Motorcycle riders to again endure long distance for charity”The World’s Toughest Motorcycle Riders.”
Rick Clemence of Scottdale read this message, the Iron Butt Association’s slogan, on a license plate, and the 41-year-old grew determined to become one of the approximately 19,000 members in the association made for long-distance, endurance motorcycle riders. He registered for Hoagy’s Heroes Special Wish Run last year, to partake in what the IBA refers to as a “Bunburner.” The participants rode 1,500 miles in 36 hours or less and achieved a world record with 66 riders.
“After getting a world record, you’re more wound up than a 3-year-old on 25 Snickers bars,” said Robert “Hoagy” Carmichael, president of Hoagy’s Heroes. “You’re just so pumped.”
This year, Clemence and Carmichael will return to participate in the Second Annual Hoagy’s Heroes Special Wish Run to raise funds for terminally ill children and families starting on June 24.
The riders will leave the Uniontown Holiday Inn and travel through West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland, before returning to Cerini’s National Road Harley-Davidson in North Union Township.
Instead of a “Bunburner,” the motorcyclists will ride in what the IBA calls a “Saddlesore.” While the participants will have to travel only 1,000 miles in 24 hours or less, the real challenge lies in setting another world record. Establishing that record this year may prove more difficult because Hoagy’s Heroes needs at least 139 bikes to complete the ride.
The funds generated from this event will directly benefit A Special Wish Foundation Inc. and Dreams to Memories. Based in the United States, A Special Wish Foundation aims to grant a wish to someone under the age of 21 diagnosed with a life-threatening disorder, according to the agency’s Web site.
Dreams to Memories, based in Canada as well as Buffalo, N.Y., assists terminally ill parents in creating one special memory for their family, according to their Web site. Therefore, potential riders from Canada have the option of riding to support a Canadian charity.
While the charities offered to pay for the expenses of hosting the run, Carmichael said Hoagy’s Heroes should provide funding, so that the charities will generate a larger profit. To alleviate some of the expenses for the run, Hoagy’s Heroes will raffle off an autographed picture of all the riders and sell T-shirts.
To register for this event, motorcyclists must have at least one sponsor.
“People can make pledges by the mile or a flat rate,” said Carmichael. “You just call up your local bank or the guys at work. There are all kinds of ways to get sponsors.”
Although only about 50 participants have registered, Carmichael remains optimistic about the final turnout.
“People just can’t commit until the last minute,” he said. “If they show up the morning of with their paper filled out, their money and at least one sponsor, they’re going. We don’t turn anybody away.”
Carmichael added that many potential riders remain leery of the weather because of the severe amount of rain they encountered on last year’s run.
Clemence said last year’s heavy rains added to the test of endurance.
“We were sitting in traffic in Tennessee and water was running down the road probably an inch deep,” Clemence said. “[The heavy rains] just slowed the pace down and made you more cautious.”
He along with Ernie Cerini, owner of Cerini’s National Road Harley-Davidson and event sponsor, rode approximately 1,140 miles the first day. After three hours of sleep, a shower and a meal, their group completed the final 460 miles the following day.
Despite the heavy rain, Cerini and Carmichael said the psychological aspects of the run proved their most challenging roadblock.
“It’s all mental,” Cerini said. “If you can overcome it mentally, you can do it.”
The riders battled the desire to stop and relieve their aching muscles with their determination to bear the pain and continue down the road. Initially after the run, Clemence said he would never aspire to challenge his motorcycle endurance again; however, two days later, he changed his mind.
“Once I did it, I was very proud of myself,” he said. “It’s just something in life I needed to accomplish.”