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Fort Scott becomes pit stop for cross country 'bikers'
Fort Scott welcomed more than 20 racers to town on Tuesday as the city was the scheduled sixth-day check point for the 2008 Scooter Cannon Ball Run.
During the coast to coast endurance event, which is conducted every two years, scooter riders are making their way from San Francisco, Calif. to Ocean City, Md. The ten-day event covers more than 3,600 miles, and participants are awarded points based on miles completed and the ability to maintain a standard pace.
According to the Scooter Cannon Ball Run Web site, www.scootercannonball.com, event participants are riding in the race for various reasons.
"Your reasons are your reasons. Some ride for charity, some to prove they can do it, some to win and others just to see the country," the Web site said.
For event participant Jess Devine, proving he can go the distance in the scooter competition is the main reason he entered the Scooter Cannon Ball Run.
"I just really wanted to ride across the country and see if I could do it," he said.
When asked what the winner of the event is awarded with, both Devine and fellow rider Ed Paynter said there is no prize for the winner other than feeling good about the accomplishment.
Paynter, who traveled from North Carolina to meet up with the scooter riders, said he has taken several cross-country motorcycle trips in the past and wanted to try a similar trip on a scooter.
"I am participating just because I enjoy riding," he said. "I have ridden cross-country on different motorcycles ... I decided to see if my scooter could hold up to long distances."
Scooter rider Rob Taylor's participation, however, is not just for the personal experience of riding across country. According to his Web site, www.CannonBallBuddy.com, he is participating in the ride in order to raise money for the Smile Train, which is a charity that helps children with cleft palates. Taylor asked friends and family members for contest sponsorship.
"I would love to be able to give them (Smile Train) one great big bundle of checks," Taylor said, "so please send the check to me. I will donate 100 percent of the money at the end of the ride. I am asking people to donate either a lump sum amount, or so much money per mile that I ride."
Patrick Owens, the event's organizer this year, participated in the 2006 Scooter Cannon Ball Run, and said he enjoys the challenge the event brings.
"I enjoy the challenge of taking a bike, that was made for running around town, across the country," Owens said.
According to several of the riders, the most dangerous parts of the journey involves traveling over dirt roads. Adding that one rider who wrecked had to drive his scooter for about 120 miles in order to reach medical help. For Devine, crashing on a dirt road may have dented up his scooter and left his knee feeling a little sore and stiff, but neither caused him to give up the race.
Courtland Hotel and Aveda Day Spa owner Cheryl Adamson welcomed the riders into town with musical entertainment by a local musical group Fuss and Feathers. The musical event gave the riders and several area residents an opportunity to visit about Fort Scott and the scooter event.