Largest Motorcycle Ride in the World Starts in Chattanooga
2006-09-17 23:05

Posted by phrawgh

Thousands of bikers gathered in Chattanooga today for the largest motorcycle ride in the world. The 13th annual Trail of Tears ride is sponsored by the Christian motorcyclists Association. CMA is trying to raise awareness about the grueling march that killed thousands of Native Americans nearly one hundred seventy years ago.

"Golly mighty, it just thrills me, just to see them come by and, golly, waiving," Alva Crow says.

Crow is a Cherokee Indian who is blessing the Trail of Tears riders. Crow says he's there to make sure the bikers have a safe trip.

"[I'm here to] help the bikers have a good ride, a safe ride, a beautiful ride," Crow says. Bill Cason is the ride leader and the originator of the trial of tears ride. He says the ride gets bigger every year.

"If each one goes back home and tells what this is about, that's how this ride has grown," Cason says.

35-40,000 will be riding by the time they reach Florence, Alabama.

"It's great to see all these lines of bikers down through here," Crow says while gesturing towards the long line of motorcycles.

Proceeds from the ride will go to scholarships for Native American students.

Crow says he couldn't happier with the Trial of Tears ride.

"It's celebrating the life of Native Americans," he says with a huge grin.

Mayor Ron Littlefield called for riders to start their engines, and newly elected Sheriff Billy Long swapped his patrol car for his motorcycle.

Long says Chattanoogan's should be pleased with today's turnout.

"We'll this is one the biggest rides in the nation and they'll be proud it starts right here in Chattanooga," Long says.

Crow says he has the same message for everyone supporting the trial of tears ride.

"Have a great day! It's going to be beautiful," Crow says enthusiastically. Organizers expect to raise sixty thousand dollars in scholarship money for Native American children. They expect as many as one hundred thousand cyclists to take part before the ride ends in Oklahoma.