randywgriffin
New member
I'm writing this after participating in the 2025 ADV Cannonball, and I feel compelled to share my experience as a warning to others considering the 2026 event that's already being promoted (the competitors this year were 90% BMW motorcycles). The safety and organizational issues were serious enough that I—along with at least one other competitor—made the decision to leave the rally. I continued my cross country ride independently.
Organizational Issues:
The event suffered from fundamental organizational problems that compromised both fairness and safety. Rules changed throughout the rally without clear communication, creating confusion among participants. When riders raised legitimate questions about regulations or decisions, the rally master responded defensively and, in some cases, punitively rather than professionally addressing concerns.
The rally master's approach to feedback was particularly troubling. When participants attempted to raise concerns, they were directed to "Regulation #2," which stated: "If you are considering making a complaint about the rally, rally staff, weather, mileage, or a competitor, kindly refer to Regulation #1." Regulation #1? "Don't be an ADV Weenie"—defined as someone who spends time "lecturing and commenting" and starts sentences with "Well technically..." This dismissive, unprofessional response to legitimate safety and organizational concerns speaks volumes about the event's leadership.
When finally pressed on the multiple issues, the rally master's defense was "I'm just one guy, trying to do my best here." If that's true, then his best simply wasn't adequate for an event of this scope and the responsibility it carries.
The "Not a Race" That Became a Race:
The event was explicitly marketed as "not a race," yet included a significant "first to finish" bonus each day. To underscore the absurdity, the rally master announced a Le Mans-style start for the final day: "Bikes off, keys in ignition, and riding gear on. Start from the Van." A simultaneous racing-style start where all competitors fire up their bikes and take off together. An event promoted as "not a race" concluded with a literal racing start format. This isn't just contradictory—it's an open admission of what this event actually is while maintaining the "not a race" fiction for liability purposes.
This dangerous incentive structure produced predictable results: several riders engaged in extremely reckless behavior, including:
Despite clear regulations about scheduled departure times and checkpoint collection windows, enforcement was inconsistent at best. Some participants were allowed to collect checkpoints a full day ahead of schedule, while others adhered to the rules—undermining the integrity of the entire event.
How This Could Have Been a Great Event:
The frustrating part is that this could have been a fantastic rally with relatively minor changes. Several experienced participants pointed out that major rallies—even races like the Dakar Rally—successfully incorporate time elements without incentivizing dangerous behavior. The solution is a target time system with time penalties for being either too fast or too slow.
In proper rally management, you're penalized for arriving significantly early or late from your target time. This rewards consistency, navigation, and bike management rather than raw speed. It eliminates the incentive to ride recklessly while maintaining the competitive element that makes rallies exciting. This isn't revolutionary—it's standard practice in professional rally organization. The fact that this wasn't implemented suggests a fundamental lack of experience in event management.
The Real Victims:
Here's what concerns me most: if participants want to risk their own necks through poor decisions, that's their choice. But this behavior endangered innocent people—cyclists sharing the road, pedestrians in residential areas, families in school zones. A child walking to school or a cyclist out for a weekend ride could have been killed because of the reckless behavior this event incentivized.
Beyond the immediate danger, events like this do serious damage to how the non-motorcycling public views our community. Every one of us fights against the stereotype of motorcyclists as reckless and irresponsible. This rally reinforced every negative perception, potentially impacting legislation, insurance rates, and public acceptance of motorcyclists everywhere.
The Bottom Line:
One participant broke their leg. Multiple riders were stopped by law enforcement. That no innocent bystanders were injured or killed is frankly miraculous. These aren't minor issues—this is a pattern of negligent event management that put participants and the public at serious risk.
For anyone considering the 2026 ADV Cannonball: please carefully evaluate whether you want to participate in an event where safety appears to be an afterthought and rules are treated as suggestions. Our community deserves better, and the riding public deserves not to share the road with a poorly managed event that incentivizes dangerous behavior.
Organizational Issues:
The event suffered from fundamental organizational problems that compromised both fairness and safety. Rules changed throughout the rally without clear communication, creating confusion among participants. When riders raised legitimate questions about regulations or decisions, the rally master responded defensively and, in some cases, punitively rather than professionally addressing concerns.
The rally master's approach to feedback was particularly troubling. When participants attempted to raise concerns, they were directed to "Regulation #2," which stated: "If you are considering making a complaint about the rally, rally staff, weather, mileage, or a competitor, kindly refer to Regulation #1." Regulation #1? "Don't be an ADV Weenie"—defined as someone who spends time "lecturing and commenting" and starts sentences with "Well technically..." This dismissive, unprofessional response to legitimate safety and organizational concerns speaks volumes about the event's leadership.
When finally pressed on the multiple issues, the rally master's defense was "I'm just one guy, trying to do my best here." If that's true, then his best simply wasn't adequate for an event of this scope and the responsibility it carries.
The "Not a Race" That Became a Race:
The event was explicitly marketed as "not a race," yet included a significant "first to finish" bonus each day. To underscore the absurdity, the rally master announced a Le Mans-style start for the final day: "Bikes off, keys in ignition, and riding gear on. Start from the Van." A simultaneous racing-style start where all competitors fire up their bikes and take off together. An event promoted as "not a race" concluded with a literal racing start format. This isn't just contradictory—it's an open admission of what this event actually is while maintaining the "not a race" fiction for liability purposes.
This dangerous incentive structure produced predictable results: several riders engaged in extremely reckless behavior, including:
- Speeds exceeding 120 MPH on two-lane roads
- Passing in emergency lanes
- Aggressive weaving through traffic
- Reports of 80 MPH in residential and school zones
Despite clear regulations about scheduled departure times and checkpoint collection windows, enforcement was inconsistent at best. Some participants were allowed to collect checkpoints a full day ahead of schedule, while others adhered to the rules—undermining the integrity of the entire event.
How This Could Have Been a Great Event:
The frustrating part is that this could have been a fantastic rally with relatively minor changes. Several experienced participants pointed out that major rallies—even races like the Dakar Rally—successfully incorporate time elements without incentivizing dangerous behavior. The solution is a target time system with time penalties for being either too fast or too slow.
In proper rally management, you're penalized for arriving significantly early or late from your target time. This rewards consistency, navigation, and bike management rather than raw speed. It eliminates the incentive to ride recklessly while maintaining the competitive element that makes rallies exciting. This isn't revolutionary—it's standard practice in professional rally organization. The fact that this wasn't implemented suggests a fundamental lack of experience in event management.
The Real Victims:
Here's what concerns me most: if participants want to risk their own necks through poor decisions, that's their choice. But this behavior endangered innocent people—cyclists sharing the road, pedestrians in residential areas, families in school zones. A child walking to school or a cyclist out for a weekend ride could have been killed because of the reckless behavior this event incentivized.
Beyond the immediate danger, events like this do serious damage to how the non-motorcycling public views our community. Every one of us fights against the stereotype of motorcyclists as reckless and irresponsible. This rally reinforced every negative perception, potentially impacting legislation, insurance rates, and public acceptance of motorcyclists everywhere.
The Bottom Line:
One participant broke their leg. Multiple riders were stopped by law enforcement. That no innocent bystanders were injured or killed is frankly miraculous. These aren't minor issues—this is a pattern of negligent event management that put participants and the public at serious risk.
For anyone considering the 2026 ADV Cannonball: please carefully evaluate whether you want to participate in an event where safety appears to be an afterthought and rules are treated as suggestions. Our community deserves better, and the riding public deserves not to share the road with a poorly managed event that incentivizes dangerous behavior.
