Meet the Rider: Jim Van Vlerah # 720

Jim #720 met ran into Jim and Beth in Columbus, OH while his daughter Abby was doing her dissertation for a masters degree in 2011 but had just had heart surgery so waited until 2012 where he and Abby road as the first Father daughter team of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, riding from Las Vegas to Irving , NY. Never being in it for the money and says the money is “overrated,” he does it for the love of the ride. Abby learned what lot lizards were while sleeping in a truck stop with her Dad so churches and car washes became more desirable place to get rest. Mosquitoes the size of bumble bees in Canada are a fond memory of his as well.  Knowing it is hard to take time away from your family to do the HHMC Jim came up with a solution to that and just brings them with. His wife Karen joins him at the starting and finish line and makes it a real family affair.

He feels more aware of how little it would take to survive after living out of a saddle bag for three weeks and has become less materialistic. He knows most think he’s crazy but finds “satisfaction” in his events. Seeing the USS Alabama in one ride really made an impact on how he looks at North America.He loves wearing his patches and has become good friends with fellow riders Bill and Wendy and has stayed in contact with them ever since.  They can share in the stories of crazy roads like CR 22 where law enforcement officers’ admit "they don’t even drive on that road but you HHMC people do." Oreo cookies by the box and smelling offensive,scary to most but harmless to those who know us they have some amazing road stories to tell.

Meet the New Rider: Jim Fish # 836

Jim #836 had heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge several years ago and entertained the idea but it wasn’t until he met Capt. Bob # 738 who rekindle the flame and he carved out more time to do this amazing ride. Riding since the 1990’s Jim will be riding a 2016 CVO Limited for the event. Preparation and talking to former riders will “help him make this ride more enjoyable. Learn from their mistakes.”  He has been enjoying talking to HOG groups with Bob about riding this year and looks forward to the starting line in California.

Meet the Rider: Shannon Mc Kinley # 803

Shannon # 803 of Florence, MS rode the 2014 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge with good friend Joe Lacey #802. He had been reading a lot about the different rides but wasn’t able to carve out the time needed to do the ride. He liked the thought of challenging himself. Never expecting one of those challenges to be, dealing with bears up close and personal, while waiting for a pilot car in Canada. Shannon feels he is prepared for anything now.  He heard about the HHMC reading a HOG magazine and followed the unknown riders on the US Fleet Tracking link provided by the HHMC and found himself coming back daily to see how these future friends were doing.

By 2014 Shannon was ready to give the ride a try and found himself riding right past his home. Knowing everyone was now watching him on the tracker was tough not to go home and hug the Grandkids and sleep in his own bed, but he stayed to the task at hand and continued on. One of the places he did find rest was a dugout of a South Dakota baseball field. With the blessing of a police officer working the night shift he and Joe were able to get out of the rain knowing the officer would keep an eye out for them. Throwing some camping gear on the bike and going for a few days ride is how he has discovered he likes to ride and recommends that if you “only have one oil change on your bike,” something isn’t right. “Buy some heated gear,” was some of the best advice SHannon ever received.  “Don’t focus on distance, take the HHMC at your own comfortable pace and enjoy the ride.”

Meet The RIder: Heinz Spielvogel # 332

Heinz #332 a four time Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge rider is coming back for another go around. He started riding the event after reading an article in the HOG magazine and thought it be a good way to ride to Alaska. Bears in the Yukon like stray dogs on an Indian reservation, his most memorable thought of years of riding was the “Incredible scenery.”  Real back roads, through National forests, State parks and Indian Reservations finding a stray combine to catch a few hours out of the rain and sleep. Gaining a whole new family in the process.  But the harsh reality of poverty in the United States of America and how First Nations People have been treated in the past gives him a different view then he had before.

Riding the Tetons and Canadian Rockies were favorites of his although some of the most difficult riding was in Canada as well due to the construction that seems to be unavoidable. Dust and slippery mud for miles while you drag along at 35mph behind a pilot car.  And you never know when you might be riding in snow or freezing rain. He feels this is a ride for people who want to challenge their abilities, but warns new riders to listen to their body and not their mind because your mind will mess with you. Heinz says “Lay down, don’t listen to it.” He has lots of friends following and supporting his efforts like his local tavern the Muse Tavern where they had a back yard party for him to ride his first event.

Meet the New Rider: Dave Krider #837

Dave # 837 of New Kensington, Pa. saw the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge decal on Rob Keller’s #299 bike and asked what it was for. When he filled him in on the reason we ride it really “caught his attention,” but riding with the group for a few days during the 2015 Memorial ride Dave was convinced “he had to do this.”  Leaving the Memorial event armed with brochures he immediately started sharing his new found challenge. Don’t anticipate anything, just roll with it was the best advice he has been given especially since Dave has been riding for 35 years and riding isn’t the issue for sure.

Dave and Rob have joined their efforts to support several great causes by doing concerts and events for the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce, Homeless Vets inPittsburgh, Sponsor the Troops, ALD Awareness  RobKeller & Dave Krider's Hoka Hey Journey  is the link to their facebook page. And they also have a gofundme page.