ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997 TAG: 9704210071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL THE ROANOKE TIMES
The Roanoke Valley Harley Owners Group takes charity rides every year. The bikers have raised money for breast cancer and the SPCA, but this year they were Crusin' for Children.
The bikers congregating outside the Coffee Pot shortly after noon Saturday looked chilled, despite the warming effects of sunlight on black leather.
They'd just spent almost two hours cruising the Roanoke Valley, ending up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then taking U.S. 221 over Bent Mountain - beautiful country, but not, they agreed, the warmest place on a blustery April morning.
Their temperature estimates ranged from "right chilly" to "It was like 114 degrees below zero up there, I believe." One biker swore his nose had frozen off.
These 85 riders - all of whom thawed quite well once they reached a lower altitude - were the few and the brave. Organizers of Saturday's "Cruisin' for Kids" poker run - a 75-mile motorcycle ride to raise money for a children's hospital and a kids' camp - had hoped for 400 to 500 bikers. The early morning chill and fear of rain kept many riders away.
Of course, if all the bikers had been as well equipped as Tim Patton of Salem, a little mountaintop chill would have been no problem. Patton showed off the wires and plugs dangling from the sleeves of his black leather jacket.
"Heater," he said. "Gets real toasty in here."
Patton's vest and gloves plug into his motorcycle's battery, and he can control the temperature with a small thermostat. A person can get heated chaps, too, he said, but he hasn't sprung for them yet.
"And I just stick my hands in his pockets," said his wife, Donna, who was riding behind him without benefit of an in-coat furnace.
Saturday's ride was sponsored by Allstate Insurance Co., the Coffee Pot and the Delta Kappa chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, an international service sorority. Proceeds will go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and Camp Fantastic in Winchester, a vacation spot for terminally ill children and their families.
Riders donated $5 apiece, then pulled playing cards at each of five stops. At the end of the run, the best and worst poker hands got door prizes.
The ride was followed by a fund-raising barbecue at Allstate's U.S. 419 office. The organizers aren't sure yet how much money the event raised. But Bob Webb of Allstate said he feels pretty good about the turnout, considering the weather and the fact that this was the organizers' first attempt at a poker run.
"This is something different for us," said Elaine Prillaman, president of Delta Kappa. "We've sold cupcakes; we've sold cookies; we've done bingo." She looked around at the gathering crowd of black-clad riders. "So this is new for us."
"All of us that are going on this ride love to ride anyway," said Joe Nash, owner of the Coffee Pot and a member of the Roanoke Valley Harley Owners Group, or H.O.G. "And we're raising money for something that's worthwhile."
The local H.O.G. chapter participates in quite a few charity rides every year, he said. They've also raised money for breast cancer and the SPCA.
"It also helps the reputation of the motorcyclists," Nash said. "We're not all a bunch of heathens running around. It's really a mixed bag of people."
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JANEL RHODA/THE ROANOKE TIMES. 1. The lineup of Harleysby CNBin the Allstate Insurance Co. parking lot before the ride testifies
to the number of motorcyclists willing to brave wind and April chill
to raise money for charity. 2. Terry Hoffpauir listens to music in
his headphones as the ride ends outside The Coffee Pot on Brambleton
Avenue. color.