2007 Ride To Win

Once again the motorcycle community turned out in force to supports Special Olympics Kentucky athletes when nearly 650 riders came together on August 4 for the 2007 Ride to Win.

Once again the Ride started at long-time event sponsor Man O War Harley-Davidson, where riders registered before making their way down the back roads of Central Kentucky on the poker run's 100-mile route on what was a spectacular day for a ride.

Riders filter through the motorcycles that were entered in the Ride to Win Bike Show.

Once again, Special Olympics Kentucky Year-Round Partner Kroger hosted each of the poker run stops in Stanton, Winchester and Mount Sterling.

Once riders arrived at Eastern Kentucky University to complete the Ride, they were treated to a widely expanded post-Ride event. Perhaps the biggest addition to the post-Ride festivities was live music provided by Brad Alford and Saddletramp. Two other additions were the first Ride to Win silent auction and the first Ride to Win Cornhole Tournament.

View/Order Ride to Win Photos Here

But when it came right down to it, the end of the Ride was about giving out awards and there was no shortage of awards this year.

Once again, the Peacemakers Motorcycle Club operated the annual Ride to Win Bike Show, judged by Special Olympics athletes. Once the athletes finished their deliberations, the list of winners looked like this:
Import Cruisers — Bill Stevens, Richmond
Import Dressers — Danny Hogue, Wilmore
Sportbikes — Doug Pavlovic, Lexington
Harley Full Dressers — Bentley Cromer,
Harley Sportsters — Landon Travis, Lexington
Harley Softails — Coy Palmer, Lexington
Harley Dynas & V-Rods — Danny Durrum, Lexington
Antiques — Randy Fox, Winchester
Pro Custom — Lowell King, Hustonville
Trikes — Marty Corn,

Bike Show Best in Show winner Bentley Cromer receives his trophy from Madison County Special Olympics athlete Jason Smitha.

In addition, the athlete judges selected Bentley Cromer's bike as Best in Show. Congratulations to all of the Bike Show winners.

One of the most excited winners of the day was probably Poker Run winner Raymond Biggs of Richmond, who claimed the $200 first prize with four aces. He edged out Dennis Ray of Richmond who had four Kings. Wilbur Crowe turned in the worst hand of the day with a seven high.

For the sixth consecutive year, Lowell King of Hustonville was crowned the event's top fundraiser. King raised a little over $5,300 or more than 20% of all dollars raised for the event.

But nobody took home a bigger prize than Pam Keefer of Winchester. For the first time since 2002 the RIde to Win conclusion festivities also included the drawing for the winner in the annual Special Olympics Harley Raffle. Keefer's name was drawn by Special Olympics Kentucky Global Messenger Danny Haley from among thousands of tickets sold. Keefer was a Ride to Win participant who had bought the ticket just that afternoon. Unfortunately she left the lot just before her name was drawn.

Six-time event top fundraiser Lowell King is congratulated by Lexington Special Olympics athlete Levi Collins.

Of course, the real winners of the day were the Special Olympics Kentucky athletes whose training and competition the Ride to Win supports. Special Olympics Kentucky would like to thank the more than 30 event volunteers who helped make the Ride to Win such as success. We especially want to thank the Ride to WIn Committee members — Billy Reasor, Brady Ratliff, "Dirty Ed" Clark, Mike Broyles, Randolph Scott, Tao Irtz and Annemarie Neisz.

We also need to thank the 2006 Ride to Win Sponsors — Man O'War Harley-Davidson, Kroger — which provided lunches for all the riders and volunteers, 98.1 The Bull, Cadillac Ranch, Thunder Roads magazine, Eastern Kentucky University and the City of Richmond. And special thanks to Brad Alford and Saddletramp for providing the day's entertainment.

For information on how you can participate in the 2008 Ride to Win or if you are interested in helping to plan the event, contact Courtney Sullivan-Staples, Special Olympics Kentucky Special Events Director at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at csullivan-staples@soky.org.