Meet The New Rider # 1223 Josh Standley

Hi, my name is Josh Standley, I'm 24 years old and this will be my first time riding in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. I am an electricians apprentice by trade, and I am very active in my labor union (L.U. #46). I also am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and served as a missionary on the Navajo reservation for 2 years (from Dec 2018 - Aug 2020). For this reason, I am somewhat familiar with certain native beliefs and customs.

I found out about the HHMC from my dad that had seen a post on Facebook about it. We continued to research this experience and I decided that this would something that I wanted to be apart of. Since I've come back from my mission, I've felt that there was a piece of me that is missing. I've been searching for this piece, and I feel like I will find it on this journey.

As of April 2024, I haven't chosen a non-profit to ride for, but if I do choose to raise money, it will go back to the Navajo people. Where I witnessed many people living in poverty, in ways that I didn't know were possible in the United States of America. I am very grateful for the opportunity I've been given, to ride in this great challenge, and see places in the USA and Canada that I have not seen yet!
Josh Standley #1223 HOKA HEY!

Meet The Rider # 1088 Michelle Feddersen

Hey Ya’all!  I’m a native Iowan out wandering around looking for my new place of residence.  I’m known by a couple different names. Morning Bit@hes ( which comes from my daily attempts to give someone a much needed laugh everyday) and Rider of ... Richard (which is my 21 Indian Challenger). 2024 is my second time participating in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.

2022 HHMC - Kiksuya which means Remember.
 Kiksuya means a lot to me. “Remember Me” was something my Mom would repeatedly say to me in her last couple years as she tried to fight cancer.  There wasn’t a day go by on that ride that I didn’t Remember my Mom saying those words. I learned about myself. I learned how much of a strong, determined woman my Mom raised as I finished in 10 days! The world you know and live in day to day, gets really quiet. It’s just you with your thoughts and your surrounds. No television. No work. No social media.  You are the only one who knows your physical and mental limits.

2024 HHMC- Chicnik Gehli means Many Thanks. We all have so many things to be thankful for!
My goal going into the 22’ challenge was to finish in 14 days and that will also be my goal for this year. My hopes for this year are to remember where I sleep every night and really SEE more of the exhilarating countryside that we will be traveling through. I love the “old school” aspects of riding the HHMC. Paper maps, no gps, no hotels, back country roads etc. It sure makes things interesting and creates fantastic memories with stories to tell.

My advice to new riders would be to stay Aware. Literally everything and everyone will be out to get you. Sleep when you start getting tired and sleep where you feel safe. Eat a good meal everyday and stay hydrated. Push yourselves and get out of your comfort zone. We all, including your friends and family want to see you cross that finish line in Homer, AK. We’ll be waiting to hear your story.  You can do it.

This year I’ll be riding for a charity dear to my heart.  Mile Monsters Inc. Monsters Inc. started in 2021 with a goal to Help Kids Live Their Best Life. We do this by competing in Epic Events and doing Epic shit on our Motorcycles.  We raise money to help kids with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Better known as DMD.  This terrible disease is a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and it remains 100% Fatal. The Boys we help battle DMD daily and it is relentless.  That is why the Monsters have stepped in to help ease the burden of the family and show the world just how cool these kids are.  These boys have become family and we continue to push the limits to help them.  As long as they fight we will fight with them.  Helping these kids is what we do.  Epic Fashion is how we do it,  Thanks again for supporting us as we raise money for these kids, one mile at a time.

The Hoka Hey is where it all Started! 10,000 miles of back road riding as we work our way from Key West Florida to Homer Alaska!

Meet The Rider # 1049 Bernie Weiss

Bernie Weiss Rider 1049 is riding for redemption.  He has been riding for over 50 years. He rode in two IBRs in 2001 and 2003. He is married to Barb, his biggest supporter and cheerleader. He has two adult children and three grandchildren.
He currently lives in Florida previously living in Chicago. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division and  attended the University of Texas - El Paso.

Meet The Rider #1050 Jason Brown

My name is Jason “Ronimo” Brown and by day I work for Angelo State University as an Instructional Designer and Adjunct Instructor. I love the outdoors and wish everyday that I had chosen a career path that would have gotten me back outside. My motorcycle is my way of getting back out there and seeing all the great things and meeting all the different people you can find out on the road. I am lucky that my dad, my brother, and an uncle all love riding.

I first heard of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge around 2014 which started my intrigue.  Due to life situations, I knew I could not participate at the time so I forgot about it.  In 2020, I was talking to some guys about dream rides and was reminded of the HHMC.  In 2022, I had the great opportunity to participate in and complete the Kiksuya Hoka Hey. It sounds crazy to most, especially to my wife, but for me it is a call I answered and I am answering again.  This year, it will allow me to set some new personal goals.  Like in 2022, I have no doubt this ride will have a profound effect on my life.


As part of the 2024 Hoka Hey, I will once again be riding as a Mile Monsters Inc. Raising money and awareness for our Heroes, boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). 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 DMD, injuries and circumstances out of their control.

Jason Brown (#1050)

Meet The Rider # 1000T Terry Mathis

Retired early living in Arizona, this will be my third Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. The Hoka Hey took me back to the reasons I started riding almost 40 years ago. Back highways and exploring the open road.

 Over the last couple of challenges, I was surprised to find out just how many people were following me on my journey and cheering me on. This year I will be adding to the Challenge. I will ride Route 66 from Winslow AZ to Illinois before heading to Florida. After the Challenge I will ride across Canada. Along the route I will be spreading ashes of a dear friend that spent many years on the back of my motorcycle. The first sponsor I have for this year is We Love Our Troops

Meet The New Rider # 1137 Brando Palazzo

So, a little about me. Grew up riding with my Pop at 15, first bike was a 2004 Electra Glide Black.. The passion to ride started there... Over the years my passion has evolved from riding with Clubs to adventure and sightseeing. I heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge

from a fellow rider, his detailed explanation of it really intrigued me and from there I ended up here now. In addition to my HD bike, I enjoy riding my 9 foot long K9 chopper and my Ducati. Each has its flavor and personality. I will say that riding different bikes builds up one's riding skills and adaptability.

Why do I want to do this ride...  I am drawn to experiences that are not mainstream and offer an element of risk, adventure and reflection. To have the opportunity to see the U.S. and Canadian rural areas on two wheels is definitely unique. I look forward to the challenges this ride will present and to see how I respond to them. I am sure that upon the conclusion of this ride I will have a different perception of life and what is really important. I think this tends to happen when one flirts with death.

My non profit- I have been involved with Houston Central Young Life for 7 years. I started by volunteering after school with the high school teens and have moved up over the years to the board and now as chairman.  I oversee the fundraising , budget, staff and direct mentorships to the youth. When I was younger I attended Young Life which had an impact on me. Now I aim to pay it forward. I recently held a dinner fundraiser which directly supports the salaries of the full time workers, covers admin costs as well as sends kids to camp. With the help of my Master we raised over 6 figures for our mission.

I hope this gives you a little glimpse of my reasoning for this ride.


--
Cordially,

               Brando Palazzo
 Be polite to all, but intimate with few...
Thomas Jefferson

Meet The New Rider # 1155 Andy Woller

Hi I’m Andy I’m 54 yrs old and live in Lamar Colorado. I’ve ridden motorcycles since I was 5. I participated in car dirt track racing since I was 16 my last race was in 2017. I got my 1 st Harley 105 anniversary in 2008 and have been riding ever since, no more racing cars. I am married to my beautiful wife Diana since 7-4-12. It took a little bit of convincing to get her on the back of my motorcycle but now she has her own and goes all over the place. I enjoy hanging out w our 3 wolves Titan Hera & Spartacus. I own Andy Woller Towing which has been in operation since 1996. 

 When I heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge 2 yrs ago the more I learned about it the more i got excited to do it! It was like I was made to do this kind of ride. The long nights and brutal weather conditions make it sound so exciting! The fact that I’m riding with some of the best long distance riders is truly an honor. This type of challenge nobody can beat me but me.

I chose to ride for the Outlaw Faith Foundation because it is a cause my wife is very passionate about. This organization uses 100% of the proceeds from purchase of its namesake clothing brand Outlaw Faith Wear to buy wigs, mastectomy bras, assist with travel expenses and provide motivational and emotional support to women battling breast cancer.


Many thanks to my sponsors
 

Andy Woller Towing & Recovery 

Diana Lynn Fashion 

Uniquely Created Designs

Gamble Perez Auto Sales

Performance Automotive 

Austin Motor Sales

KLMR radio

Lamar Auto Parts NAPA

Oquist Family Chiropractic 

Edward Jones 

Ace Tire Service

DareMe Wear

Ark Valley Auto

Buzzards Roost

Meet The New Rider # 1222 Mars Brimhall

Namaste, wishing everyone a great life. I am Mars Brimhall from Flagstaff in
northern Arizona. I have been able to enjoy motorcycling my entire life as I was
introduced to motorcycles by my father and siblings, having three brothers and one
sister that are older. I have always found myself on 2 wheels and many of my first
memories are holding onto the handlebars or waists of family when I was too young to
ride my own. I can honestly say that riding motorcycles is in my blood. I have also
enjoyed teaching my children to ride and often enjoy chasing the sun on my Road Glide
with my wife.

I have been old enough to ride my own now for awhile and my children are old
enough to ride their own as well. I have enjoyed motorcycle in many forms during my
life but have been drawn to long distance riding and endurance challenges; that let me
really get out and see the countryside. I love the adventures of riding and people you
get to meet in out-of-the-way, hole-in-the-wall types places when you are on a bike.
I first heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge at a motorcycle party I was
attending in Mesa, AZ. Unfortunately, I do not remember the gentleman’s name that
had just completed the ride but I remember thinking that was completely awesome and I
must do that as well. I am wanting to ride the Hoka Hey for the personal challenge and
growth that comes from such an event; to be among like-minded riders; and to help
discover my true self and personal inner power.

The Non-Profit organization I am fundraising for is Healing Frontline Heroes. In
collaboration with the Seri Tribe of the Comcaac Nation in Punta Chueca, Sonora,
Healing Frontline Heroes offers access to Indigenous Plant Medicine and Ancestral
Healing modalities for military veterans, first responders and medical personnel.
Helping those who put it all on the line for us. Pushing boundaries and to help with the
mental health of our veterans, first-responders, and medical healers. Healing Frontline
Heroes is engaged in helping an indigenous people to share their culture, heritage, and
healing with those in need; to heal themselves.
Founded by Michael Manion, a good and close personal friend. I have witnessed
veterans suffering from PTSD and lost in a system of bureaucracy, people that have
tried every thing available to try to help their mental suffering, to heal and recover from
their emotional wounds. Outside of the box we have created Healing Frontline Heroes
with the Seri Tribe are achieve peace in warriors hearts today.
Money raised during my Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will be used to directly
help veterans to attend healing, spiritual retreats with Healing Frontline Heroes in Punta
Chueca, Sonora, Mexico. The funds will help those heroes in need to attend personal
healing experiences facilitated by the indigenous medicine men and women of the
Comcaac nation. It will send veterans for free to help them heal from their mental,
emotional, and spiritual wounds without worrying about the cost.

 For info and donation:Healing Frontline Heroes

Meet The New Rider # 1184 Mickael Doudeau

My name is Mickael, I'm 48 years old and French, born in the Nivernais countryside. So I don't speak English fluently, but I always manage to make myself understood, as they say back home I speak
English like a Spanish cow. I'm very proud to be Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenger  #1184 new challenger, and I'm delighted to be part of this new family. I don't know if any French people have already taken part
in this challenge, but it's with great enthusiasm that I commit to fulfilling the challenge contract.

I've been living in Saint Martin in the Caribbean for 25 years with my wife Agnès, who also loves motorcycling and accompanies me on all our trips. Motorcycling is my life, my passion, my religion, my philosophy, my outlet, my freedom, my livelihood, because it's become my job, and I have my own sales and repair store. What would I have become without the bike, nobody knows.  I've already travelled the world on a motorcycle. I've had a lot of experience on motorcycles, apart from travelling, I've done track events, rally-raids like the world's biggest rally-raid, the Dakar, where I've been providing mechanical assistance for a famous Japanese brand for the past 10 years.

I chose to sign up for this challenge because all my life I've been looking for experiences to challenge myself, I'm an active person and I need that to move forward. What motivates me even more in this challenge is to cover all these roads in total autonomy, without any modern means, for me it's like taking a horse and crossing horizons to get to the finish line. I don't really have a strategy, for this adventure I'm going to let myself be guided by the ancient spirits. Surpassing myself morally and physically, sharing with other riders, discovering different countries unforgettable encounters and then I'll share it spiritually with all my friends in the 4 corners of the world and my wife who will join me at the finish.
Good luck to all and happy riding
Looking forward to meeting you all in Daytona
Mick

Meet The New Rider # 1207 Robert Long

Hello. I’m Robert Long, #1207, and my wife of 37 years and sons operate a bison ranch in
southwest Missouri. We also have run a USDA meat processing facility. Both of my sons work
in the family business and all six of my grandkids live on the ranch. In addition to our large herd
of brown bison, we also have a small herd of white bison. We have been raising bison for 30
years. Life is GOOD!

I bought my first motorcycle at 16 and love exploring our country. I have completed several big
rides including the 2023 IBR, the Great Lakes 100, and my proudest accomplishment was
winning the Junior Butt Rally with the L Train, Lionel Ramos. I am so happy I was selected to
ride the 2024 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. The opportunity to participate with some of the Greats in long distance motorcycle riding is an honor. The Challenge has always intrigued me because of the grit it
takes to complete it. I love backroads, become frustrated with electronic gadgets, and sleeping
outdoors is right up my alley. I’m fortunate that the 2024 Challenge also includes Alaska. I had
planned to ride to Alaska in 2020 then covid hit and stopped international travel. I have family
that has lived in Alaska since the 70’s, and I have always wanted to visit.

The non-profit that I have chosen is the Pheo-Para Alliance. This advocacy, awareness, and
support group is invaluable to those afflicted by this rare genetic condition. A condition that most
healthcare professionals know nothing about, this group gives you resources to help those
affected make the treacherous journey. Their conferences, webinars, and medical facility
connections make this non-profit a must with those diagnosed with pheochromcytomas or
paragangliomas. www.pheopara.org

Meet The New Rider # 1144 LaVita Wells

 Hello my name is LaVita Wells, I am Rider # 1144 and I have been selected for the 2024 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  First of all, I want to let you know I am a proud mom of two daughters, 6 grown grandchildren, and 3 great grandbabies. 

Initially, I was a passenger in 2005 on a 2003 Dyna SS Glide and that is how I got introduced to the bike world.   By the end of 2005 I began riding that Dyna Glide myself.  I rode on my own 300+ a day for a four-day Dakota Run by June of 2006.  In fact, I was the first woman on that run.   Eventually I rode that bike all through the summer of 2006, just getting experience from Minnesota to Sturgis Rally, Black Hills and the surrounding areas, Pigs Tail, Custer State Park.  In 2007, I bought a 2007 HD Road Glide and that Spring and early summer I rode in some Twin Cities Fundraising Runs, Toys for Tots, Diabetes, etc.   We had planned to make a trip to Yellowstone National Park (YNP), so we had the Road Glide rigged with a trailer hitch.  I rode the Rode Glide the boyfriend rode the 2003 Dyne.  After the Sturgis 2007 rally we left for YNP with all our camping gear.  First, we rode through the Big Horn Mountains, then on to Chief Joseph highway and then drove Beartooth Mountain and then arrived in YNP camping spot.  This was an amazing time, we camped for two nights and during the day we rode the park and then drove out of North gate to Red Lodge, Montana.  There was four of us, and that was my first long trip riding my own bike and so we rode all the back through Montana and North Dakota, Minnesota.  

 

In June 2008, we planned another camping trip this time to Laconia, NH and but this time only three of went on that trip, but I rode my bike all the way there, beautiful ride across New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.   We arrived there and planned some rides with these other biker friends who had trailered there.  It rained most days but we had a few days to ride.  We rode to the Atlantic, then another day we rode up to the top of Mt. Washington one and unbeknownst to me it was partially graveled.  I survived.   

 

 

In 2009 I became a full-time grandma, and my riding was limited, but in 2010, I managed to get a sitter for my granddaughter who was eight for a trip to the Redwood Trees.  So, I left on a Monday July 19th to Crow Creek, South Dakota to meet with friends and we took off the next day on a Tuesday.  We had to get to Reno, Nevada by Thursday the 22nd, so our first night was in Rawlings, Wyoming and second night was in Salt Lake City, Utah.  We hauled butt to get there because some biker’s wife and a sister were flying into Reno.  We left from there to the Redwoods and afterwards to San Francisco and then all the down on Coastal Hwy 1 and across to Bakersfield, to Barstow, California (desert hot) then on to Laughlin, Nevada to Grand Canyon, Monunment Valley, to Million Dollar Highway, and made our way back to South Dakota and all this in 15 days.  In 2011, I purchased my ‘07 HD Road King and I did the  Sturgis, Dakota Run, Wounded Knee Memorial Run, maybe intermittently, to get some riding in.

   

In 2019, my granddaughter graduated, she left home and I was on my own.  So, I decided to do a solo ride to Oregon July 31st.  I have to miss Sturgis that year, but this was wonderful trip, however, not my solo ride really, I took my boy Cash (my Yorkie), he was four years old at the time.  I’m really going to miss him when I leave on the HHMC ride. 

  In 2020, I still did the Dakota Run, the 300+ a day ride in four days.  I didn’t do Sturgis that year.  Again because of Covid, I just rode locally.  I had met Henrietta Nelson on the Wounded Knee Run one of them years and I knew Detta and her husband at the time on the Dakota Runs.  After a while I didn’t see Detta for a few years, but I have been riding with Henrietta since 2017, Henrietta and I have ridden in some storms.  First, we rode to Globe, Arizona and on the way went ran into a storm, not realizing at the time, we were in the tip of that Hurricane Sergio, October 2018, then on the way back we thought we go back to Oklahoma through Flagstaff and ran into snow, and 40 degree weather.  In 2022, we decided to ride to the All-Female Ride in Jacksonville, Florida and after that weekend we rode down to Key West, Florida, we were riding in rain to Florida City, so we stayed overnight there.   The next day we took off and as were approaching the 7-mile Bridge we rod into more rain and hurricane type wind.  HAHA, we were riding sideways across that bridge!  Actually, on we had a few good sunny days but  

 

 

 

Most of it was rain from the time we arrived in New Orleans, until the 7 mile bridge.  We were in Key West one day and rode back to Port St. Lucie, Florida and stayed the night there.  The next day we headed out to our destination to Cherokee, North Carolina.  We made it there by 9pm that evening, I think it was about 1000 miles in a day, give or take a few miles.  We stayed one night in Cherokee, NC and next day we rode the Dragon and into Knoxville, Tennessee and we rode into rain again.   To make this short, we rode in rain all the way back to Oklahoma City. 

 

Also, for the last three years I’ve been riding to my neighboring state of Wisconsin with the Wisconsin Indigenous Riders for their Opioid Awareness/MMIW Ride.  We rode and made at all these stops from Black River Falls to Red Cliff, Wisconsin.  At the end of our Run in June 2022, we decided to ride up to Upper Michigan Peninsula, Copper Harbor, another windy ride and on gravel road at the end.    

Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about HHMC in the spring of 2022.  I had a desire when Henrietta and Detta did the 2018 HHMC, but I couldn’t go at that time.   By the end of 2022, I started asking Henrietta about it, the more I asked, the more I wanted to do it.  I love to ride, now days I’m home a lot by myself, my girls and grandchildren are all living their lives.   So I decided… I’m going to do it. I want to ride the winding roads, see the land, the new land in Alaska, but do it for a purpose…take Calais and Renee’ spirits with me on this ride.  They were supposed to live!  Never give up!  So, in that aspect I decided to raise funds for American Indian Family Center (AIFC) in St. Paul, Minnesota, so they can help individuals with mental health issues.     

 I know HHMC will be brutal, but I am determined, and I will get rest when I’m tired, drink lots of water and I’m going to take it nice and easy.