Friday, July 20, 2012

The Numbers Are In

It will come as no surprise to many that the number of participants is down this year from last.  But what surprises me is by how much.  I have to admit that the wind was completely removed from my sails after the disappointing results of last year’s event and I didn’t regain my momentum until late in the spring this year.  I didn’t promote this year’s event the way it deserved to be promoted and the results are telling. 

But I don’t think that is the whole of it.  I want to blame the economy because I know that it has had an effect on everyone.  I suppose I could blame it on the change in format that we are implementing this year; not everyone is in favor of splitting the purse equally.  Or, more likely, people are watching to see how this year goes before they take the leap themselves.  If that is the case then… So be it.

One of our “Fans” on Facebook commented that “It's never a ‘good day to die’ on a motorcycle ride to prove you're a ‘warrior’. It is a sad day indeed when something like this validates your worth.”  To him I say that the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge doesn’t validate the rider but rather the rider validates the event.  Every man and woman that has ever ridden in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is a warrior (war·ri·or [wawr-ee-er, wawr-yer, wor-ee-er, wor-yernoun 1. a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier. 2. a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics. 3. a person engaged in some struggle or conflict <poverty warriors>) and my personal belief is that as long as your struggle is for a worthy cause then there is nothing to regret. 

For my own part, I am saddened to know that there are those who are satisfied to live their lives without meaning or purpose.  Or that never become willing to take the risks necessary to make an improvement in their own lives or the lives of others.  For, you see; I feel that in order to make a change we have to be willing to move beyond simple complaint.  We have to be willing to act.

Our Hoka Hey warriors not only believe in our cause and our mission but are doing everything they can to make a difference in the world at large.  They aren’t satisfied to just sit back and wait for life to happen to them.  They are willing to grow as people and to adjust to the changes that inevitably come their way. 

Life brings many changes; some of which can be marvelous, but others may be terrifying or even dangerous.  However, it isn’t change per se that threatens our happiness, but what we do with it.  We must learn to work together to make changes for the better because, contrary to popular belief, life is not intended to be a competition but is meant to be a cooperative effort involving teamwork.   

I charge you, the reader, to reflect on your personal belief system.  Are you the kind to sit back and wait for life to happen?   Or are you the kind that gets out there and makes it happen?  The 107 people who have submitted their applications to be in this year’s Challenge are the latter and I respect and admire them for their willingness to make a stand!

The 2012 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge may be shorter and it may be smaller in number but it promises to be the same kind of life altering event as past Hoka Hey Challenges.  The route and the parties in Vegas & NY will make it worth the trip but; that isn’t the point.  The participants know that they are in for the ride of their life.  They have decided to take that leap with full understanding that it may bring out a part of them that they never knew existed and they face that realization with courage and determination.  For, Hoka Hey Challenge participants understand better than most that…

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” (~Socrates)



# of EntriesRider #First NameLast NameNickname
Competitor
15KARLNETHERLANDBUBBA
28DanielBuis
39RogerBuisOTTO-PILOT
450RobertCrawford
567MichaelConner
685ChuckMarble
791davidlutes
8116JimHerold
9139AlexHood
10164GaryTrumper
11175FrankKelly
12186gregshafer
13190RichardDrakeChris
14207MiltonVincentBubba
15290WalterLedig
16247DamonBreitRUBBER
17319MarionEzellMickey
18323dalemartin
19341Robertcarlo
20342WilliamReynolds
21348MARKHODGE
22373TerrySmith
23383EulaRoseJunie
24600ShaunVanBeber
25601MichaelFoxMike
26605Mark EJamesWheres Jesse
27610DaveDuBord
28618KennethAstonKC
29636StanleyHoover
30646ThomasSchmidt
31648GeorgeLiebel
32649kcwithers
33650JANEBIXBY
34652SchatziBrown
35654JamesHowatson
36664ElvinAngelAl
37665DanielDowellKelsey
38680FrankTrevino
39685WendyBattlesTA-TE
40691NewtonPereiraTON
41705paul   (rocky)mazzaRocky
42706ThomasHuntertom
43707thomaspafftom
44708DarrinKnodeBootz
45709BradleyMathews
46710timlaskowskiangry
47711RobertMorse
48712DavidNeef
49713RobertNicholsRobby
50714JohnParrish
51715DennisElings
52716MichaelDewildtMoe
53717JeffreyAusnowCaptain America
54718RONALDMCARTHURMAC
55719AbagailVan Vlerah
56720JamesVan Vlerah
57721JoshuaBrace
58722BretWalters
59723MARTYKOSTAWICH
60724ArthurPond
61725RichardGriffith
62726JamesPeterson
63727DonaldTrimble
64730KellyQuinnThrottlegirl
65731DominickZappola JR
66732DanielCerta
67733WilliamBuskell
68734PhilipMeintel
69735JohnLevins
70736BillyFultz
71737JohnAnderson
72738William (Bob)TerrellCapt Bob
73739FrankZygela
74740TommyCollinsTomCat
75741JohnLyles
76742DavidSandersHammer
77743ChristopherCowden
78744James (Jim)CarlsonBison
79745MichaelPulkkinen
80746CarlHubbard
81747RobertKumpe
82748AnthonyAldridgeTony
83749WayneFields
84750GeorgeJackman
85751DavidElizondo
86752MathewKlebe
87753DANEAXENAxman
Incomplete
8892DavidMauser
89199JosephKlan
90201RobbieVinson
91264TerryMeyers
92332HeinzSpeilvogel
93422ArthurHrytzayLloyd
94628LarryMurray
95631PaulBourosPaulie
96653RONWARRENRON
97670TimMenzie
98674JamesGeray
99JonathanBurkeBon Jurke
100ScottPhillipsScooter
101EdwardRiekenFast Eddie
102BarryGuidrybarue
103daniel nleeBikerDude
104MichaelSkovgaardSkovy
105KerryTalbot
106DanielThibodeaux
107MichaelOBannonMOB
Non-Compete
6WilliamParry
467JamesRed Cloud
655Robert Scott
728JohnKing
729DennisElsasser

13 comments:

  1. I've already ridden in every state, and in longer personal challenges, but the way the race ended last year left me suspect, because I was going to ride in it this year, because I could out ride anyone.

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    1. is that by the rules or breaking them?Lol!

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    2. You after one year would go by the wayside. Many have said those words,only to be defeated by themslves. There something special about the challenge, and it's not about money! rider#186

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    3. i haven't seen your name on the list yet, lotta bragging. lets get to it, ain't about winning money if it is,you are here for the wrong reason

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    4. Anthony - planes don't count as a "ride"! If you man-up in 2013, I look forward to staying a couple of extra days at the end so I can see you cross the finish line!

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  2. The Challenge is not easy from many veiw points, it easy to make excuses not to ride. The first year it was about a lot of Gold Diggers,who thought they could beat the system, and make a tiddy some money. Many of those riders just didn't come back for various reasons. The Challenge requires one to look at oneself, and how we relate to others. This very hard for some people.
    Things are always change in Life, so it is in Hoka Hey. There are a lot of people that just don't handle changes well.
    If you come thinking this will be a nice vacation,or one big biker party. These riders go by the wayside.
    "Hoka Hey" the Battle cry for the Lakota Souix, translate as "good day to die". We all know in everyday life something unexpected could take one's life. But for me when I hear those warrior words, it is a way to say "Anything is Possible" HOKA HEY!
    Greg Shafer,rider #186

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  3. Shaun VanBeber Rider 600July 21, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    Anthony, I think your like so many others that want to talk, talk, talk. You can't prove you can out ride anyone from your couch. So, enjoy watching the real riders.

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  4. So only 106 people to beat :)

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  5. Hmmmmm, dont see Will Barclay on the list. LOL!

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  6. Can't say I miss him !!!

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  7. I'd like to know the real story on that one!!! Can anyone fill me in ?

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  8. Anthony - I do not believe that I see your name out there on the tracker this year, and if you felt that you could "outride anyone", I thought you would be on the map. I could be mistaken - so please correct me if I'm wrong. With regards to traversing "every state", that is not what the Hoka Hey is all about. My husband, after finishing last year, mentioned that as well - it was a bucket list item and he was honored to travel all of the continental states. But what compelled him to ride again this year, was the self satisfaction of finishing and not to mention all of the wonderful people that we got to meet. This journey is epic - join in. I was so encouraged after his return last summer that it inspired me to purchase my own bike, and I WILL be on that roster next year and be one of the PROUD, few female riders that have taken this challenge on. I challenge you, Anthony, to meet me at the starting line in 2013. God Speed and be safe!! Kristine Scott

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    1. Don't know who Anthony is but I suspect he is a "poser" and/or "wanna-be". I make no claims to fame or ability. I have wanted to ride Hoka Hey since I first heard of it but deployments seem to get in the way... next year is different; no deployments. I fully expect to join the few next year and accept this personal challenge. To finish is the goal but the objective is to ride with some of the finest people on the planet.

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