Meet The Returning Rider # 953 Jesse Alexander

  

I’m a Network Engineer by profession and a BBQ enthusiast at heart. I completed the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2020 and am aiming to earn my second finish after being sidelined in 2022 and 2026 while traveling to the start.

 

                 

                                 When I’m no

t working or riding, I enjoy cooking BBQ—whether it’s catering or competition. While rising costs have slowed things down a bit, it’s a passion I plan to pursue even more in retirement.

 

As in previous years, my charity of choice is The Dog Alliance Hounds for Heroes.

For me, the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is about more than the ride—it’s about sharing an incredible adventure with friends and family.

 

I’m grateful for the constant support of my wife, Carol, and my many friends.

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1246 Howard Condrey

 

My name is Howard Condrey, I was born December 22^nd 1955. My career was construction Superintendent building mostly Hotels in Virginia and North Carolina. I retired in 2018 after a bit of a cancer scare making me realize life is too short.

 

I have been a HOG member since 2005 holding several different officer positions, enjoying leading rides and mentoring new riders. Currently without a local Dealership I run a Face Book riding group with over 600 followers. (My fear is that one day 10% of those show up for a lunch ride) 

 

I’ve always enjoyed trips with friends and recently gotten hooked on Rally’s such as Hops and Snafu. Even to the point I’ve put on a few of my own for Eastern North Carolina. All my events raise funds for the Kennedy Childrens Home of Kinston NC. For my 70^th Birthday I completed my 1^st Bum Burner Gold.

 

Within my riding group I have four friends that have completed the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, thus at 70 years old this year I’m challenging myself to be a finisher.

Meet The Returning Rider # 1038 Gene Fiamma

 

 In 2022 I entered my first Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge and did well as a first-time starter.  I returned in 2024 and, with the knowledge and experience of my 2022 ride, I finished well ahead of my first Hoka Hey pace.  I will line up in Woodstock, Illinois in August for my third Challenge and I am looking to improve once again.

 

Improving for me is not only about the time it takes to cross the Finish Line.  Improving represents riding well, being in the present, engaging more with the locals when the time and the place permits, and sharing my stories and experiences with the new riders in this year’s Hoka Hey.  There is no doubt that the lessons learned from previous Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenges deepen one’s knowledge of how to navigate the 10,000 mile journey and how to endure the many days and nights on the road, and this knowledge will continue to serve me well in 2026 and beyond.

 

 

This year I will be combining my love of motorcycling (I am the Captain of the Ft. Lauderdale Drill Team and third time entrant into the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge) with my passion for the game of golf (I am the Starter for several PGA TOUR golf championships) as I set out to raise funds for the boys and girls of the South Dakota First Tee Program specific to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  The First Tee is a nationwide charity that views golf as a metaphor for life – a game with unexpected challenges that help build strengths beyond the technical skills of playing the game.  The First Tee focuses on helping kids develop character, resilience, self-confidence, and inner strength (much like how the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge positively affects participants) by using golf to empower personal growth while enabling the kids to learn to play the game.

 

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation, is recognized as one of the poorest reservations in the US, with high unemployment, poverty rates exceeding 50%, and severe infrastructure deficits.  There is no golf course in all of the vastness of the Pine Ridge Reservation, yet The First Tee is there and currently assisting the boys and girls with life lessons and golf lessons.  It is my goal to raise funds for the benefit of these outstanding boys and girls. 

And if the Hoka Hey route this year should take us through the Pine Ridge Reservation, it would be an amazing thrill for me to pull off the road for an hour or two to visit with the kids, and the coaches, and maybe even hit a few dozen golf balls with them!!!

Hoka Hey!!!

Meet The New Rider # 1376 Dan Middleton

 

 

 Hello All,
I am Dan Middleton (#1376). I grew up in the small southern town of Loxley Alabama. I like to think I had a pretty normal childhood. Average grades, average athletic ability, and average height. After high school I joined the US Marine Corps, and after a couple years found my way to a reconnaissance unit. 

 

Over the next 20+ years I bounced to 7 different duty stations and deployed all over the world. After retiring from the USMC, I decided to get a formal college education. In 2020, I completed my BA Economics, and in 2022 I finished my most recent degree - MS in Data Science. I have two great kids, and 3 even better step-kids. I feel clarification is needed, when I say “kids” I should say that their ages range from 30-18. So maybe not “kids” per se, but still super great nonetheless.

 

 My first bike was a 1973 Honda 350 F that I rode to every day to high school. My next bike was a 2014 Suzuki Hayabusa and, after realizing that I was not as limber as I once was, I decided to switch it up completely and bought my first HD (2018 SGS). On that Street Glide I discovered that I really love touring across the country on a bike. There’s something purely spiritual and introspective when you see the landscape changing right in front of you.  I took 2 separate summer trips - each over 17,000 miles - on that bike, and when the time came to get a refresh, I bought my current bike (2023 RG ST).

 

 I’ve done a couple trips on it so far, but the best of all my long rides was when my wife joined me this past summer on her Indian Super Chief. Seeing the world change around you is humbling as I described earlier, but to do it with someone makes the experience more than a “yeah, I saw that.” It elevates the moment to a shared memory, facilitating the manifestation of something beyond oneself, giving those who shared the experience an unspoken connection from which they will forever have to the other. As one could assume, I have had many shared experiences with my recon brothers while I was on active duty. I didn’t realize how truly special that was 'till I went several years without it. Now thanks to my wife, her support, and the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge , I may just find it once more… If I can be so blessed.

 

 

Meet The New Rider # 1256 Michael Damon

 

Motorcycle Relief Project

 An organizations that combines motorcycle adventures and mental health resources for veterans and first responders.

 

DONATE

Project New Hope

An organization that helped save life by providing resources and understanding of his PTSD when he was at the lowest point of his life 

DONATE

Godfather's Adventures  

 Michael "The Godfather" Damon

Iron Butt Association #84682

Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge  #1256

Oscar Mike Radio Interview 

Mike as he starts his journey 2013:

Mike 4 years later 2017

 

 

 

Meet The Returning Rider # 1101 Brian Ridgway

 

​

Hi! My name is Brian Ridgway, rider #1101. My wife, Ashley  and I live in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  I am 41 years old. I've been around motorcycles my whole life. I want to thank my Dad and Mom, my Uncles and their friends for fueling that passion of two wheels and keeping it alive when I was growing up; from rebuilding bikes, crazy stories, and memorable rides. I started riding dirt bikes at a young age  and riding it through the old logging roads and snowmobile trails of northern Wisconsin.

  

 

 

 I am a proud father of six kids; four daughters and two sons. That makes finding time to ride long distances a giant juggling act as they always have something going on, but I do find the time to get out and enjoy the country on two wheels. I first heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge from my friend Ken back in 2009 and he tried to convince me that we should ride the first one in 2010, but with limited funds and vacation time, it was just a beautiful day dream at the time. 

 

 

 

 The big draw to the challenge to me was the adventure and it just being you and your bike for as long as it takes to finish. It reminded me of stories I always heard as a kid of a trip my dads friend Quinn took. Luck would have that I now have a job that's very understanding with taking back to back weeks off and in 2022 I was fortunate enough to be able to finally ride in the challenge. This year will be my second time riding the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge as I was sidelined from a bad accident in 2024 just a few weeks from the start. I had to have my stunt double, flat Brian, fill in for me. I'm very much looking forward to the challenge this year and spending time on the road  this summer with my Hoka Hey family. 

 

 

Some of the best advice I have to any of the new riders out there is to sleep when you're tired. You know your limits and you can push them, but don't over extend yourself.  It's better to pull over and grab an hour of sleep than the alternative. Same goes for getting something to eat and hydration. Remember it's a challenge not a race! No one is timing you or ahead of you, you are never falling behind or lagging! Treat it as a spiritual journey and the euphoric feeling you'll get you'll remember forever.

 

 This year I will be riding for Mile Monsters Inc.! Mile Monsters Inc. is a Non Profit 501c3 which hopes to inspire and motivate people to join us. We ride to make the world a better place. Money raised goes to help children affected by disease, injuries and circumstances out of their control. The kids we help need a MONSTER in their corner to help fight the battle with them. 

DONATE

Meet The Returning Rider # 963 Richard White

 

 

When I signed up for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2020, I had no idea how transformative it would be. Ten thousand miles on the road pushed me beyond limits I hadn’t yet discovered, tested my resilience, and connected me with an incredible community of riders. Finishing that challenge remains one of the proudest achievements of my life.

 

 

 

But what made it unforgettable wasn’t just the miles—it was the people. The Hoka Hey isn’t just about endurance; it’s about camaraderie. Riders from every background come together with a shared purpose, supporting one another through breakdowns, fatigue, and the unknown. That sense of unity stays with you long after the ride ends.

 

 

 

Now, I’m preparing for my second Hoka Hey in 2026—and this time, it means even more.

My wife Jana will be riding with me 2-up, turning this into a shared journey. We’ve ridden together before, but nothing compares to what lies ahead. This ride will challenge us in new ways, but it will also strengthen our partnership and create an experience we’ll carry for the rest of our lives.

More importantly, this ride has a deeper purpose.

 

 

 

This year, I’m riding to raise awareness and support for Vici Syndrome—a rare genetic disorder that profoundly impacts children and their families. It’s a cause close to my heart, and I’m honored to use this challenge as a platform to bring visibility to something many people have never heard of.

Every mile we ride is more than distance—it’s awareness. It’s a chance to tell these families’ stories, to inspire hope, and to contribute to research that could one day change lives.

 

 

How You Can Help

We’re asking for your support in this mission:

 Donate – Every contribution, no matter the size, helps support awareness and research

 Share – Help us spread the word about Vici Syndrome and this journey

 Stand With Us – Follow along and be part of something bigger than the ride

 Vici Syndrome Foundation  

https://vicisyndrome.org

Vici Syndrome

 

 

The spirit of the Hoka Hey has always been about pushing past limits—but this time, it’s about something greater than the ride. It’s about purpose, awareness, and making a real impact.

With Jana by my side and this mission driving us forward, we’re ready to take on the road ahead—not just for the challenge, but for the families who need it most.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can make every mile matter.