Restoration Ride 2023
By: Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
“They just keep coming….” That was my recurring thought on the warm morning of May 6th while standing beside the towering monolith of the San Jacinto Monument in east Houston. This was the rally point for this year’s Restoration Ride; the first such ride wholly organized and sponsored by Youth-Reach. In past years, this ride was organized by a local Christian motorcycle ministry, so the success of the event, not to mention the many details that have to be attended to, were the responsibility of others. This year, it was all on us, and we had never done such an event before This would be our test run and we could not afford to miss the mark.
Finding Sponsors
Early on, securing sponsors for the event was the challenge, and we were indeed blessed to have a host of generous sponsors underwrite the entire event.
Our Chrome Sponsors:
- Basic Equipment
- Deacons of Deadwood MC
- Mako Catastrophe Response
- North Shore Rotary
- Regal Pools
- Spike Electric Controls
- Other Sponsors included:
- Crawfish Shack
- Boaz Crating
- Youth-Reach Gulf Coast
Then, it would not have been possible without the involvement and generosity of these individuals, clubs, and businesses:
- African Custom Knives
- Chik-fil-A
- Harris County Sheriff’s Department
- Inspire Church Houston Men’s Ministry
- Radical Disciples MM
- Red Beard’s Etched Goods
- Revolution Printing
- Ryan Callahan and Band
- Soldiers for Jesus MM
The Day of the Ride
By 10:15 on that Saturday morning, our expectations had been exceeded. By 10:30 a.m., we were out of Chik-fil-A chicken biscuits. Bikers kept rolling in. We would have been excited to have 60 motorcycles participate, but by 11 a.m. when we lined up to depart, well over 100 bikes had rolled and roared in. Issues were complicated when the promised law enforcement detail that would escort the ride only amounted to one deputy in one car, and he had never escorted a ride of this magnitude before. But, in stepped the Road Captains of two strong motorcycle ministries that knew how to assist with traffic control “biker style” so the deputy stayed up front with lights flashing while the captains kept the long string of motorcycles ordered and safe.
We arrived at Youth-Reach and everyone there was amazed at the seemingly endless line of motorcycles coming under the welcome banner and onto our campus. Ryan Callahan and his band fired up the praise music, tours were provided to many who had never come out to Youth-Reach and a wonderful taco lunch hit the spot.
We want to voice our deep gratitude to our sponsors, to those who gave in-kind items, our volunteers, and our board members who made this event possible and a success. We learned how to make it even better for when we do this again. To God be the glory!