Meet the Rider: Wendy Battles # 685

 Wendy # 685 is entered into the 2016 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  She feels like a very lucky woman to be sponsored by Star- Brite. “Thank You from the bottom of my heart.”

Having just had knee surgery in March 2016, Wendy was not sure if she would be able to ride this year.   Having previously ridden in four HHMCs: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; and the Memorial Ride in 2015.  She heard about the challenge in March of 2011 from a 2010 (Key West Florida to Homer Alaska) HHMC rider.  After hearing his stories and finding that the 2011 challenge was riding through all the lower 48 states finishing in Nova Scotia, Canada, she was very intrigued.  But, had no motorcycle, no license, no passport, and other than riding a dirt bike as a child, very little riding experience.  The thought of no shower for days on end, and sleeping by her bike (no hotels or motels); well, it went on the list of things to do someday. 

While in the Chicago area, May 2011, she fell in love with a purple and black Heritage Softail and bought her from Calumet Harley Davidson in northwest Indiana.  Enrolling in the first available riding class at the Fort Myers Florida Harley Davidson dealer, she passed the class June 21st, flew to Chicago June 23rd and rode her 1,200 miles home. “I was either going to love it or sell her the minute I got home.  I loved it!”  After convincing her children and parents that she was not dying, they got on board and helped in every way to get her ready for the challenge, just 6 weeks away.  In August 2011 she rode out to Mesa, AZ and took off on the challenge.  She quickly learned along the way what switchbacks are, the effects of elevation, and what extreme wind, rain, sun, and exhaustion can do.  She realized she needed way more riding experience and opted to go off route and just make it to the finish line in Nova Scotia for the end party.  Having the most incredible time riding though 32 states, 2 Canadian provinces, for a total of 11,843 miles. 

When she got home she rode every chance she got, to get more experience, taking a trip with her dad over Father's Day 2012 to Tennessee to ride the Tail of the Dragon over and over and over again to get used to cornering.  She was determined to ride in the 2012 Challenge and finish the entire route.  She did.  She got more out of the challenge than she could ever imagine.  She met an incredible man, "my best friend for life."  A fellow Hoka Hey Rider, "who took my heart away," and have been inseparable, and ridden together ever since.

The best trips know where you are going to start and end, but no plan of where you ride in-between!!!!

Meet the Rider: Gabe Carrera # 804

Gabe # 804 got the bug for long distance riding from Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenger # 168 Jeff Kohn. He feels if he had never ridden the challenge he probably would not be the man he is today. He calls it the Hoka Hey spirit. This spirit taught him to "not quit. Go the extra mile." Too which he also attributes the determination he needed do The Pan American Motorcycle Children's Run, that started in Del Fuego, Argentina to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. He didn't set any speed records but is recognized by the IBA for the distance he rode and is anxiously waiting to hear from the Guinness Book of world records.  He says because of the help from God and the Hoka Hey he is the rider he is today. 

He  is reminded of the experiences in his first HHMC thinking about the night he was riding across South Dakota and was pulled over by a policeman. The observant officer gave him two choices, "You can go to jail and I will let you out in the morning after you get some sleep, or you can follow me to the park where some of your HHMC brothers and sisters are sleeping."  He chose the later where he laughed when he arrived there to find quite a collection of fatigued riders. Busy night for the officer for sure. He recommends the HHMC to people who want to find a new self and advises them "it will only hurt for the first three days." 


Gabe is being sponsored by Star-Tron/ Star-Brite and Chrome Glow lights, both have provided him with products he strongly endorses. He remembers being on his record setting adventure and running out of gas, but was thankful he had brought a generous supply of Star-Tron enzyme fuel treatment so he dumped several bottles in his empty tank and made it to the next gas station.

Meet the New Rider: Todd Pesnell # 864

Todd # 864 is good friends with Walter Ledig # 290 who has been talking about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge since 2010 when he rode his first event.  Not sharing the details of the ride as much as the great people, places and things he saw on the ride, Todd says Walter wants it to be a surprise for him. “But you sure can tell he likes it.”  He has been dying to try the event but just couldn’t carve out the time to do the ride. He calls this the “real deal.” He anticipates a change in himself from doing the ride knowing how he will be hearing the voice of the Great Creator.

Todd grew up riding motor cross so motorcycles are not a new thing for Todd. He will be riding what he calls the “prettiest bike ever made” his 2008 CVO Anniversary Edition Ultra Classic. Being advised not to “bring too dam much” and looking at the HHMC as something like the Fast and the Furious, he knows he won’t need a whole lot. Turning his skivvies inside out two or three times is part of his plan.

Meet the Rider: Junie Rose # 383

Junie #383 is not only a participant but has been serving as the director of rider relations for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge this past winter. She has ridden all of the routes and claims the bragging right of being the only female rider to have done that. Reading about the HHMC in a HOG magazine while being pumped full of poison in a cancer center in her home town was how she learned about this epic ride from Key West, Fl. to Homer, Ak. She always wanted to ride her motorcycle to Alaska and although she briefly entertained the idea of the $500,000. prize knew that was not why she was riding. When she asked her oncologist if she would be strong enough in three months to ride this 7000+ mile adventure he told her “Go live your life, don’t let this cancer slow you down,” and gave her $100 dollars. The town of Mattoon rallied around her having a benefit to raise her entry fee and flying by the seat of her pants with God at the wheel headed to Florida.

Hooked on Hoka Hey and not really sure this was where God wanted her to spend so much time she spent the next winter in prayer looking for confirmation this was where He wanted her. 5 years later she still feels very confident the plan He has laid out is where she is serving. Blanket drives, candy at Christmas, picnic tables are all things she has asked people to help to provide for the Pine Ridge Indian reservation and has never been disappointed with the outcome. “If God wants it to happen He will bless it.” Her church, Central Community has sent teams of people to assist with the efforts she felt led to try. 

Because of a crash in Marietta, Ga. on her way to the starting line in 2014 Junie was unable to make her second attempt to get to Alaska after not reaching there in 2010. She was given the opportunity to try for the third time in 2015 and was finally successful in reaching Homer, Alaska. She and Chuck Marble #85 had a friendly wager of a steak dinner at AJ's OldTown Steakhouse & Tavern for whoever arrived there first and He ended up buying. He also had not made it to his home state in 2010. 

Finding places to hide when sleeping is how she gets her rest. In 2015 she found an Army tank at a Veterans memorial in Kansas a good place to seek shelter but was saddened at the condition it was kept and contacted the town when she got home to see if there was something she could do to help make this better. “I wanted to cry and knew if a veteran saw this they probably would.” Behind an ice machine at a gas station just outside Telluride, Co was another of her hiding places. Sponsorships over the years have come from Hoggaiters, Woodstock Harley Davidson, and this year  Grannies Candy has helped her raise her gas money by providing yummy chocolate caramel turtles to sell to her friends. 

Meet the New Rider: John Maynard #866

John # 866 learned about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge from his club brother # 104 Mitchell Matzek who together has logged lots of long distance miles. What he liked about it was, not only was it a long distance event but you have to do it in an allotted amount of time and the riders help others. Riding 30 plus years John has been a part of helping other through events his club has done such as  The Rolling Thunder Run  whose mission is to educate, facilitate, and never forget by means of a demonstration for service members that were abandoned after the Vietnam War. Rolling Thunder has also evolved into a display of patriotism and respect for all who defend our country.

He and Mitch have talked at length about packing, sleeping arrangements and how to be efficient when it comes to that aspect of the ride. John will be riding a 2015 Roadglide on the event and with the help of 141Speedcycles in Winchester, Va. feels his steed will be more than ready to take on the rural America he will be riding.  The Body Gallery is a tattoo parlor who has made a cash contribution to help and a commemorative tattoo John can proudly display. John has set up a gofundme account to help raise funds for the PineRidge Area Chamber of Commerce. He and Mitch intend to have a party or bike event to launch his campaign to do what he loves to do and that is HELP OTHERS.

Meet the Rider: Mac Mc Arthur # 718

Mac # 718 has participated in the 2012 and 2013 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge’s but due to physical and medical health issues was unsuccessful in completing either event but fully intends to complete the 2016 challenge from the Pala Casino in Pala, Ca. to Wolf’s Run on the Seneca Reservation in NY. He learned about the event at a HOG Chapter meeting from former rider # 658 Bob Vincent. He looked into what the HHMC was and decided because of the relationship with the Native Americans and the long distance riding it was something he could support. Recently retired in 2012 he set out on a 4 week adventure that included his journey with the HHMC. 

He recalls how in 2013 when the ride started at Wolf’s Run and headed up to Canada that rider # 91 Dave Lutes stuck with him while he was having medical issues and made sure he was safe. He was falling asleep and knew he needed to do what was best for his safety, although he remembers the mosquitoes made sleeping very difficult. 

Mac has been riding since 1968 and will be riding his Ultra limited and recommends the HHMC to his riding friends with the Submarine Veteran’s Organization and Silent Serves MC and recently asked if anyone wanted to ride HHMC with him this year and it was a unanimous “NOPE!” He agrees is does take a special kind of rider to take on this challenge. He has been advised not to over pack and recommends new riders find a veteran rider who would be willing to “take them under their wing” so they do what’s right.  He has started asking his friends to help him support the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce by supporting him per mile or just donating to his efforts.