From Gallatin, Tennessee to Daytona, Florida
Motorbike Fun Is Back Again! James Masters - Rider David Pruitt Of Busters Bike Shop Escort & Mechanic Date to Leave 2-26-02 Route of the Trip 7:30am Leave Gallatin, Tennessee TAKE HWY. 109S TO WILSON COUNTY. TURN LEFT ON TO OLD COLES FERRY PIKE TO LEBANON. PICK UP HWY. 231 TO MURFREESBORO ON TO SHELBYVILLE, FAYETTVILLE AND INTO HUNTSVILLE,AL. FROM HUNTSVILLE FOLLOW 231HWY. TO BIRMINGHAM ON TO MONTGOMERY THEN TO TROY,AL TO OZARK TO DOTHAN,AL AND CROSS IN TO FLORIDA TILL YOU COME TO COTTONDALE PICK UP HWY. 90EAST TO MARIANNA PICK UP HWY. 100S TO STARKE, FL THEN INTO GREEN COVE SPRINGS. PICK UP HWY. #1 INTO ORANGEDALE WHERE YOU CROSS OVER INTERSTATE 95 ON TO ST. AUGUSTINE TO BURNELL TO NATIONAL GARDEN INTO ORMOND BEACH AND DIRECTLY INTO DAYTONA.
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Making a Few Adjustments and Test Rides
Here is Jim Masters, the rider, out making some Test Runs just a few days before the trip begins making sure the bike is ready to run. Jim Masters who lives in Gallatin, TN is definately not new to the riding scene. Masters owned an original Whizzer Motorbike as well as other bikes of different makes and models over the years.
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How Did we Ever Get So Popular?
On Friday, Febuary 15,2002 Jim and Dave's Journey hit the press. "The News Examiner" of Gallatin, TN featured a nice article about the trip along with a picture of Jim and his Bike. |
The Saga Of The Journey
Day 1- Where is Jimmy? For Dave Pruitt and Jimmy Masters Tuesday, February 26, 2002 started out before the crack of dawn. At 5:30am Dave headed to the home of Masters where he found Masters already up and in the Garage getting some last minute things together. From there they headed down to Sans Restaurant, where Jimmy's a regular, to get a bite of breakfast. From there they headed back to Jimmy's house where they had to get ready for all the people coming to see Jimmy off. As people started showing up the coffee and doughnuts were ready and so was Jim and Dave. Time just seemed to whiz by as Jimmy was interviewed by the media and talked to all his friends. As time went by it seemed that the weather got worse. It was quite a cold February morning with some precip mix falling from the sky. When 8:30 rolled around Jimmy fired up the Whizzer and was ready to hit the road. With local police and dedicated fans close behind Jimmy was on the Move! That afternoon Jimmy had made it to his first scheduled stop, of Arab, Alabama. He is running right on schedule. Show Map from Gallatin, TN to Arab Alabama 
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 Day 2 - Where is Jimmy? Rain, Hail, Sleet, & Snow Will it stop Jimmy? Nobody Knows Made necessary repairs and maintenance in Motel Room last night. Due to inclinet weather (Very Harsh Snow and Ice) Jimmy decided to transport the bike to the next scheduled overnight stop in Montgomery, Alabama and will resume riding on Thursday morning. Don?t worry though, Jimmy is planning on making up that section on the way home! Jimmy is doing great, and will again take up the title of ROAD WARRIOR first thing Thursday Morning. Show map of Gallatin to Montgomery, Alabama 
Thursday, February 28, 2002 Day 3 - Where is Jimmy? Wednesday night we had to take the truck to a ford dealer just outside of Montgomery because of bad diesel fuel leak. Had to leave truck overnight for repair at Wetumpka Ford. Stayed with friends in Montgomery, Alabama. Thursday morning, after breakfast we headed out on 231. Jimmy rode bike for 29 miles towards Dothan, Alabama. The bike was not running exactly right and further inspection revealed that the intake valve was seizing in the valve guide. (Had previously reamed valve guides prior to the beginning of the trip.) Evidently previous days trouble changed the tolerance. Continued riding bike for another five miles and decided to transport bike to motel in Dothan, Alabama. 
Friday, March 1, 2002 Day 4 - Where is Jimmy? Was not able to slip bike into Motel room last night, so we stopped at new welcome center at Florida State line Friday morning. Removed cylinder head and tried to free up intake valve but what I really needed was a reamer. Replaced head and adjusted carb. And Jimmy was off again. Off and on during the day we still experienced the same problem. Stopped at a Florida rest stop where Jimmy made friends with the attendant who really liked the motor bike. So we made his picture and decided to transport the bike to Green Cove Springs where we stayed the night. 
Saturday, March 2, 2002 Day 5 - Where is Jimmy? After Leaving Green Cove Springs where more necessary maintenance was performed we discovered that due to such extreme stress on the motor, the valves were beginning to stick when the engine warmed up. The next stop was Ustes, Florida. Jimmy did ride the motorbike to this stop but felt for the motorbike?s sake it would be best to carry it in the rest of the way to Daytona, Florida. 
Click Here Pictures Of Day 1! |
