It may have been about the money at first, but for the majority of riders in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, it soon became all about the ride. The ride started in Key West, FL, with a destination of Homer, AK. The winner is to receive a prize of $500,000 in Alaskan gold, to be awarded in Sturgis, SD, during Sturgis Bike Week in August.
Mike Donohue, of Spring Hill, FL, was one of the participants.
"I was originally thinking of the money, but four or five days in I was just thinking 'chill, enjoy the ride, finish.'"
He said he doubted that there were 25 riders who were "prepared and hard-core enough" to go for the money.
"Ninety percent were realistic, they were here for the ride, not the prize. It shouldn't have been about the money anyway."
Donohue said he figured Missoula, MT, was the point where the race was defined.
"If you were leading at Missoula, then yes, go balls out." For the rest, "If the sole reason was pure greed you were doing it for the wrong reason."
The right reason
So what was the right reason? If you're not going to try to win, why pay the $1,000 entry fee? Why not just go do the ride on your own or with friends?
"It's to be part of something, to be part of a group," said Donohue. "It was being part of an event raising awareness of things like water on the reservation."
According to Hoka Hey materials, some of the money raised by the event will be used to drill water wells on the Sioux Indian reservation.
But, said Donohue, it's also about the personal satisfaction and the camaraderie.
"It's the personal accomplishment of completing it. And the people you met on the way would stop and help each other. There were guys helping other guys who are ultimately their competition."
He likened it in this way to the Dakar, another long distance race where riders stop to help other riders because that is just the spirit of the event.
Certainly there were lows. Finding his way through Florida on the first day Donohue was asking himself, "Is this something I want to do?" That was followed with three day of temperatures above 100 ("and I'm from Florida!), and then stopping for gas on the highway in Canada, only to find the station was closed.
"You're there for the night."
Sleeping that night on a picnic table in 30-degree weather, he again was wondering, "What the heck am I doing here?" But at that point, turning back made no sense because that would mean re-riding what he had just ridden. He might as well go on.
Benefits of not competing
Not being in the race for the money had some benefits. Although Hoka Hey rules say the rider must stay with the bike at all time, there were a couple nights when he stayed in motels. Once he was drenched from rain and another time he just figured he needed a shower.
"I've done enough 24-hour events to know you need to recharge. You're better off getting some quality rest so you don't cause an accident and maybe take some others down with you."
Donohue carried a laptop computer with him, so he was perhaps more aware of the controversy surrounding the race than many of the riders, such as charges that the directions were impossible to follow and set up that way so that no winner would be declared. He considers that "more whining than anything."
"They said it was going to be unpredictable. It was meant to be a challenge, not a cakewalk."
Now that the Hoka Hey is over, Donohue will take his time getting back home to Florida. The ride back will be much more leisurely than the ride out.
Coordination of this interview was assisted by Adriana Rosas, Marketing Director of Lake Weir Living. You can watch and listen from Mike Donohue's end of the conversation on this video.
Related articles:
Hoka Hey Challenge launches from Key West, headed for Homer, Alaska
Quebec City's Robert Peterson sole(?) Canadian in Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge
Quick update on Hoka Hey; first day crashes
Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge generates controversy, skepticism
Friends and families connect in search for info about Hoka Hey riders
First Hoka Hey riders reach Homer; first to arrive not necessarily winner
Hoka Hey organizers call event successful, planning party
For most riders, Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge was about the ride
No winner named for Hoka Hey on July 4
Redcloud says Hoka Hey winner will be named Aug. 11 in Sturgis
No Hoka Hey award ceremony to be held at Black Hills Harley-Davidson
FBI will have no involvement in determining Hoka Hey winner
Ogalala Sioux disavow connection with Hoka Hey
Hoka Hey award to winner key to potential fraud investigation -- FBI
William Barclay declared winner of Hoka Hey, to receive cash via wire
Hoka Hey award ceremony held at Broken Spoke at Sturgis rally
Comments
Wonderful story - I only wish it had a happy ending. Weren't they supposed to announce a winner on the 4th?
I read where one of them said "Man, I don't care if they pick my dead body up off the side of the road, this is what I'm doing," Callen said. "I came all this way, this is what I'm doing. And that last stretch, you know, it was heavy."
It's true - everyone that crossed the finish line - prize money or no - the stories that will be spun for many a rider will be priceless. Sounds like there's a book deal in this for someone.
This is the right attitude...and next time, how about it's all a ride for charity and comraderie. Winner picks which charity gets top$$, second prize chooses second place...and so on.
(And make a place for the rest of us who are not riding to make donations as well. When I read that people need water on reservations!!...but the bankers get their bailouts! infuriating!!)
Let's give the riders an extra week to get here, and everyone sleeps in hotels if they want. Sheesh, no need to make it painful and cold...enjoy the ride and support the tourist industry.
Slow it down, remove the avarice, eliminate the restrictions on restful sleep and we should have fewer deaths and injuries. And then bring it on every year! This is a great adventure!
Thanks for the updates Ken.
My husband road and I was a support truck. As for the sleeping situations that was part of the challenge. The time frame was plenty of time. If you want a long distance Poker run then plan it and we will go for it. As for us the challenge was the experience of a life time. Great people for the most part (excluding the whiners) Great Challenge for both the riders and support people. Great learning experience for all involved (even the whiners) very spiritual. As for the prize money it would have been nice but not the reason for the CHALLENGE. Need I say more than Hoka Hey.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!