Another week, another awesome team to talk about. This week, we are going coast to coast because one team member lives in New Jersey, one in Oregon, one in Florida, and one in Washington. These guys are scattered all across the country, but they are great friends. One of the best things about antique motorcycles is that geography does not matter. You can meet someone from anywhere and immediately be friends with so much to talk about. These guys worked together like they had been doing it all their lives. From the two Marks crewing for them, driving to each stop, helping fix bikes, and keeping the whole effort rolling, it was teamwork at its best.
Now for the two riders:
Tim Burns. Tim was part of our board from the beginning and was such an important voice to have. He rode a 1925 JD and was the very first person to sign up and believe in us. Tim made it 2,632 miles until his JD finally gave up in the middle of the desert in Monument Valley. He was stuck out there in the heat waiting on the sweep truck, but Connor found him and towed him to the nearest gas station. Tim kept going, though. When we got close to his home in Oregon, he grabbed another bike so Matt could keep riding too.
We also always knew exactly where Tim would head at a stop. If there was an Indian restaurant around, he was going. If there was an ice cream parlor nearby, he was definitely going. And since we could always depend on Connor’s music blasting from his Indian each morning, we knew we could depend on a little dance from Tim too. He kept all of us smiling.
Continuing on and not giving up the ship is exactly what we love to see.
“I rode every mile…but was pulled with tow strap for 5-10 miles when my motor seized, & then I rode 3 other bikes to get to the finish line. Can’t wait to do it again!” -Tim Burns
Matt Miller. Matt came into the race bravely riding a 1916 JD. The bike seemed like it was running wonderfully until it was not. After 842 miles his Harley simply could not go any farther. He was bummed of course, but like Tim he kept going on a VL that Tim just so happened to have as backup. Matt got to keep enjoying the best two lane roads on two wheels and we loved seeing him have a great time even if there was a little disappointment mixed in. I have heard Matt does not like to do long distance endurance runs on the same bike more than once, but rumor has it he is getting that 1916 running again to give it another go in 2027. We cannot wait to see the redemption run for both of these guys. They are truly a joy.
“I wasn’t really interested in doing another cross-country ride on an antique motorcycle but when I saw who was hosting this event and that it was for 100-year-old bikes, I had to sign up, or I would regret it if I didn’t. I finally had a bike that fit the criteria and built my 1916 Harley just for this sort of ride. Tim and I were roommates on a few other rides and worked well together. We were happy to have Mark Tatum aboard although he had to make a hard last-minute decision not to ride for health reasons. Our driver, Mark Zenor and I go back as far as 2019 having roomed together before. Mark is no stranger to these cross-country events as a rider and motorcycle mechanic himself. His insight in the pits was welcomed. Although my bike only made 1,000 miles, I stayed for the remainder of the race on a backup bike. Thanks to Tim Burns and Mark Hill. I’m glad I stayed with my old friends and was grateful to have met new ones. No longer in contention for scoring points, I wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity for camaraderie. Not only just from Trans AM riders, but the veteran riders who came out to support us from all the different cities along the way. Congratulations to Mike Butts and all the riders who completed every mile. This was no easy task for most. I suppose I will have to sign up for the next one to redeem the 1916. A BIG thank you to team Comp D for a top shelf event. From the route, the daily miles and time allotment, to the rooms and meals. Your attention to each individual rider was humbling. Great job!” -Matt Miller
This team is quiet, but such a joy to have around. And like so many people in this community, all four of them are a wealth of knowledge. We cannot wait to see you all again in 2027 for another round of fun!
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
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