A man who is not a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe said funds from the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will be used for water projects on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Jim Durham has been using the name Jim Red Cloud as part of the controversial event. He said his group will work directly with residents of the reservation and not with the tribal government, which has distanced itself from Hoka Hey.

"It wasn't a tribal issue; we didn't ask them to be involved at all because this is only about the people," Durham told The Rapid City Journal.

The ride began in Florida on June 20 and ended in Alaska on July 4. Organizers said a $500,000 prize will be awarded to the first-place finisher during the upcoming Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

Participants in the challenge paid $1,000 to enter. Two people died and three people were seriously injured during the event.

Get the Story:
Hoka Hey organizer says complaints spring from riders who failed at challenge (The Rapid City Journal 7/15)
Hoka Hey sees more ‘hurt’ (The Homer Tribune 7/15)

Related Stories:
Oglala Sioux Tribe not affiliated with Hoka Hey motorcycle race (7/13)