By Brian M. Howle

Those little neurons that fire off signals to your brain’s memory section must have an interesting genesis. Everyone has them – but I believe some of us have more than most. While washing my car a few weeks ago, I observed a young boy venturing from the safe confines of his driveway to take that inaugural plunge into worldly freedom. His cautious, methodical peddling – tempered with momentary gyroscopic corrections to maintain balance – began to slowly increase in speed. With a determined focus, his eyes were set on the next three feet of asphalt awaiting him; bottom lip firmly in the overbite of concentration. For a few brief seconds, only he and I existed in our little corner of the world. Upon reaching the recognizable border of his next door neighbor’s yard (the grand total of about fifty feet), the realization of his first solo ride cut through the concentration. His little face lit up like a Vegas marquee, and he very carefully negotiated the U-turn maneuver. Then he began screaming to his mother, who was sweeping their garage, “ And Mamma smiled and congratulated him, and as he hopped off his bike she gathered him up in her waiting arms and hugged him amid squeals of delight from both as they made their way inside for a celebratory treat.

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Over the course of an incredible career—which includes winning the first-ever motorcycle race at Indy in 1909, finishing 11th in the 1922 Indy 500 and serving as the first commissioner of NASCAR—Baker makes 143 cross-country speed runs, totaling... A company has been formed and in due time the titles of the staff will be plainly hung on our handlebar,” reads an editorial. American daredevil Edwin “Cannonball” Baker sets his first transcontinental motorcycle speed record, riding coast-to-coast on an Indian in 11 days. Cost: 5 cents per issue or 50 cents for a one-year subscription. A 998cc Excelsior Model 16-SC—certified as the fastest motorcycle in the world after hitting 100 mph—sells for $250. ” The ad predicts 100,000 motorcycles will be sold in 1916. The 48-mile canal is one of the most difficult engineering feats ever undertaken and has a huge impact on global trade.

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