Saturday, November 30, 2019

ON HOLD: 2020 Wyman Memorial Challenge, "Rendezvous"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project, in cooperation with the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum organization, is pleased to announce the 3rd bi-annual Wyman Memorial Challenge, "Rendezvous" Grand Tour and 50cc GOLD:  Saturday, May 23 through Saturday May 30, 2020.  Details can be found in the links above.

Wyman Memorial Challenge Coin
(Available at the IBA eStore - Wyman Project)
The "Rendezvous" Grand Tour offers enthusiasts the opportunity to travel to the 150+ Wyman Waypoints from San Francisco to New York City.  As in past events, daily "Rendezvous" locations have been designated so riders of the Grand Tour can gather to share their adventure.  

2020 Wyman Memorial Challenge






Sunday, November 17, 2019

Wyman Memorial Plaque - Cheyenne Depot

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project is pleased to announce the installation of the Wyman memorial plaque at the Cheyenne Depot.  On June 4, 1903, Wyman arrived in Cheyenne about 10:30 at night.  He took his motorcycle to the baggage room of the Union Pacific Depot for storage before seeking lodging.  Read his account of June 4 - Across America on a Motor Bicycle.

Today, the Cheyenne Depot Museum is the "Heart of Cheyenne History"  It is Cheyenne's premier visitor and information center.  Pictured here is the Wyman memorial plaque displayed in the very baggage room he stored his motorcycle those many years ago.

Baggage room display at the Cheyenne Depot Muesum
Cheyenne Depot Visitor & Information Center

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project thanks Doug and Karen Leath, sponsors of the Wyman memorial plaque, Journey and Waypoint poster displays at the Cheyenne Depot.

Doug & Karen Leath
Motorcycle Tourer's Forum Members
Gift Shop entrance
Cheyenne Depot Museum



Monday, October 14, 2019

Wyman Memorial Plaque Dedication - Clinton IA

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project is pleased to announce the placement of the Wyman historical marker at Clinton, Iowa.  The Wyman memorial plaques are are mounted on a piece of the historic Lyons-Fulton Bridge that Wyman rode across the Mississippi River on June 18, 1903

Left-Right:  Arlen Brunsvold, Robert Rehkopf, Mary Seely and Tim Masterson


The dedication event was be held at 1:30 pm, Monday, October 21st, Liberty Square at the intersect of US30 and South 5th Street.  Turnout was excellent and included Clinton Mayor, City Council members, local dignitaries and other citizens of Clinton IA.

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project wish to think Mary Seely, Executive Director, Convention & Visitors Bureau for her outstanding efforts to bring the Wyman story to the citizens of Clinton, IA.  We also thank Arlen Brunsvold and Robert Rehkopf, Wyman memorial plaque sponsors for waypoints 617.1 Clinton RON and 618.1 Mississippi River Crossing. 


Friday, August 16, 2019

Wyman Plaque in Denison, IA

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project is pleased to announce the City of Denison, IA as hosting authority for the 613.3 Denison RON Wyman waypoint.  The Wyman memorial plaque and Waypoint sign is mounted in the beautifully landscaped area in front of The Donna Reed Center for the Performing Arts building at the southwest corner of Broadway and Main Street, Denison IA.

Mayor Beymer, John & Nadine Huval, Tim Masterson
Denison Mayor Jared Beymer hosted the dedication event at 5:30pm on Saturday, August 24, 2019.  Plaque sponsors John and Nadine Huval did the ribbon cutting honors.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

ON THE LEVEL - Rediscovering the Original Adventure Rider


Click here for PDF
Interview by John M. Flores, Editor in Chief of OTL Magazine.  OTL is the official magazine of the BMW Riders Association.

OTL - Pages 40 - 44
Appearing in the July/August 2019 issue of OTL is John's article...

Rediscovering the Original Adventure Rider
Speaking with Tim Masterson of the George A. Wyman Memorial Project

Friday, June 21, 2019

WYMAN is in "The Iron Butt Rally"

The 2019 Iron Butt Rally is taking place across America and Canada June 17th through June 28th.  Long-distance motorcyclists from around the world ride in the "World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition" on a motorcycle scavenger hunt.  Over the 11 days of the IBR, riders rack up between 10,000 to 12,000 miles of hard riding.  During the three 'legs' of the IBR riders select from a list of 'bonus' locations and plan their routes accordingly.  This year and during leg one 4 Wyman waypoints have been selected to be IBR bonus locations.

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project thanks the rally organizers Lisa Landry - Rally Master, Jeff Earls - Routing Master and Mike Kneebone, President of the Iron Butt Association for including this 'hat tip' to the first long-distance motorcyclist.

There are five bonus locations in the WYMAN combination.  Riders are awarded points for riding to and claiming each location.   The extra WYMAN combo points are awarded to those riders who successfully 'score' all five of the bonuses in any order:

Click on the highlighted bonus code name to see their location in Google Maps.

LNHWY - HQ of the Lincoln Highway Association in Franklin Grove, IL

OGDEN - Ogden, IA  Wyman stopped here overnight to fix the 'final drive' of his motorcycle at a local blacksmith shop across from the current City Hall.

See: THE WYMAN DISPATCH June 14 - Across America on a Motor Bicycle

Wyman memorial plaque and Waypoint sign outside City Hall were dedicated by Team Strange in memory of Eddie James.


SHRM - Sherman Summit rest area along I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie WY.  Wyman stopped at the top of Sherman summit on June 4th and rested at the base of the flagpole.  He carved the following into it's wooden base:

"G.A. Wyman, June 4, 1903, 11:30a.m. - First motorcyclist to cross the Rockies, going from San Francisco to New York."

See:  THE WYMAN DISPATCH June 4 - Across America on a Motor Bicycle

Wyman memorial plaque and Waypoint sign was dedicated by Cliff Wall.



TECOMA - Near Montello, NV along the Transcontinental Railroad west of the Great Salt Lake.  Wyman travel along the rail bed after his overnight stay in Wells.

See:  THE WYMAN DISPATCH May 26 - Across America on a Motor Bicycle


PALI - Palisade, NV a few miles south of I-80 just west of Carlin.  Wyman stopped here for lunch on May 24, 1903, following the transcontinental railroad.

See:  THE WYMAN DISPATCH May 24 - Across America on a Motor Bicycle

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

This Day - Across America on a Motor Bicycle

May 16th, is the anniversary of the start of Wyman's historic journey "Across America on a Motor Bicycle."  To celebrate and commemorate Wyman's hard riding adventure, the Project is publishing the daily account of his journey..one day at a time!

We have sliced 50 days, 5 articles and 26,000 words of Wyman's ride report into just a couple of paragraphs covering each day of his epic journey.  Starting May 16, and for everyday until July 6, our 'What's New' section will feature Wyman's description of his ride that day in 1903.  Follow along, as Wyman reports the thrills, spills and challenges of his epic ride, one day at a time.

Subscribe to 'What's New' to You! Get the Wyman Dispatch direct to your inbox.  Enter your email address in the box at the upper right, click 'Submit'.  

Wyman was inspired to make his 1903 epic ride by an experience he had the previous summer.  Sometime in 1902, after his return from a bicycle tour of Australia, Wyman acquired a motor bicycle from the California Motor Company.  That July he rode it over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Reno to attend the "Fifty Mile Bicycle Race," becoming the first person to cross the formidable Sierra Nevada's by motorized vehicle.  It was on the ride back to San Francisco that Wyman got the idea to attempt the transcontinental motorcycle ride.

"During the previous summer I had made the journey on a California motor bicycle to Reno, Nevada, and knew that crossing the Sierras, even when helped by a motor, was not exactly a path of roses. But it was that tour, nevertheless, that fired me with desire to attempt this longer journey - to become the first motorcyclist to ride from ocean to ocean."  George A. Wyman, June 1903

The Story Behind the Headlines?
California Motor Company offers bicycle racer George Wyman $500 prize money to ride their motor-bicycle from San Francisco to New York City.  The Goodman Company gets exclusive rights to publish the story and helps with the trip expenses.


To get the latest Wyman Dispatch is easy...


Saturday, April 27, 2019

Truckee Wyman Plaque Dedication

The Truckee California Information Center held the dedication ceremony of the Wyman memorial plaque and Waypoint sign at 12:00 noon, Monday, May 20th. (Truckee Visitors Welcome Center, 10065 Donner Pass Rd)

Left to right:  Chaun, Tim, Greg and Ruth
The dedication ceremony was conducted by Greg Zirbel, Vice President,  Chaun L. Owens-Mortier, Secretary, representing the Truckee-Donner Historical Society and Ruth Geresy, Director of Operation, Truckee Chamber of Commerce.  Ruth is also the manager of the California Welcome Center that occupies the historic Truckee RR Depot pictured in the background.  Tim Masterson, President/Project Manager, represented The George A. Wyman Memorial Project.

The Wyman memorial plaque and Waypoint sign will be on display in the historic Truckee RR Depot in the Truckee-Donner Historical Society.



Here is what Wyman wrote about his departure from the Donner Summit Hotel to Truckee the morning of May 20, 1903. 

     "It did not help me get through the dark, damp, dismal tunnel, 1,700 feet long, that afforded the only means of egress from Summit. I walked through that, of course, and emerging, continued to walk, or rather, I tried to walk. Where the road should have been was a wide expanse of snow - deep snow. As there was nothing else to do, I plunged into it and floundered, waded, walked, slipped, and slid to the head of Donner Lake. It took me an hour to cover the short distance. At the Lake the road cleared and to Truckee, 10 miles down the canyon, was in excellent condition for this season of the year."

G.A Wyman, Over the Sierras and Through the Show Sheds, The Motorcycle Magazine, June 1903 Vol 1, No. 1

Donner Lake to Truckee Ride  The festivities began at 11:30am with a group of modern day motorcyclists recreating Wyman's ride from the head of Donner Lake, along Donner Pass road into historic downtown Truckee.  The Wyman riders are:  Rob Leftwich, Truckee Police Chief, Jim Riley, VP of Truckee Dirt Riders, Scott Bonneville, Rob Lynn Stu Wik and Paul Spencer.

Wyman Riders - Donner Lake head to Truckee.

In the background, on the side of the snow capped mountain, you can see the railroad snow sheds that Wyman left to make his way down the side of the mountain to the head of Donner Lake, where he rode his motorcycle along Donner Pass Road into historic downtown Truckee.

The 520.2 Truckee waypoint is sponsored by Dave McQueeney
Dave is a legend in the long-distance riding community.  Member of the Iron Butt Association and Iron Butt Rally finisher number 29.  Dave has logged and certified over 2,000,000 miles in his long-distance riding career.  His name appears in the official Iron Butt Association record books 128 times as of this writing.  He is truly one of...

"The World's Toughest Motorcycle Riders"

Friday, March 15, 2019

Lotta's Fountain Plaque Campaign

FLASH!  The George A. Wyman Memorial Project has gained approval from the City of San Francisco to mount a memorial plaque at the base of Lotta's Fountain.   The plaque measures 32x26 inches and is being cast in bronze by the Franklin Bronze Plaques.  It will be mounted as a historical marker placed flat in the brick pavement just in front of Lotta's Fountain at the intersection of Market, Kearny and Geary Streets.

Campaign Certificate

This marks a significant milestone for the Wyman Project and is due to the hard work of Jim and Marti Wyman Schein.  We are working very hard to have the dedication event take place on the May 16 anniversary of Wyman's historic start from Lotta's Fountain.


We supply the marker and the City of San Francisco will install it at the base of Lotta's Fountain.

The cost of the bronze historical marker, permit fee from the City of San Francisco and general contractor installation will be around $7,500 to $8,000.


Let's Make This Happen!

Join the Lotta's Fountain Plaque Campaign!
We need your help to make this happen.  Our 2019 fund raising campaign is dedicated to the Wyman memorial plaque mounted at the base of Lotta's Fountain.  Our goal is to raise over $7,500 to purchase the plaque and reimburse the City of San Francisco for mounting expenses.

Make tax-deductible donation of $25 or more and receive the Lotta's Fountain Commemorative certificate along with your choice of a Wyman Journey or Waypoint poster.

Contribute $50 or more, receive the certificate and both posters.

Wyman-Lotta's Fountain Commemorative Coin
Antique finish, 1.75 inches, 35g
All 110 Wyman-Lotta's Fountain commemorative coins have been issued!

Click this link DONATE NOW or the yellow " Donate " button at the right to begin the process securely through PayPal or by credit/debit card.  Type "Lotta's Fountain Campaign" if prompted for the sponsorship level.  Be sure to include your US Postal Service mailing address.

Lotta's Fountain Plaque Donors - Thank you!
(Names added according to PayPal donation email date/time stamp)
  1. Tim Masterson - Coin
    Lotta's Fountain Plaque Campaign
    Sponsor Gifts
  2. Cliff Wall - Coin
  3. Howard Entman - Coin
  4. Duncan Ragsdale - Coin
  5. Marti & Jim Schein - Coin
  6. Danny Dossman - Coin
  7. Paul Meyer - Coin
  8. Brent Allen Cornell - Coin
  9. Annette Hart - Coin
  10. Matt & April Wise - Coin
  11. Robert Stransky - Coin
  12. Greg Rice - Coin
  13. Steve Aikens - Coin
  14. Daniel Thaler - Coin
  15. Paul Partin - Coin
  16. Chris Comly - Coin
  17. Glenn Royal - Coin
    Tim Masterson at the Wyman Project 'shipping department'
    U.S. Postal Service, Wimberley, TX
  18. Roger Nisbett - Coin
  19. Chuck Lacky - Coin
  20. Dana D'Arcy - Coin
  21. Kenneth Andrews - Coin
  22. Deborah Hierrezuelo - Coin
  23. Edwin Jarvis - Coin
  24. Mark Griffin - Coin
  25. Jim & Donna Fousek - Coin
  26. Gene Kicenski - Coin
  27. Ira Agins - Coin
  28. Robert Mark Wood - Coin
  29. Jesse Lucas - Coin
  30. Brian Thorn - Coin
  31. Brent Dent - Coin
  32. John Cooper - Coin
  33. Heidi Weldon-Still - Coin
  34. Chris Rasmussen - Coin
  35. Brent Cornell - Coin
  36. Greg Hintz - Coin
  37. Robert Durrstein - Coin
  38. Dan Crowley - Coin
  39. Bill Watt, Canada - Coin
  40. Steve Diederich - Coin
  41. Lawrence Telling - Coin
  42. Harvey Schirrmacher - Coin
  43. James Feighny - Coin
  44. Bob Rippy - Coin
  45. Doug Leath - Coin
  46. Ray King - Posters
  47. Patrick MacRoy - Coin
  48. John Graham - Coin
  49. Frederick Germain - Coin
  50. Robert Pettyjohn - Coin
  51. James Burriss - Coin
  52. Joe Green - Coin
  53. Danny Lee - Coin
  54. Mark Campbell - Coin
  55. Bruce Edwards - Coin
  56. Bill Cumbie - Coin
  57. Jeanie Cumbie - Coin
  58. John Koval - Coin
  59. John & Nadine Huval - Coin
  60. Janus Motorcycles - Coin
  61. Sarah Burriss - Coin
  62. James Epley - Coin
  63. Mike Jenkins - Coin
  64. Jack Watkins - Coin
  65. Brad McFarland - Coin
  66. Richard Kalor - Coin
  67. Greg Hintz - Coin
  68. Christopher Brown - Coin
  69. Dennis Peters - Coin
  70. Jerry White - Coin
  71. Tom Loftus - Coin
  72. Katherine Dossman - Coin
  73. Emily Dossman - Coin
  74. Nicholas Dossman - Coin
  75. M. L. Cover - Coin
  76. John McLaughlin - Coin
  77. Sarah McLaughlin - Coin
  78. Charles W. Goad - Coin
  79. Cathy Davies & Larry Johnson - Coin
  80. Gregary Galvan - Coin
  81. Gerry Arel - Coin
  82. Jim Orr - Coin
  83. Del Brand - Coin
  84. Steve & Lori Wishard - Coin
  85. Changing Gears - Coin
  86. Brian North - Coin
  87. Marc & Deirdre Beaulac - Coin
  88. Kerry & Katie Walker - Coin
  89. Michael Kneebone - Coin
  90. Stuart Ostroff - Coin
  91. Roger & Kathy Allen - Coin
  92. Peter Gintner - Coin
  93. John Cassity - Coin
  94. Paul Slaton - Coin
  95. Jenny Young - Coin
  96. Russell Dickerson - Coin
  97. Jason Jenkins - Coin
  98. David Url - Coin
  99. Gar Arnett - Coin
  100. Mark Burns - Coin
  101. Dave McQueeney - Coin
  102. Spencer Bennett - Posters
  103. Greg Fizer - Coin
  104. Lionel Ramos - Coin
  105. Mona Loftus - Coin
  106. Loftus family members - 5 Coins
  107. James Handley - Coin
  108. Christopher & Mikki Ross - Posters
  109. Lester Mills - Posters
  110. Mark Starrett - Coin
  111. Robert Foster - Coin
  112. John "Doug" Vance - Posters
  113. Charles Weir - Posters
  114. Robert 'Bob' Higdon

Friday, January 18, 2019

"Motorcycle Men" Podcast Interview

The Wyman Project is pleased to share a podcast interview on the Motorcycle Men show, hosted by Ted "Wrongway" Kettler, 

Motorcycle Men - Episode 179 - Interview with Tim Masterson of the George A. Wyman Memorial Project, conducted Wednesday, January 16, 2019