Ridin', socializin' and burnin' rubber
There's the serious side of the annual Minneota Memorial Run. Besides all those motorcycles, the fun and the beer and the ride around the countryside itself — and, oh, let's not forget the "burn" of worn tires, there's the reason for the ride.
Like Christmas, wrapped in a lot of sparkling packages, the "Run" has it's sparkly side. But at day’s end, it's the money raised by the bikers to go toward charitable organizations that counts. It's the names of friends passed away due to accidents that cut their lives short.
It's the thought that maybe they can make a difference, and help others to stay alive on the road. Saturday they rode, over 255 strong, collected a lot of money — and, oh, burned those tires.
One of the highlights of the day is to take worn out tires and "burn" them, hoping they will pop and the rider can get a new tire.
All the smoke and smell of burned rubber waifs upon the crowd, who have their cellphones on camera aimed at the motorcycles as the smoke drifts over the driver and sometimes completely covers him. The group turned over proceeds from the event to the Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network and ABATE Buffalo Ridge Chapter.
Both vowed to use the donated funds to help many in their organizations. “We’re here to remember the lives of lost friends and riders,” was the message to the crowd. All total, over the years, the group has raised $40,000 that’s gone to several charities. “We truly appreciate it,” said Run sponsors.
Jamie Lanners of the Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network of Marshall said the donation will, “Help families navigate through the system.” She urged, “If you have a loved one — get it diagnosed. It could be anything but dementia,” she said. She said her group works with the Avera Memory Clinic and Big Stone Therapy.
Lanners indicated many people feel they are alone in this journey, “But they are not. We’re here to help.” Chris Drumont of the Buffalo Ridge ABATE said, “We’ve been a champion for you at the state capital, working on allowing people to wear or not wear a helmet.”
“We’ve worked hard lobbying for ‘share the road safety,’ and we run classed to get the word out,” she said. When the names of the friends and relatives was read off the Memorial Plaques, it was quiet.
No loud outbursts, no sullen remarks, no interruptions. It was a solemn moment — and every soul there seemed to know, and perhaps remember, those individuals no longer present. The Rock Star Machine LLC played music until later into the night.
Some left, others stayed — but with all the fun, the smoke and good times, they left behind something. That something was an attempt to help, to make highways and roadways safer — and most important, to remember.