'ROUND THE WORLD RIDE Announced - Clancy Centenary Ride

[DrGMIA]

The Clancy Centenary Ride, a celebration of the first global circumnavigation by motorcycle, is being organized by two serious Irish motorcyclists, Feargal O'Neill and Joe Walsh. To commemorate 100 years of motorcyclists circling the world, the Irishmen, in conjunction with Horizons Unlimited http://www.horizonsunlimited.com, have announced a ride around the globe following much of the original 1912-1913 route taken by Carl Stearns Clancy.

Avid motorcyclist travel enthusiasts are being invited to pilot any type of motorcycle along portions of the original route. There is no cost to participate and joiners can drive 1 meter or 1,000's of kilometers. Says 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."

Clancy found much of Asia unknowingly impassable upon arriving. He wrote of wild adventures with his motorcycle in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka) which today could be the same for modern day motorcycle travelers. In Penang he discovered there was no completed road through to Singapore. His plan to ride across India had been earlier aborted when he learned there would be no petrol across that country. As for China, Clancy wrote of the efforts by his planning associate, Walter Storey:

"Mr. Storey also interviewed the Chinese consul in New York, with the view of ascertaining conditions to be met in China. With characteristic oriental skill the wily son of Confucius did most of the interviewing, and if he knew anything of the land of the Golden Dragon he was not willing to disclose it, so we had to obtain our principal Chinese information from an American merchant who was visiting in New York after a 14-year sojourn in the Celestial Republic-we almost said Empire, from long custom."

Originally Clancy had hoped to "...motor from Hong Kong to Shanghai-1,000 miles-and was much surprised to find that not only is there no road, but no railroad between these two cities. I was informed, in fact, that there are no roads in South China at all-except for a few miles outside of each large city. Canals, rivers, and the sea provide the only highways, except for the universal Chinese wheelbarrow-but I found there were even no trunk wheelbarrow tracks, else I would have surely attempted them."

This determination by Clancy in 1913 to drive his motorcycle, over wheelbarrow tracks, shows how deep was his adventurous nature and determination. But, alas, after seeing the conditions of the wheelbarrow tracks he concluded, "Touring cars and motorcycles are therefore as useless here as an aeroplane in a coal mine."

The cyber home for the Clancy Centenary Ride is currently under construction. http://www.rideasia.net will be the Asian outlet once the cyber home has been built.

 

[KTMphil]

Will be a very interesting adventure to follow, did Clancy have a carnet!

 

[DrGMIA]

No Carnet de Passage. I believe his 'round the world tour in 1912-1913 was well before the Swiss thought up the Carnet de Passage system. Some border guards at borders he crossed, like in North Africa, had never seen a motorcycle before. While not having a Carenet de Passage, he did carry a 12 shot Savage handgun.

 

[DrGMIA]

October 20, 2011 finds the Clancy Centenary Ride being announced in Europe. More here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/m ... 13-a-59581

Now looking for riders in Sri Lanka and Japan

 

[2wheels]

Would be good to have an update on the 100th anniversary ride for this momentous 'round the globe ride by Mr Clancy in 1912.
Last I heard was that anyone was welcome to join the ride at any location and ride with the official group for as long as they want, but I'm not aware of the actual route being taken (apart from them trying as much as possible to follow Clancy's original route).

 

[KTMphil]

I've emailed Greg , so I should have some info in the next few days, not sure if he's away riding at the moment.

Would be good to have an update on the 100th anniversary ride for this momentous 'round the globe ride by Mr Clancy in 1912.
Last I heard was that anyone was welcome to join the ride at any location and ride with the official group for as long as they want, but I'm not aware of the actual route being taken (apart from them trying as much as possible to follow Clancy's original route).

 

[DrGMIA]

The Clancy Centenary Ride is moving forward. While I am not one of the main event organizers, I can report the following given recent correspondence from Ireland and verified rumors:

1) The event is being organized by two Irish motorcycle adventurists, Feargal O'Neill and his colleague Joe Walsh.

2) The announced European beginning date is October 23, 2012 from Dublin, Ireland exactly 100 years after Clancy left Dublin.

3) Two Irishmen may make the entire Clancy Centenary Ride. They are well known motorcycle Irish journalist and author, Geoff Hill and his friend and well known motorcycle racer Gary Hill.

4) My volunteer role is to organize the USA leg of the Ride: San Francisco, California to New York City, New York. We will depart from San Francisco June 2, 2013, exactly 100 years after Clancy did.

5) The Internet home for the Clancy Centenary Ride is:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/m ... 13-a-59581

Autographed copies of the book, MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER, recounting the original 'round the world ride by Carl Stearns Clancy, are available at the Rider's Corner in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the sole distribution outlet in Asia: post454.html#p454 The book is also now available as an ebook downloadable from various sources.

 

[2wheels]

Thanks for that Phil and Greg.
I have the book, so will re-read the Asia section of Mr Clancy's epic journey.
Wonderful acknowledgement of a true hero.
Very best wishes to all involved it the organisation of the re-enactment.

 

[KTMphil]

NEWS RELEASE

EDITORIAL BRIEF: Motorcyclists to celebrate 100 years of motorcycle riders circling the globe.

Media Contact: fullearthmotonews@gmail.com

CLANCY CENTENARY RIDE SLATED TO START OCTOBER 23, 2012

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2012

(San Francisco, CA): Adventurous motorcycle globetrotters are slated to begin the Clancy Centenary Ride October 23, 2012 from Dublin, Ireland. The global circumnavigation is to commemorate the 100[SUP]th[/SUP] anniversary of the first around the world motorcycle ride by Carl Stearns Clancy.

After reading the book MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER, which recounts the true story of the first global motorcycle ride, two Irish motorcyclists, Feargal O'Neill and his colleague Joe Walsh, came up with the idea of a 100 year celebration to promote their fellow Irish motorcyclist's incredible accomplishment. Clancy's ride was described in 1912 as "the longest, most difficult and most perilous motorcycle journey ever attempted."

Clancy rode a 1912 Henderson motorcycle. The European leg departed from Dublin, Ireland October 23, 1912. His one gear, four cylinder motorcycle tagged Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, arriving back in New York City August 27, 1913. He said of the Henderson at the completion of his global ride, "The most remarkable feature of the whole trip is the surprising endurance of my machine, which now seems to be running as well as ever, in spite of the 18,000 miles it has in its bones."

Two avid motorcyclists plan to follow the entire Clancy route. They hope to connect with American riders being organized for a departure from San Francisco on June 2, 2013.

Any motorcyclist can join the Clancy Centenary Ride. There is no entry fee and any make or model of motorcycle, old or new, is welcome. They can ride for a mile or 1,000's of miles.

O'Neill has designed a pennant similar to that used by Clancy which will be passed along the route. The original pair of boots worn by Clancy has surfaced in Australia and plans to carry them with riders on the Centenary Ride are being made and hopefully they will return to their starting point in New York City and eventually end up in a museum display.

The Clancy info page is: The Clancy Centenary Ride 2012-2013 | Horizons Unlimited

The Clancy updates page (HUBB thread) is: The Clancy Centenary Ride 2012-2013 - The HUBB


(Attached photograph description: The first motorcyclist to circle the globe, Carl Stearns Clancy, aboard his 1912 Henderson motorcycle before starting his ride around the world 1912-1913.)


View attachment 10042

 

[DrGMIA]

The 100 Year Old Clancy Boots To Circle Mother Earth Again

The original boots that Carl Stearns Clancy wore while making his monumental first ride around the world have surfaced in a box in Australia. The owner is forwarding them to two Irish riders who will carry them around the would on the Clancy Centenary Ride.

Negotiations are ongoing with a motorcycle museum in the USA that currently has on display one of the few 1912 Henderson motorcycles. It is hoped that the boots will ultimately find their way to the museum and next to the Henderson display with some information about the boots, the 1912 Henderson and how Clancy used a motorcycle similar to the one on display. A close examination of the boots pictured here show them to be similar to the pair being worn by Clancy on the cover of the book MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURER. Other documents in the box seem to support this rare find.

 

[DrGMIA]

Clancy 'Round The World Ride Starts - Dublin, Ireland

Carl Stearns Clancy Centenary Ride started today, October, 23 from Dublin, Ireland. One rider was on a 1922 Henderson and most interesting, the rider wore period clothes, including the original boots worn by Clancy in 1912-1913, picture here:

 

[DrGMIA]

Here is a short video clip of Gary Walker giving a go at piloting the 1922 Henderson at the Start of The Clancy Centenary Ride:

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

Gary is one of the two BMW sponsored Irishmen who will make the entire global loop. He is shown here wearing period clothes and the original Clancy boots.

There were many differences between Clancy's 1912 Henderson (one gear, hand crank starter, no front brake) and the 1922 Henderson (three gears, foot clutch, hand shift on left side of tank, foot kick starter, and front brake).

 

[DrGMIA]

Published in The Irish Times today was this article about the Start:

Following Ireland's motorcycle pioneer - The Irish Times - Wed, Oct 24, 2012

The two BMW sponsored riders are expected to tag SE Asia in the Spring of 2013, Malaysia. Exact dates unknown as shipping (air cargo) arrangements are still being made.

 

[DrGMIA]

A few more pics and a tale by Ken Thomas:

Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Ken Thomas

Nice looking umbrella girl pic included :-)

And here is a bit more from the cyber e-zine Ultimate Motorcycling:

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2012/bmw-riders-to-recreate-first-worldwide-motorcycle-ride

(There are a few minor errors in the article: book was published in 2010, not 2006; the Henderson motorcycle pictured at the Start in Dublin was a 1922 model, not a 1912 model as referenced; and I had considerable help while researching the original route Clancy took.)

Exclusive to www.rideasia.net readers: I "may" connect with the BMW sponsored riders as they pass through Asia on their way to the USA. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) seems to be the biggest jumping off point in the Asian leg the riders face. (If anyone knows of a 1912 Henderson motorcycle in Sri Lanka, please let us know).

 

[DrGMIA]

Company​ BMW Motorrad UK​ ​ Postal Address​ BMW (UK) Ltd Ellesfield Avenue ​ Bracknell RG12 8TA​ ​ Phone​ +44 (0) 1344 426 565​ ​ Internet​ www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk​ ​

BMW Motorrad United Kingdom

23 October 2012 Media Information BMW riders to recreate first ever round-the-world motorcycle ride, exactly 100 years to the day. Event held in Dublin to mark the centenary of Carl Stearns Clancy setting off on his ground-breaking adventure. Two BMW-riding adventurers from Northern Ireland - author Geoff Hill and former road racer Gary Walker - have set off from Dublin on the first leg of an 18,000 mile round-the-world expedition. The duo will replicate and celebrate the inspirational and ground-breaking adventure undertaken by pioneering Irish-American writer, and silent film director, Carl Stearns Clancy in 1912-1913. Clancy was the first person ever to ride around the world, or as he put it, "girdle the globe", on a motorcycle. Travelling over from the USA on a steam liner, Clancy and his travelling companion Walter Storey departed from Dublin on a brand-new pair of Henderson motorcycles, setting off for mainland Europe. After his bike was hit by a tram in Dublin, Storey was forced to travel pillion astride the petrol tank of Clancy's bike through a rain-sodden England and northern France. On reaching Paris Storey had had enough and gave up on his dream to see the world by bike. Undeterred, Clancy continued on into the unknown, travelling alone through Western Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Far East before crossing the United States west to east, finishing at his home in New York. For much of the journey, the tarmac roads were of poor quality or non-existent, and petrol was near impossible to find. In fact, he had to abandon plans to ride through India due to a complete absence of usable roads or fuel, instead travelling via Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to the Orient. To introduce their recreation of the original ride, and to mark the landmark occasion exactly one century to the day, Hill and Walker travelled to Dublin on their BMW R 1200 GS Adventure motorcycles. The GS has been designed from the ground up to ride around the world, a feat which it, and the highly successful models which came before it, have been achieving for over 30 years. At the preview to their historic ride Hill and Walker were joined at Joe Duffy Motorrad in Dublin by a vintage 1912 Henderson motorcycle similar to the one Clancy rode one hundred years ago. A crowd of well-wishers were also in attendance ahead of the duo's ceremonial ride through Ireland and Northern Ireland. The main ride itself commences in 2013 and will see the two riders continuing their trip around the world. On reaching America the BMW-riding pair will meet with Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, whose painstaking research and writing of the 2006 book 'Motorcycle Adventurer', finally pieced together Clancy's trip after nearly a century. Clancy's tour is made all the more incredible by the fact that his 934cc Henderson motorcycle, then the fastest and most advanced in the world, made just 7bhp. The 1912 Classic boasted a top speed of around 70mph, had one gear and absolutely no front brakes, and Clancy was clothed in only a tweed three-piece suit and cloth cap. By comparison, the BMW R 1200 GS motorcycles being used for the recreation make 110bhp and feature ABS braking and innovative electronically-adjustable suspension systems. Fitted with the very latest BMW technology travelling over some of the most challenging terrain on Earth has never been easier. Hill and Walker 's BMW Rallye 3 suits are waterproof, armoured to the highest standards and feature the latest in climate-beating textile innovations, while the System 6 helmets offer protection unimaginable one hundred years ago. Hill and Walker also have a unique item of luggage with them: Clancy's original leather riding boots. Gifted to the pair for one last ride around the world, the boots will finally be delivered to a motorcycle museum in New York, where they will be added to an exhibition commemorating Clancy's incredible achievement. The boots have a special significance as Clancy's most famous quote is: "One must die sometime and to die with one's boots on is very noble." Happily Clancy did not. He passed away in 1971 aged 81, after a long and successful career as a film director, and an enjoyable retirement in Western Australia. Geoff Hill, 56, said: "Today we are setting off on a very momentous occasion, marking exactly one century to the day that the very first motorcyclists set off to ride around the world. The R 1200 GS Adventures that BMW Motorrad have supplied are hands down the best choice for a round-the-world tour. They are such a contrast to the incredible hundred year old Henderson motorcycle which we have here today. "To think that Mr Clancy set off on a cold, wet day like today is rather humbling. Gary and I are very lucky to be able to follow in his footsteps and, indeed, with his very own boots. We like to think that he'd approve of our adventure." Gary Walker, 50, said: "I've been riding a very long time, and I've been a road racer for many years, but this is without a doubt the biggest two-wheeled adventure of my life. While Geoff is sat on a GS Adventure for today's preview and wrapped up warm in a BMW Rallye 3 suit, I'm riding this century-old Henderson wearing tweed and a flat cap. And for good reason; this is the same clothing that Carl Clancy wore on the same motorcycle one hundred years ago, and the difference is mind boggling. Modern motorcycles and clothing have advanced almost beyond recognition and that is what makes this trip so special. What better way to honour the man who has quietly inspired so many round-the-world trips than to recreate his?" In the build-up to the departure of the centenary celebration ride in April 2013, Geoff and Gary will be making regular contributions to the BMW Motorrad UK Facebook page and will be featured in the BMW Motorrad e-newsletters. For more information about BMW Motorrad motorcycles visit www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

 

[KTMphil]

The two Irishmen re-creating Clancy's round-the-world trip are Feargal O'Neill and Joe Walsh. Frazier has been with them since Sunday, when they left San Francisco for the final leg of their adventure, which is scheduled to end in New York on June 21.

Read more:

Motorcycle adventurer to give free presentation





Motorcycle adventurer to give free presentation

Gazette Staff
This photo was taken in 2007 at Gregory Frazier's home in Fort Smith, a little more than a year after he made his fifth round-the-world motorcycle trip.





June 07, 2013 12:00 am • By Ed Kemmick



Montana motorcycle adventurer Gregory Frazier will present a free multimedia show about his travels this Saturday in Billings.
Frazier, the first person to go solo around the world by motorcycle four times, is now working on his sixth circumnavigation. He will be passing through Billings this weekend in the company of two Irishmen who are re-creating the first-ever globe-girdling motorcycle ride 100 years ago.
That first trip around the world was made by Carl Stearns Clancy, who made a stop in Billings on the final leg of his expedition, which ended in New York City on Aug. 27, 1913.
In addition to his travels, now totaling more than 1 million miles, Frazier has written 14 books about different aspects of his adventures and the details of motorcycle touring.
For one of his books, which recounted Clancy's trip around the world, Frazier put in 16 years of research. Clancy started with a partner, but the partner had a bad crash early in the trip and Clancy went on to complete it by himself, though various people did join him for parts of the ride.
Surprisingly enough, Clancy said the worst roads he encountered on the whole trip were in northern California, eastern Idaho and Western Montana.
Clancy and a temporary riding partner followed some of the original Bozeman Trail through Montana, and they took a detour at Livingston in hopes of visiting Yellowstone National Park.
Though they had the distinction of being the first motorcyclists to visit Gardiner, they were informed that motorcycles were not allowed into the park.
The two Irishmen re-creating Clancy's round-the-world trip are Feargal O'Neill and Joe Walsh. Frazier has been with them since Sunday, when they left San Francisco for the final leg of their adventure, which is scheduled to end in New York on June 21.
Frazier and a partner are making their own trip around the world, in stages over many months, and they are incorporating the 5,500-mile jaunt through the United States as part of their trek.
The free presentation will start at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Residence Inn, 956 S. 25th St. W. The show is titled "Riding the World — the Longest, Most Difficult and Most Perilous Motorcycle Journey Ever Attempted."
Frazier will talk about his own global adventures and promises to share some secrets about Clancy's circumnavigation that did not make it into his book. He will also talk about how the world looks from a motorcycle 100 years after Clancy.
Frazier, who is part Crow and part Sioux Indian, was born in Indiana and moved to Billings with his family in the early 1960s. He still lives in Fort Smith when he isn't traveling, and in recent years he has wintered in Thailand.
Frazier said people still routinely think he's in his 40s, despite decades of wearying travel. After giving his real age, he added, "but don't tell 'em that. Just tell 'em I'm on Medicare."
He recently signed a contract for yet another book. Scheduled for release next spring, it is to be a big coffee table book with 300 color photos and 70,000 words, looking back on his five rides around the world.
"I've put my four other book projects on the back burner while I knock this one out," he said.





Read more: Motorcycle adventurer to give free presentation
​

 

[DrGMIA]

While not key people, our Clancy Centenary Ride Team has been knocking down some interesting miles across the USA. It is the final leg of The Clancy Centenary Ride, from San Francisco, California to Portland, Oregon, and then across the States to end at Pennsylvania Station in New York City, about 5,500 miles from June 2 until June 21. We have done one layover with an evening presentation for local motorcyclists. In the presentation Geoff Hill and Gary Walker showed with a slide show how they had seen the Clancy route 100 years later, including their visits to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Shanghai and Japan. We have three more presentations slated, as well as some research to do in the Detroit area to include sniffing out tall tales, fishy claims or outright lies from that area.

Hill is working on a new book as we travel, due to be out in the fall. I am feeding various sources in the media as we make the USA leg. Those interested can follow some short daily postings with wrinkled missives, starting on page 9, post #125 at The Clancy Centenary Ride 2012-2013 - Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

As one old time motorcycle owner and Clancy Centenary Ride observer opined as we passed through Montana, "It ain't a ride for your average weekend warrior coming away from their keyboard adventures."

 

[DrGMIA]

Rome to Romulus, Cop Tails and Cocktails


The Clancy Centenary Ride Team dug deeply. Some trail sniffing tales were awakening... for a journalist following a fishy story. One thing the Team exploited was to hang where swill loosened tongues, like in cop bars and places where off-work law enforcement employees revealed insider information.


Clancy said of an opera he attended in Rome in 1913, "I indulged original Italian grand opera, being both surprised at the small audience and poor acting, and delighted with the wonderful singing…"


A Clancy Team researcher said after listening to cocktail mongering in a "gentleman's" club in 2013, on the corner of Shook and Goddard in Romulus, "I was surprised at the depth of political and psychological disorder content but delighted with the wonderful singing."


The Clancy Centenary Ride Team was escorted into the lower intestine of New York City by a Chief of Police (Ret.) and former motor cop, tagging the last touch point of their 5,600 mile ride across the USA, exactly on time, 2:00 PM June 21, 2013. For the full story, including bits about the Team's having connected the dots of Asia, The Clancy Centenary Ride 2012-2013 - Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB is the cyber location. Upcoming media presentations of RIDING THE WORLD - LONGEST, MOST DIFFICULT, AND MOST PERILOUS MOTORCYCLE JOURNEY EVER ATTEMPTED are slated for Colorado and Minnesota in the USA during the coming weeks.

 

[Lone Rider]

The end of the Clancy Centenary Ride:

The end of an epic adventure - Gary Walker, Richard Livermore, Geoff Hill, Lynda Clancy and Dr Gregory Frazier in New York.

More info here: The end of an epic adventure | Adelaide Adventures