Local bikers kick-start historic ride

By Joe Caponio

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Motorcycle enthusiasts who have an interest in the Civil War can fill their craving for the open road while taking in history during the third annual Border Raiders motorcycle ride, which kicks off June 23 at Free State High School.

Four Lawrence residents, Paul Corcoran, Jim Turner, Tim Timmons and Jim Baze created the ride, to incorporate various ideas into a unique experience.

“We wanted to do something that would tie in all the surrounding states as well as draw people in with the chance to see some history,” Corcoran said.

The ride will last eight days, covering 500 miles through four states. After beginning in Lawrence, the riders will head north to Nebraska and continue through Iowa and Missouri before ending back in Kansas.

During the past two years, the ride has generated money to help build children’s playgrounds in small towns in northern Kansas.

Last year, the ride contributed more than $600 to the town of Hamburg, Iowa, which used the money to renovate a theater.

Riders pay a registration fee of $245. The fee covers lodging and baggage transportation.

The route was planned so that riders could visit important sites from the early stages of the Civil War in the Midwest. Participants will ride through the areas once occupied by the Free State Jayhawkers, Quantrill’s Raiders, the Border Ruffians and outlaws such as Jesse James.

Organizers expect more than 150 riders to participate.

Turner said tying the Civil War into the ride was an idea that evolved over time. After originally planning to follow the Lewis and Clark Trail, the organizers realized they were missing the most interesting part of the region.

“Once we got out there and toured the museums and sites, we decided that visiting places from the war would make for a more interesting ride,” Turner said.

Another goal was to provide riders with a challenging route that would bring charitable opportunities to non-profit organizations in towns along the route.

“We didn’t want it to seem like we were just blowing through, so we wanted to give back to some of those towns that are already struggling,” Turner said.

—Edited by Ben Smith

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