Would you ride your Harley from Key West, FL, to Homer, AK? (Photo: Ken Bingenheimer)
Despite "a few glitches here and there," the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge has been a success and has raised a lot of money for a variety of charities, said Annie Molloy today. Molloy is organizing the July 4 wrap-up party in Homer, AK. She is the sister of Beth Durham, wife of Big Jim Redcloud, the organizer of the event.
Motorcyclists riding the Hoka Hey started out from Key West, FL, on June 20, bound for this small Alaskan town. The sole winner is to receive a prize of $500,000 worth of Alaskan gold. The winner is to be announced at Sunday's party in Homer and the prize is to be awarded at Black Hills Harley-Davidson during Sturgis Bike Week, Aug. 9-15.
Despite considerable skepticism about the event, and allegations that it is a scam and that no one will be receiving the prize, Molloy insists that "We are for real. It's a positive event."
One argument made against the event is that the maps provided were so bad that nobody could follow them, which would allow the organizers an out to declare that no one had won.
Molloy countered that most of the riders really didn't have that much trouble with the maps.
"There was a new housing development that had changed the road's name, but it was the same road. Everybody figured this out, based on what the men who have finished have told me."
According to Molloy, the bikes of the first two finishers, Frank Kelly of Prosperity, SC, and Will Barclay or Highland, FL, were sequestered so they could be checked for disqualifying modifications. Others of the first arrivals were also checked out, she said.
Finishing first doesn't necessarily mean winning, however. Molloy said they administered drug tests and had the riders take polygraph tests regarding their following of the rules. Additionally, checks with the departments of motor vehicles in the states along the route are being checked to ensure that the riders didn't receive traffic violations.
"We also collected gas receipts to make sure they were on route. I'm sure one of the first five is probably our winner."
Regarding allegations of a scam, Molloy said, "It's sad, I don't know what to say about it." With the exception of one rider who was loudly critical, Eric Wickre, she said "Every other rider said he would do it again in a heartbeat. We're really trying to do a good thing. For us it's a pay it forward thing."
Meanwhile, it appears the only thing that will quiet skeptics is the announcement of a winner on Sunday and the awarding of the prize in Sturgis. It is at that point when everyone will know whether Big Jim Redcloud is for real or a fraud.
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
anne is not beths real sister. and the Cloud will always be a fraud no matter what happens at this event!HIS WHOLE IDENTITY IS A FRAUD ! the folks who rode ,you deserve respect. dont think for a moment redclod deserves any.
david koresh changed his name also. welcome to the redcloud hoka hey cult ! run away ...
Interesting that Ms. Malloy states that her organization has already done drug and polygraph tests given that there are no facilities in the town of Homer, Alaska to do either according to sources there.
Did they bring a mobile drug testing lab with them all the way from Key West?
Why have they attempted to limit access to the finish line by blocking off the arena with "crime scene" tape, (no pun intended).
Jim Durham has claimed to be an attorney yet he's not admitted to the bar anywhere in the U.S.
Ms. Malloy was identified at one time by the Durham's as an attorney, then in later stories she apparently lost her license to practice law and became the "mgr. of a law firm" in San Diego.
The mind boggles at the fact that given the overwhelming amount of actual as well as circumstantial evidence pointing to the idea that this entire escapade is nothing more than an elaborate con job there are still people who believe the Durham's and their pack of lies.
One wonders how anyone with a conscious or a soul can state that an event like the debacle still ongoing in Homer is a success when one rider was killed and numerous others were hospitalized with dozens of motorcycles damaged or ruined due to avoidable accidents.
Will Ms. Malloy be paying any sympathies or condolences forward to the family of the rider killed while participating in her con game?
The only people involved in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge who should be required to undergo drug and polygraph testing are it's organizers.
"a few glitches..." that's how one of the perpetrators of this fraud sums up the death of one rider and the injuries and mechanical damages suffered by dozens and dozens of riders.
It's good to know just how much value she and her co-conspirators place on a human life.
Real Deal: I know that you know quite a bit about Jim and Beth Durham and the others associated with the Hoka Hey Challenge. I know that you know enough that you should do more than just state allegations in these comments. Why don't you go to the authorities?
If this ends up being a fraud, I wonder if they can be culpable for involuntary manslaughter or some sort of wrongful death charge. If I were the widow, I think I would at least bring a civil suit for wrongful death.
I know they probably had everybody sign releases but those things aren’t worth the paper they’re written on (in Texas anyway).
I know
Is there a reason why nobody is inquiring about Sunrise Entertainment and Robert Swope?
They were the production company promising helicopters, motorhomes, chase vehicles and an ultra-light for video coverage.
They were also running a promo for their upcoming TV Show which they pulled off their website right before the start of the race. All inquiries made directly to them have remained unanswered.
truth seeker: google' the great buffalo caper ' . all true. no conviction on durham. you have no idea who these people are and what they are capable of.i tried to warn the most vocal opponent of HH when i first heard of this race. got blown off. redcloud doesnt do anything illegal himself, he pays followers to do his dirty work. classic sociopath. he will pay out money for this race. because next year he will get 1000 riders. is that what i should tell the authorties ? or should i just try to warn as many potential victims as i can ? i did try. FACT !
Real Deal: I do believe everything you have said and I have followed your posting and the evidence you presented for some time now. I think your information is credible. My question was based on what I see as real legal (criminal and civil) issues here that could quite possibly take these people down. Mail fraud is a federal violation with criminal penalties. Reckless endangerment, fraud, wrongful death swings both ways. There is plenty here to be of interest to the district attorney's offices in Florida, South Dakota, and Alaska.
And, thanks for what you have tried to do for potential victims.
Annie Malloy must be a little depressed, seems another "glitch" has developed in the form of another unnecessary death of a Hoka Hey participant. On the plus side, the organizers of this fraud did warn the riders that a death during the event was grounds to keep their money and not issue the $500,000 first place prize money so it's not like they didn't know going in. It's a good thing the "uptight"attorneys hired by Beth and Jim Durham knew how to right a contract to keep their clients out of jail.
It must be really tough to keep that stiff upper lip/complete denial of all things based in reality thing going with the blood of 2 people on your conscious.
How do these people sleep at night?
I know for a FACT that Jim "RedCloud" Durham is not who he says he is. This entire thing is a scam. I GUARANTEE no one gets that money.
sad state of affairs, indeed!
As more and more develops, we have videos of the Hoka Hey Send Off in Key West to riders at the Finish Line in Homer, Alaska embracing loved ones to the Closing Celebration on July 4th. See them on our Blog: www.lakeweirlivingblog.com/
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