[Posted October, 2023]
In October, 1912 Clancy left America on his ‘RTW motorcycle adventure – October, 2023 marks 111 years later. He wrote in 1912, before he started his ‘RTW motorcycle adventure:
“As we must pay part of our expenses by writing articles for American and foreign magazines and newspapers enroute, and by publishing a complete book upon return, we plan to lend a novel interest to the tour by taking along a complete camp equipment and by camping out whenever possible instead of following the example of everyone else and visiting hotels. To gain official recognition and co-operation for our efforts, besides also increasing our income, we have identified ourselves actively and permanently with the world wide good roads movement and the promotion of both international and interstate touring by charting the pioneer motor highway around the globe. We will encourage long distance touring at every opportunity.” [Page 10, MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER publication –
The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review]
The “we” became “I” after Clancy parted ways with his planned riding pal. He did manage to type and handwrite a first draft manuscript for a book upon his return, which languished unpublished until 2013, 100 years after he completed his ‘RTW ride. Titled THE GASOLINE TRAMP,
https://bit.ly/45RE7aY , the content provides the reader with a historical and academic look at the adventures of a twenty-one/two year-old boy/man adventure seeking motorcyclist who wrote after his ‘RTW record setting motorcycle ride:
“I had started a boy, I had come back a man. Incidentally, I had left New York with $270, worked my way around the world, and returned with $200.”* [Page 210, THE GASOLINE TRAMP]
*Footnote October, 2023: The $270 USD in 1912 equals $8,567 USD in 2023 given inflation, and the $200 USD he had upon his return in 1913 equals $6,218 USD in 2023.
Below is the new cover for THE GASOLINE TRAMP, designed by Paul H Smith (who also did a complete re-work of the layout/design), and a book-look at MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER and THE GASOLINE TRAMP by Jack Robinson, founder of the Four Stroke Singles National Owners Club, published in April 2022.