Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776310
59 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nFebruary 2017n by Felicia Morgan Just before Christmas, one of the most beloved and well-known mem- bers of the Motorcycle Cannonball's close-knit family was tragically taken from its midst. Dawn Hamilton, per- haps best known for her constant and quirky posts on social media sites, died in a car accident on the fateful after- noon of Friday, December 9, 2016. At just 41 years of age, Dawn has a long list of things left undone. As a woman who had an absolutely boundless zest for life, she had a huge bucket list of things she wanted to do and thor- oughly enjoyed the process of not just checking off accomplishments, but of adding new goals to the never-ending list of over-the-top adventures she wanted to experience. The most recent, of course, was to traverse the United States in the wicker sidecar of a 1916 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. As passenger, navigator, and partner of a two-member riding team, Dawn was a vital part of helping her fi ancé, Stephen "Doc" Hopkins, get the ancient machine across the country, even though the process took some en-route fi ne tuning. "You know, it's taken some work to fi gure out the language," Doc had mentioned just three days into the run. "There is no left turn or right turn in her instruc- tions. There's "my side, your side, and our side," he explained with a look of bewilderment. "Our side" actually means down the middle," he explained with a hand signal to exemplify. Dawn just shrugged, nodded, and demon- strated an example of her hand signals, similar to those the airline attendants use when pointing out the emergency exits on airplanes, as if it were all per- fectly logical. The couple shared road- side wrenching duties when required, grease under her manicured nails meant nothing to Dawn, and she par- ticipated in the process of building the bike from the beginning. By the time the pair rolled past the checkered fl ag in California, they had secured their place in motorcycling history books as the fi rst riders to successfully fi nish the Motorcycle Cannonball Run as a couple with a sidecar. The determined duo managed to make every single one of the 3,306 miles across America. And that was the way of her entire life: Extraordinary. Entertaining, funny, and always just a bit left of usual, there was abso- lutely nothing mundane about Dawn Hamilton. Her work days were spent assisting Doc in his tasks at Doc's Harley-Davidson in Shawano County, which would involve anything from fabricating to tending to the animals in the small, onsite zoo and evenings would include elaborate ball gowns worn to special functions, but she was equally comfortable in the bikini tops and heels she donned when helping Doc center up at the starting line of the race track. The beautiful blonde always stood out in a crowd, but it wasn't about outward appearances. Her generous heart and shining spirit were just as apparent as her physical beauty. Known for her work with bat- tered women, abused children, animals and wayward souls, Dawn accepted everyone for just who they were, no judgment or contempt. There was an innocence about her that made her per- spectives on life both inspirational and contagious and served her well in her role as a loving mother. For both her parents and her fi ve children, Dawn's adventures were a point of pride; they followed her escapades on social media as well as through her frequent calls to the kids while traveling and they knew her as fearless when in pur- suit of her dreams. People from every phase of her life gathered to attend services at a snow-blanketed Wisconsin church. Known as a good friend, it was com- mon for Dawn to call out of the blue to ask for advice, share a story or to cry on a shoulder, and she was more than happy to offer her shoulder in return. She had a way of making people feel important and there was nothing more comforting than her beautiful, radiant smile. Her mere presence could abso- lutely light up a room as she set about having fun at everything she did. Dawn was laid to rest in a wicker casket, to commemorate her Cannonball sidecar experience, sur- rounded by many of her boots. Known to all as a serious collector of fancy footwear, it was only fi tting that her colorful boots would be a part of the program when celebrating her equally colorful life. Several of her favorite motorcycles were displayed in the church foyer, the 1916 Cannonball bike among them. Her family takes some comfort in knowing that she is still with them, watching from the heavens above, and for those of us who shared the road as she lived out a summer adventure across America that she had dreamed of for years, we're convinced that she's rolled up her sleeves and pitched in to liven things up beyond the pearly gates. There is no resting in peace for this girl; she is surely busy out there among the con- stellations and chances are good that a sparkly tiara tops off her curled blonde locks, with a cool pair of red cowboy boots visible beneath the angel wings and fl owing robe. Godspeed, precious Dawn. A GoFundMe account has been established if you'd like to contribute to the education fund for Dawn's chil- dren Whitney, Hunter, Drake, Raine and Penelope. (www.gofundme.com/ HelpTheHamiltonKids) 4 IN MEMORIAM Dawn Hamilton July 6, 1975–December 9, 2016 Dawn and Doc the night before they set off on their cross-country adventure. From the moment she had heard of the Cannonball, Dawn had dreamed of being a participant. Doc made sure that dream became a reality. Dawn as she shed tears of joy after completing the Motorcycle Cannonball Run In Carlsbad, California