Kona's Ride
Kameron Womack Memorial Ride & Drive
Sunday, October 11, 2020
PLEASE pre-register (below - to count for our caterer)
On site check-in opens @ 12:15p in New Palestine, IN
Riders & Drivers meeting at 1:15p
KSU (Kick Stands Up) tour begins at 1:30p sharp
Picnic after 3p at Southeastway Park, shelter #5
Ride Details - map
click the above map to download your own printable copy (prints best as color, and sized for legal paper {8 1/2 x 14})
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Ride Details - where to start:
Check-in and staging for the ride / drive begins in Kona's Marching Dragons Band Lot - we'll be open for check-in by 12:15p on that Sunday - a riders & drivers meeting at 1:15p, and KSU (Kick Stands Up) at 1:30p sharp!
Ride Details - description:
the ride begins by coursing along London and Boggstown Roads, following and/or crossing Sugar Creek, Brandywine and Buck Creeks, Flat Branch and Leatherwood Creeks, and, briefly, the Big Blue River through the villages of London, Boggstown, Needham, Urmeyville, Reds Corner, Acton and Pleasant View in Hancock, Shelby, Johnson and Marion counties. Farm fields, wooded acres, homesteads & flower gardens on smooth (mostly), winding pavement (NO gravel roads), never encountering any stop lights, only a few stop signs, and crossing / traveling on NO highways! Ride Details - finish:
Just over 50 miles, and an hour and a half later, we'll arrive here, at shelter #5 at Southeastway Park, where a perfect picnic lunch awaits (after 3p). Menu (main item): Phil's Phamous All American Picnic Company Chili! and seasonal refreshments! 
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Ride Procedures:
* The ride will launch with ALL motorcycles first, with cars / vans / trucks / SUV's (four wheeled vehicles) to follow - headlights and flashers ON (if so equipped)
* We WILL obey all posted speed limits (as paced by lead rider), and, unless directed by ride escorts, we will STOP and YIELD at all stop and yield signs.
* As these are ALL county roads (no highways or multilane roads), traditional half lane staggers (motorcycles) will be difficult in narrower portions of the trip (single file for the duration of the ride is fine) - you MUST give the rider in front of you room to use the WHOLE lane to make turns, curves and corners.
* As there will likely be a range of rider skills and comfort levels, be sure to give the rider ahead the leeway to slow as desired for tricky corners - please don't crowd from behind (give yourself room to react if the rider in front of you 'checks up').
* Please do NOT lag so far behind as to invite non-event traffic to jump into our procession.
* Our ride escorts will remain at the crossroad until we have passed through, then ride in the oncoming lane to get up front for the next intersection needed - be prepared to give him/her ROOM to cut in if there is oncoming traffic to avoid.
Enjoy the fresh air and breeze, fall colors, midwestern country and village environment - smile at the thought of Kona and his dad cruising along this same route (especially the first half hour of it).
THANK YOU SO MUCH for joining us!
* The ride will launch with ALL motorcycles first, with cars / vans / trucks / SUV's (four wheeled vehicles) to follow - headlights and flashers ON (if so equipped)
* We WILL obey all posted speed limits (as paced by lead rider), and, unless directed by ride escorts, we will STOP and YIELD at all stop and yield signs.
* As these are ALL county roads (no highways or multilane roads), traditional half lane staggers (motorcycles) will be difficult in narrower portions of the trip (single file for the duration of the ride is fine) - you MUST give the rider in front of you room to use the WHOLE lane to make turns, curves and corners.
* As there will likely be a range of rider skills and comfort levels, be sure to give the rider ahead the leeway to slow as desired for tricky corners - please don't crowd from behind (give yourself room to react if the rider in front of you 'checks up').
* Please do NOT lag so far behind as to invite non-event traffic to jump into our procession.
* Our ride escorts will remain at the crossroad until we have passed through, then ride in the oncoming lane to get up front for the next intersection needed - be prepared to give him/her ROOM to cut in if there is oncoming traffic to avoid.
Enjoy the fresh air and breeze, fall colors, midwestern country and village environment - smile at the thought of Kona and his dad cruising along this same route (especially the first half hour of it).
THANK YOU SO MUCH for joining us!
Disclaimer: while this page is hosted on the web site of, and volunteer assistance is provided by members of, the American Legion Riders Chapter 182 New Palestine, this event is NOT an ALR 182 event.
There are many other rides we enjoy. Our Riders Chapter members participate in fellow ALR Chapter events, local area events (annual Lions Fall Festival Parade - also rode, volunteer cooked & donated to an SCTFD fund raising pancake breakfast and ride), the annual Fallen Officer Ride hosted by Shelby County FOP, and we annually ride and volunteer in the Riley Children's Hospital Miracle Ride, serving lunch (brats) to a few THOUSAND hungry riders!
Much like our Chapter participation in those other non-ALR events, THIS is an event that is organized by others, friends of the Womack / Spiker family, for the benefit of same, in loving memory of dearly departed Kameron / Kam / Kona.
We ALR 182 Riders are so glad to help the organizers of Kona's Ride in any way we can. Thank You!
There are many other rides we enjoy. Our Riders Chapter members participate in fellow ALR Chapter events, local area events (annual Lions Fall Festival Parade - also rode, volunteer cooked & donated to an SCTFD fund raising pancake breakfast and ride), the annual Fallen Officer Ride hosted by Shelby County FOP, and we annually ride and volunteer in the Riley Children's Hospital Miracle Ride, serving lunch (brats) to a few THOUSAND hungry riders!
Much like our Chapter participation in those other non-ALR events, THIS is an event that is organized by others, friends of the Womack / Spiker family, for the benefit of same, in loving memory of dearly departed Kameron / Kam / Kona.
We ALR 182 Riders are so glad to help the organizers of Kona's Ride in any way we can. Thank You!
Photo album of the ride, and scenes passed along the route - enjoy!
the Kameron Womack Memorial Ride wrap-up
Once a Band Dad, Always a Band Dad . . .
When I heard of Kameron's hit-and-run incident on his motorcycle (early last month), I was very concerned, though it seemed, day by day, the news of his condition and gradual recovery were improving.
Then read her (his mom's) post of his passing - shocked, my heart sank in my chest (haven't felt a sensation like that since my dad passed a few years ago).
A memorial balloon launch and candlelight vigil were planned the next evening - seeing so many HUNDREDS of Kona's family and friends, band & classmates and co-workers - all for a 21 year old 'kid' (younger than my two). Just how special does a young man need to be to have such an impact on so many people - wow!
"hey, Randy, do you know if anyone is putting together a motorcycle ride in his honor?" "no, but that's a GREAT idea . . .”
one month later, and we did it! Kona's Ride - 90 some folks registered (or just showed up), half in 18 cars, the other half on 30 motorcycles, 2/3rds staying for the chili picnic gathering at Southeastway Park.
A BEAUTIFUL day (clouds gave way to blue skies just as we fired up all vehicles - we just KNOW Kam had something to do with that, smiling with us from above) - scenic and peaceful central Indiana countryside, enjoyable winding roads . . . just what Kona and his dad would have been doing on a day like that (so special that we all got to share it, however briefly)
THANK YOU to the officers of our New Palestine Police Dept, Shelby County and Johnson County Sheriff's offices for providing safety escorts across busy intersections!
And I MUST share Thank You's to my fellow American Legion Riders (New Pal Chapter 182) - my time (a handful of years) with this oh-so-caring bunch of veterans, sons of veterans and spouses has rekindled the joy of riding for me, and provided another outlet for volunteer / community work (usually for, but not limited to, veterans in need)
THIS event simply would NOT have happened without their support - certainly, it was my ‘cause’ as a band dad who wanted to do something meaningful for Kona’s family (around $2,500 raised since the launch of www.ALR182.org/KonasRide web site), but these guys took it to heart: one member, Phil and his son Matt and the gang at All American Picnic Company (Jan, too) set the table for the chili picnic, waving off our offer to let our Chapter contribute to the costs of providing same.
Individual ALR 182 members donated on Chloe's GoFundMe page, others supported the shelter rental or flyer costs, and a fistful volunteered to provide the safety escort to keep us ALL safe during the ride - THANK YOU! I count myself among the fortunate to be part of such a wonderful group of caring volunteers.
We’ll continue to pray for the healing of Kameron's family, and offer to help any way we can in the coming days
Kona, you are loved and missed, son - May His Peace Be With You . . .