journey, but what we gained was so much more. He documented everything. Bryan puts on more miles than most and is a true rider at heart. Whether he was shooting while riding, jumping off the bike to get the perfect angle, or quietly capturing honest moments in between, his passion shows in every single photo he creates. You can feel the heart behind his work, and that is something truly special. Another incredibly talented photographer we were so fortunate to have as part of our traveling circus.
“The 2025 Inaugural Motorcycle Trans Am was a refreshing change, traveling across the country and documenting 100-plus-year-old motorcycles at their own pace. It really let me slow down and take in the scenic roads less traveled. A carefully curated route by the Competition Distributing team—surrounded by great racers and the all-around amazing people on their crews—made for an unforgettable few weeks.” -Bryan Helm
One of my personal surprises from this year was David Martinez, who also came along with Kat and Kiyo. David is a photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles who also splits his time between California and Mexico, drawing inspiration from both cultures and landscapes. He is unbelievably talented and created a stunning short film called Rally Kats, which can be viewed on The Vintagent here:
https://thevintagent.com/2025/11/09/the-vintagent-selects-rally-kats/
We are so grateful he joined us and added his creative vision to the story of this race.
I keep saying how lucky we are, and I truly mean it. Lucky to know these people. Lucky to work alongside them. Lucky that they chose to share their time, energy, and talent with the Motorcycle TransAm. Each one brought their own style, perspective, and strengths, and together they helped shine the best possible light on the TransAmerican Motorcycle Endurance Run.
We are endlessly grateful for the immense effort and long hours these artists put in to preserve the legacy, grit, and magic of this race. Please take the time to check out their work and support them.
Olivier Touron: https://oliviertouron.com/
Ed Harriger: https://www.instagram.com/edzo58
Kazuo Matsumoto: https://steeldog.jp/
Bryan Helm: https://bryanhelm.com/
David Martinez: https://www.davidmartinezstudio.com/
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping tell the story of the TransAm so beautifully. We could not do this without you.
Photos by: Olivier Touron, Kazuo Matsumoto, Ed Harriger
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Sponsored by: Legends Motorcycles, Sinless Cycles, Competition Distributing, Veritas Vintage, Antique Motorcycle Club of America
I am a photographer myself. I used to cover mostly off-road motorcycle racing. I want to run the Trans-Am myself and it’s exciting to me that the experience will likely be covered by capable photographers . When I first began to investigate this event I was immediately struck by the strong images that were posted. Obviously not someone’s cell phone pics, though sometimes such images can be excellent.
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