Stage 7 of the Motorcycle TransAm took us from Branson, MO to the Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum in Augusta, KS. The day started with rolling hills, but before long the riders were in the wide-open Great Plains surrounded by corn, sunflowers, and all kinds of agricultural fields. It was a beautiful change of scenery and the riders really soaked it in.
The morning brought some excitement when Bill Page’s bike gave him trouble, but he had it fixed and was back on the road in no time. Later, one of the riders from “Team Texas” ran into issues too, but with teamwork and some ingenuity they got it sorted out and finished the day strong. In fact, all but one rider finished their miles today, which meant a quiet day on the sweep truck, a win in our book!
A highlight along the way was the stop at Big Brutus in West Mineral, KS. For those who don’t know, Big Brutus is the second-largest electric mining shovel in the world, standing 160 feet tall and weighing over 11 million pounds. It was used to mine coal in the area until it was retired in 1974, and now it’s an incredible roadside landmark. The riders were able to park their antique machines right in front of it, which made for some amazing photos, tiny century-old motorcycles lined up against a towering piece of mining history!
The day ended at the incredible Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum. Kelly and his team know how to host, and they rolled out the red carpet for the riders. They opened up the museum, showed off some truly amazing machines, even started a few, and gave everyone the warmest welcome. Dinner was nothing short of spectacular, thick cut bacon-wrapped steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh dinner rolls, and ice cream to finish it off. After a 300+ mile day, it was exactly what everyone needed.
As I write this, I can still hear the sound of wrenches clinking and engines being worked on as the crews make sure their machines are ready for the next stage. Tomorrow we roll deeper into the Great Plains, heading toward Dodge City, KS. The journey continues!
Photos by: Ed Harriger
Sponsored by: Legends Motorcycles, Sinless Cycles, Competition Distributing, Veritas Vintage, Antique Motorcycle Club of America
Thank you for stopping in Branson, my wife and I enjoyed seeing the bikes and talking to a few after a long ride. Sorry Branson didn’t do more for each of you. Lot of respect to you all for your travels and dedication to history! May your ride give you the thrills and your journey stir your soul!