The 2022 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will be my third to enter The first was 2014 after hearing about the event and following for a couple of years I was interested. I had talked it over with a good friend and fellow Club Brother Joe Lacey. Well Joe surprised me on my 40Th Birthday with a envelope that contained his completed entry form and a blank one for me along with a check for both of our entry fees he simply said fill that out and lets do this . We road every mile together and came across the finish line in Alaska together i believe 13th and 14th. ( RIP ) HH802.
That
first HHMC was a blast I figured out that i don't need a fresh change
of clothes for every day of a trip I think I had 15 days worth and only
used maybe 4 changes I actually departed Key West in a white short
sleeve shirt Shorts and Crocks most of the others were dressed up in
what I now know of as Technical riding gear. Once we reached Montana I realized that heated riding gear was a thing and purchased my first
heated jacket liner (after all we are going to Alaska) now it stays in
the saddle bag year round. After this ride I gained a ton of confidence
in my ability to just strike out on the bike with not much more than a
Tent, Sleeping Bag, and one Change of Clothes and Just a Direction in
mind.
In 2016 I enlisted a
couple of other riders including my Father, Uncle, and Joe ( Who was
battling cancer ) Bruce Rimes (Hippie) and Joe's nephew Billy Tucker . We
tried to ride the route together for the first several days. I'm glad I
got to experience that time with them on the road but looking back was
not a good idea. When you keep hearing the Veterans say RIDE YOUR OWN
RIDE this is something to consider . I think Hippie was the only one of
us that completed the course. I left the challenge after the Second
Check Point with a DNF. 2018 I went to Cheer Bruce (Hippie) and several
others on at the Finish Line in Medicine Park and in 2020 watched as
everyone Departed Panama City wishing I was going with them but Knowing I
had to much going on at that time to participate.
I
guess most of my friends and family think I'm crazy when i tell them
about the HHMC and they may be right. I had just met my Girlfriend
(Mariah) a couple months before the start of the 2014 HHMC the Route
actually passed within 1/4 mile from where she was employed so i text
her to say we are passing your work today on the Natchez Trace but we
were unable to meet up. She has been nothing but supportive in this
crazy form of entertainment I call Going for a ride.
In
conclusion To all the ones I call Family now and all the people I have
met through the HHMC I'm so glad that I found this organization it has
changed every aspect of my life.
This year i will ride in Memory of my son Shannon “Trevor” Mckinley who we lost August 21,2021 .
I will be raising donations for Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce
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