The Clancy Centenary Ride 2012-2013
 

The Clancy Centenary Ride 2012-2013

Celebrating 100 Years Of Circling The World By Motorcycle



In 1912 Carl Stearns Clancy and his riding partner Walter Storey set out to become the first motorcyclists to “girdle the globe.” Using two of only five Henderson motorcycles produced by the famed Henderson Motorcycle Company in 1912, the duo left Philadelphia and started their land trip from Dublin, Ireland.

After a frightful crash on Day 1 and miserable weather in October and November, Storey left the 21 year-old Clancy in Paris, and Clancy soldiered on alone.

Clancy spent the next months riding south to Spain, and then across north Africa, only to be halted before attempting to cross India. Undeterred he shipped his motorcycle to Ceylon where he toured from some days, and then shipped again to Penang. Once there he discovered there was no road to Singapore, so it was back on to a boat for Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan.

Landing in San Francisco, Clancy began what he called the most difficult part of his ‘round the world ride: San Francisco, California to Portland, Oregon, and then across the northern part of the United States to return to New York. His journey lasted 10 months and he had ridden over 18,000 miles.

Two serious Irish adventurers have decided to organize a global re-enactment of the Clancy record setting ride around the world. Feargal O’Neill and his colleague Joe Walsh, in conjunction with the motorcycle traveller’s website Horizons Unlimited, have announced the Clancy Centenary Ride for 2012-2013. According to O’Neill, “I feel that there is a duty on us modern-day motorcyclists to do our bit to honour the memory of this great pioneer of our sport.

The recent release of the book MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER, a 16 year research project by global road rider (five times around the world) Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, has brought light to the incredible journey made by Clancy. ‘round the world riders can now follow the original route and incredible ordeal made by one of the first real motorcycle adventure riders.

The plan, as explained by O’Neill, is for Horizons Unlimited travellers to retrace the route Clancy made in 1912-1913 on any make and model motorcycle. The riders can follow Clancy’s route for one mile or 1,000’s, depending on their time and commitment. There will be no entry fee and each entrant can join with a group or go solo over what can be traversed of the original route.

Dr. Frazier has agreed to organize and join in the American leg, from San Francisco to New York. Frazier has already researched much of the original route and even suggested a 1912 Henderson may join the much publicized event.

Carl Stearns Clancy had the motorcycle ride of a lifetime, one which modern day riders can only dream about. The next thing closest is to join with other ‘round the world aficionados and Horizons Unlimited to celebrate 100 years of circling the globe.

Bookmark the Clancy Centenary Ride and join or follow one of the world’s greatest motorcycles adventures whether through cyberspace or on the ground in the ride around the world.

More in the Motorcycle USA Article by Greg Frazier

The book is available on Amazon!


More information to come.

What about you? Interested in joining in?

I found Clancy and Storey had a sea-crossing from England to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Where can I get the route they travelled in the Netherlands and the countries next to it ?

I would be interested to ride part of their route in this part of Europe.

On the Clancy Trail now
 

I followed the Clancy Trail backwards from Billings, Montana to Livingston, Montana this week, and then the side trip up to Gardiner at the entrance to yellowstone. Now picking up another section from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco. He had a tough ride over these sections that are now paved. As I rode to Portland I was reminded of how he wrote one day he fell/crashed 17 times!

I'll be doing a Clancy presentation October 14 and 15 at the California HU Meeting, sharing some of the "secrets" of his ride around the world not in the book.

Cheers,

Dr. G, on the Clancy Trail

Hi Jan,
Thanks a million for your interest in this run. This is exactly the kind of response I was hoping would emerge. Our idea is to have a reproduction made of the pennant which was given to the guys in 1912 and which they proudly displayed when posing for photographs at various stages of the trip. This could be passed from person to person signifying the progress of the journey. Where sea-crossings or other obstacles, eg political situations, are in the way the pennant could be sent by post or courier service to a participant in the next area the route passes through.

There are areas/countries where Clancy was unable to travel through in 1912/1913 for one reason or another. My view, and I stress this is just my view, is that if there are people in these places who are willing to traverse areas today that Clancy couldn’t on the original trip, then that’d be great. For instance, I know that there are HU members in countries such as Turkey and India and I imagine that some might like to do for Clancy today what he was unable to do back then. I fully acknowledge that others would hold the view that the 2012/2013 trip should mirror the original one as closely as possible and I will be happy to go with whichever option the majority considers appropriate.

Hopefully as more people come on board over the next year we will gradually join up all the dots.

Feargal O’Neill

USA Start Date Announced: June 2, 2013
 

June 2, 2013 is the planned Start Date for motorcycle adventurists wishing to join part, or all, of the USA portion of the Clancy Centenary Ride (San Francisco - New York).

While Clancy originally wrote that he departed by ferry boat to Oakland at 5:00 PM, our departure will be in the morning after a media event and photo op.

We will be asking my adventurous colleagues at CITY BIKE (www.citybike.com) magazine to assist in arranging for a wild send-off from the waterfront.

Dr. Gregory Frazier
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE magazine

I notice from this map,

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoG...873-x-2919.jpg

that the route passes through London. While not strictly authentic to the precise route, can I suggest a stop at the Ace Cafe? In its time it's seen many a motorcycle adventure, be it the Ton-Up Club to a Cat On A Bike. The Ace always has a crowd of bikers and organised meets happen practically every day. Their London to Brighton ride pulls in thousands of bikers from around the world. While Clancy predates the Ace by several decades I can imagine it would be just the place he would have headed for had their histories coincided.

As it's become my local I'm more than happy to speak to them to see what could be organised. I can imagine an amazing convoy from the Ace to Tilbury, which could attract many a biker, especially if it was at the weekend.

Clancey Henderson Ride
 

Very interested in taking part in this Historic re-enactment. Naturally, I would ride a Henderson for this event. I just ordered the Clancey book! Let me know how to get involved.
John in USA

Irish leg of centenary run
 

What a great project recognising a true adventurer.

Any dates and plans for the Irish leg of the event?

Hi folks,

The plan at the moment is this:

Assemble in Dublin on the morning of the 23rd Oct (probably in the Phoenix Pk for ease of access to the N3), take some photos etc, (hoping to have a 1922 Henderson at the start) then travel the N3 (the old version in so far as possible) via Newtown Butler, Lisnaskea, Ballyshannon to Slieve League and back to Donegal Town or Ballybofey for an overnight. The next day 24th, on to Belfast via Derry, Giant's Causeway and the Antrim Coast.

From here the action moves to Scotland where I hope some of our brethren will take up the challenge of continuing the run through Scotland and passing it on for the journey through England and Wales.

Stopping off at the Ace Cafe would be brilliant and might be a good focal point for generating some publicity.

Then the run moves to the Netherlands continuing on through Belgium, France and Spain before heading for Africa.

Basically we need some HU members along the way to join in for a bit or the run (it can be 1 mile or 100 miles or whatever suits you - in your country or more, you decide). We will have a reproduction of the pennant that Clancy brought around the world and the idea is that this will be handed on from rider to rider as the run progresses. If it meets an impasse we can have it sent on to the next willing participant.

So, it's over to you folks, if you'd like to participate chip in and let us know - the more the merrier. Of course, it's not confined to the HU community so if you have any biker friends of whatever persuasion let them know, all are welcome.

As I get more info I'll post it here.

Feargal

Hi Feargal

I've blocked out that week in my diary so let me know what I can do for the Irish part of the route. I would also have time to travel across to meet with someone in Scotland if that's of use.

Drew

That's brilliant Drew. I'm hoping to pop over and do a bit of the UK part also. :thumbup1:

We'll defo do the Irish bit and possibly more! We won't know til closer to the time but we're keeping an eye on this!!

Good man Feargal:clap:

Kev and Míde

That's brilliant Mide!

You guys will lend an air of sophistication to the whole thing :thumbup1:

USA route details?
 

Are there any route details for the USA leg yet? I'd like to find a way to join in for part of the west coast portion on my 1913 Henderson.

Welcome to HU Pete!

I'd love to see that Henderson, and you will be VERY welcome on the ride. :thumbup1:

Details are a ways off yet, but do make a point to subscribe to this thread - see thread tools above the thread - then it's easy to keep up on what's happening.

I suspect the ride won't be coming this far north (Canada) so assume you'd trailer it down to say SF to start?

Brilliant idea. I can do a fair part of the British leg, though I imagine you won't be short of willing participants for that part.

And then, who knows, maybe I'll go further afield as well if time and circumstances allow.

Is there any possibility of making up a sticker or something based on the pennant, say, that all a participants could be given to commemorate their part in the re-ennactment?

We're in
 

Great idea! Count Mairead and I in for the Irish leg.

:clap:

Just to add, I haven't voted yet because I'm happy to do either of the first two and it will kind of depend on my circumstances at the time. But one way or another I'm in!

What are the dates and details so far regarding Glasgow to Tilbury, I am chugging my way round the rock bit by bit, thus far have ridden from Istanbul to San Fransico, I can tie in England and Scotland going North, thus adding a bit of meat to the UK part then support this ride going South to home.

Kind Regards
Danny

It was great to have the opportunity to pass on the Clancy story at the HU Autumn meet in Mendip and fantastic to see such a positive response. Here's hoping there will be lots of involvement in the UK part of the run. The Irish bit will run over two days, the 23rd and 24th of October. It's up to the UK community to organise the UK part but as I said at Mendip it looks like a two day trip also. Following the original route, the distance from Glasgow Docks to Tilbury is 542 miles (according to Google Maps). It's really up to you guys to work out how this should best be done. Ideally, if one or two (or more of course) could do the whole UK bit that would be great as this would allow others to tag along for whatever part suited them to do. So, any volunteers?

See Alexlebrit's post (#6) for a map showing Clancy's original route through the UK

Hi Feargal,
We met briefly after your talk at the Mendip meet. I'm now set to be in Ireland at the time of the Dublin-Belfast run (am over there for a few other things so it's a happy coincidence).
So would aim to be at the start and follow you to Belfast.
Is this now fixed as Phoenix Park? Will you be posting here the details of time and place?

Also details of the stopping place for the night of the 23rd?

Do you have any recommendations or a 'favourite' hotel/guest house for Dublin? I'll probably arrive in Dublin on the 21st (Sunday), and spend Monday working on family history stuff. I have 'orders' to visit the Records Office and Trinity College.

For the British section I'll still be in Ireland, at the Shackleton Autumn School, but would be interested in the later European sections. Maybe I'll be able to get myself over there.....

All the best
Ken

Hi Ken,

That's fantastic that you'll be over here for the start - more than welcome, but it's also a pity that you'll miss the UK bit.

Yes, definitely starting from the Phoenix Pk on 23rd Oct. We'll assemble about 10am for a 10.30 departure. The overnight stop will be in Donegal town - I'm still in negotiations with a couple of the hotels there but will decide on a "base" in the next few days. Nonetheless there are a number of accommodation options there so people will be able to choose one that suits and we can all then meet up in one place for something to eat and a few lemonades.

This won't be a "structured" ride in the sense that we won't be trying to shepherd all participants along in a group at the same pace. I'm conscious that some people like to stop frequently for a smoke or whatever while others like to press on. Also, we will have some vintage motorcycles taking part as well as sports bikes, tourers, adventure bikes, etc. The route however is well defined as is the destination so people can simply go along at whatever rate suits them best. If people want to travel singly or perhaps as a little group of friends that's fine. There will be a lunch-stop in Enniskillen and hopefully the majority of people will roll up here in the region of lunchtime.

In response to your Q about accommodation in Dublin prior to the 23rd, leave it with me - I'll make some enquiries. I'll send you my mobile no by PM and we can chat closer to the time.

Feargal

The 100 Year Old Clancy Boots To Circle Mother Earth Again
 

The riding boots worn by Carl Stearns Clancy are going to circle the globe again. A reader of the MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER book in Australia has written the organizers that he has the boots Clancy wore while circling the globe in 1912-1913.

The plan is for them to be sent to Ireland where two riders will carry them around the world, and a future home is currently being sought in a USA motorcycle museum for when the Clancy Centenary Ride is over. It is hoped they will be put on display next to a 1912 Henderson the museum already has on display with a note about Clancy, the boots, the first ride around the world using a 1912 Henderson motorcycle and the book MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER.

I'm delighted to say that we will be joined at the start in Dublin on the 23rd by a 1924 Henderson. While it is somewhat more advanced than Clancy's 1912 model there is still quite a resemblance

http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...2/DSC_0445.jpg

This is BRILLIANT! :funmeteryes: Count me in for a part of the USA route as this comes together.

Hi folks,

For anyone doing the Irish leg, we will overnight in Donegal town on the 23rd Oct, staying at the Abbey Hotel. They have quoted me a rate of €45 per person sharing for B&B and €50 single room B&B. Ref when making a booking is FEON. The phone no is +353 (0)74 9721014. Secure overnight parking is available in an adjoining bank carpark but I need to know the numbers so please post on here if you're going. The Central Hotel (close to the Abbey) have quoted the same rates but don't seem to have access to the secure parking so if you're planning on going get in contact with the Abbey asap. Bar food will be available and people I've spoken to seem to prefer this approach to an organised sit-down meal, so that's what we'll do.

Donegal hotel booked. 1 secure parking spot needed please.:clap:

Hi folks,

What's your route/timing from Glasgow? Is there a site or something I've missed with times/route tec. on it? Apologies if I've missed something obvious.

If I can get my bike back on the road in time(!), I'd like to join you for a few hours ride south of Glasgow.

Matt :)

Hi Matt,

It would be brilliant if you could do some of the trip in Scotland.

The Irish leg will definitely finish in Belfast on the evening of Wed the 24th so the UK part can start anytime after that. I have always envisaged that it should be the local biking community that would take responsibility for organising the finer details of the run through their area - timings, accommodation if needed, lunch stops, etc. I'm organising the Irish bit but really wouldn't have the local knowledge to make the necessary decisions after that. I am of course happy to coordinate and issue updates, etc.

A couple of the guys I met at Mendip have said that they are game to do the whole UK leg but still aren't sure whether they want to start on Thu 25th or wait till the weekend. It would be really great to have someone doing the whole UK bit as this would allow people such as yourself to hook up along the way.

So I suppose what I'm saying is that it's really up to the UK bikers to declare this one. Also, while the ideal is for this to be a convivial, group thing there's nothing to stop someone doing a bit of this run when and wherever along the route that suits them - the main thing is that we, as motorcyclists remember Clancy at this time.

I know this doesn't answer your question but I hope that more concrete information will emerge shortly. Someone needs to say "We'll be leaving Glasgow at such a time on such a date" - then it will all fall into place.

OK, I see the set up. Unfortunately I'm in Dundee on the 25th, but if folks are leaving on the weekend I can join up for a few hours. My bad hip limits me to a few hours riding at the moment, but it would be nice to meet up with anyone else who is doing this for a wee while.

Matt :)

and another one for Donegal
 

Abbey hotel booked - 1 parking spot would be handy if there are any left.

drew

ps Feargal, I've emailed you about scotland.

d

See youse in the Park on the 23rd lads. :mchappy:

Clancy Run. Starting date etc.
 

The UK leg of the run will start at Glasgow on 27th Oct at 9am.

The first day will end at a campsite in North Wales near Chester.

We aim to be at Tilbury docks, London on Sunday evening, 28th Oct.

I will update this site with more information such as the exact start place, towns we will pass through and the campsite location as this information becomes available.

You can do as much or as little of the route as you please.

Buena Ruta and look forward to seeing you!!

Hi Feargal, have booked the Abbey hotel Donegal. Can you get me a space in the car park. I'll be in a car, not bike unfortunately.
Thanks
All the best, Ken

That's great that you're joining us Ken. There will be no problems for parking a car. See you there :)

Just to whet your appetites !

This is a photo taken somewhere in the Lake District. Note how it is a posed photo with the motorcycle on its stand. Clancy makes mention elsewhere in the story of how he had to guess the exposures which could be several minutes long depending on the light. It's remarkable that they are so good.

http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...e-District.jpg

Newsflash for Irish participants !
 

We've had to change the location of the start of the run - the authorities who manage the Phoenix Pk insisted on a Public Liability Insurance Indemnity to the value of €6.5 Million. I checked my wallet but it didn't quite run to the 6.5M :thumbdown:

Anyway, Joe Duffy BMW dealership have come to the rescue and have agreed to allow us start from there. This is good as they have hosted the start of a number of high profile runs in the past, they are close to the route we will be taking and they are easy to get to. They are even going to lay on some coffee and light refreshments. :clap:

So we'll stick with the same times, ie meet up about 10 and gone by 10.30.

Sounds like a plan :clap:

Coffee and refreshments just what will be needed after run down to the start.

Of course Donegal may require more beer

After the day's run of course:nono:

Thanks for arranging that Feargal, all noted.
Will see you there.
Cheers!

Just received Feargal's mail shot about this run. I am keen to find out more about the French leg of this adventure, and what route it takes. Where can I find details of this please?

I'm more than willing to ride the Belgium (and maybe Netherlands and France, partially) leg of the trip, if I can fit it in my planning.
Where does the route start in the Netherlands, I suppose this is after the UK part of thrip? And then on to Paris over Belgium?
Are there more specific waypoints to that route, or should we make something up?

Article in Irish Times newspaper :clap:

"Around the world from Dublin on a bike - in 1912

It was the most dangerous motorcycle journey of its time – an epic adventure in 1912 – and the riders were captivated by Ireland, writes PETER MURTAGH

WHEN A motorcycle rider and his machine get together, it’s usually only a matter of time before the question emerges: when to set off on the round-the-world trip?
The dream was made reality for many an armchair biker by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s 2004 TV odyssey and book, Long Way Round, and subsequent spin-offs.

Close to a decade later, the sound of yet another BMW GS hurtling across the Mongolian steppe en route to Beijing is unlikely to come as much of a surprise to a yak herder sitting by his yurt.

Motorbike websites today are full of “how to” information about long-distance adventure biking in Asia, Africa, South America and elsewhere. The accompanying blogs feature a swarm of bikers having the time of their lives.

What many of them may not realise is that the craze began 100 years ago in Dublin.

The first man to ride his motorbike around the world was an Irish-American advertising copy writer and film-maker named Carl Stearns Clancy. He set off with his biking partner, Walter Rendell Storey, 100 years ago this month.

“The longest, most difficult, and most perilous journey ever attempted”, on motorcycle, wrote Clancy of a journey that friends and colleagues told him was “insane”. But he went nonetheless and, what’s more, he did it.

On October 23rd this year, motorbike enthusiasts will re-enact the start of Clancy and Storey’s epic trip, assembling at Joe Duffy Motors in Ballymun, before following Clancy and Storey’s route to Belfast via Meath, Cavan, Fermanagh, Donegal, Derry and Antrim. Thereafter, across the world, bikers will retrace other parts of Clancy’s route.

In 1912, there were few surfaced roads, let alone maps by which to find them. Motorcycles were not built for endurance travelling, tyres were basic and repair garages were almost non-existent.

Clancy and Storey rode machines made by the Henderson Motorcycle Company, which was founded in 1911 in Detroit, Michigan. The 1912-built Henderson Four was a long machine with a four-cylinder engine and just one gear. There was no front brake.

But, with a top speed of 55 miles per hour, it was reputedly the fastest motorcycle of its day. It cost $325.

Why did they do it? “The facts are these,” Clancy wrote. “We are ordinary business men who are supersaturated with work and who have decided to invest a year’s time in something else than the everlasting chase for the almighty dollar.”

But how to pay for it? Clancy wasn’t the last motorbike enthusiast to hit on the wheeze of getting an editor to pay for his adventures and so, in multiple dispatches between November 1912 and February 1914, Clancy told the story of his 18,000 mile journey in the pages of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review, a New York-based weekly magazine. The story was then largely forgotten until it was rescued by another biking enthusiast, Gregory Frazier, who assembled the reports into a book, Motorcycle Adventurer (published by iUniverse in Bloomington, Indiana in 2010).

In early October 1912, the pair sailed from New York to Dublin, via Liverpool, their bikes freighted separately. Crossing the Atlantic, they befriended two Irish girls who made them pennants, embroidered with, “Around the World”.

Why Dublin? “So little is known by motoring America about the attractions of the land of many of its forefathers – Old Erin,” Clancy wrote in Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review, “that we decided to place it first upon our list of globe-girdling explorations.”

In Dublin, they found “nearly everything at least 50 years behind the times”. They visited the Bank of Ireland in College Green and Trinity, and registered their Hendersons at City Hall.

The editor of The Irish Cyclist, Richard McCready (the inventor of bicycle polo) gave them road maps and helped them plot a route from Dublin to the northwest. Extraordinary as it may seem, Storey had never ridden a motorbike and so before setting off, Clancy spent a day in the Phoenix Park showing him how. “By dark, he had mastered his steed,” Clancy wrote, “but we were compelled to leave our machines in a nearby house till morning, having no carbide in our lamps.”

Their first effort to set off was aborted when a policeman – “a beautiful specimen of a gigantic, almost wax ‘Bobby’” – stopped them and insisted they get number plates for their front mudguards.

“Dublin had not finished with us, however,” bemoaned Clancy, “for before we had gone a block, one of those two storey, bob-tail tram-cars . . . ran smash into Mr Storey, demolishing his rear wheel, threw him to the pavement, ripped off the starting-crank casting, bent the handlebars and front fork badly but allowed Storey to escape with a sorely bruised thigh.”

What Clancy described as “an eager crowd of loafers” helped carry the wreck to a repair shop (“and refused to disperse until paid double for their efforts”). Storey’s bike would take some days to repair and so finally, on October 23rd, two up on Clancy’s machine, Storey astride the petrol tank, Clancy squashed by 75lbs of baggage on the back, the single Henderson waddled out of Dublin along what is now the N3. They rode that way for the next 400 miles.

They set off for Donegal, via a night in Newtownbutler, at an average of 20mph, noting how slippery were the roads when it rained: “The Irish roads are not well drained.”

HEARING CIVIL war was imminent (the third Home Rule Bill was given royal assent in September 1912), Clancy and Storey brought pistols with them, a pair of Savage semi-automatic handguns.

“We decided to be prepared for the worst,” wrote Clancy, “so before entering Ulster, we got out our Savage automatics and, to practice, banged away at a tree on the lonely roadside beside the beautiful Lough Erne. This precaution proved unnecessary.”

Clancy thought the mountains of Donegal “wildly beautiful” and “the most Irish part of Ireland”.

“The older people speak Gaelic (the children both Gaelic and English), live in tiny stone huts perched in the barren, heather-covered, wind-swept valleys, and represent the extreme in poverty. Here a donkey is an unheard-of luxury, and even hens are very scarce. Every family raises one pig a year, which is sold to pay the rent – never eaten.”

They made for the north Antrim coast and the Giant’s Causeway. “We had the vast cliffs to ourselves,” Clancy reported, and explored fantastic rock formations even though, at 4.30pm, it was very dark, raining and windy.

They spent a night in Ballycastle’s Antrim Arms Hotel, a welcome break from the constant electric shocks the Henderson was giving their hands through waterlogged leather gloves. They got to Belfast the next afternoon. Clancy left Storey there and took the train back to Dublin to collect Storey’s repaired Henderson and ride it back. The following afternoon, they both got the ferry to Glasgow.

They left Ireland feeling good about the place. “Ireland is so quaint,” Clancy reported, “so different from Scotland, England and America, so blessed with charming, picturesque hillsides of the most entrancing colours, and inhabited by the most fascinating people, that we urge every motorist to visit it – and especially Donegal.”

Clancy and Storey rode through Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. After Paris, Storey returned to the US.

Clancy continued through southeast Asia, to China and Japan. He was an early tourist to such regions and surely the first western motorcyclist there, let alone the first motorbike circumnavigator of the world.

Further information on re-tracing Clancy and Storey’s ride, go to iti.ms/SXHvFKor iti.ms/SHpfUS. Participants – all bikers welcome – should meet at Duffy’s BMW Motorrad at the Ballymun M50 junction at 10am on Tuesday, October 23rd for 10.30 departure.

Motorcycle Adventurer – Carl Stearns Clancy: First Motorcyclist to Ride Around the World 1912-1913 by Dr Gregory W Frazier is available from Amazon.com

Clancy and Storey: Lives in bikes, books and film

Carl Stearns Clancy was born in New Hampshire in 1890, the son of Alice Clancy from Massachusetts, and William Clancy, a 55-year-old Irishman described in US census records as a clergyman.

After returning to New York, Clancy married (twice), wrote books (two, but not about his motorbike adventure) and became an accomplished film producer and script writer. Storey worked for the New York Times.

Clancy made 12 films with the actor and humourist Will Rogers, one of them entitled With Will Rogers in Dublin, and one, The Headless Horseman (or the Legend of Sleepy Hollow), also with Rogers, which can be seen online via iti.ms/SHpaAq.

He died in Virginia in 1971 having lived, as Frazier notes “a full and adventurous life”.

Walter Rendell Storey was born in Philadelphia, of English-born parents, in 1881. At the time of his motorbike ride, he appears to have been a functionary with the Board of Motion Pictures in New York."

All we have to go on is this map showing the route through the Netherlands, Belgium and the northern part of France:

http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...ds-Belgium.jpg

Using this, and reading Clancy's original account gives this broad outline of the route:

NL: Rotterdam, Delft, the Hague, Leiden, Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Willemsdorp

B: Breda, Antwerp, Ghent, Brughes, Brussels, Namur

F: Reims, Meaux, Paris, Versailles, Chartres, Blois, Tours, Limoux, Perpignan, Pyrenees

I'll put up some more for other countries when I work it out.

Geoff Hill, motorcycling author and journalist and Gary Walker, ex-racer have decided to re-trace the entire RTW trip made by Clancy. Geoff intends to write his next book about it making comparisons between today and 100 years ago. They will join us on Oct 23rd for the Irish leg and continue with the rest of the trip next April to allow for the 2 month stopover made by Clancy in Paris. They aim to get from Japan to San Francisco in time to join Greg Frazier who is coordinating the USA leg which will take place next year. Regular updates from their trip will be made available.

If it emerges that some undertake to do the whole trip through their country, that's fantastic and I'll leave it up to them to work out the finer details and decide on the most suitable dates, etc. Someone who can't do a whole national leg of the trip could nonetheless tag along for whatever part of it that suits.

On the other hand, it might be more practicable for people to join up with Geoff and Gary next year and ride a bit of the way with them. Whatever works.

If you need a rider to do Reims - Paris or possibly Paris - Blois - Tours, either as part of a group or solo if you just need the pennant moving on the route then let me know, I work some pretty stange hours so would have to make it fit in around work a family but may be possible.

let me know.:thumbup1:

guys when will you be in France ? super keen to join in. cheers

The Northern part of France seems to be quite well defined as far as Tours. There is a huge gap of some 620kms from Tours to Limoux.

I have traced a likely direct route through the major towns which would quite possibly been passed through on the way down.

Tours à Limoux - Google Maps

Chateauroux, Limoges,Brive, Cahors, Montaubon, Toulouse.

All these places would have been fairly large towns even in 1912.

If there is no definite map of the route taken, I can research the Govt archive and see if I can find a map of the major roads in France at that time. Would that be of any use to you??

I live 40kms west of Limoges, so if Limoges is considered to be a convenient stopping point en route, I can help with any local arrangements you may want to make.

I'd just ride with Geoff and Gary then, will more info (dates etc) be posted here as it comes available?
If they need a local for information or anything, they can contact me off course.

Northern Irish Leg
 

Hi Glenboy

Just thought i would let you know that our MCC the Downriders are considering joining up in the northern ireland half of the trip. Do we need to organise with anyone or give details etc or just meet up on the 24th at Derry?

Many thanks

Norms

Update for uk leg of the clancy run
 

I am looking to camp out near Chester. There are several campsites in the area. As I don't know how many riders will be on board we need to allow for several pitches. If anyone can recommend a site let me know otherwise I will pick one off the map that I hope will meet our requirements.

As for the start of the ride on Saturday 27th Oct at 9am does anyone know of a good meeting point either in or near Glasgow?

As we have to cover over 260 miles a day to reach Tilbury by Sunday evening we will have to bypass some of the major towns to avoid riding at night! However we can still follow the route in principle.

It would be good to have more time to be able to visit some of the site and pubs that Clancy visited but to finnish the ride in two days we'll have to press on.

I can understand that those with more time may wish to carry out the ride in their own style.

Any suggestions will be welcome.

Cheers, Rupert.

likewise.

if the info come up on here as to times & dates then I'd love to ride a ways along the route with Geoff & Gary. :thumbup1:

We'll post details of planned dates etc as soon as we have them (roughly, sort of...) finalized, in progress now!

Stop in Derry??
 

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone would know whether there is a stopping point in Derry or where the first stop in Northern Ireland is on the 24th? Any info would be gratefully received :thumbup1:

Many Thanks

Norms

Hi Norms

You have PM:mchappy:

Thanks Liam
 

I can't answer PM's until I have 5 posts! doh

So here is number 3

I'll give you a call tomorrow if I get a chance

Many Thanks

Norms

UK leg of the Clancy Run update.
 

Further to my last message I will have to withdraw from this event for an unforseen personal reason.

For confirmation of timings and routes etc you will need to confirm with Feargal, who is running the show.

I will be sorry to miss it. But good luck to everyone who takes part.

Buena ruta!!

Here is number 4 and next is .........beer

erm.. number 5! that should do it!
:D

It's a real pity that you can't do the run Rupert, but not to worry, as long as we remember the great man at this time, that's the main thing.

By the way, I am only "running the show" in Ireland and Nth Ireland. What happens in the UK or anywhere else is entirely up to the biking communities there. I've just sown the seed - whether it grows or not is up to you.

Of course it's entirely feasible and indeed welcome for people to do just a small bit of the run if that's what suits. Some of the participants in the Irish leg will just be doing a portion of the run in Ireland.

Another alternative will emerge next year when Geoff Hill and Gary Walker set off on their recreation of the entire Clancy trip. They will be blogging and posting details of their progress along the route and people will be able to tag along with them for a bit.

100 years ago today the guys were uncrating their Henderson machines in Dublin and making final preparations. That reminds me, must check my oil level :)

We will be stopping for lunch at the Giants Causeway (Causeway Hotel) arriving there about 1.30 or 2pm on the 24th. After that we will go along the Antrim coast arriving in Belfast in the late afternoon.

The word is spreading!
 

Look like the word is getting out saw a link to this on facebook!

The achievement of Carl Stearns Clancy

:thumbup1:

I have now received my copy of the book, and naturally started looking at the French leg of the journey. It does seem rather strange that after Tours, the action takes up again in the Aude dept of the Languedoc Rousillon region in the far south, leaving the middle ( and very interesting part) rather a mystery. I will of course be interested to see what the 're-creators' intend to do next year, and will hopefully be able to join them for part if not all of the journey south from Tours to Limoux.

I'd like to wish all those taking up the first part of this epic the best of luck, and hope that the weather doesn't dampen spritis too much.

Remember, it doesn't matter how cold and wet you are, as long as you're warm and dry!

good Luck for tomorrow
 

Hope all goes well tomorrow and hope to meet you at the Causeway Hotel

:scooter:

Good stuff! Looking forward to seeing you there.

Gentlemen and Ladies, Start Your Engines - October 23
 

And they are off! The riders left Dublin October 23, on an Irish bright, liquid sunshine day.

Joining the group was a 1922 Henderson motorcycle, with the pilot wearing period clothes and the original Clancy boots. Motorbike sported a pennant similar to that carried by Clancy 100 years ago.

Great job guys. We look forward to reports from the roads around the globe as two BMW sponsored riders will "girdle the globe," following the original Clancy route.

We Yanks across the pond also await joining you in San Francisco, California June 2, 2013 as we ride the final Clancy Centenary Ride leg across the USA to arrive in New York City June 23, 2013.

Pic attached came from Mr. John Garrett, the editor of Exhaust Notes, the official publication the Irish Veteran and Vintage Motorcycle Club.

This is a little video clip of the 1922 Henderson being ridden by Gary Walker just before the start in Dublin yesterday. He's in period costume including the original boots worn by Clancy 100 years ago.

Start of CS Clancy Centenary Run, Dublin - 23rd Oct 2012 - YouTube

And here's a pic of the main group at the Slieve League cliffs in Donegal which Clancy greatly admired on the original trip

http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps4d669173.jpg

Cracking Good Show!
 

Good pic of the wild Irish adventurists on the cliffs of Donegal. It looks like the weather cleared up and you were blessed with some sun.

The other day I was speaking with Ted Simon, who noted October was the 39th anniversary of his ride around the world. I opined that both he and the Clancy/Storey team surely picked a cold time to start their rides. :stormy:

NL-BE leg of the Clancy Run
 

Wow, guys! What a group, that's a good start! We're following you from the other side of the water .
Thinking about riding the route through The Netherlands and Belgium.
Are there any bikers crossing the North Sea next week?
And anybody from NL of BE interested in riding along this part of the route with us?

Northern Ireland Leg of the Clancy Run
 

Met up with the guys at the Causeway Hotel today had good natter and a bite to eat then headed off down the coast road towards Larne. I took some video of us on our way to Cushendun. I have some more but not edited yet I will post them later

http://youtu.bhttp://s.ytimg.com/yts...fe/iUK_QkYJy28

It was great to play a small part in this many thanks to all

Norms
:scooter:

A Great Ride
 

That was a great centenary ride!
All thanks to Feargal and everyone else involved. :clap:
Very enjoyable.

I posted my own little account of it in my HU blog here:
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Ken Thomas

I hope some more sections get re-enacted elsewhere.
(As well as Geoff and Gary's full round-the-world re-run)

Cheers
Ken

Clancy Centenary Ride
 

Faulty link in the last post here is the real one

Clancy Centenary Run - YouTube

:oops2:

Norms

I just want to say a huge thank you to all who participated - it was very encouraging to see so many modern-day motorcyclists turn up to honour one of the great motorcyclists of the past.

By the way, the next Clancy run will take place on the 23rd Oct 2112, please keep it free :wink3:

Brilliant write-up Ken. Thanks for taking the trouble to post it.

I think Geoff will have a rival when it comes to writing the next book :clap:

Hope you enjoy the Shackleton visit.

Another wee video
 

This was the last part of the coast road following Davy, (I think that was his name) on his Pan European

Antrim Coast Road With Davy - YouTube

Some more links to videos by Brian from Downriders MCC
 

Ballycastle
Clancy Centenary World Trip.MOV - YouTube

Causeway Hotel
Clancy Centenary World Trip Hotel.MOV - YouTube

And some photos too

www.downridersmcc.com

:scooter:

Here's a link you might like
 

Found this online and it might be just up your street

Brough Superior SS100, Brough Superior, 1953 European Trip, Triumph Thunderbird, Triumph Motorcycles

Norms:scooter:

The 1922 Henderson
 

Being a youtube dinosaur, it took me a while. :blushing:

But this is now posted. On the forecourt at Joe Duffy's.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHEEDS3a7fw

I'm very interested in riding the SF to NYC leg next year. Is there a specific thread or site for that?? I searched but did not find anything. I live near SF, recently retired, and have a suitable bike so the ride seems ideal. Have done some MC touring and a lot by bicycle, have beed an avid two wheel rider since the '70's....

USA Schedule
 

June 2, depart SF, arrive in NYC June 21. Details TBA early January. Watch here. We are waiting for some final feedback on "hosts" along the way. CITY BIKE is our "Send-Off" host in SF.

Regards,

Dr. Gregory W. Frazier
Chief, World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine (now on sabbatical)

"FRAZIER PARKED
Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk for CITY BIKE, has been granted sabbatical leave from his desk duties. He will be continuing his research on the transcendental relationship between adventure motorcycling, extreme martial arts and the miteration by globalization through LIBOR rates on underdeveloped countries. We’re expecting him to resume his yarn-spinning and pontification in the spring." (Published in CITY BIKE, October, 2012)

clancy ride route
 

Hi Greg
Wondering if you have fixed a route yet.I live in on Vancouver island Canada
and would like to join up in Oregon Or???

Barry

Routes dates and locations coming
 

Barry:

June 2 Depart San Francisco, CA
June 2 Arrive Sacramento, CA
June 3 Depart Sacramento, CA
June 3 Arrive Medford OR
June 4 Depart Medford, OR
June 4 Arrive Portland, OR
June 5 Depart Portland, OR
June 5 Arrive Spokane, WA
June 6 Depart Spokane, WA
June 6 Arrive Butte, MT
June 7 Depart Butte, MT
June 7 Arrive Billings, MT
June 8 "Rest Day" Billings, MT
.
.
.
.
Arrive June 21, New York City

More details TBA shortly. My sabbatical detailed above and listless life as an avid motorized two wheel wandering wastrel you'll have to attribute to the void from June 8-21.

Hendersons Across USA
 

While scouting the route for the USA leg of The Clancy Centenary Ride across Montana I was nearly run over by Indians....Indian Motocycles. They were on a group ride across the USA that included numerous Henderson Motorcycles.

The photo below is of a 1925 Henderson that earlier in the year had scored 99.5 points in a judging contest. The owner later experienced a front tire blow out at speed (45 mph) and went down. He offered me to "take it for a spin," figuring it was no longer 99.5 points and I would not hurt it. For the whole story on the event you can read my view here at Cannonball Endurance Run: Paying Homage to Antique Iron | Accelerate Online - Official Publication of Riders of Kawasaki

snip-

Thanks very much for the updates and am looking forward to the ride....FWIW was able to see the Cannonball bikes at their last stop in Cotati, CA....good to hear City Bike is involved, have been reading it from the start waaay back in the '80's

Official USA Clancy Centenary Ride Schedule June 2 -21, 2013
 

June 2: San Francisco, CA – Sacramento, CA (Sunday, 100 years after Clancy departed)
June 3: Sacramento, CA – Medford, OR
June 4: Medford, OR – Portland, OR
June 5: Portland, OR – Spokane, WA
June 6: Spokane, WA – Butte, MT
June 7: Butte, MT – Billings, MT (With side trip/return from Livingston, MT to Entrance of Yellowstone Park following original Clancy route)
June 8: Billings, MT (Rest Day - Saturday)
June 9: Billings, MT – Bismark, ND
June 10: Bismark, ND – Minneapolis, MN
June 11: Minneapolis, MN – Madison, WI
June 12: Madison, WI – Anamosa, IA (Side trip, off Clancy original route, to visit the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa)
June 13: Anamosa, IA – Madison, WI
June 14: Madison, WI – Chicago, IL
June 15: Chicago, IL (Rest Day – Evening presentation TBA for Saturday PM)
June 16: Chicago, IL – Detroit, MI
June 17: Detroit, MI – Cleveland, OH
June 18: Cleveland, OH – Buffalo, NY (Side trip following Clancy route to Niagara Falls)
June 19: Buffalo, NY – Albany, NY
June 20: Albany, NY – Newburgh, NY (Side trip off original Clancy Route, to visit the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburgh, New York)
June 21: Newburgh, NY – New York City area, Official Celebration/End of Centenary Ride – location for Friday evening TBA)

Thanks, looks great! FWIW I plotted the stops using optimap to get a feel for the route and it looks like this......

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o....13%2520PM.png

Can't Wait to Join in.
 

I've taken to calling this particular circumnavigation the C3-Ride (C-cubed - Carl Clancy Centennial Ride). We're looking forward to connecting with the flotilla around Cleveland and continuing onto Buffalo. I find it fascinating that it's only been 100 years since Mr. Clancy was able to perform his wonderful accomplishment. :thumbup1:

Keep up the good work, Sun Chaser!

Sláinte! (Gaelic)
Philip & Karen
10 F800GS,
09 F650GS,
09 Kawasaki KLX250S,
08 Honda CRF230L, & 75 R90S.

has anyone heard any news on this?? It has been a few months since the last update and am wondering if this ride is still on, have been planning my summer around it....definitely hope so as I'm still game but need to make new plans otherwise:scooter:

100 Year Ride Still a "GO"
 

March 24 should see the two BMW UK sponsored riders departing Belfast to Glasgow as they start following Clancy's original route around the world. June 2 will find them in the wharf area of San Francisco, CA with other adventurists departing for Sacramento on that day. The rest of the USA schedule remains as posted above.

As the Chief of The World Adventure Affairs Desk for the famed San Francisco based CITY BIKE magazine I will be coming off my sabbatical and plan to be there with my Brownie Camera to record the San Francisco Start, and then join them and others globe wandering celebrants across the USA and eventually into the bowels of New York City June 21 from where the global loop started 100 years ago.

We hope to see you in New York and help to celebrate the culmination of a great ride. Keep in touch.

Clancy World Ride March - June 2013
 

Here is the latest world schedule for the Clancy Centenary Ride:



Sunday March 24: Depart Belfast to Glasgow
Monday March 25: Lake District
Tuesday March 26: Birmingham for big Tuesday evening meeting of bikers at Bassett's Pole
Thursday March 28: RAC in London for national media press conference, then overnight sailing 2315 Harwich to Hook of Holland 0745 next day.
March 30-31: Holland: Amsterdam then south
April 1 and 2: Belgium: Ghent, Bruges, Brussels
April 3 and 4: Paris, then south through Chartres, Blois, Chenonceau and Tours to cross into Spain at Le Perthus
April 7 and 8: Barcelona
April 9: To Alicante for ferry to Algeria
April 10: Ferry Alicante to Oran, Algeria
April 11: Oran to Algiers to reconnect with original Clancy route
April 12-15: Algeria: Bougie, Setif, Constantine
April 16-18: Tunisia: Tabarka to Tunis
April 19: Ferry Tunis to Palermo
April 21: Naples
April 22: To Rome
April 23-24: Rome
April 25-28: Bikes back to UK for shipping.
April 29: London to Sri Lanka by air
April 30 - May 5: Sri Lanka
May 6: Sri Lanka to Kuala Lumpur by air
May 7-10: Kuala Lumpur to Penang to Kuala Lumpur
May 11: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by air
May 11-13: Singapore
May 14: Singapore to Hong Kong by air
May 14-16: Hong Kong
May 15: 6-6.45pm: Talk and slide show at Quarry Bay East
May 17: Hong Kong to Shanghai by air
May 17-19: Shanghai
May 20: Shanghai to Nagasaki by air
May 21-27: Ride to Tokyo
May 30:Tokyo to Los Angeles by air
May 31: Collect bikes in Los Angeles
June 1: Los Angeles, CA – San Francisco, CA
June 2: 10:30 AM gather at docks in San Francisco, then depart to Sacramento, CA
June 3: Sacramento, CA – Medford, OR
June 4: Medford, OR – Portland, OR
June 5: Portland, OR – Spokane, WA
June 6: Spokane, WA – Butte, MT
June 7: Butte, MT – Billings, MT (with side trip/return from Livingston, MT to Entrance of Yellowstone Park at Gardiner)
June 8: Billings, MT (Rest Day - Saturday)
June 9: Billings, MT – Bismark, ND
June 10: Bismark, ND – Minneapolis, MN
June 11: Minneapolis, MN – Madison, WI
June 12: Madison, WI – Anamosa, IA (side trip off Clancy original route to visit the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, where they have a 1912 Henderson on display and Dr Gregory Frazier will be making arrangements for a Clancy display, hopefully with boots, original working papers from his ride and other items from Liam O’Connor).
June 13: Anamosa, IA – Madison, WI
June 14: Madison, WI – Chicago, IL
June 15: Chicago, IL (Rest Day – Dr Gregory Frazier making arrangement for a possible presentation to the Adventurer's Club of Chicago (oldest in USA, 101 years) for Saturday night on the Clancy ride, first and Centenary.
June 16: Chicago, IL – Detroit, MI
June 17: Detroit, MI – Cleveland, OH
June 18: Cleveland, OH – Buffalo, NY (side trip to Niagara Falls)
June 19: Buffalo, NY – Albany, NY
June 20: Albany, NY – Newburgh, NY (Motorcyclepedia Museum)
June 21: Newburgh, NY – New York City, Grand Central Station, Official Celebration/End of Centenary Ride – (location for Friday evening TBA)

Geoff Hill and Gary Walker are about to set off on the remainder of the CS Clancy Centenary Run. Having completed the Irish leg of the trip last October with a group of fellow bikers as told in previous posts the pair decided to wait until now to do the rest of the trip thus allowing for the lay-over that Clancy and Storey had in Paris on the original trip. They will join up with Greg Frazier (author of the book about Clancy) in San Francisco on 2nd June and finish up in New York on 21st June.


There will be a "send-off" at the offices of Adelaide Insurances, 4-6 Boucher Rd, Belfast at about 10.30am on Fri 22nd March. If you're in the vicinity why not come along and wish them good luck - don't mind the weather :-)

And They Are Off - Kind Of
 

Snow and cold, ugly stuff to drive motorcycles through. Clancy and Storey left Ireland in 1912 in cold and wet... the modern day fellows found snow slowing their departure. Here's a bit about their Start:

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/lifestyl...iker-1-4931607

Well, they've reached London where they enjoyed a good breakfast at the Ace Café before heading in to Pall Mall and the HQ of the Royal Automobile Club where Clancy and Storey stayed in 1912. The modern-day adventurers were given just as warm a :welcome:.

Peter Murtagh, Foreign Editor of the Irish Times has decided to accompany Geoff and Gary for the first few weeks of the trip and he has been posting updates to the Irish Times online edition:

Breaking News | Irish & International Headlines | The Irish Times

Peter was also a participant on the Irish leg of the CS Clancy Centenary Run last October :mchappy:

More fame for a famous man!
 

Here's a link to a nice article in the Irish Times about Dr Greg Frazier by way of some background to the CS Clancy Centenary Run story.

CS Clancy Centenary Ride - Travel News | Ireland & World Travel Advice & Tips | The Irish Tim - Mon, Apr 08, 2013

It's written by journalist and biker Peter Murtagh who has been accompanying Geoff Hill and Gary Walker for the first few weeks of their trip recreating Clancy's journey of 100 years ago.

Peter has been posting almost daily accounts of their trip making some interesting comparisons between then and now - these can be seen at

Travel News | Ireland & World Travel Advice & Tips | The Irish Tim

Geoff is also posting a travel blog about the trip - it's at

Adelaide Adventures

They're making steady progress and are glad to be getting away from the cold weather. :palm:

very interesting! a doctorate in economics??? When I see someone use the title DR in non professional circles I assume they are an MD, very poor form otherwise and a highly reliable sign of an accomplished BS artist...will have to bow out on the ride, looked very shaky anyway, nothing more than a list of cities has been posted so far and the start is less than two months away....anyway thanks very much for the link, it was a big help in making a decision on the ride

Are you serious? You're going to dismiss this whole thing because one of the organisers has a PhD in Economics? :confused1::eek3::(

And you think anyone called Doctor who isn't a physician is a BS artist? I imagine that refers to many of us here as well doh

Weird :rolleyes2:

umm, no that is not what I said at all, has nothing to do with having a PhD...USING the DR title outside of professional or academic circles when you are not an MD is extremely pretentious and the people I've encountered who do this have invariably been BS artists

Hmm. Not sure that's much better than what I thought you'd said. You're still basically judging someone you don't know, and dismissing the event, based on something entirely arbitrary.

It's a matter of opinion and choice whether one should use ones Doctorate as part of ones title. Some people like to be understated about it, others just see it as part of their identity and use that same identity across the board. A few people perhaps do use it to show off but then they probably feel they worked hard to get the qualification so why not flaunt it? :smartass:

I suppose it could be seen as a bit pretentious but then which of us doesn't have any pretensions?

It just seems rather churlish and ungenerous to dismiss someone over such a little thing, not to mention an event they are associated with but hey, whatever floats your..er...float chamber :funmeterno:

Just curious - what were you expecting this far away from the actual dates and cities? More details will come in plenty of time, and as we know them.

Be aware this is not a massive publicity stunt promoted by some megabucks corporation with umbrella girls :( and all, but just a few enthusiasts doing their best to honour an achievement by one of "us". (crazy travellers that is)

some minor details....for example the location of the start (there is a vague reference to "the docks" but the piers in S.F. number from 1-96 and cover a LARGE area)