The Guts & Glory Rally across American is (was?) an event whose objective, like the 2010 Hoka Hey Challenge, to test endurance of bikers during 11 days, across 48 states for a total of 9000 miles with a grand prize winner initially announced at $100,000. The concept was created by John White who was the #1 defender and supporter of the Hoka Hey Challenge 2010 and of his organizer Big Jim “Red Cloud” Durham, and who by his own online published statements last August, was supposed to own and organize the 2011 Hoka Hey Challenge. It didn’t happen and John White created his own challenge called “Guts & Glory”. He just informed me that because of a legal threat by the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge and by The Medicine Show Land Trust (Big Jim “Red Cloud” Durham), the Guts & Glory Challenge is postponed until 2012… His press release after the jump.
“The Guts and Glory Rally Across America has been postponed due to the threat of legal action and inaccurate and misleading statements made by the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge and The Medicine Show Land Trust. Once the threat of litigation is removed, the Guts and Glory Rally will be rescheduled for May of 2012.
“This is equivalent to Ford threatening legal actions against Chevrolet simply because they both manufacture cars. It is heartbreaking that because of these unfounded and misleading accusations made against us, we are forced to postpone coming to the aid of thousands of Wounded Veterans and critically ill children across this Great Nation.” state the owners of Guts and Glory Motorsports.
Guts and Glory Charity Liaison Sam Tate says, “On behalf of myself and the Veterans charities involved in the Guts and Glory Rally Across America, we would like to express our complete support and faith in the Guts and Glory Rally and its owners. Guts and Glory has been extremely transparent and forthcoming concerning all aspects about the rally, as well as very respectful to the needs and issues regarding the charities and we will continue to support this endeavor, even though the rally has been postponed this year.”
All registered participants in the Guts and Glory Rally will be refunded their entry fees in full. Guts and Glory Motorsports will keep everyone updated on its progress and looks forward to staging the Guts and Glory Rally in 2012 in support of military charities and the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The owners of the Guts and Glory Rally Across America thank all the participants, sponsors and charitable organizations who continue to support and believe in our collective goals. For ongoing information, please call 615.376.0590 or visit Guts And Glory.
The old friends of the disastrous Hoka Hey Challenge are now fighting. Kind of funny.
Stupid to cancel. Plenty of people have spent a lot of money prepping for this event. Will THAT be repaid too? And as far as the suit goes, also dumb. Plenty of room in the summer to accommodate both of these events, especially considering they generally cover different target markets… Metrics vs Domestic. Similar in nature (48 states, long miles) but different in their operation…i.e., timed stages with mandatory stops compared to just kickstands up and go man… apples and oranges.
Wow….
Maybe Big Jim “Red Cloud” Durham should smokem more peace-pipe back at the tipi and stay on the reservation.
Like Rider above, plenty of room for all.
Blow some smoke for all.
Boss Hawg
Who needs an organized challenge to travel to 48 states. Anyway, the charity/Vets thing is hypocritical. BS to look good to help organizers make money. Continue to sue each other until your last penny.
The name John White appears in one sentence and in the very next sentance are the words “legal threat”. Why am I not surprised?
I like LOUD pipes.
what happen to the motor company’s “endurance race” that was on this blog a month ago. not even a whisper about it???
I say “Go for It!” To hell with the pissy-ass lawsuit! [I’m a Shriner, by the way] Hell, anybody involved in the run [planners/participants, etc.] got a free bed ‘n breakfast outside of Sioux Falls, SD iffin’ yer interested. Wiz
I don’t need a rally to prompt me to donate to veterans affairs or the shriners hospitals, I too am a shriner. These guys squabbling over petty shit should just donate their legal fees to the two charities and get along. Everybody wins then.
I’m still trying to figure out where the prize money from 2010 came from .. and why they would?
I am not surprised by this. peace
I am not surprised either. Have you seen the G&G route map? It is exactly like the Hoka Hey route. I am a business owner and if someone were to copy my work like that – you can bet I’d be suing them!
None of them rides straight if you understand what I mean.
I agree with Mojo. They say imitation is the best form of flattery but that doesn’t make it right!
Mojonav, The route G&G was taking was published months before HHC published theirs. Not only this but HHC revised theirs a few times.
You are correct. HHC did revise theirs once to eliminate the leg that went through Mexico.
But the 48 state concept is the pudding that I find proof in. HHC has been advertising since last August that they planned to hit all 48. Plus, you have to admit that there are a number of other striking resemblances. At least to my eye.
G&G’s similarities are no coincidence at all from what I’ve followed since 2009 when I thought about riding the HHMC. It’s obvious if you looked at or recall the progression that the owners of G&G and some of the people listed as being on their team planned all along to steal the idea, maybe even the route too! Who knows? What I do know is several of them got themselves involved and close to last years HHMC…Suddenly they have their own event?? The buzz at Daytona this year was G&G had less than 20 people signed up and were gonna fold or postpone anyway. Just my thoughts on the whole subject.
The H-D Dealrships that are offical checkpoint, were told last fall that they would be the checkpoints for the Hoka Hey Challenge 2011, Jim had things rolling alredy. There many businesses that make all employees and particpates sign a clause that say if you leave said company you can not start any business of a similar nature. The announcement by Jim at Sturgis last year of the 3/48 challenged, preceded any thing by G and G. The G and G made their own puddle of mud, by running out on the HHC last year and then trying to copy it this year. One of the biggest issues in these situations, is stealing customers. That why almost any type of salesman signs agreement that he will not take any of the customers or list to another dealership. The same with Chef’s there contract almost always has a statement, that they won’t open a similar bussiness within a 100 mile radius of the first business, and can not use the same theme. The law has many in’s and out’s, so it will take a court to settle it.
I do feel bad about the riders who put so very much into getting ready and the disappointment strikes. I am Hoka Hey Rider, and I would encouge you to consider riding the Challenge and then let the courts sort it out. I take no pleasure in your ride being cancel, but come ride with us and you will not be disappointed………….Greg Shafer
Guts & Glory is nor postponed. It will never happen. Great.
What some of you seem to have forgotten is that jim red cloud is not running the show this year. They have said all along that there was an organizing committee that was being headed up by prominent business people. Soooo, if you put your thinking cap on… The show starts in Mesa, AZ from the parking lot of chester’s harley davidson. Aaannndd (wait for it…) their HQ is now (you guessed it) located int he admin building at chester’s HD!! It doesn’t take rocket scientists to figure out that the person that pulled the trigger on guts and glory is part of the chester organization!
Just what a prominent business man would do to protect his interest. That’s all.
Can a person see the actual route or do they just show/give it out t the start?
What some people seem to have forgotten is the red cloud isn’t even running the show this time around. They have said from the very beginning that this HHC was being run by an organizing committee which was being headed up by a “prominent business man.”
Now… let’s see if we can piece this puzzle together…. The show leaves from the parkng lot of chester’s HD in mesa, AZ. Right? Aaaannnddd (waaiiiit foorrr it!!…) the HHC HQ is located in the admin building at chester’s. Hmmm… I wonder who the prominent business man might be?
Even tho I don’t know him except by reputation, I believe that man is just the kind of business man that would shut somebody down if it impacted a company he was involved in!
Since the Hoka Hey Rally discriminates against every manufacturer except Harley Davidson, I don’t get it. (IE: Ride a Yamaha , you cannot participate)
Many riders of Yamahas , Suzukis and Can Am Spyders and Ducatis etc. would love an event like this. However they can’t have one because this event exists (Hoka Hey) that, (wait for it) they aren’t even allowed to participate in????? So if I ride a Harley I can enroll in an event like this , if I have a Suzuki, not so much. So lets sue to make sure a rally that covers all the riders we say can’t even come to our rally cant happen . Awesome marketing.
I have an Idea , they could open Hoka Hey to ALL manufacturers. Oops, then you’d lose the mighty $$ from Harleys sponsorship. My Bad. Which goes back to my original question, If you wont allow any rider to participate unless they are on a Harley , how is another rally for ALL riders an issue. Odd.
Three things. All of you that are so concerned about the charities, don’t you think your money would be better spent by just donating money to your favorite charity. Maybe your not just because of the “whats in it for me” part of it. Seems to me your going to be getting a $1,000.00 dollars back soon. Put it to good use? The charities could use your help.
If the courts didn’t think they had a legitimate claim they wouldn’t hear the case and if the G&G organizers weren’t concerned that there is a good chance the courts will rule against them they would they would continue forward not cancel or postpone. One of the organizers of G&G was served a stop and assist prior to the first H.H. being ran. Apparently it was up held and maybe thats what happened again. Why haven’t they been forth coming (transparent) about that? Or why didn’t they file a counter suite the first time this happened a year ago? Just saying.
For all the riders of other brands of bikes. The organizers of HH did try to do a ride for you this year. But do to lack of interest in your community they canceled it. Seems that most of the distance riders on other bikes are more about the Iron Butt Rally. You should look in to it. ………Doc
To all you people out there that don’t really have anything to do but speak of others,”Take Care”.
You know this Nation was built by people taking from others. If you missed it, let me remind you about that night before HHMC was released and ran a good run. I was there and so were you. There are reasons why all the riders were chosen., they are all part of HISTORY. Look at the time in history when Columbus is said to have discovered this Country. Yeah in thier minds they did but the people were here already… Look, all I am saying is, instead of putting so much time and energy in someone elses thoughts and ideas, come up with one of your own. Jim was sitting on the shitter as he says, and had a thought and ran with it.
Well John , find a pottie and come up with a thought, an idea and go for it. Or is it that you wish to destroy others lives as you and your family live theirs? You know me John, and I speak the truth. I can say much ,much ,more but I will not because I have respect, and I am not out to hurt or destroy. You can do that on your own. There are pictures and video, remember?
Let me help you John, do you really want to help Vets and children?
Hell, you can donate a Bridge to charity–that would really help our Country………………
Ok, every body has beaten up on everyone possible. In my personal opinion the GG did not have enough riders to support their event. The threat of legal action was an easy way to fold up the tents and direct the blame somewhere else, to save some face.
To all riders, the question is are you a long distance rider or a keyboard jockey. If your a long distance rider, the Challenge is still there to be taken on by anyone, who beleives they have what it takes to be a long distance rider, Well Cowboy Up and come ride, better to be riding, then sitting at home .Greg Shafer
I’d say Mo.Ridgerunner’s got a point. Having heard G&G had very few riders, maybe HH gave them an unintentional way out, they sure were fast to give in! Yeah, its too bad for those signed up but if I were one of you I’d go to the G&G organizers and demand to know how many riders they really had and why would they give in so fast if they did nothing wrong??? Seems that if they had the riders and the legal authority they’d have said screw you to the HH organization. It’s not like they don’t have the personal funds to follow through on a legal issue.. Guess time will tell, it always does. All I know for sure is that I ride, it’s part of me, and I don’t really say much on the internet because I’m in the wind. Just ride brothers and sisters, RIDE!
The 48 states in 11 days concept was first run and completed on the 1995 Iron Butt Rally and the 48 states in 10 days ride you do on your own has over 270 finishers, so even if Guts and Glory copied it from Hoka Hey, the Iron Butt Rally did 48 states first and has been hosting a 48/10 since 1989. So the concept of running 48 states in 11 days in a rally is nothing new.
Jim Durham & John White belong to the same group of people. Tons of blah, blah, blah trying to use good causes to enrich themselves. Fortunately, until now both have failed. LOL.
If this were about Indian Motorcycles we would have heard from KC Cheef or John White by now.
Where are they? They always seem to know the hows and whats of companys they have nothing to do with but have a blog about something that is theirs … ‘no comment’.
I am willing to make a bet, but doubt there’s anyone out there dumb enough to take it.
I am betting that a few short days, maybe even a week or two, the Hoka farce will come up with a reason to bow out of their race. They even state in their application form that they “reserve” the right to cancel and/or postpone their “race” until further notice.
I will also make a bet that whoever was dumb enough to give these people any money to “prove” their “manhood” will be told……..Your registration “fee” will be carried on to next year’s “race”. By that time…Well…Your guess will be as good as mine. I’m guessing something like bankruptcy or some kind of “poor jim story” will appear, kind of like his [quote] he has to sleep on the floor sermon on youtube. Strange thing is…..According to his youtube video, he is ALREADY making excuses for him losing money and blaming EVERYBODY else….So I suspect it is just a “prelude” to what is SOON to come! MARK MY WORDS…..SOON….VERY SOON….. He will come up with a story of why the race has been canceled, postponed, blah blah blah…….And…….waaaaaaiiiiiiiittttt…….hooooooooollllllld onnnnnnnnn…….YEP!!!! YOU GUESSED IT!!!
IT WILL BE E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-I-E-S FAULT B-U-T jims!!!!
I am the type of person who gives respect WHEN respect is GIVEN……
Has anybody noticed that when I write jim durhams name I don’t used capitals?
He has shown NO-ONE other than HIMSELF any kind of RESPECT….Therefore, I WILL NOT ACKNOWLEGE him in ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM!!!
ANYONE who would use EXPLETIVES, PROFANITY, AND DOWNRIGHT V-U-L-G-A-R in a P-U-B-L-I-C broadcast to P-R-O-M-O-T-E a event that is SUPPOSED to HELP PEOPLE IS IN ITSELF……..E-X-T-R-E-M-E-L-Y QUESTIONABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!