Calling All Cannonballers!

Calling all Scooter Cannonballers!

I'm planning a Cannonball-themed issue for Bumpstart # 6 and would love to hear from all my fellow Cannonballers, past and present. Regardless of how well you placed or if you even finished, you all are freakin' badasses who should let the scooter community hear your tales from the road. I would also love to hear from those driving support vehicles and the film crew who joined us this past summer.

I know how creative you guys got during this endurance event, now express your Cannonball Run tales by word, photos, haiku, dirty limericks, interviews, personal ads, missed connections, police tickets.....

Looking forward to hearing from you crazy bastards, uh I mean road warriors....

Karen G
xoxo

Sponsor Thanks

August was a really busy month for me and now it's only a few days till the starting line of Scooter Cannonball Run. Where'd summer go? Still have so much to do, but I wanted to stop and take a moment to thank my sponsors. Your support, encouragement and donations have helped me immensely. In a time of current economical uncertainty your generosity meant a lot. The money you donated will be going to my Rally Against Depression charity with the funds going to a group home for the mentally ill.

Thanks to:
Bell Helmets
Chad Stockdale
Corazzo
Flat Out Press
GoGo Gear
Independent Publishing Resource Center
Lucky Bastards SC
Kean Hanley
Ming Koh
Matt O'Connor
Modified
Motorsport Scooters
Ojala Family
People at Portland Zine Symposium who donated to my tip jar
Rudy Perez
Rogue SC
Those Darn McCabes
Vespa of Milwaukie
Vespa Club of America

I apologize if I left anyone out. There's still time if you want to donate. Just click HERE.

Copper, Caddies, and the Kang

On Saturday I scooted to Vespa Milwaukie to photograph their top dog, Copper the Airedale for an upcoming Bumpstart ad. Copper was a pro and hit his marks without much hassle.

Above photo: Copper checking out the inventory.

I bought Olive, my Vespa GTV from Copper's owner, Bill Place and have been happy with the treatment my scoot and I have received so far from his shop. They will even come to your house and pickup your scooter for service. This was a big help when I scooted back from San Antonio and had to get Olive serviced from the long trip and to finish up some remaining repairs from my Texas-size concrete chunk highway mishap.

Above photo: Amerivespa San Antonio, The Motorcycle Shop

Vespa Milwaukie is my latest Scooter Cannonball Run sponsor and couldn't be happier to have them in my corner.

When I was scooting home I noticed a vintage Cadillac show going on at Hot Rod Pizza and pulled over to check out the show. Lots of pristine restoration jobs and fins for miles.


At the show an Elvis impersonator took a liking to Olive. How could he resist. After all, she is the Cadillac of Scooters.

House Guest

Cynthia Wetzel, a fellow 2010 Cannonballer was passing through Portland and crashed at my place for the night. I did the Portland tour guide thing and showed her a little of my town's unique spots. She got in late from California, so we went to Montage where they happen to serve the Cannonball Run (iced coffee, Kahlua, vodka). The very creatively dressed Lady GaGa fans sharing our table made for an interesting dinner. Before she headed out the next day, we did a quick stop at Voodoo Doughnuts then onto Modified. I love going to the Eastbank Esplanade for photos, but the homeless man we passed on the sidewalk wasn't too happy when we scooted by him, shaking his fist at us. Thanks to the shirtless, sweaty man who stopped jogging to snap our photo.

Scooter Cannonball the Movie.

A film crew will be documenting Scooter Cannonball this year. They will be interviewing the riders and filming our scooters as we ride from Vancouver, BC to Portland, ME with the end result being Scooter Cannonball the Movie.

I'm still looking for Cannonball sponsors. If you have anything you want to promote email me at: bumpstart at me dot com. My Vespa can be your traveling advertising space across North America and it'll be your chance to promote and preserve your product, scooter club, favorite summer school student, whatever on film.

Vancouver to Portland or Bust!

Final Route of Scooter Cannonball Run ---->>> HERE.

Scooter Cannonball Run - Rally Against Depression

It's official, I'm doing Scooter Cannonball Run! I'm excited to be taking part in this epic ten day scooter ride across North America. To see Canada and the USA on a Vespa will be so rewarding on many levels. I'm also riding to raise awareness for those suffering from Mental Illness. I have friends and family who are afflicted by this illness, so this charity is close to my heart. I've been working with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to learn more about mental health programs that lack funding. To learn more about NAMI click here. Money raised will be going to a group home for the mentally ill.

Large monetary donations will get advertisement space on my Vespa and Website.
To donate online go to my Paypal Rally Against Depression account.I know times are tough for many of us, but anything you can give is appreciated.

I'm also looking for some Cannonball Run trainers, so anyone looking to go for long scooter or bicycle rides give me a shout.