How it all began
The Southern Cross Cannonball Classic
Our first Australian Cannonball – the Indian-Pacific Cannonball Classic was held in October 2022 over 14 days with approximately 4,800 kms ridden from Busselton, WA to Merimbula NSW.
The Event was based along similar lines to the Motorcycle Cannonball Event held every two years in the USA although had to be varied to adjust to Australian conditions due to the limited roads available to travel on and the unavailability or limited accommodation in the Outback towns with camping in some cases a necessary option.

The History
WHAT IS A CANNONBALL RUN?
Named for Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, a “Cannonball Run” is a trip undertaken Intercontinentally, from one coast to the other. Baker, who was a star boxer and athlete in the U.S. in the early 1900s, gravitated from racing bicycles towards racing Motor Cycles, starting with his win at the Indianapolis Speedway in 1909. Baker enjoyed much success in this new endeavour, leading to his being sponsored by Indian in 1912, after achieving another 53 victories.
Baker entered in several Transcontinental races, including one in 1914 that totalled 3,379 miles, of which only 4 miles were on paved roads and 68 miles on railroad tracks ! Astonishingly, he completed the feat in 11 days, 11 hours and 11 minutes … bettering the previous record by 9 days ! In doing so, his feat brought much acclaim from the public and caused The New York Times to dub Baker, “Cannonball”, in honour of the famous Locomotive that he raced, The Cannonball Express, made famous by the Engineer, Casey Jones….and hence, the birth of the term CANNONBALL to describe a Transcontinental run… such was Cannonball Baker’s fame, his moniker was, and still is, invoked to describe such a venture.
In honour of Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, a “Cannonball Run” has been held in The U.S.A. for some years now, staying true to the legacy of the original Transcontinental pioneers by stipulating that the entrants are all in the Vintage or Veteran era, with many 100+ year old machines being entered in the Transcontinental Endurance Event, The Motorcycle Cannonball Endurance Run.

The Outback Run 2025
Planning for the next Australian Cannonball Event in May 2025 from Darwin NT to Victor Harbor SA is tracking well with over 75 Entrants already entered with the Endurance motorcycle event likely to eclipse the 2022 Indian-Pacific Cannonball Classic in October 2022.
Once again there is a good number of early model Harley-Davidsons and Indians entered with the Event open to all motorcycle brands up to 1948. Other interesting motorcycles entered include a 1923 Invincible JAP, a 1938 BMW R66, a 1947 Scott Flying Squirrel along with a British contingent of early Triumphs and BSAs plus a 1938 Ariel.
The North-South route from Darwin NT to Victor Harbor SA will cover over 4,300 kms over 14 days including a rest day at Ayres Rock NT and interesting nightly stops including Daly Waters NT, Coober Pedy and Wilpena Pound in SA.
Scoring the Event
The Southern Cross Cannonball Classic 2025 – The Outback Run is an endurance ride for pre-1949 motorcycles and their riders.
The Event is run over 13 daily stages and 1 rest day commencing Friday 9th May 2005 and finishing Thursday 22 May 2025. Each day’s assessed distance will be the maximum points available. There will be several Checkpoints along the Route with points deducted to the score if not Checked In.
Each day there are specified Starting Times and Finishing times. Ample time is allowed for the Riders and motorcycles to travel the required distances. There are points deducted should riders depart late in the morning or check in late at the end of the day.
Additionally, there are points deducted if Riders need to call up their Backup team to assist them during the day’s ride. This is based on the requirement that Riders need to travel each day without support, beyond other Riders or locals who may offer assistance.
Simply, if a rider and his motorcycle ride the full distance each day within the specified time without any back up *assistance, they will be awarded the maximum points for that stage. Scores will be cumulative with the Overall Winner and the Winners of the other Classes awarded at the conclusion of the Event at Victor Harbor SA.
At the end of the event, the riders that have the most points will then be graded on the age of their bike – the older bike wins.
Then, if there is a tie, the older rider wins.
This is an event where age can be an advantage .. but the riders must weigh up the benefit of having an older bike in the grading system – against the chance that it may break down more often, the older it is.
Note: At night the riders may work with their back up crew to maintain and prepare their bike for the next day. Some crews are big and some are small – read more about the riders and crews in the “Meet the Riders” section.
A Bit of Fun – The Day Sticker
For every Stage ridden with a perfect score, the Marshalls will issue a Day Sticker for that Stage.
The sticker with its iconic Aussie Road Sign image is perfect to stick to a windshield, tank or fender showing the ongoing daily accomplishments of the Riders and their machines throughout the Event.