Hoagy the Hobo – Clowning around to Help Kids!
You might be thinking to yourself “Why is this guy dressed up like a clown”? Well, I’ll tell you why. Bob “Hoagy the Hobo” Carmichael loves to help kids, and what better way then to ride his scoot dressed as a clown raising money for seriously ill children.
Hoagy is the Founder and President of a Non-Profit organization (501c3) called “Hoagy’s Heroes – Long Distance Charity Riders” (www.hoagysheroes.org). Hoagy’s Heroes is located in Moundsville, WV just south of Wheeling, WV. Hoagy has been putting on Long Distance Iron Butt Association Charity rides since 2004. Hoagy’s Heroes first Long Distance Charity ride was an Iron Butt “Bun Burner” (1,500 miles in less than 36 hours) event and was an I.B.A. World Record. The 2004 ride was completed by over sixty bikes and nearly seventy riders and passengers resulting in $31,000 in sponsors’ pledges to A Special Wish Foundation (www.spwish.org).
As a result of Hoagy’s Heroes time, dedication and hard work, they have raised over $95,000 in pledges for charities in the past three years and around 341,000 accident free miles have been ridden. Hoagy has had riders that have come as far as New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas YES TEXAS! Just to name a few.
When Hoagy’s not working at his full time job, he’s working for Hoagy’s Heroes; this “Hero” does not know the meaning of taking your time to smell the roses. Hoagy is constantly riding his 2007 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic (which he has already put 22,000 miles on) to pass out flyers, talking to other bikers and organizations trying to get sponsors for his events and planning everything it takes to put on these events.
This year Hoagy’s Heroes – Long Distance Charity Riders are doing it again! They have planned 3 rides for this year and are trying something new this year. For the first time they are holding a “Dawn to Dusk 500” charity ride on June 16, 2007. While this is not an I.B.A. ride, this gives many riders a chance to ride and participate in a Hoagy’s Heroes ride that is not ready to take on the “SaddleSore 1,000” ride. This ride will start and end at Valley Harley Davidson in Belmont, Ohio.
On June 30, 2007 Hoagy’s Heroes will be holding an Iron Butt Association (I.B.A.) SaddleSore 1,000 “1,000 Miles in 24 Hours” for charity. This event will kick off in New Philadelphia, Ohio at the Holiday Inn. As in past years, this ride will offer a start window and allow riders to ride alone or in small groups to complete the predetermined registered route in the allotted 24 hour period.
For the more experienced riders, Hoagy will be personally hosting an I.B.A. 50 CC ride. This cross-country ride will begin on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 in Jacksonville, Florida and will conclude on or about Friday, August 31, 2007 in San Diego, California less than 50 hours later. This long distance ride is not for beginners. You must be an experienced long distance rider to participate in this ride.
I asked Hoagy, “What would you say to someone that says, “That’s way too far for me to ride in a day!”?” His answer was “It’s all in your head, it’s a mental thing. If you tell yourself you can’t ride that far, you won’t be able to do it. If you have a positive outlook and tell yourself this is going to be great and were going to have a lot of fun, and meet new people, well you won’t have any problem at all finishing a long distance ride.”
Hoagy also mentioned that he just got back from a SaddleSore 1,000 that took place in Portsmouth Va., to help raise money for the Navy SEALS and Army 160th Aviators that were lost in Afghanistan June 2005, on that ride Hoagy had taken along a newbie that had never before tried an I.B.A. ride and he also mentioned that this newbie also just started riding in the spring of 2006 and put over 2,200 miles on his bike during this ride. When Hoagy asked this guy if he would ever do it again, all he had to say was “Hell Ya, It was a blast! Why did everyone say it was going to be so hard? If I can do it, anyone can do it! When can we do this again?”
So I say to all of you reading this, YOU TOO can do it. Make it a goal to try one of Hoagy’s rides. There’s nothing better in this world than making a difference in children’s lives, plus you get to do something you love to do…. RIDE!!! If you can’t ride in these events for reasons beyond your control, Hoagy’s Heroes are always looking for Donations and Volunteers. It takes a lot of great people to help put on these events.
From the mouth of a clown “Let’s LOCK N’ LOAD Baby, Lock in one of those dates, N’ Load up your bike and BE THERE!”, “Come on out and help us make a difference for these sick kids!”
Please, give Hoagy’s Heroes a chance and check out their website. WWW.HOAGYSHEROES.ORG. You won’t be sorry you did!
For More Information Contact Bob “Hoagy” Carmichael
(304) 845-8827 (home)
(304) 639-1863 (cell)
hoagy@hoagysheroes.org (email)
Written by: Bryan Broski
