Hoka Hey 2014 Summary

On July 20, 2014, courageous riders from around the globe gathered once again at the Marriott Beachside Resort Hotel in Key West, FL for the start of the 5^th annual Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™.  The Organizers of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™ recognize that this event requires a coordinated effort and would like to publicly acknowledge the following businesses and individuals for supporting this year’s ride:

·       The people of Key West, FL and Homer, AK for welcoming the Hoka Hey participants and their families. 

·        Alan Beaubien and the Marriott Beachside Resort Hotel

·       Cory Wood and Peterson’s Key West Harley-Davidson

·       Mina Valdez and Rick’s Bar Key West

·       The Salty Dawg Saloon, Homer, Alaska

·       Kenai Peninsula Harley-Davidson, Soldotna, AK

·       The Marlene McDonough and the Down East Saloon, Homer, AK

Participants were required to stop at three checkpoints between Key West and Homer.  An integral part of the Challenge itself, the checkpoints were selected based on their strategic locations and the superior service they offer; the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™ would like to show their appreciation to this year’s checkpoints for taking first rate care of our riders: 

·       Wind River Harley-Davidson™ in Lawton, OK

·       Big Sky Harley-Davidson™ in Great Falls, MT

·       Harley-Davidson of Prince George™ in Prince George, BC

Participants expect to be constantly challenged by an unforgiving course as they traverse back roads and byroads and spend nights outside next to their bikes and of the 75 riders that signed up to participate, 58 Challengers left Key West and 43 of them made it to Homer, AK!  Congratulations to everyone that made it to the finish line! 

LIST OF FINISHERS

Completed the entire route without deviation and followed the rules of engagement as outlined by the Terms & Conditions of the event.

Rider #	First Name	Last Name	Check-In Date	Check-In Time
71	Eugene	Adee	7/31/2014	1:20am
74	Rodger	Annicelli	7/30/2014	5:15pm
78	Ralph	Styers	7/30/2014	8:35pm
85	Chuck	Marble	8/2/2014	10:00pm
91	David	lutes	7/29/2014	11:45pm
116	Jim	Herold	7/29/2014	1:55AM
168	Jeffrey	Kohn	7/27/2014	6:15pm
190	Richard	Drake	7/28/2014	3:55pm
323	Dale	Martin	8/1/2014	6:45am
332	Heinz	Spielvogel	7/29/2014	2:29am
342	William	Reynolds	7/31/2014	1:10am
605	Mark E.	James	7/31/2014	6:35am
619	Garry	Simoneaux	8/4/2014	5:00pm
621	Kenneth	Militmore	7/30/2014	12:55am
626	Jeffrey	Piscitelli	7/28/2014	8:15PM
685	Wendy	Battles	7/31/2014	1:10am
706	Tom	Hunter	7/31/2014	4:25pm
720	James	Van Vlerah	7/31/2014	1:10am
725	Rich	Griffith	7/29/2014	2:29am
731	Dominick	Zapploa jr	7/29/2014	10:35am
733	William	Buskell	7/31/2014	10:48am
736	Billy	Fultz	7/28/2014	2:20am
747	Robert	Kumpe	7/28/2014	3:55pm
750	George	Jackman	7/27/2014	6:15pm
780	Randy	Black	7/29/2014	11:45pm
785	Matthew	Wolf	7/29/2014	10:35am
789	Kurt	Kvennejorde	7/28/2014	2:27am
802	Joe	Lacey	7/30/2014	12:50am
803	Shannon	McKinley	7/30/2014	12:50am
804	Gabriel	Carrera	8/1/2014	8:15am
805	Mark	Childers	8/1/2014	8:25am
809	Rex	LeGalley	7/30/2014	5:35pm
814	Robert	Saunooke	7/29/2014	10:35am
817	Joshua	Childers	8/1/2014	8:25am
818	Gary	Burd	7/31/2014	1:20am
820	Dale	Miller	8/1/2014	5:05pm
824	Allan	Thompson	8/2/2014	10:00am
826	Jeffrey	Williams	8/1/2014	2:00pm

LIST OF ARRIVALS

Riders who for one reason or another, had to go off route or their route could not be validated.  Regardless of their reasons, these intrepid riders would not be satisfied until they saw the finish line in Homer, AK.

Rider #	First Name	Last Name	Check-In Date	Check-In Time
1	EB	Chester	7/30/2014	2:00pm
64	Judy	Wagner	7/30/2014	2:00pm
321	Samuel	Jeppsen	8/1/2014	5:00pm
676	Stanley	Kistler	7/31/2014	5:10pm
677	Debra	Kistler	7/31/2014	5:10pm

LIST OF STARTERS

The following intrepid riders started out from Key West but were unable to finish the ride.  Whether they wrecked or encountered other obstacles, these hard-core riders had the fortitude to take the Challenge!

Rider #	First Name	Last Name
31	Michael	Barnak
164	Gary	Trumper
239	Helmut	Karner
359	RIP	Alexander
646	Thomas	Schmidt
691	Newton	Pereira
724	Arthur	Pond
729	Dennis	Elsasser
735	John	Levins
752	Mathew	Klebe
781	Richard	Rutherford
806	Kevin	Marchand
808	Raymond	Roberts
815	Russell	Phillips
819	David	Gaggi
822	Matthew	Martin
825	Arthur	Arway

RECOGNITION

Those participants who completed the Challenge in the spirit of Hoka Hey and who exhibit the attributes that most closely reflect the true spirit of the HHMC we recognize:

1. Heinz Spielvogel, #332 – RESPECT
2. Eric Buskell, #733 – HONOR
3. Mark Childers, #805 and Josh Childers, #817 – INTEGRITY
4. Chris Drake, #190 and his wife Sue – COMPASSION
5. Jeff Kohn, #168 and George Jackman, #750 – AWARDED THE COUP STICK FOR ARRIVING AT THE FINISH LINE FIRST

Adventurous riders should watch the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™ website (www.hokaheychallenge.com) for information about the next event or call 605-890-0386 for more information.

Many pictures have been uploaded to the Hoka Hey Facebook page and many more are coming.  Stop by our Facebook page and see what our riders have provided.

Risks and Rewards

The 2014 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will commence on 20 July at 6:00 AM from Key West, Florida headed to Homer, Alaska.  The scenic highways that will be traveled were handpicked to provide you the most amazing ride possible.  

If you are riding this year's Challenge then you are fortunate for a number of reasons: first and foremost is the fact that the ride is free.  by that I mean there is no entry fee... a way of showing appreciation to the many that have supported Hoka Hey through the years - and to welcome new riders to the fold.  

However, there will be a cost.  Of course there is the purchase of fuel and food, but I speak of that which is beyond the dollar value; the cost of time, determination, tenacity, pain, discomfort and perhaps a level of irritation from time to time.  but the reward far outweighs the cost.  The sights, the sounds, the meeting of new friends, and the rejoining of old friends; the realization that you accepted and completed this Challenge.  

But, to me the greatest rewards are those things that happen while riding solo.  Things that happen that only you see.  Those events and instances that happen for no other reason than you happen to be at the right place at the right time and cannot be put into words or adequately described by any means available to us.  

The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is just that; a Challenge of monumental proportions. It will work hard to break you and put you in a position that will make you question yourself and your resolve.  Do not let it overcome; use this ride to discover your true self and to reach deep and use the strength you never knew you had.  

The only thing that stands between you and the completion of this Challenge is you.

Think and Look for State Troopers

That’s really all there is to do while we ride; think and look for State Troopers.  We gander at the scenery but most of our visual effort will focus on the road and subsequent hazards associated with it.  As we gain experience riding, our situational awareness becomes automatic and reflex driven; which leaves the thinking.  With me the thinking centers on past events, future hopes and who I really am. We cannot hide from ourselves.  We can foster a facade to those around us and some may even accept that as who we are, but the facade and who we really are often different; to varying degrees.  Those long rides offer an opportunity to evaluate ourselves or our position in life and from that we are offered a choice.  We can stay as we are and build on the facade or we can bring our true self closer to the person we want to be.  That is what the Hoka Hey Challenge offers; opportunities to get close to yourself and your thoughts and from that (hopefully) become a better person.

 To me the Hoka Hey Challenge means Honor , Integrity, Tenacity, Determination, Strength… the list can go on.  We, as individuals, are the only ones who can truly live these attributes.  We can pretend to have these, but we know who are really are.  Come take the Hoka Hey Challenge and use the opportunity to truly know yourself and from that very special education become a better person.  It is said one person cannot change the world.  I disagree as more often than not it is the single person who has the most effect.

Join Us.  This year there is no entry fee so never before has the opportunity come so close to your reach.