[Ducati] Sportbike Luggage

[hobatz at xmission.com]

Harlyn:

Appreciate the welcome back note. Occasionally I have to type  
something to see if I can still stumble my way about the keyboard.

Had a good, recreational/educational ride through the Mississippi  
Delta last fall. I went searching out the graves where  many of my old  
Delta Blues heroes now live and the ruins of the old "jook joints"  
where they once played. Found all three of Robert Johnson's grave  
sites. Gotta be a serious wanderer to have three posthumous homes.  
Fascinating trip, and met many of the old-time Delta dwellers who are  
stranger than I am. Always makes for a good adventure. Lots of good  
pictures and interviews which I plan to use when I get the time to  
start my own riding/literary/bullshit blog in a few months. Heavy on  
the bullshit.

Have an "interesting" ride in the incubator for this spring, as I was  
invited to participate in an "anniversary" running of the original  
Cannonball Run first played out in l971. This one will have the same  
start and finish; Red Ball Garage in Manhattan and finish at the  
Portofino Yacht Club in Redondo Beach, CA. I'll mostly be competing  
against cars, as I understand only one other moto is planning on  
entering, an R 1150 or R 1200 BMW RT.

I'll be riding a 1098 S specially prepared by Steve Hicks, the  
Canadian Service and Events Manager. Helluva wrench, and a  
perfectionist. Be an interesting 1098. All of the cars will have at  
least two drivers and some as much as 100 gallons of gas on board, so  
many will probably only stop once in the 2,900 or so march across the  
country. I may be able to stash as many as 14 gallons of fuel on the  
bike, and if so will probably have to make at least seven, possibly  
eight fuel stops. Fun & games. Ho Ho.

My main goal, besides beating a number of the cars across country, is  
to best the time posted by Brock Yates and Dan Gurney in the original  
event. They drove their Ferrari Daytona from the Red Ball to the  
Portofino in 35 hours and 54 minutes. Two excellent drivers, one a  
legend, with a Ferrari and 50 gallons of gas. I'd be pleased to lop an  
hour off that time if all goes well.

Sorry you asked?;-)

Hobatz

> Glad to see you posting again on the list, Hobatz!  Any good long rides
> lately?
>
> Harlyn