New Year's Resolution

All, 

As I sit here working on a Hoka Hey video and trying to capture the essence of Auld Lang Syne, I reflect on all that has taken place since we started the Hoka Hey Challenge and wanted to take a moment to share apologies and appreciation.

First of all, I admit that I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately and for that I apologize. The intervening years since our inaugural event have been difficult - starting with the haters and nay-sayers, ranging through a family catastrophes & law suits and now peaking with delays on the final production. But, feeling sorry for myself and allowing that to get in the way of our mission is unacceptable. 

It was on Christmas evening, as we celebrated the holiday at the Chief's house that it really struck me. There were close to 50 people crammed in the front room and kitchen at Grandpa's house and the excitement grew as the "Committee" shouted out names and passed out packages. The Chief had had a close call on an icy road recently and it was obvious that he was glad to be alive and grateful to share the holiday with family. It was marvelous to see that 94 year old man glow with childlike anticipation as the Christmas tradition was enacted once again. And, like a smack upside the head, it hit me... "What do I have to feel bad about!?!"

Sure there have been a series of disappointments and set backs in recent years but, when I stop to realize that Chief Oliver Red Cloud has been banging his head against the proverbial wall for 75 years or more, my sense of "Oh poor me" is pretty darned embarrassing. I won't say that the Chief has never become discouraged or asked "Why do I bother?" But, if he has, he hasn't maintained the mindset or let it get the best of him and I can only hope to learn from his example of perseverance, tenacity and resolve.

The best gift I received this year was a beautiful crochet Hoka Hey afghan from one of our riders and his wife and; while it is a wonderful gift, it really means so much more to me. This afghan, made with such skill and thoughtfulness, has served to remind me once again that we are not in this thing alone. There are a lot of people out there that really believe in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. They believe in what we are trying to accomplish and for that I am grateful. 

I sometimes need to remind myself that nothing that's worth having in this world comes easily. The things that we put our greatest efforts in to are the things that will matter most to us at the end of our lifetime because when you work hard for something you will value it far more than if it has just been handed to you. Certainly I recognize that it's nice to be blessed and to receive blessings but, for the New Year; I resolve to remember that if I stay focused, continue to work hard, be humble and remain dedicated to the cause; I will not only be a better person for it but will be less likely to take those blessings for granted.

"But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight --
Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight."

         From "Lover's in a Dangerous Time"
         ~Bruce Cockburn

Thank you so much to all who believe in the Hoka Hey Challenge. I consider you all to be blessings in my life. And, especially you David (Rider # 91) & Lois Lutes for your kindness and for getting me back on track. Lois - I will enjoy and remark at the skill that went in to that afghan for the rest of my life!

Happy New Year Everybody.  I hope you enjoy the short video I made in honor of you and in celebration of all things worth fighting for!

A Very Hoka Hey New Year

   

   

    

Don't forget that only the riders from 2010 will automatically  be able to keep their rider number no matter when they sign up to participate.  The deadline for riders from 2011 & 2012 to be assured of keeping their rider number has been pushed back to the first of the year.  But the new deadline will be here before you know it so be sure to get your applications in now!!   

  

Bring your friends and share in the glory!  

Any one that signs up 10 riders will  

Ride for FREE!! 

We would love to see you all at the starting line in June 2013!!!

There is LESS THAN 6 MONTHS to gear up so contact us now to register for the event that continues to change lives & shape ideas!  

Are you prepared to lose yourself in order to find yourself?  

Are you at peace within?  

Or are you still seeking!?!

 

 *Please read all forms carefully before submitting your application package.

   

We look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you in the wind!

Sincerely,

  

Beth Durham

Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge   

Director of Operations

Phone #: 605-890-0386

Email: beth.durham@hokaheychallenge.com

   

       

Important Measures to Take Before Your Long Distance Ride

Long distance riding requires far more planning and preparation than its car trip equivalent. For riders who compete in endurance riding events, the time and preparation each event takes is second nature. However, for the younger riders who are new to the experience, the daunting concept of riding thousands of miles on our beloved bikes and all the planning can be more than overwhelming. Though the ride welcomes a sense of freedom and limitless possibilities, a little forethought and preparations is an absolute necessity for endurance rides. Before you hit the open road to follow those yellow lined highways, consider these important measures for safety, wellbeing, and good riding.

Carefully Inspect Your Bike

Your bike acts as your legs—obviously it's essential that you carefully inspect and doctor your motorcycle prior to your trip. Motorcycle maintenance is absolutely vital to your success and safety on the road. While a detailed inspection by a professional is definitely needed, the most efficient way to inspect your bike on your own before traveling is the T-CLOCS approach. T-CLOCS is an acronym for Tires, Controls, Lights, Oils and Fluids, Chassis, and Stands. 

These are the fundamental elements of your bike that you should look at carefully before you embark on any long distance ride. Make sure that both tires are properly inflated. Be sure to check the air pressure of your tires with the pressure gauge that you will take with you on your ride. Make sure all your cables and controls are intact and working correctly. Check your headlights, turn signals, and brake lights. Make sure everything from your engine oil and coolant to you brake fluid are in place. Look at the frame, suspension, chain, and fasteners to make sure they are all secure and intact. As the final step make sure that the center stand and/or side stand isn't cracked or damaged. Check the springs to ensure that they properly hold the assembly away from the pavement when stowed. T-CLOCS is your quick reference for bike inspection, but be sure you see a professional too.

Packing Necessities

Packing for a long distance motorcycle ride can be a challenging thing. It's important that you find a comfortable balance between bringing enough items to ensure comfort on your trip and not overloading your ride with unnecessary weight. Once you've mapped out your ride, you should look at things like weather forecasts and environmental factors. When packing clothes, it can be wise to pack several light weight thin items that you can layer. It's much better to have to stop to adjust your layers and shed some articles than to shiver or sweat your way through a long ride. After all, long rides like this are all about enjoying the experience and the road. As far as food and drink goes, this can be challenging. This is where bulkiness comes in and packing can be a challenge. Think about energy bars, trail mix, and water. You want food items that pack in all the necessities in one small package. Water is obviously the most important thing. Be sure that you have enough water packed to hold you over on long stretches of road that might not have a gas station or store. 

Review Your Insurance Policies

Part of planning for a long distance competition or just ride is very much about forethought and preparedness. Before your ride, look through your motorcycle insurance policy and make sure that you have all the protection you'll need. Long distance riding just opens up that much more time and opportunity for problems. Preparing for the worst is (sadly) the best option. Consider policy options that you might want to add onto your basic liability plan, so that you are fully protected. Things like custom parts and equipment coverage, roadside assistance, medical payment coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and many others may be very worthwhile for endurance riders.

Stacy Holmes is a blogger and freelance writer for www.motorcycleinsurance.com. She enjoys writing and researching everything to do with motorcycles and automotive trends. Stacy is particularly interested in engaging her readers in the often mundane world of motorcycle insurance and money-saving tactics. You can reach her in the comments below.

Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund

The organizers of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge are proud to announce that we have teamed up with the Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund in a commitment to help provide for the fundamentals to health and well-being for Indian people.
 

The Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund was organized in December 2004 as an unincorporated association in order to raise funds for meeting the basic needs of the residents and citizens of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  

Poverty and a lack of economic opportunity have created deplorable conditions for the residents of the more remote Indian reservations like Pine Ridge where many residents live in substandard housing which lack the life sustaining resources that most of us take for granted.  The mission of the Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund is to raise funds for the provision of running water, adequate plumbing, food, and shelter for these people.  

It is a fitting match because, the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge intends to be a vehicle that brings awareness to the deplorable conditions found on Pine Ridge and other of the Nation’s poorer Indian reservations.  To help accomplish this goal, a feature length documentary is being created by Oscar nominated producer David Roma. 

The documentary film is based on the 2011 Challenge and will follow in the footsteps of David Roma’s previous documentaries in that it will be both entertaining and socially informative. The social cause at hand of course is the current situation of Native Americans, specifically those of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, whose struggle has been ongoing for hundreds of years with no clear remedy in sight. With some of the worst levels of poverty, unemployment, infant mortality rates, teen suicides, adult diabetes, cervical cancer and overall life expectancy in the world, Pine Ridge is often seen as ground zero for Native causes. The film weaves together the trials and tribulations of the Hoka Hey Challengers with those of the Native Americans; who struggle everyday just to survive.

Beyond the film however, several thousands of dollars were raised for the Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund through the efforts of our Hoka Hey participants and supporters during the 2012 Challenge.  In fact, special appreciation goes out to Rob Carlo, Tim Menzie, Dominick Zappolla and Matt Klebe (Kelley Babbin) for selflessly returning their prize award checks to the event as a contribution to Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund!  

With this kind of support, the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge and the Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund can promote pride and dignity to the community by improving living conditions and restoring a sense of comfort and well being through the development of life sustaining resources such as the development of water, housing, food, shelter and other basic life resource necessities on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and elsewhere. 

Every gift makes a difference.

UPDATES Page on Hoka Hey Challenge .Com

We want to welcome everyone to check out our Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge UPDATES page!  We will be using this page to archive information from our HOME page. Check there for information about the event, our whereabouts, the webpage and our charity! We believe that knowledge is power and we feel that by sharing what we know, you will be better able to make informed decisions about your support and participation in the event!

Our first entry is dated 9-SEP-2012 and announces that we are getting ready to hit the road again in order to start promoting the 2013 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge!

Our first stop will be the Trail of Tears Remembrance Ride which begins in Chattanooga, TN and ends in Florence, AL. Jim and a handful of Hoka Hey Challengers will be meeting at the Thunder Creek Harley-Davidson in Chattanooga on the evening of the 14th. The ride itself takes place on the 15th of September. It is a one day ride that departs Chattanooga, TN at 8:00am and travels 200 miles to Florance, AL where we will have the tipi set up to promote the 2013 event.

We think it would be a pretty remarkable statement if we can get 20 or more Hoka Hey riders / supporters together to join this ride!  I (Beth) will be waiting for everyone on the other end and will hope to see several of you there!

From the Trail of Tears Remembrance ride, we hope to be at Bikes, Blues & BBQ in Fayetteville, AR (Sept. 26-29) and then on to Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, FL (Oct 18-21) and the Lone Star Rally in Galveston, TX (Nov 1-4). We will post information on our UPDATES page about our whereabouts as arrangements get confirmed.

2013 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge - WOLAKOTA

Wolakota is peace, beyond peace.  

Being happy with who you are, what you have in this world and not wanting more while in this world.... Sometimes, in this world you have to lose yourself to find yourself.... I pray for Wolakota for all my relatives who are lost and not at peace. For all those who need to find themselves today, I pray for them as well. Wolakota.

            ~ Danasvoice.blogspot.com

  A Lakota prophecy was given during the hard times of the 1890s. The Sacred Hoop - the tie binding the Seven Fires of the Lakota, Nakota, Dakota Nations - had been broken by massacres, starvation and campaigns to eradicate the Buffalo Nation. The Lakota Nations are direct descendants of the Buffalo and their way of life, culture and Spirituality are dependent on this relationship. The prophecy says, in part, that the Seventh Generation would come together to Mend the Sacred Hoop, restore the Spirit of the Nations and unite all Nations to heal our Mother Earth.  

Now is the time of the Seventh Generation.

'Wolakota' - The word itself means reconciliation, or understanding each other in a good and peaceful way. This word is from the Lakota ideal of living in peace and community with everything and abstaining from greed. Wolakota is to act and behave with ultimate respect, harmony, peace and friendship. No matter who we are or where we come from, we can choose to live sustainably, but we can't do it without each other.

To live Wolakota is to live a life of peace, friendship, brotherhood and sisterhood, and right relationship and respect between human beings and all forms of life. Living in accordance with this belief encourages people to step forward and take accountability; to work together to right the wrongs of this world and acknowledge the strengths and wisdom that all cultures hold in common; our connection to each other and to the Earth. By upholding the philosophy of Wolakota we can achieve the well-being of the People seven generations into the future.  

As members of the Seneca Nation, the owners of Wolf's Run in Irving, NY understand the principal of Wolakota and they believe that by hosting the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, they are helping to unite the nations together. Willie Parry & Sally Snow understand that there is a lot of work to do in this capacity and, in order to help advance the cause, it has been decided that the 2013 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will BEGIN AND END IN THE HEART OF THE SENECA NATION AT WOLF'S RUN with Wolf's Run Transport and Gowanda Harley-Davidson as our hosts once again!

 

Beginning on JUNE 23RD, 2013 and traveling approximately 7,000 miles, the 2013 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will test riders' abilities to navigate, endure and persevere along some of the most technical roads in the contiguous 48 States.

The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is not your local poker run! It will try your tolerance for ambiguity. It will test your determination, your resolve and your stamina.  

• It is not for the faint of heart.   
• It is not for those are afraid of getting lost.  
• It is not for those that can't handle uncertainty.   
• It is not for the weak.   

Riders must be able to adjust to change and to amend their thinking from day to day; minute to minute; mile to mile.  So, if you are ready to dig deep within to find whether you have strength of mind or a sense of purpose; you are ready to take the Challenge!

Bring your friends and share in the glory!  

Any one that signs up 10 riders will  

Ride for FREE!! 

We would love to see you all at the starting line in June 2013!!!

There is LESS THAN 10 MONTHS to gear up so contact us now to register for the event that continues to change lives & shape ideas!  

Are you prepared to lose yourself in order to find yourself?  

Are you at peace within?   

Or are you still seeking!?!

*Please read all forms carefully before submitting your application package.

Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge 

Beth Durham

Director of Operations

Phone # 605-890-0386

Email: beth.durham@hokaheychallenge.com

What the Future Holds

Motorcycling is a passion for moving through the world in a way that most people only dream of.  And, whether they give it conscious thought or not, people who ride share this bond as brothers and sisters; and to be a Hoka Hey Challenger is to share this bond on a whole new level.

Hoka Hey Challengers are Warriors.  The Challenges have not been easy (we never meant for them to be).   They have always been intended to pit the riders against their worst fears and their bikes against the road.  For some the challenge is in reading the driving directions; for others it is in the endurance and, for the rest, it is in executing the technical aspects of the route as expertly as possible.  Everyone gets something different from the Challenge and it isn’t up to us to tell them what that is.  It is up to us to recognize their accomplishment…

• We started out from Las Vegas with 91 riders.  
•  88 participants were in contention for prizes. 
•  68 made it to the finish line.  
•  31 completed the ride within the 14 hour window and are eligible for an equal split of the $44,000 purse.  These riders are:

 

Rider #	First Name	Last Name	Date	Time
5	Karl	Netherland	August 12	1831
50	Robert	Crawford	August 12	1831
67	Michael	Conner	August 12	1857
139	Alex	Hood	August 12	1831
164	Gary	Trumper	August 12	1835
168	Jeff	Kohn	August 13	2020
190	Chris	Drake	August 12	1930
264	Terry	Meyer	August 12	1835
290	Walter	Ledig	August 12	2018
341	Robert	Carlo	August 12	1831
373	Terry	Smith	August 12	1929
375	Brian	McDonnell	August 12	1831
600	Shaun	VanBeber	August 12	1831
601	Michael	Fox	August 12	1831
650	Jane	Bixby	August 13	0107
652	Schatzi	Brown	August 13	0107
653	Ron	Warren	August 13	0003
654	James	Howatson	August 12	1831
665	Daniel	Dowell	August 12	1831
670	Tim	Menzie	August 13	0453
691	Newton	Pereira	August 13	0003
706	Thomas	Hunter	August 13	0716
708	Darrin	Knode	August 12	1831
725	Richard	Griffith	August 12	2018
731	Dominick	Zappola JR	August 12	1831
736	Billy	Fultz	August 12	1835
739	Frank	Zygela	August 12	2018
742	David	Sanders	August 12	0108
750	George	Jackman	August 12	1831
752	Mathew	Klebe	August 13	0817
754	Daniel	Thibodeaux	August 12	2018

• Validations are still ongoing but the presumed Finishers (riders who rode the route according to the driving directions and stopped at all checkpoints) are:

Rider #	First Name	Last Name	Date	Time
85	Chuck	Marble	August 14	2339
91	David	Lutes	August 13	1200
207	Milton	Vincent	August 13	1338
323	Dale	Martin	August 14	1638
342	William	Reynolds	August 14	1638
383	Junie	Rose	August 14	2339
605	Mark E	James	August 13	1430
610	Dave	DuBord	August 13	1308
636	Stanley	Hoover	August 13	1850
646	Thomas	Schmidt	August 16	1222
655	Robert	Scott	August 12	2018
664	Elvin	Angel	August 15	0830
685	Wendy	Battles	August 14	1637
707	Thomas	Paff	August 14	0551
709	Bradley	Mathews	August 15	0646
712	David	Neef	August 15	0646
713	Robert	Nichols	August 14	1638
714	John	Parrish	August 14	0330
715	Dennis	Elings	August 15	0830
719	Agabail	Van Vlerah	August 16	1521
720	James	Van Vlerah	August 16	1521
722	Bret	Walters	August 13	0959
724	Arthur	Pond	August 14	0551
732	Daniel	Certa	August 19	0305
733	William	Buskell	August 15	1604
734	Philip	Meintel	August 15	1604
735	John	Levins	August 15	1604
743	Christopher	Cowden	August 16	1521
746	Carl	Hubbard	August 13	1308
747	Robert	Kumpe	August 13	1308
751	David	Elizondo	August 14	1638
753	DANE	AXEN	August 13	1524

 

• The rest of the riders who participated this year include:

 

Rider #	First Name	Last Name
8	Daniel	Buis
9	Roger	Buis
116	Jim	Herold
718	Mac	McArthur
467	Jim	Red Cloud
83	Lee	Smith
92	David	Mauser
186	Greg	Shafer
319	Marion	Ezell
348	Mark	Hodge
618	Kenneth	Aston
648	George	Liebel
649	KC	Withers
717	Jeffrey	Ausnow
680	Frank	Trevino
721	Joshua	Brace
723	Marty	Kostawich
726	James	Peterson
727	Donald	Trimble
729	Dennis	Elsasser
730	Kelly	Quinn
737	John	Anderson
738	Bob	Terrell
740	Tommy	Collins
741	John	Lyles
744	James (Jim)	Carlson
745	Michael	Pulkkinen
749	Wayne	Fields

• The oldest of our riders was #706, Tom Hunter, who is 70 years of age. 
• Our only couple riding 2 up arrived in the window and, from what I’m told, Kelley deserves as much recognition for keeping Matt within the boundaries of the rules as Matt does for driving the distance with the burden of a passenger on the bike.
• We had 6 women start in Las Vegas.  One went down to avoid hitting a deer in Colorado but the other 5 made it to the finish line and, two are in the money!
• We had 6 riders hit deer along the way.
• Our last rider, #732, Dan Certa, arrived at the finish line at 3:05am on the 19^th after 13 days 18 hours on the road.  Dan deserves a special nod for not giving up when an old neck injury caused him to sit for 3 days in St. Louis.

• Our prayers go out to rider #726 who is in ICU as a result of injuries sustained when he wrecked in Arkansas.

These are some of those amazing people that you hear about who are willing to fight not only their own battles but are also willing to fight for others.  The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is trying to bring attention and change to the Native People on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and other very poor and destitute reservations throughout the U.S. Participants ride not only for the Challenge of the ride itself but for those people who have to face adversity and struggle every single day of their lives without the luxury of running water in their homes… 90% unemployment… the highest teen suicide rate in the nation… sheer hopelessness. 

In the way of the Lakota people, the number four is a sacred number and represents the end of the dream - and of our involvement in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  After the feature length documentary gets televised and after 2013 event, we (Jim & Beth) hope to find other caring people to take over control of the Challenge with fresh ideas and aspirations for change.  We have done what we can to promote awareness for the Lakota people and believe that under new management the event can flourish and benefit other Indian Nations as well.

We want to thank everyone that has stepped up and offered help support and ride in the Hoka Hey Challenge and a special thank you goes out to Willie & Sally Parry of Wolf’s Run for making the 2012 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge a truly amazing event!  The End of the Road party was phenomenal with plenty of food, a bon fire; fireworks and 3 bands: Turbulence, Gun Runners and Pale Face (all of who donated their time for the cause)!!  

Wolf’s Run is located in the heart of Seneca Nation territory and has been owned and operated for 24 years by Willie and Sally, who are members of the Seneca Nation.  Willie and Sally recognize that the Hoka Hey Challenge is intended to bring awareness to the poverty on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota and believe that by hosting the event, they are helping to unite the nations together.  The Parrys understand that there is a lot more work to do in this capacity and, in order to help advance the cause, it has been decided that the 2013 event will BEGIN AND END AT WOLF'S RUN with Wolf’s Run Transport and Gowanda Harley-Davidson as our hosts once again.  The next Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will begin on JUNE 23^RD, 2013.  Applications are already being accepted.

Let us all go into this next and final event looking back for wisdom and guidance and looking forward to changing at least this one thing that is broken in our world.  Hopefully we will see you all there for the final chapter, the 4^th Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.