Meet The New Rider Keith Hennigar # 877

" Start a mission and complete it." That is what Keith plans to do on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle challenge. He wants to prove to himself at 61 years old he still has what it takes to ride like this. Put to extremes but with a never give up no matter what attitude. Why would you do something like this some friends ask?  Keith knows that many dream of riding a challenge like this but are not all cut out for endurance. His biggest obstacle is sleep. Hoping nutrition will help with sleep deprivation he plans to eat well on the road.

Hearing the road stories Brian has shared with Keith has really given him a desire to complete the challenge. Social media has allowed our family to really get to know each other.
Encourage from the sidelines and get involved with each other helping with different events raising money for veterans for things such as Camp Liberty where wounded vets are accommodated to hunt or fish. Getting them out doors even though they may have obstacles to over come.

Meet The Rider Robert Saunooke # 814

Robert gets lots of riding in done living in Plantation, Fl.  Five years ago motorcycle riding was just one of many things Robert like to do for fun but has narrowed things down to riding. Long distances for crazy adventures such as hotdogs and cheeseburgers, but also stepping out and riding to bring help to family. Robert is not a risk taker. "Fear is not real. It is the substance of your imagination over things that don't exist and may never exist. Danger is real! But you must prepare for it. Fear is the only thing that can concur your spirit without ever coming into existence." Preparing as much as possible helps over come obstacles.

Roberts wife is his BIGGEST supporter although lots of Floridian friends have rekindled a feeling he had when suffering, sacrificing and bonding while spending endless hours with his football family 30 years ago. But not just Florida, anywhere Robert knows a Hoka Hey family friend is out there ready to break bread or pull back a throttle. What ever the occasion dictates. And when ever asked to chip in for a project he believes, "Much is given then much is required."

Because this is not Roberts first HHMC he says he has nothing left to prove feeling his perspective on life has changed 100% and lives literally like tomorrow may not come. His advice for a new rider is "Enjoy the ride, you can never ride the HHMC and be the same."

Robert will be raising money for  Leukemia Lymphoma society and especially for the benefit of Ansley Saunooke who is his 4 year old niece with Leukemia.

Meet The Rider Robert Talbett Sr. # 832

Semi retired roofer from Albiano, NY. Dad gets to spend much more of his free time on the road. His first vehicle was a bike. Something that until lately he and son Robert Jr. did not have in common. Now that they have a Hoka Hey Motorcycle challenge behind them and have an idea of what to expect the plan is to finish. "Do the best you can and just stay strong." Thinking this was not going to be that big of a deal  for Rob Sr. and he was going to "BREEZE RIGHT THROUGH IT!" He is prepared to finish alone if he has to.

Assisting a fellow rider the first day of the challenge after she lost the shift lever somewhere in one of the three deserts we went across that first day of the 2016 challenge

was how Rob Jr and Sr. started the challenge. And finished with just as much integrity as they left with that first morning. Dad admits his son pushed him into riding the challenge but he didn't resist much.  The challenge has brought a bond between these two men that was missing and now they not only have each other but a whole new family.

Meet The New Rider Rick McLeod # 875

Rick is from Arkansas and served in the Army for 8 years. Because he  loves to travel and try new things the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge has all that to offer and he is looking forward to participating. Long distances hasn't been an obstacle after riding to Alaska but finding a Hoka Hey Hotel has got Rick concerned. He likes what Adam Sandoval had to say about sleeping next to a church or somewhere like that, he said "If you don't put up a tent it doesn't feel like trespassing."

Rick learned about the challenge from his Dad who saw a brochure on a bulletin board close to the house. Rick read no electronics, turn by turn directions, stay with the bike and was interested immediately. He has no doubt this will be a physical challenge but that is fun to Rick.

Rick will be raising money for Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter

 

Meet The New rider Brian Deml # 874

Brian Deml is from Owatonna, MN and is not "A main stream kind of guy." Growing up on two wheels, 4 hour adventures to his Grandpas cabin are one of the fond memories he has about motorcycle riding. No set route just " here's a road I never been on let's see where it goes."

Mentally preparing for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle challenge since 2010 but unable to get away from a family owned business, Brian's biggest obstacle is hoping the business will be fine while he is gone. Ground support from the tracker will allow the family and friends to keep track of him too.Advice Brian has received such as pay attention to the directions and eat well stick in his mind as things to be heeded. "You can get away with eating badly for a couple days but not long.

Being very involved with the CMA       Hoka Hey Run for the Son  as a member and an officer in the past made it easy to choose a great group of motorcyclist to help. Making transportation possible for pastors in foreign countries is the main focus on Brian's friends. Canoes, motorcycles, bicycles, what ever they need.

Meet The New Rider Bob Nelson # 873

"There is so much more I want to see," says Bob Nelson of Dayton, NV. That is one reason he decided to take the Hoka Hey Motorcycle challenge. Having a long ancestry with the Knights Templar and the warrior spirit in his blood could be another. Bob is not one who just ignores the urge to do something and waits for someone else to do it.

At one point in Bob's riding a motorcycle was his only means of transportation. He remembers going back and forth across the Treasure Island Bay bridge.   One of his favorite events to participate in is the Run For The Wall. Supporting veterans is were he will focus his fund raising efforts for the HHMC. Spending lots of time on the bike will prepare Bob for what he is facing in July but is very confident he will see the finish line.

 Bob will be doing his fund raising efforts for   Advocates to End Domestic Violence, a women's shelter that helps women free themselves from a domestic abuse environment and become self supporting.  They are located in Carson City, NV and all donations are utilized locally and  Northern Nevada Veterans Resource Center,  they provide veterans assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for veterans and families (SSVF) which focuses on homelessness.

Meet The New Rider Charlie WIlson # 883

While searching the internet looked for a thrill to fill the summers riding calendar Charlie and his wife Vernice along with long time riding buddy Brian stumbled onto a link to the Hoka Hey Motorcycle challenge. Being from Fort Pierce, Fl. many a mile are put on every year. None where they had to give up that hotel bed and shower but for a couple weeks Vernice is willing. Charlie rode sport bikes as a younger person but took a break to have a family and promised himself to get back out and ride. Long days with bikes loaded to practice are planned to prepare for the July kick off.

ALS which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He has become more educated about this disease and how it affects his friends and family. ALS Association Charlie has set up an account to make donations to them directly. Family is very important to Charlie and Vernice. No one wants to set any land speed records, they will be happy to finish together.