Behind the scenes of the annual 9

Jul 8, 2023

(Editor’s Note: The annual Lycoming County 9-11 Memorial Ride requires more planning, coordination, cooperation and effort than anyone can imagine. The highly-anticipated and supported ride brings together several thousand motorcyclists each year. Williamsport Sun-Gazette today begins a series of articles on what is required to ensure riders get home safe and sound, and that the purpose of the ride — to never forget the events of 9-11 — echoes loudly in the minds and hearts of the citizens of Lycoming County.)

Far from just a day out on a Harley Davidson, Indian, Ducati, Yamaha, Suzuki or Honda, the several thousand motorcyclists who roll though the city, boroughs and countryside in the annual Lycoming County 9-11 Memorial Ride don’t just show up unannounced.

Behind the scenes, men and women are working hard each year to bring this special event to the spectators and to make sure motorcyclists — many of whom come from within a 50-mile radius but also who are from other states and countries — have a safe riding experience.

What it takes to bring together several thousand motorcyclists honoring those lost on that tragic day in America’s history requires more than a telephone call or two or a mass email.

“We start in January,” said Todd Winder, fire chief of the Clinton Township Fire Co., which has become the host for the 42-mile ride and location where the motorcyclists gather for pre-ride activities and post-ride celebration.

The station is perfectly located for the start and finish. It lies along Route 54 just outside of Montgomery and its spacious parking lot and supportive neighboring businesses provide ample space for the multitude of motorcyclists to gather, hold a ceremony and receive a blessing before they embark on a type of patriotic tour de force.

Along the route, motorists encounter scores of fellow patriots, Mennonite families with children waving small American flags, older veterans saluting, children experiencing the awe for the first time — staring in disbelief and some holding their ears from the noise as the roar and rumble of thousands of motorcycles rolls by their municipalities.

But first, the ride’s organizers have plenty of paperwork to fill out.

“We have two permits we have to get,” said Winder, sitting beside Tank Baird, president of the 9-11 Memorial Coalition, for an interview in an office at the fire station.

A special event permit must be obtained from the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT), an agency that will frequently be featured in this series.

That, itself, is not easy to get.

“In order for that to take place, every business and property owner, where Route 54 is closed for the ride to park all of the motorcycles, agrees that the coalition is not hindering their property or business,” Winder explained.

Secondly, Winder noted, a letter from the Clinton Township supervisors is needed, and while the township does not control the road, the letter must state that the coalition is permitted to have the event in the township.

When Winder says “he has to have the letter” that is a requirement from PennDOT, which has a district office in Montoursville. The permit states that a letter from the township is required.

Now, even when the board of directors of the coalition does not meet, the communication continues between members.

The fire department officials set up barricades, place signs up to direct the motorcyclists where to go and the stage where the master of ceremonies and guest speakers will address the crowd is set up. The vendors arrive, so those who will be on the ride can shop and get a bite to eat.

The area provides motorcycle and motorcycle-related merchandise vendors on site.

“We know people show up hours before the event because they want to be towards the front, so we have to have something for them to do here,” Winder said.

Winder and Tank Baird, president of the 9-11 Memorial Ride Coalition are adamant that it is not the purpose of the event to be turned into a motorcycle “rally.”

What happens afterward is also part of the organized chaos.

“As of late, we’ve had a band,” Baird said.

At the time of this story, “Pepper Street Band” was scheduled to perform.

The post-ride activities and pre-ride preparation were added after the coalition members discovered what happened after the first ride.

“The bikers want to get together afterwards and compare notes,” Baird said.

“They talk about what they saw along the ride,” Winder added.

Baird, too, as president of the coalition, must oversee a two and a half month process to obtain a permit. That begins about the first week of April.

Baird credits the assistance from state Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, whose office handles and sends out the letters asking the various municipalities for permission to roll through their communities.

“That’s really helped,” Baird said of the representative and his staff sending the letters.

During the first decade of the ride, Baird said the coalition was “still selling the ride … selling the idea.”

The whole reason for permission letters being signed, approved by the municipal leaders and permits approved, is to assure there is traffic control.

This year as letters were sent out, there were a few hitches.

“Five, six boroughs and townships did not respond to the letters,” Baird said.

Despite the highways used being state-controlled, the permission from each municipality is a requirement, he said.

On top of that, individual event permits are needed for Williamsport and Loyalsock Township, and some of that process can become cumbersome. Baird said for the ride to happen he will get a bundle together of 22 pages of documents.

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