Meet The Rider Capt. Bob Terrell # 738

Well Long story short, I rode the 2012 Hoka Hey Challenge, with a 3 day, 2,510 mile "warm up" ride from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the start.

That 2012 "Hoka Hey" turned out to be an experience of a lifetime, Thus the beginning of getting hooked on a great adventure.

The idea of riding an "iron horse" across the nation, no matter the weather, for a cause is the best reason ever to ride. 

To conquer such a distance in an allotted time, using back roads you would never think of riding, following specified directions, not speeding and sleeping next to your 

"iron horse" like a modern day warrior, is most intriguing and certainly a CHALLENGE!

As stated, I'm a returning rider since 2012, for a couple of years acting as a voluntary promoter, due to loving this challenge, I attended HOG meetings and rallies inn several southern states and let loose with much of the aforementioned.

Unfortunately unable to overcome obstacles such as "not so compliant employer" any longer, I have only ridden 2012., but was fortunate enough to make the the 2015 Memorial Ride, in it's own right an impressive ride, to say the least, 120+ Hoka Hey Riders, in safe perfect order,  rode for 500 miles, then parading down Main Street, during Sturgis Bike week, was quite an honor and memorable experience. 

An Interstate accident with a cage, in 2016 put me out of commission for a couple years, totaling my bike and almost me.

My favorite part of the challenge is a tough choice, the meeting of the riders at the start, the party at the end are favorites. but I have to say the ride is the nucleus.

The toughest part of the challenge was to meet my personal goals of averaging 1000 miles each 24 hours. 

Since my becoming a Hoke Hey Rider, I've convinced a dozen riders to participate and several of them have ridden more than one "Hoka Hey" Challenge since.

I'm not sure whom my Non-profit  will be at this time...still in the works.

I am so looking forward to 2020 Challenge...hope to see whomever reads this there, be sure to say hello. HOKA HEY!

Meet The Rider Billy Fultz # 736

 Always having his eye on the goal Billy Fultz saw the fruits of his efforts by crossing the finish line first in the 2018 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. Working his game and improving his approach each year after finishing 12th in 2012, 9th in 2013 and then third in 2014.  Will we see a repeat flawless run from him this year? Riding a stock 2016 Roadglide he shows up with minimal extras. When he stops to sleep he doesn't bother with a tent or hammock. Just a simple sleeping pad and that is it.

Moments alone crossing miles and miles of open land gives way to spiritual moments where Billy said he had and AH HA moment. He loves long distance endurance riding. Managing sleep to avoid the zoombie affect is important too. Being aware of the route in front of him Billy avoids navigation errors saving him miles and wasted hours. But weather is something you just have to take as it comes. Remembering a down pour he blazed through with fellow rider and Texan Terry Smith where they couldn't see the front tire is the kind of thing you just can't predict.

Billy will be raising support for the Gary Sinise Foundation who do great things veterans and first responders.

Meet The T-Shirt Merchant and RIder Eric Buskell # 733

Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenger  #733 is also Known as COEB (crazy one eye biker) from Panama City Beach, FL. I run a T-shirt print shop and assists in the production and distribution of merchandise for HHMC.  Participant and finisher of 2012, 2014 and 2018, I am proud to be part of the HHMC family. I am co-hosting the 2020 challenge from my hometown and it is going to be great. The board is preparing another once in a lifetime experience for new and returning riders alike. Warrior celebrations and feast will be had before and after the start at some great locations. I am pumped to watch all the riders push them in the challenge and witness their return. I am here to be a voice for the riders, for the continuance of the challenge for veteran riders and for the opportunity for the new riders a taste of what the challenge was and is now after a decade of distance riding. Hoka Hey.

Live Large and Ride Long Distances - COEB

Meet The Rider Richard Griffith # 725

 What do you do for fun when you are not riding?

Working with my wife Dawn Griffith in her Business,
World Traveling,  and talking about were our next adventure is going to be. Working on and around the house.


I want to ride the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge because "It is to challenge myself and I Love the HHMC  family." This will be my 5th Run my expectations are to see More Badass Roads. Beautiful sights.  After returning to the states after 3 years 8 months in the desert, a coworker asked if I knew any thing about the HHMC. I Looked it up in 2011 I was too late to ride that year but rode in 2012 for the first time.The ride started in Las Vegas, NV. and ended on the Seneca Nation at Wolf's Run.

 IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME RIDE YOUR RIDE.

Do not try to over do what you can do.  YOU WILL DIE IF YOU WONT LISTEN TO YOURSELF...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope everyone of us listen to this everyone that starts can finish. Let’s not lose another family member this year.

The open Road and getting to see the areas of the country that are simply amazing. Seeing my Brothers and sisters and meeting new family members. Favorite part is every thing between the start and End of the Run.
Helping others out if I see them on the side of the Road.


What was the most difficult trial you faced on a challenge?
The most Difficult trial you ask!
I will tell you it is when I hear that a Brother has lost his life. This is real and if you don’t think it can happen to you do not do this Run.
I have seen good Brothers go Down they are way better riders than me.
So when you hear Ride your Ride it is yours for the taking. Only yours it is YOU against YOU.
RIP 691 Love ya Brother.

Meet the Rider Arthur Pond # 724

Arthur is not new to the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. This will be the fifth time he has ridden a challenge. The first was the 2012 Las Vegas to New York ride. Bringing him back into his neck of the woods. Wolf's Run was the host for the finish line and one of the riders won a motorcycle donated by Sally and Willie. Unfortunately it was not Arthur. He comes back year after year because he likes to challenge himself and he always learns something he should have known.

He read about the HHMC in a HOG magazine and the rule of no GPS and sleeping next to the bike are what attracted him. Riding to places he has never seen is his favorite part. His enthusiasm about the ride has helped him convince two riders to give it a try. Both from his HOG chapter. Out to enjoy the ride Arthur will be elated to see the finish line after having two years where he was unable to complete the challenge.

There are not a lot of obstacles keep him from riding. Clearing work schedules and saving money is how he goes about making this happen. 

This will be my fifth. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and now 2020.

Now that you have ridden a challenge what is your favorite part of the challenge?

Seeing old friends but mostly riding where I’ve never been

What was the most difficult trial you faced on a challenge?

Well there were two. One, in Washington State I hit a big rock in the road and cracked my crank case. Sad I couldn’t continue. Two, I got affected by the heat and decided to go home. Really bummed.

 

Meet The Rider Jim Van Vlerah # 720

 There is no fun other than riding! As a grandfather of 4 (2 sets of twins, ages 10 & 5) the kids want to go for a Harley ride all the time. Last summer, the youngest granddaughter just wanted to ride, and ride, and ride. She’s was a little small at the time to go out on the highway so we took 30 trips up and down our 1 mile road, back and forth, all the while she was rocking out and singing at the top of her lungs to Hits 1 tunes on an XM channel. She would only pause between numbers to yell, “Faster grandpa! Faster!”The neighbors wondered what the heck was going on until they spotted Lucy on the back. Riding the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, "It’s my dream vacation to be on my bike," with the only goal to go from Point A to Point B following the specific set of directions and trying to make it within the 14 day period. I like the challenge of so many miles in such a little amount of time compared to other riders that I know. 
 
When asked what is the best advice you have been given about riding the HHMC, since this will be Jim's sixth event, force yourself to rest after a certain number of hours or miles, what ever works for you. You’ll be all pumped up and want to keep going but if you don’t rest, you’ll mentally crash at some point during the event and that will make you fall behind. As the owner of a mechanical contracting company, I have to preplan what my customer’s needs will be while I’m away, with the crew that stays behind to keep the show rolling while I’m away. Once I take off at the start line, my brain turns off all work issues.

The attraction to the challenge was "wanting to be one of the toughest (or stupidest) riders" on earth who can say they accomplished the task. The planning up to the start of the event is one of my favorite things, I am always trying to invent better ways to hold the directions, better lighting on the bike for night time driving, but what is the most difficult trial I face, crossing the finish line, and knowing that it’s over for another year.

Meet The Rider Tom Hunter # 706

I  First learned of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2011 when I was reading an article in Full Throttle magazine.  My grandson and daughter were over to the house that evening and I showed them the article and ask him if he didn't think that would be pretty neat to do .  My daughter told me that I was too old to do something like that I was seventy at the time.  I signed up the next day! When I arrived at the start not knowing what to expect I received a lot of helpful advice from some of the veteran Riders.  Although these are the most competitive people I've ever known, they compete against them self not against each other and they will give you real good advice.  One of the things I remember in particular was being told that I would feel like quitting about halfway through.  I thought to myself at the time "that's not going to happen," well it did and I had to work through it and realized I can't quit now.  I have to go I have to continue! 

One of the best pieces of advice I received was a ride your own ride and enjoy it although sometimes it is quite hard to enjoy it what with the adverse weather sleep deprivation getting lost etc etc etc. But that is all part of the experience somehow I managed to muddle through and made it to the Finish Line in the prescribed time and became a Hoka Hey Finisher!  One of the veteran Riders met me at the Finish Line handed me his telephone and said call your daughter! I knew then I had been accepted into the Brotherhood and trust me it is a Brotherhood!  The veteran Riders become family! 

One of the best feelings I ever had is riding up to that Finish Line knowing that I had completed it and although completely exhausted thinking to myself can't wait for the next one.  This will be my 7th challenge so one piece of advice I would give New Riders is do not over pack you will not use half the stuff that you carry.

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Meet The Rider Tom Schmitt # 646

Tom # 646 has ridden five of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge’s 2011, 12, 13, 14 and 18 but has no idea why “just the thing to do.” He heard about it from a friend in Ohio at his local Harley Davidson dealer. He remembers riding threw the Arkansas National forest late one night with Junie #383, Elvin # 664, and Brad # 709 but the deer were so thick you didn’t dare ride very fast. He remembers pulling up to a stop sign, looking off to the right and Junie saying “Hey look a Hoka Hey Hotel.” It was a post office. Perfect spot to sleep knowing the mail trucks would be there very early there was no concern we would over sleep.                   

The HHMC really made Tom aware of his limitations and found he was frustrated over following the directions when he was “running out of steam,” but has learned a lot from it. Making new friends and showing up at gauntlet drops to reunite with them has been enjoyable for Tom. One of his favorite roads believe it or not was that crazy CR22 with its hairpin uphill turns. He says “it really made sure you were on your game.” Seeing a sign that warned you of the 24% grade was another challenging yet exhilarating road. Just trying to find those roads again is a challenge in itself because the only people who know those roads exist are the locals. And that is one of the things Tom loves about the HHMC.

His best advice for new riders, don’t pack everything you think you’re going to need because you’re not going to need it all. Know your limitations and don’t try to ride beyond them. Rather than fund raising Tom prefers to dig down in his own pockets and plans on making a donation to the Moscogee Tribe. 

Meet The Rider Garry Simoneaux # 619

For Garry this will be his fifth Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. He rode 2011, 14, 16 and 18. The 2011 HHMC took him over 20K miles door to door. When asked what HHMC means to him his answer "HEAVEN."  He heard about the challenge when he learned a police officer from Beaumont, Texas where he is from, was doing the 2010 challenge but it was taking off in a few days so he was unable to do the ride that year. 

In 2011 the first day Garry broke his ankle but rather than quit he went home and got his trike and rode all the way to Nova Scotia. Riding the HHMC has given him the confidence that he can do just about anything he sets his mind to, but Garry remembers the assistance he received after running out of gas when a pair of HHMC riders stopped to help him. He thought he was out of gas but come to find out he also had a issue with his clutch. Chuck and Richard took the time to tow him to somewhere he would get it fixed. That's what family does, help each other.

Finishing the challenge brings joy to his heart every time he sees the finish line. He has formed so many new friendships from being a participant in the challenge and would be okay with doing the challenge every year like it was in the beginning. His friends really don't understand why he would sleep next to his bike and put himself through all this but he says you have to do the challenge before you could possible understand.

Meet The Rider KC Aston # 618

Ken (KC) #618 is from Aurora, Co. and has ridden 2011, 12, 13 and 2018,  Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge after seeing it on the internet in 2010 and wanted to see if it was “something I could do.”  After riding 30 years he knows how to pack. Sunflower seeds, beef jerky and tangerines are staples on his steed. “Tangerines are easier to peel as your going down the road.” Riding parts of the Trail of tears and Natchez trace are fond memories, and not knowing what state you’re in other then “a state of confusion,” made the top of the list for KC. The family reunion type feeling a returning rider gets seeing everyone at the meet and greets and end of the road party was the “Best.”

Surprised by the women riders KC says “It’s harder to keep up with the women then the men.”  Way to keep em’ movin’ Jane and Shatzi!!!!  Sleeping in a farmers driveway and getting stirred awake by the local police officer thinking he was dead was unforgettable experience he had while choosing his Hoka hotel for the night. His experience has been awesome and is something “you just have to try.” “Stop when you get tired, sleep” is the best advice he has for new riders.

Meet The Rider Terry Smith # 373

A seasoned Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenger Terry started riding when he was 6 years old. He has ridden all of the challenges except the 2014. The first year he showed up in Fl. with enough stuff in a chase vehicle to rebuild the bike he was riding because the first year you were allow to have a crew and Terry was chasing the $500k. But no amount of preparation will ever be enough for the May flies on the bridge in Illinois. While riding across a grated bridge covered two feet deep in flies that had a sack on them that made the bridge like a ice skating rink, Terry and riding friend Chris went sliding. While on the side of the road make repairs to Chris's bike they watch as three dump trucks were filled with dead flies.

Terry checks his pulse with riding. Looking for the next road in front of him is all he anticipates as a well worn rider. There are plenty of adventures out there a person can do that doesn't challenge the rider the way the HHMC does. He loves the adventure. Terry met Chris in FL. the first day of the first event after he stopped and picked up Chris's helmet. They don't say much to each other but they like it that way.

Meet The Rider Heinz Spielvogel # 332

 I have been riding since my teens that makes 45+ years and over a million Harley miles on eight different bikes from Sportsters to Road Glide and FLH FX variants and I'm from Rhode Island.

I entered the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge 2020 and it will be my seventh running of the Challenge.  I'm looking forward to this year's ride. I see that we have many returning rider as well as new ones. The Challenge always proves to bring me to another level of riding. Whether it is physical. mental or mechanical. I plan to ride my 2007 Roadking that will have close to 250,000 miles at the start line. This RoadKing has brought me to every one of the 48 contiguous states at least 3-4 times and  once to Alaska in 2010.

I got to see some awesome scenery of our Country as well as Canada. Had some fun and funny times. one of my favorite stories to tell was from 2011. It was somewhere in the coal belt of VA or KY early in the O dark 30 hours and I needed some sleep. I found a closed gas station, parked the Roadking behind it, rolled myself up in my blue tarp and slept, till someone was kicking my feet proclaiming "Sheriff's Office you alive?" After we exchanged pleasantries and inspected my paperwork he said that they got a call that there is a dead body rolled up in a blue tarp on the side of the road! and the Deputy told me that they take those calls "Kinda seriously around here". We had a good chuckle over it, so I gave him the web site and how he can track me as well as other riders that will be passing through.

This year as in the past I will be in part sponsored by Ocean State Harley Davidson, Exeter RI, I thank them for their support, generosity and enthusiasm.

Meet The Rider Rob Keller # 299

To tell you about myself is a reflection or image of most Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenger's. This will be my third attempt at completing the challenge. I have been to the finish line twice while riding the challenge but I have had to go off course because of time management and break downs. 

 I competed in the first challenge in 2010 and spent three days broke down. I still managed to ride 10,500 miles in 14 days. I crossed the finish line but had to change my course. That was the greatest adventure of my life having to overcome many obstacles that cold have stopped me. I kept riding on due to pure determination to get to the finish. 

Im a self employed contractor and  singer, song writer that performs 100 or more shows a year. I live near Pittsburgh Pa. I enjoy riding motorcycles with my wife of 30 years Karen. We take at 

least one good long ride together each year.

I have countless 

memories from the Hoka Hey Challenge that have changed my life. I have also talked to many riders that say that they want to take the challenge some day. All I can say is I'm very blessed to have a third opportunity to ride. Everything in life has to line up for most people that are still in the work force but you first have to say I'm doing this and I'm  going to do whatever it takes to make it happen. 

I want to ride the 10 year anniversary of the Hoka Hey Challenge in honor of the memory of my dear friend Jim Red Cloud. Jim had a dream and created this challenge for many good reasons. I don't have anything but respect and love for Jim and his wife Beth who have instrumentally put together a motorcycling dynasty. Imagine riding your motorcycle day after day on a journey that takes you to places that are so beautiful that they take your breath away. Every turn you are chasing the next point of interest but every mile you are greeted with all of the splendor that our creator has gifted all of mankind to behold.

I have chosen to raise awareness of the great warriors of the United States Of America that find themselves homeless. Many live under the bridges and struggle to get to a place where they can be truly happy. No veteran of our armed forces should be homeless. I will be hosting a concert on July 12 at JBs Roadhouse in Tarentum Pennsylvania. All proceeds will be given to the Homeless Vets Ride Charity. I will also be accepting mileage pledges from anyone that would like to contribute to the Homeless Vets where each mile I ride will bring hope to those less fortunate. Two words that should not be in the same sentence. Homeless Vets.

Also on June 6 I will be taking riders on a two day Hoka Hey adventure ride. This ride will give riders a small taste of what the true Hoka Hey Challenge is all about.I invite anyone that is interested in supporting my choice charity to go to robkeller61@yahoo.com for more information.

The clock keeps ticking. It wont stop for me. Another day flies by and the past will soon be. So live for the moment not for the day. Time is so precious. Don't let it slip away!

Meet The Ride Walter Ledig # 290

 The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge has been part of Walter's life since 2010. He has ridden all of the challenges except 2014 (Key West to Homer, Alaska). When not riding or preparing for a ride, he is at home in Louisiana operating his health care business, or Real Estate development business. 

The 2020 Hoka Hey will be the highlight of a busy year preparing for full retirement. After that he will be spending time in Louisiana building a new home and spending time in Santa Fe, NM trying to escape the Louisiana heat and humidity and riding as much as possible. 



 

Meet The Rider Lynn LePelley # 278

Most of the questions for the bio are super easy – especially since I am one of the returning riders, having already done the original Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge 10 years ago.
I am one of these old geezers who have been riding for well over ½ a century. I got a late start though, because my mother hated motorcycles and wouldn’t let me go near one ‘till I was over 21. So riding, like many other things, was forbidden fruit until I was “of age”, and I made sure I did all the forbidden things in large amounts.
What I do for fun - - Have been retired for many years, but my lack of a regular job only increases my other activities. I flew hang gliders for about 35 years, from the time that the sport started ‘till about 8 years ago. These days I spend a significant amount of my time playing music in various venues, and enjoy the guitar almost as much as the bike. I also read to the kids at a child care center, and do some missions with the Patriot Guard Riders.

The “why” part of the bio is the easiest. As before, I look forward to completing a large riding event, while helping to raise money for the North Plains Indians.
I have been given no advice.
I heard about the HHMC 10 years ago on the Web. Perhaps Beth can provide better info in this regard.
I’ve only done the original (and the upcoming)
My favorite part is completion of the whole.
My most difficult trial was riding 860 miles on the last day, in the Yukon and Alaska.

Meet The Rider Chris Drake # 190

Chris is another of the five warriors who has taken on every Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. Not a Harley guy, he actually went out and bought a Harley so he could do the challenge. His wife Sue who is his biggest fan, read about the HHMC in a motorcycle magazine and knew this was something he would love. She was right! The most attractive thing to Chris about the challenge was simple, "you ride, get up and ride some more."  The only obstacle that gets in his way is financing the ride. Without any electronics to distract him it gives him lots of time to think.

Chris had left the Decatur check point in the 2016 challenge with his riding buddy Terry when at around midnight  they could see lots of bugs flying around the street lights and a police office called out to them and said there were flies on the bridge they were about to cross. Okay, they had ridden in Alaska before where the mosquitoes are the size of hummingbirds so how bad can this be? Well there is something called  May flies and these slippery little buggers where a foot deep and both him and Terry started sliding and both ended up crashing on the bridge. It took both of them to pick up each of the bikes because the flies have an egg sack that made the bridge like an ice rink. Chris hurt his hand and his bike took a pretty good hit so him and Terry did some work on his bike and were able to continue on.

His favorite part of the challenge is the people he meets and the parts of the country you wouldn't normally see. The trials come but he always seems to find people who are willing to help. He remembers a time when he had a problem just after returning to the USA with a wheel sprocket and saw some bikes parked outside a bar. One of the patrons took him and his bike to his garage, helped fix it and got him back on his way.

His friends think what he does is "pretty cool."  They enjoy tracking him on the US Fleet Tracking site on the internet the HHMC has to keep up with the riders.

Meet The Rider Greg Schafer # 186

Greg Shafer, I am, 67 years old born and raised in Kansas City Mo. After high school I joined the USAF and became a detection dog handler. I then spent 24 years in law enforcement in Missouri. After retiring in 1996 I owned and operated a convience store for a couple of years, then worked as a Parts and Service manager for 6 years. In 2002 moved to the Lake of the Ozarks to help take care of my aging parents. Now I had rode motorcycles since I was 16 and in late 2009 I came across a Magazine ad for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge for 2010, it grabbed my imagination and I was hooked. The next eight months was spent getting ready for the 10,000 mile ride from the West Keys in Florida to Homer, Alaska. Every rider I talked to had a bit different slant on equipment and logistics. It was clear that the run to Alaska was going to be a battle. This only increased my will to get to the starting line. I have often said, that for those of us that have to save every dime to be able to afford do the Challenge, That getting to the starting line is half the battle. Eight Hundred riders showed up in Florida and at six in the morning we roared up the highway out the Keys into an adventure that no one was sure how it would end. Then on the second evening in Alabama, my Challenge was ended by a car rear ending me. Thanks to the spirits, I somehow walked away, only to be able to make the award ceremony at Sturgis. It was an unigue experience in that we found ourselves at the largest biker rally and people was treating us like Rockstars. People giving a  thumbs up or stopping you and asking about the Challenge where ever you went. Well for me it only made me more determined to get to the starting line for the 2011 Hoka Hey Challenge.

Greg Shafer....My Word is my Bond..................