Controversy is swirling around the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge (Photo: Ken Bingenheimer)
While the 700-800 riders competing in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge are riding long miles and grabbing sleep when they can, a furor is blazing among their friends and loved ones and skeptics who claim the whole thing is a scam.
The Hoka Hey is a 7,000-mile motorcycle race from Key West, FL, to Homer, AK, in which the winner is supposed to pocket a prize of $500,000 in Alaskan gold. The race began Sunday morning and the racers are reportedly now on their way to the next checkpoint in Rock Springs, WY.
Whether anyone will be declared the winner and claim that prize money is the crux of the heated debate that has erupted on the Hoka Hey's Facebook discussion board.
The main proponent of the scam argument is a poster named John Johnston who points to a story published by the Denver city magazine 5280 about another scam reputedly perpetrated by the main organizer of the Hoka Hey. Johnston launched the charge stating that, "This is a CON folks..........how long until you all wake-up.....I guess when you get to the end and there is no "GOLD"...and Big Jim and his gang of hustlers are sitting on the reservation laughing at all of the white men they scammed.....AGAIN!!"
While some friends and family of racers have objected to the negativity and called for proof of the claims, others have expressed their own, independent misgivings.
Jeri Collier O'Barr had this to say:
Hey, I was there in KW and my husband is one on the road as we speak. There was NO FILM CREW!! And Big Jim DID get up in front of all the challengers and say that he lied to get them there. He said that they were going to go to 7 of the worse sites of mass murder and collect souls of dead warriors....THERE IS NO FILM CREW...two cameras...one just a little camcorder like mine. NO FILM CREW....AT ALL!
One part of the promotion for the event was the claim that there would be film crews and the entire race would be turned into a reality TV show.
O'Barr also said there are no tracking devices on the bikes, which were to have been used to ensure that racers followed the prescribed route. She and others have also reported that some of the leading riders--or someone--appear to have taken down road signs in order to mislead their competitors.
Regardless of how this all plays out, one point continues to be made by all participants in the debate: Their friends or loved ones in the race are having a wonderful time, loving it, and they are simply hoping and praying that they arrive safely in Homer.
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
I was in Key West this week and was frankly suprised at the attitude of the organizers. I have spent months telling people this is NOT a race on public roads and at the riders Q&A session it was characterized by the organizers as a "race". I did my normal due diligence and had to ensure to me job and insurance that I was not in a race (since my medical and bike insurance wouldn't cover that). Numerous riders were driving very recklessly once we left Key West since at the Riders Meeting that they stressed that speeding was the only disqualifier. People were running red lights, illegally passing, ect. When I got stuck behind the accidents and the road was closed for the Flight for Life I decided to call it a trip. I wish all the remaining challengers a safe journey,
A harley only rally encompassing 7000 miles, with no definitive prize. What a joke! Good luck to all the rides, but this sounds like crap, and that you are being scammed.
I guess as long as there are no 3 piece patches riding in the race - - - everybody will just need to take their blood pressure medicine and go home. Is there litigation possibilities?
Jim "redcloud" is really Jim Durham. Not an indian at all. He changed his name to redcloud to make his cons go over better with the indian schtick. He is not a lawyer either. The trail of people scammed and screwed by this guy goes back 20+ years.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what constitutes a "race", racing may imply speeding but a simple look at a dictionary will tell anyone that can read that this event is a race by any definition. Their false claims notwithstanding. The list of things wrong with the organizers and their event are too long to fit into the limited space available here.
Some key points.
There were less than 500 entrants, nowhere near the numbers claimed by organizers.
The gentleman involved in this thing is indeed, Jim Durham as described in the magazine article mentioned.
None of the charities listed on the Hoka Hey website have any information whatsoever about the event listed on their own websites, attempts to get even one of them to confirm a connection to the Hoka Hey event have failed.
The police escort promised in Key West never took place.
A fast perusal of the rules would tell anyone that there have already been enough incidents for the organizers to not award any priz
For something that could have been very interesting, this seems to have turned into something ugly. Too bad.
The facebook discussion board has a few trolls on it, thats all. Mostly sore Iron Butt riders it seems dishing out their frustrations from the looks of it.
I GUESS MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF ARE VIEWING THIS IN A DIFFERENT MATTER. HE SIGNED UP FOR A MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE, PAID $1000 DOLLARS TO ENTER A CHALLENGE, EITHER WAY AT THE END IF SOMEONE WINS GREAT, AS FAR AS I CAN SEE ALL THAT CROSS THAT LINE INTO HOMER, ALASKA ARE ALREADY WINNERS WITH THEMSELVES, A SELF GRATIFING EXPERIENCE THAT THEY ENDURED SOME OF THE ROUGHEST TERRAIN AND CAME HOME TO TELL ALL OF US THE STORIES.
WOW! SOMEBODY WHO FINALLY UNDERSTANDS THE TRUE PRIZE OF THIS CHALLENGE! THIS IS A CHALLENGE TO TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT! EVERYONE ENTERED THIS ON THIER OWN, NOBODY WAS FORCED. TO THOSE WHO COMPLETED, HATS OFF TO YOU! ASK WILL BARCLAY IF IT WAS A HOAX!
I can not understand what is wrong with you people slandering a good man that I have know for more than 20 years and if this is a scam would I allow my self and my son to put our bikes on the starting line and lead the riders out behind the POLICE ESCORT. My son ran hard until he blow his new $60,000 motorcycle up if this is a scam why would he do that. We have put alot of time and effort into this event to create one of the greatest challenges ever for man kind when they did the ididorade it was tough but people made it and they will in this.
As far as his name he was adopted by Chief Oliver Red Couds son Verdal Red Cloud, Verdal adopted him legaly through the court systems, and ask Jim to take his name and be proud of it because that was all he had to give. We are a proud people and our culture is so rich that people just don't understand us they didn't back when they massacered 300 plus Lakotas at Wounded Knee and they still don't today but don't feel bad we are use to being pushed down but we will always hold our heads up and be proud no matter who puts us down. Grampa Red Cloud and they other elders tells us not to ever forget who we are and be proud of it.
I have a friend riding in the Challenge. Perhaps some missed the rider's meeting in which it was stressed that any ticket would result in disqualification. I was in Key West for the start of the run. It was my understanding that about 750 riders were entered. There were also a number of guys who were going to run the trail w/o registry. Met one guy who had come down from Anchorage on main highways and it took him 9 days. There are a lot of good folks on this ride. Many who realize that this is a test of endurance, skill and something lacking in Washington, honesty and integrity.
Already there are there have been those who have proven that they are not worthy of the Challenge, removing signs to aid their fellow bikers and taking routes that are against the rules. No INTERSTATES were to be used and many disqualified by crossing over the Mississippi by interstate. The only other route took riders eight hours to negotiate. My hope is that there is no scam here, mostly because of t
a good man? con man! just ask anybody he has done deals with before.i have known this registered caucasian,liar,cheat,sociopathic, piece of work for longer than twenty years. and have watched him con people out of there last dime! ohio ,kentucky ,minnesota florida, south dakota(including pine ridge) and now the world.
arlin you must be gettin paid for your kind comments because james g redcloud is not even a man...he is evil MITAKUYE OYASIN
We feel this country needs someone like Jim ( Durham )RedCloud that is not afraid to stand up for his people with Honor and Integrity to lead this country ....Jim RedCloud for President...... Hoka Hey to the White House
Why did they bump up the total miles from 7,000 to almost double now?
The reason why some people are upset and disgusted with this "event" is because the organizers claimed that it was a charitable event, that the proceeds would be used to benefit charities, primarily those who help wounded veterans. It was never sold to be simply a motorcycle ride to Alaska, it was sold to people as a way to have a great riding experience and to help the veterans, wounded and otherwise.
The people participating in this thing may be having the time and ride of their lives and that's great. Too bad the rider that was killed hasn't even been acknowledged by Mr. Durham or his merry band of followers.
It's a shame that the families and friends of those riding can't seem to separate legitimate criticism of the event and the people perpetuating what is most certainly a fraud and criticism of the riders. I haven't read any account criticizing the riders, other than those who didn't like the reports of signposts being cut down and other reports of cheating.
well where are the Hoka hey riders today?
how was the finish?
Where is all the media now?
In answer to "HokaHey or nay?," some of the riders have reached Homer. There is a little bit of news coverage now, but still not much. Please see my most recent post for an update.
" My son ran hard until he blow his new $60,000 motorcycle up"
HAHAHA!!! $60k for a bike that won't even go 7,000 miles without blowing up? Tell me again about American Iron...
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.
Bikers all have one thing in common. They are all wanna be outlaws but in reality are a bunch of pussies who can't stand alone. What a bunch of losers.
Show me a biker and I will show you a follower.
As more develops about the Hoka Hey, for those interested, we have videos on our Blog of the Hoka Hey Send Off in Key West, FL to riders at the Finish Line in Homer, Alaska embracing loved ones to the Closing Celebration in Homer on July 4th at: www.lakeweirlivingblog.com/
Tah-Dah!..Our Day In The Life video! Adriana and I show you how we're building America's Toy-Friendly Community in Central Florida! We work 24/7 & love what we do--Building dream homes for Boomers who love Big Toys and play hard (motorcycles, boats, RVs...). Also have many Hoka Hey videos of warrior riders from FLA to Homer, AK. Enjoy! www.lakeweirlivingblog.com/
My name is JJ Margiotta, and I am writing to you on behalf of Freedom Service Dogs (FSD). I am a motorcycle rider, a supporter of FSD. Please do me a favor a take a few minutes and look at FSD’s website, www.FreedomServiceDogs.org (please watch video at bottom). I truly believe in their cause and I am organizing a Charity Ride for FSD www.RideforFSD.org on Sept 11, 2010 and I would like to see if you would like to attend? Sorry for contacting you this way, but I could not find your email.
JJ
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