IRVING - A national motorcycle race has finished locally and will celebrate the winners today.
The 2012 Hoka Key race started on Aug. 5 in Las Vegas and riders crossed the finish line starting Sunday at Wolf's Run in Irving.
The motorcycle run was started in 2010 to bring awareness for a poverty stricken Native American reservation.
"It's a motorcycle run that is used to bring awareness to the poverty on the Pine Ridge Reservation," Sally Snow of Wolf's Run said. "It's very bad over there. The race is to bring awareness and help."
The Pine Ridge Reservation is located in South Dakota and Snow said by having the finish line in Irving, it is a way of helping out another nation.
"The whole reason for the run is to raise awareness. We're trying to unite our nations together," Snow said.
The finish line was open from Sunday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. to Aug. 13 at 8 a.m. Those who crossed the finish line during those times were eligible for cash prizes. The awards ceremony will start today at Wolf's Run at 5 p.m. A parade of winners will take place at 2 p.m.
In order to be eligible for prizes, riders had to finish in the allotted time as well as follow the course. According to Snow, all riders took secondary roads throughout the course. A rider rode the course before the official start to see how long the ride would take by going the speed limit. In order to get to Irving, the riders came in on Route 62. She did not know the number of riders who crossed the finish line.
"Approximately 100 riders that started out. There were some accidents and a lot of deer being hit that took (riders) out of the race," Snow said. "There is still one rider who hasn't crossed the finish line."
There are also restrictions and guidelines the riders must follow. Each rider must follow the route and each rider is equipped with a tracking device. Each rider must check in at two checkpoints along the route where riders are given a specially designed coin. This coin contains a number and is used to check in at the checkpoints. Riders must follow the speed limit and cannot speed.
In prior years, the race went from Florida to Alaska, and from Arizona to Nova Scotia. Snow said that next year's race will start and end in Irving. The race will also be moved to earlier in the year. Half of the money raised from the race will go for prize money for winners. The rest will cover ride expenses; if any left over, it will be donated to charity.
Anyone looking for more information on the ride is encouraged to attend the awards ceremony and parade to talk with the founders of the race. Wolf's Run is located at 12795 Route 438, Irving.
Comments may be sent to smcdonnell@observertoday.com.
