A new motorcycle ride is launching Sunday, June 11, to raise awareness about motorcycle safety and to honor riders who have lost their lives on the road. It began as one women's desire to honor her late brother and has grown into a community effort by North Georgia residents.
The ride is being launched by Pamper Garner Crangle, whose brother, Jim Garner, lost his life in a motorcycle accident in April 2016 while crossing Nickajack Bridge on Interstate 24.
"I was talking online one night to a biker friend and this idea came up. We held a ride last year as a memorial to Jim one month after his death. But this is separate from that. We decided to start a ride and broaden it to make it more about motorcycle awareness and safety. There were 142 fallen riders in Tennessee last year, 11 from this area," Crangle says.
"We want drivers to look twice - save a life. Motorcycles are everywhere."
Crangle has worked with a committee to plan this ride that begins in one time zone and ends in another. The ride rolls out of Tennessee-Alabama Fireworks, 520 TVA Road, in Jasper, Tenn., (I-24, exit 158) at 2 p.m. CST.
Bikers will ride to Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church, 1733 Battlefield Parkway, where a barbecue dinner will be served from 4 to 5:30 p.m. EST. There will also be a silent auction and live music from gospel singer Vernon Greeson, Ride Band and Last Chance country band, as well as individual musicians from within an all-genre jam that meets at the church on Friday nights.
The ride is free; dinner is $10 per plate.
"The dinner is being cooked by ladies of the church and there will be homemade desserts," says Crangle. "You don't have to be a rider to come join us for dinner."
Proceeds will benefit church property improvement, which was something Crangle says her brother was involved with at the time of his death.
Working on this ride with her are Thomas Holly, Greg and Tammy Wright, George Burns, Michael Suggs, Shirley Weiss and Leigh Martin.
Crangle says motorcycle groups with which her brother rode have helped spread the word among riders in Christian Motorcyclists Association, Public Patriots and the Harley Owners Group.
Crangle says no reservation is needed. "Just pull in and ride with us."
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.