Monday, May 4, 2026

Meet The New Rider # 1370 Rommel Andaya

 



Hi Everyone, my name is Rommel "Hataw" Andaya #1370. I ride an Indian Chieftain. I am a retired US Navy Reserve and I also just recently retired from work. I have been riding since 2008 when I moved to Northern California from Las Vegas Nevada. Rush hour traffic were so bad and it would take me an hour to an hour and haft to drive to work that was only 31 miles from my house. I see all these motorcycles just zooming by the cars and thought to my self, hey why not ride a motorcycle too and I've never looked back. 😃
 
 
   I enjoy riding with friends around town for day rides but I especially enjoy riding to other states for long rides. Some of the rides I've done are Florida biketober fest, Arizona bikeweek, Las Vegas bikeweek, Lone Star Rally, Rocky Point Rally, Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, Kentucky Rendezvous....etc. I was also in Arkansas for the Most Indian Motorcycle in A Parade for the Guinness Book of Records. I've also done a few motorcycle challenges with Ironbutt Association such as SaddleSore Gold, BunBurner Gold, and another 6 other challenge rides.
 
   
    Im riding the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge because I want to know and see if I can ride and finish this challege, It will surely test me physically and mentally. And also, in this ride, I'll get to see and ride the backroads of America while fund raising for the Boy and Girls Club of Potawatomi Nation in Woodstock, Illinois. I'm stoked.

Please click to donate:
 
 

 

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Meet The Returning Rider # 1150 Mark Kromis

 


Mark Kromis aka Mr. Georgia    

 Age: 71

Residence: Kennesaw GA                                            

Riding years: 52


 

Father of two, a daughter and a son. Been ridding since 1974 when I bought my first motorcycle. A Yamaha 250 Enduro, the first motorcycle I rode cross country on, camping along the way from San Diego CA to Huntsville AL where I parked the bike at my parents. I was in enlisted in the Navy and got orders to Iceland. Fast forward a few years, now I spend time riding my 2002 Heritage Softail Classic and my 2015 Ultra Limited. Winding down my 40+ year career working as an Environmental Chemist. KTENTOWSHKETON MNOPMATSOWEN "Try to Live a Good Life".

 


Why I am returning for another run in the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. To make a long story short I left a part of myself on the road during the 2024 HHMC of which in need to reclaim. Upon arriving back home I came to the realization approximately 4500 miles into the challenge I changed my riding position causing issue with my left knee around 5,000 miles when righting the scooter off the kickstand (Lesson Learned). Shout out to Flaming Gorge HD for their assistance. I’ve also come to the conclusion my mind was not in the proper place to be attempting the HHMC with passing of my sister a week prior to the challenge thereby leaving me the caretaker of our 90-year-old mother added to the mental challenge. Mom is living close by and with assistance from family members it’s time to participate in the 2026 HHMC. 



 

 

Charity

The charity I will be supporting for the 2026 HHMC will be the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Boys & Girls Club. A GoFundMe account has been set up: Fundraiser by Mark Kromis : Support Boys & Girls Club of Prairie Band Potawatomi

 

 

Sponsor:

Southern Devil HD as agreed to help sponsor me for the 2026 HHMC:

Southern Devil Harley Davidson

2281 Highway 411 NE

Cartersville, GA 30121

678-721-0203

Nick Nicholson



 



www.southerndevilhd.com

Meet The New Rider # 1290 Wolfe Bonham

 



Hey there!  I’m Wolfe Bonham, Rider #1290, better known as Lobo Loco.  I’m from Flinton, Ontario, Canada, about an hour outside of Ottawa.  I grew up around motorcycles as my father was a police motorcycle officer.  My very first road bike was a 1973 Harley FLH that I still own to this day.  I’ve been fortunate to ride motorcycles all over the world, and spend my spare time restoring and customizing vintage bikes.  I’m also a motorcycle safety instructor.


 

I’ve been competing in long distance motorcycle competitions for over a decade, having finished the IBR 3 times, as well as winning the 250cc class in the Scooter Cannonball, and completing the Cross Egypt Challenge.  I also host my own series of long distance motorcycle competitions as Lobo Loco Rallies.  However, the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge has been on my radar for many years, and I’m honoured to have been chosen for this year’s challenge. 

 


 For me, Hoka Hey represents the essence of long distance riding challenges, with no technological navigation aids, no modern hotel conveniences, and riding back roads rather than grinding out long stretches of boring interstates.  Instead, it becomes a very personal challenge unique to each rider and their machine.  For me, I wanted the challenge of riding a motorcycle that is the same age as myself across the finish line.  So, I’m currently building another 1973 Harley FLH as a tribute to my father, whom I lost early last year.  This way he and I can ride Hoka Hey together in spirit, and have one more great adventure together.


 

The charity I’d like to support is Inasmuch House, an organization that provides emergency shelter and support for women and children fleeing violence.  This was a charity my father supported for many years, and I plan to continue that in his honour.  Funds raised go to provide emergency accommodations for women and their children escaping from abusive situations, as well as legal advice, counseling, and food/clothing, while they rebuild their lives and return to the community.



Saturday, May 2, 2026

Meet The Returning Rider # 894 Jeff Burrus

 

 


Hoka Hey! My name if Jeff Burrus, Rider 894. I go by Hong Kong! I am a father of 3 children, 3 beautiful grandchildren, and an amazing wife.  I am a Navy veteran and a CVMA member, Chapter 24-6.  My daytime gig is a Fleet Manager.  I love big trucks and motorcycles.  Although if I had to choose between a Peterbilt and an Indian Motorcycle – hands down it would be my bike. 

 


This is my second attempt at the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. My first time riding in it was 2024.  I wanted to participate sooner, but as most people have experienced this, family & life had the front seat.  Hoka Hey is everything that you think it’s going to be and more.  Unfortunately, I received a performance award in Wyoming from a State Trooper for going over the speed limit. I got pretty angry at myself and the situation, took my ball, and went home.  Biggest regret I have and wished I would have handled it differently.  Wish in one hand, want in the other! Lesson learned.  If I had a do over, I would have continued on even knowing that I wouldn’t have been a finisher.  The journey is the reward.  

 



I am going to be donating to Rock House Kids.  Rock House Kids provides a safe, warm, and nurturing environment to Rockford, Illinois inner-city children, grades 1-12. It gives children a safe place to get off the streets in the evenings where they would be fed a hot meal, mentored by loving staff and volunteers, and supplied with essentials they would not otherwise have the resources to buy themselves.  Rock House Kids has made it their mission to share God’s love with inner city children through Biblical principles, with physical and spiritual solutions.  Any donation, big or small, would help children in need. Thank you! 

 

 


Meet The New Rider # 1362 Rodney Golson

 

 

 Hello, I am Rodney Golson . I am from Linden, Alabama. I’m married to the love of my life, Julie Golson for 38 years . We have one daughter Kristy, 34 years old . I have worked as a lumber inspector for 31 years . I went to MMI in Orlando for 2 years, got my certified Harley tech degree. I have been riding bikes since I was 7 or 8 years old. I have always loved bikes. I have rode my bike many places. My last bike I had before this one . The bike had 110,000 miles on it.

 

     My friend , Phillip Waltz had mentioned the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to me . We was talking about doing the Hoka Hey ride. I was visiting him, we were out riding and met up with Louis Percido. Louis was on the Hoka Hey at the time of the meeting. Louis was on Cherohala skyway. We talk to him then ride with him for a little bit. When we got back to Phillip’s. We both decided that we would do the Hoka Hey.
 
 
     
 My non-profit charity will be Shriners Hospital. The Shriners hospital helps children with all kinds of needs for medical. Shriners hospital helps children with life altering medical no matter what . That is why I think fundraising for the Shriners are so important . They going beyond what they can do for each child . 

Meet The Returning Rider # 894 Jeff Burrus

 


Hoka Hey! My name if Jeff Burrus, Rider 894. I go by Hong Kong! I am a father of 3 children, 3 beautiful grandchildren, and an amazing wife.  I am a Navy veteran and a CVMA member, Chapter 24-6.  My daytime gig is a Fleet Manager.  I love big trucks and motorcycles.  Although if I had to choose between a Peterbilt and an Indian Motorcycle – hands down it would be my bike. 

 


This is my second attempt at the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. My first time riding in it was 2024.  I wanted to participate sooner, but as most people have experienced this, family & life had the front seat.  Hoka Hey is everything that you think it’s going to be and more.  Unfortunately, I received a performance award in Wyoming from a State Trooper for going over the speed limit. I got pretty angry at myself and the situation, took my ball, and went home.  Biggest regret I have and wished I would have handled it differently.  Wish in one hand, want in the other! Lesson learned.  If I had a do over, I would have continued on even knowing that I wouldn’t have been a finisher.  The journey is the reward.  

 



I am going to be donating to Rock House Kids.  Rock House Kids provides a safe, warm, and nurturing environment to Rockford, Illinois inner-city children, grades 1-12. It gives children a safe place to get off the streets in the evenings where they would be fed a hot meal, mentored by loving staff and volunteers, and supplied with essentials they would not otherwise have the resources to buy themselves.  Rock House Kids has made it their mission to share God’s love with inner city children through Biblical principles, with physical and spiritual solutions.  Any donation, big or small, would help children in need. Thank you! 

 

 


Friday, May 1, 2026

Meet The New Rider # 1224 Jason Bell

 


. . . I'm Jason "U-Turn" Bell, I'm 53 from Tulsa, OK , I am a Commercial Flooring Contractor and installer of  34 years . . . I was introduced to the  Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2018 when I randomly took a day ride down Medicine Park,  OK (only 3 hrs SW of my hometown of Tulsa . . . I immediately fell in love with this event and Challenge  . . . I was accepted to ride in 24 but had to withdrawal due to major life setbacks.  . . . But I'm back for 26 and all in and can't wait to experience this ride and Challenge and to help raise funds for our heroes at DONATE Mile Monster Inc 
 

 

I have been on and off motorcycles since I was 13 years old . . Dirt bikes, sport bikes and now, for the past 15 years, Cruisers . . . Over the past 7 or 8 years I have absolutely fell in love with LD riding and the great community it offers and can't wait to put my skills to test in the toughest Motorcycle Challenge out there