Published: September 04, 2008 09:44 am      

Memorial ride set for this weekend

DANVILLE — Residents are asked to take a day to remember with the annual 9/11 memorial ride.

The event — dubbed the Ride to Remember — has expanded this year, taking place in Indiana on Saturday and in Illinois on Sunday. Overall, the riders will pass through two states and more than five counties during the controlled ride.

Carl “Poncho” Rice is a coordinator for the ride, which has been staged each year. It began in near the end of the month of September 2001 as a volunteer effort among locals.

“Everybody wants to remember,” he said.

The effort that first year brought out 500 people. Rice added he makes a special point of continuing the ride each year for people.

Participant numbers have floated around the 300 mark the past two years, Rice said. Riders can come and go as they please.

The riders will be escorted by local police, EMS and fire officials as they pass through the respective districts.

Proceeds from the ride will go to the I and I Firefighters Association. The event is sponsored by Gutterridge Harley-Davidson and the Middlefork Valley H.O.G. Chapter.

Registration for Saturday’s ride begins at 9 a.m. at Gutterridge Harley-Davidson, with riders leaving at 11. The ride, which passes through Kingman, Ind., Veedersburg, Ind., and Covington, Ind. — lasts for 4-5 hours and will end at Gao Grotto.

Sunday’s ride begins earlier, with signup at 8 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 2212 N. Vermilion St. Riders leave at 10 for a 5-6 hour ride that takes them through as far west as Sidney and includes passes through Sidell, Homer, Paxton and Hoopeston. The ride ends at the Friendly Tavern in Danville.

Registration is a $10 donation with door prizes available for those who donate.