Three Flags Classic History
The Three Flags Classic was created by the larger-than-life SCMA member and SCMA leader Joe Usatin. In 1976, he was inspired by reading about the trail blazing motorcycle riding of Erwin G. Baker aka Dee Baker aka “Cannon Ball” Baker. In addition to his record-breaking US transcontinental motorcycle run in 1914, Baker also set a record in 1915 riding from Canada to Mexico “touching three countries.”
The story below that looks back in time is from an article written about the Three Flags Classic that was distributed to riders in the 1980s when the ride was a little different:
The original “Three Flags Ride” was made in 1915 by Dee “Cannonball” Baker. Starting from Vancouver, Dee Baker battled his way through a horror of a route. (At this time, pavement was only an idea, and gasoline was sold at the general store from drums). After eighty-one hours and fifteen minutes of dirt, mud, ruts, and potholes, E.G. Baker crossed the border into Tijuana, and the “Three Flags Ride” became part of Motorcycle History.
On August 24, 1915, EG Baker, riding an Indian motorcycle equipped with the new type 1916 Indian motor, left Vancouver, British Columbia. It was the beginning of his “Three Flags Ride” through three countries (Canada, United States, and Mexico). Less than three and one-half days later, after a run down the Pacific Coast through the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, he checked into Tijuana, Mexico.
Conquering five mountain ranges, dashing through four miles of forest fire and slashing through roads worse than those of his transcontinental ride, “Bake” laid down a record for himself and the new Indian Motor which is the truly amazing performance of the year.
The motor that Baker drove will be standard on the 1916 Indian. It will be the big surprise of the 1916 season. You won’t be satisfied with anything less when you see it. Big announcement coming soon.
The challenge presented by this ride caused a number of individualists to try to beat Mr. Baker’s riding time. Progress, particularly in California, soon brought speed control laws, and pressure was brough to bear on these intercontinental road races. Around the quarter century mark, Wells Bennett spent ten hours in a Madera county jail. This was just long enough to thwart his attempt to break the record time. The Three Flags Ride soon faded into the mists of history.
Decades later, racer Fred Chase rode his 1000cc Honda Goldwing over the original route in 18 hours and 15 minutes. He was using the most sophisticated radar sensing device available to help him in this highly “illegal” re-make of the “Original Ride.”
In the same year (1976), “Joe Usatin” had a more practical idea. He turned the route around– began at the Mexican end with a group of dedicated tourists and followed the original route northward – keeping to the “legal” speed limits. This was the beginning of what we now know as the “Three Flags Classic.”
In 1977, the Southern California Motorcycling Association (an affiliation of numerous individual motorcycle clubs) became actively involved with the organization and operation of the “CLASSIC.” Since that time, the Three Flags Classic has blossomed into the world’s longest running touring event for motorcyclists of all nationalities.