Team Butts -- has expanded
As many may have heard, as the 2020 Motorcycle Cannonball Run approached the tough decision to postpone the event was made. However, from my perspective (Brianna) likely the best choice. It likely wouldn't have brought in the crowd and interested folks that they hope for and that also make for the experience. I personally was placed on the wait list for the 2020 Cannonball, Mike and Larry (Mike's brother which I just kind of assume ya'll know - unless you are my friends), had been accepted and had bikes ready, or very close to being ready for the race! I assume (because being Butts brothers not many words were exchanged) many mixed feelings about it being postponed and maybe relief to have more time to work on their bikes? Yet maybe just the whole situation of a pandemic sucks. I'm over it and was by that point.
On to bigger and better things. Mike was asked to be on the Motorcycle Cannonball Chronicles. So between the holiday's and Mike's eldest daughter getting married in Las Vegas (Congratulations to Britt and Nash!!) we (I say we because I had all of the video and photos from the cannonball) had to figure out what Mike would talk about, what pictures and videos he wanted to show, etc. The support crew did make some guest appearances which was fun for us. Mike definitely talked me up and riding motorcycles.
Check it out here:
On a February Wednesday Night Mike called me. However, I missed the call because I had fallen asleep on my couch. To be fair I worked all weekend on nights and then switched my schedule and had worked 8 hours that day, being at work at 0700. SOOOO switching my schedule like that made me tired and I crashed. By the time I saw he called me it was like 11 pm and I wasn't going to call him back at that time, if it was an emergency he would have text and called more.
The following day I had run, and by run I mean drove, to mom and Mike's house to bring or grab something and talked with mom briefly and mentioned I had to call him back. And of course I forgot. He called me again and told me that I wasn't going to be able to be apart of the "support crew" for the 2021 support crew. I played along, suspicious but not wanting to get my hopes up. He then told me "because you will be a rider!" My initial feelings were...."holy shit, this can't be real". And my anxiety went from mild to off the charts. I won't bore you about it if you are just here for Mike and Larry - you can check it out in my personal blog (when I get around to writing it - I've got some motorcycling riding to do-- https://breezygiggle.blogspot.com/)
So as the title explains, Team Butts has expanded. It will now be a team of 3! Mike, Larry and myself. The start of the Cannonball is in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan September 9th and end September 26th in South Padre Island, Texas.
Mike will be rocking #65 again. Riding a 1920 Harley JD.
Larry cruising along on a 1929 Harley JD, sporting #81.
And the outlier of the gang, #110 Brianna, attempting to ride a 1929 Indian 101 Scout.
Now that I am apart of this Cannonball crew... I feel super awesome and Mike and Larry have included me in their banter. I am now included in their group chat about motorcycles. I may not always know what is going on, but I will figure it out, whether it's google or making a fool of myself. For example:
The convo "that thing does fit, Larry" "getting close". Now.... I think this is the right foot pedal. And so this leaves me to believe that this is the thing that he's using to connect the back brake. See I use technical terms (just like Mike). Now I could be completely wrong. I should really ask and make sure I am correct. Maybe someone will see this blog and correct or confirm.
Another conversation we had was about how I wanted to write this blog and with not being present in all of their bike adventures it's hard to explain everything that they are doing to prepare. I had texted them asking if they could send me pictures and write a little update about what they've been experiencing getting the bikes ready (to entertain their fans). Mike of course commented with "Let me grab my walker and get out to the garage". In this context Mike had tripped on something in the garage and had a pretty nasty fall. As terrible as I felt, this was a long time coming as Mom has tried to convince and help him get his garage organized (so she says). Anyway, I played light of the situation and told Mike I got him a new bracelet:
We give these to our patients who come in with falls and we need to be close to when we get them up at any point. Mostly because we worry they will fall in the hospital, injury themselves, and that requires a lot of paperwork. Larry came back with a witty comeback of "Spring, summer and Winter too!" however, I didn't get that until he repeated it the next day when working on Mikes motorcycle. CLEARLY I need to step up my wittiness if I'm going to keep up with these two brothers.
Mike invited me over to "hang with the boys" and work on his bike. I was able to learn a lot and they walked me through how the bike works in general. With the vintage bikes, you have to customize a lot of parts and just "make things work". Larry, Zak and Mike. (Embarrassing tidbit: I didn't know that Zak's name was in fact not actually Zak for a significant amount of time that I first knew him) Also, when I applied to be in the Cannonball, he, Mike and Larry were visiting a friend in the hospital I work at and he officially handed in a resume to be support crew if I got into the Cannonball... and he has not confirmed that he is coming 100%. We may need to take a poll of whether or not Zak should be apart of this support crew or not? What do you say folks?
This is a picture of Mike's bike that he will be riding this Cannonball. 1920 Harley JD. He attempted to start it the other day -- I am unsure how that went. He got the motor from a fellow Cannonballer and the rest from random swap meets!
This is Larry's bike, 1929 Harley JD. He bought this from a former Cannonballer
This is the bike I will be riding. 1929 101 Indian Scout. Mine is in West Virginia being worked on by a fellow Cannonballer getting it Cannonball ready! So part of me is VERY anxious because it won't be ready until July, giving me only a couple of months to ride it, and get comfortable on it. But balls to walls - nothing to it but to do it.
This is how I am preparing myself.
Mike got me the owners manual. So at least I can read that and learn about the bike.
Mike also has been buying me a lot of Indian books that I have been enjoying. Learning all about the history of these bikes has been extremely interesting! I now see why the thrill of vintage bikes is so exhilarating and ... addicting?
Mike has been very adamant that I ride as much as possible (for obvious reasons and I am in total agreement) and he has also taken it upon himself to teach me how to handle a motorcycle. For example, rough roads, rain, weaving, and when there is construction and the road is uneven. He even bought cones. I have named this "Butts Bootcamp".
This is Mike seeing if the driveway pavement (cement?) from the grass is challenging enough. Also not shown was him teach me how to start a motorcycle without an on switch. That was pretty cool. I'm sure there will be a lot more from "Butts Bootcamp".
In our group chats we have some wonderful pictures that are floating around. 
Starry and Mary Butts will be apart of our support crew again this year! We are excited for the endless "Maaaaary"'s and "Thats maaah man!"'s.
And of course -- absolutely NONE of this would be possible without this beautiful woman here. My mother. She some how managed to keep Mike together during his first Cannonball, and now she's willing to do it again, but now her daughter will be driving in it. Which, any mothers instincts will probably give her much anxiety. However, hopefully having Larry and Mike there will ease that all! HOWEVER!!! I know I couldn't do it without her support! <3 <3
I do believe that Larry's lovely wife will join at some point. I am currently unsure how much of it she will come along, but I personally hope all of it! If more people join our support crew officially or I personally learn more - I will obviously update as I can and as I know.
I apologize I couldn't get more out of Mike and Larry- if you are friends with them you know that you just get what you get. So instead you get me babbling on about what I know and what I am told.
In the many conversations we have been having, we've been trying to come up with what to do with a T-shirt design and/or our Team Butts name. Any suggestions are welcome!
Thank you to all you wonderful people who have supported Mike's craziness in his multiple adventures across the country, Steve's adventure with the Chase, and now adding in Larry and my adventure in the Motorcycle Cannonball. We are ecstatic!
