Sisters’ Centennial Ride Launches From Massachusetts

Ride VIP Erin Sills chats with two of the Van Buren sisters' descendants as they prepare to leave on their cross-country journey. (Photo: Sisters' Centennial Ride)
Ride VIP Erin Sills chats with two descendants of the Van Buren sisters as they prepare to leave on the cross-country journey. (Photo: Sisters’ Centennial Ride)

The Sisters’ Centennial Ride has officially begun, with riders taking off from western Massachusetts on their way west, with the goal of reaching San Francisco on July 23. The Sisters’ Centennial Ride commemorates the courageous and unprecedented 1916 ride of the Van Buren sisters, the first women to cross the continental United States on solo motorcycles. Along the way they rode to the summit of Pikes Peak to become the first women to reach it by any motor vehicle.

The Ride will loosely follow the Van Buren sisters’ route from New York to San Francisco, and is led by organizer Alisa Clickenger, along with several motorcycle industry VIPs including land speed record-holder Erin Sills, owner of the title of “World’s Fastest BMW.”

Having some fun in the parking lot before the ride takes off. (Photo: Sisters' Centennial Ride)
Having some fun in the parking lot before the ride takes off. (Photo: Sisters’ Centennial Ride)

As the Sisters’ Centennial Ride Mission Statement says, “This event is not just about motorcycling; it’s a celebration of brave and adventurous women, service to community and country and the history of two-wheeled travel.”

Advertisement

The event is contributing to two charities: Final Salute, Inc., and the Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists. Final Salute, Inc. is a national women’s veterans’ organization that provides temporary and permanent housing for the more than 500,000 homeless female veterans in the United States. The Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists is an organization that provides funding for motorcycle train-the-trainer scholarships that will help enlarge the number of female instructors and coaches for road, dirt and track.

You can follow the progress of the Ride on the SCR Facebook page.

This engine is from the same model of Indian Motocycle as those ridden by the Van Buren sisters on their historic 1916 ride. (Photo: Sisters' Centennial Ride)
This engine is from the same model of Indian Motocycle ridden by the Van Buren sisters on their historic 1916 ride. (Photo: Sisters’ Centennial Ride)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here