A history of the GTR MHS Memorial Ride

[DavidFL]

The GTR Chedi in Mae Hong Son
Google Maps

Some information for newbies
The first ride started in 2009 & what started out 14 years ago as a fun ride in memory of two good riding mates has now developed into a respected memorial ride with a soul that culminates in a moving ceremony at the GTR Chedi atop Wat Doi Kong Mu in Mae Hong Son.

The first ride history
The Tj John Hamilton - Simon Siinthai Grant Memorial Ride

This was ride was for TJ Tropical John Hamilton and Simon Grant, two best mates from Phuket, who came to North Thailand regularly, for motorbike rides and befriended the GTR Community in Chiang Mai, such that we were all good buddies.

John TJ Hamilton, 7 April 1951 - 10 November 2008. TJ was the most loveable, happy character you could imagine. The best mate of Simon Grant, TJ sucumbed to cancer in 2008 after a short 6 month illness.
One year after TJ died, Simon proposed a ride to MHS in memory of TJ & to have a few beers to remember the good times we all had together. A date was agreed for the ride, then 2 weeks beforehand Simon was killed in a hit and run accident in Phuket. We were all stunned.
Simon Duncan Grant, 3 May 1964 - 22 Oct 2009.
We swore then, never to forget TJ or Simon & to always honour them with an annual ride to MHS, and so the GTR MHS Memorial Ride began.

At the start however there was no Chedi, and we started with plaques & 100-year old rose bushes planted at Wat Chong Klang by the lake in Mae Hong Son.

The original ride then, was called The TJ John Hamilton - Simon Siinthai Grant Mae Hong Son Memorial Ride

We had a great time in 2009, celebrating the lives of our two departed mates, so that we decided to carry on & on..

The first ride in 2009 was not without incident though, & 1 rider slid off on some sand on a bridge & broke several ribs landing on the can of chain lube carried in his pocket!

In 2010 it was 12 riders

In 2011 it was 12 riders

The event got more serious in 2012

Dan White
In October 2012 we added a plaque & rose bush for celebrated photographer - travel writer Dan White at the temple Wat Chong Klang.
Dan was a good mate, fan of & contributor to GTR; & I personally had many wonderful adventures with him.
He was also the first person, we were actually able to get some ashes for & put these in the ground with a rose bush at the chedi.

I took "Dan & his ashes" for a final ride to MHS on 20th October 2012.

Arriving in MHS with Dan's photo & ashes

A blessing for Dan at the wat.

Planting Dan's ashes

Dan used to like a tipple & we made sure we celebrated for him that night in MHS!

The Baiyoke Chalet pub in MHS will probably never be the same after that night!

Dan even got on stage with the singer.

Went to 7-11 & closed the town down that night.

And to be honest you may not be able to get away with all that nowadays, but in 2012 MHS was real quiet & GTR knew most people around town!

The morning after

To be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

2012 Continued
In 2012 it was 14 riders ++

The BKK Secret Soi Riders met up with us on the loop in 2012

In 2012 the event run to coincide with the MHS International Music Night that GTR helped organize & it was a truly great night in MHS.

The 2012 event with that MHS Music Festival was a huge success but sadly one not to be repeated, due liquor licensing laws.


In 2013 it was 15 riders with the guys from Bangkok.

In 2014 it was 11 riders

The 2014 event was one of the more outrageous rides & events.

At the Hmong pit stop on R1263.

2014 was infamous for the "Night of the Music Police" at the Crossroads Pub.

The TJ & Simon banner really got a showing around the MHs Loop that year "taking TJ & Simon for a ride with us." Never to be forgotten.

To be continued

 

[DavidFL]

2015
In 2015 there was a significant jump with more riders coming & we numbered 19 rider.

We took TJ & Simon to the very top of Doi Inthanon in 2015. Nothing like showing you mates round & enjoying life with them, even though they have gone!

The Hmong pit shop on R1263

Out & about in MHS, pre GTR Chedi.

Paying respects in the evening.

The Sunflower was the evening wine & dine venue

The midnight closing at the Crossroads Pub

To be continued

 

[DavidFL]

In 2016 we inaugurated the GTR Chedi.

A close member of GTR, Aussie Tom Forde who had been on multiple GTR MHS Memorial rides, plus ridden extensively with me in North Thailand & Laos, was killed in a bike crash in Phayao.

With the passing of Tom it was no longer practical for us to continue putting plaques, ashes & rose bushes in the ground at Wat Chong Klang by the lake. Committed to continuing the memorial rides to MHS, we needed a long term solution. What about our own chedi we thought? Yeah good idea but where, obviously not at any of the two temples by the lake, as we could see we may end up inconveniencing the temple & the followers in the crowded temple grounds. But look up & there was Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mu on the hill overlooking MHS city. So off we went to check it out. I had an idea for a sunset spot on the west side up above the wat.

An approach was made to the abbot of Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mou & he agreed yes, we could build a GTR chedi in memory of our departed riding mates. Please yourself where it is David. Kop Khun Krap Ajarn, I have a spot in mind & would like yo confirm 500% that the site is ok with you. Would you be kind enough to walk up with me & we take a photo together confirming the site to avoid any future complications?

Official approval given, the race was on then to build the chedi in 3 weeks ready for the 2016 memorial ride.

And it worked, the Chedi was done in time.

See also

The Gt Rider Memorial Chedi

The GT Rider Mae Hong Son Loop Memorial ride in honour of departed riders is in its 8th year this year. Originally we started with a couple of plaques & 100 year rose bushes for TJ & Simon, planted at Wat Chong Klang by the lake in Mae Hong Son. The TJ John Hamilton - Simon Siinthai Grant...

www.gt-rider.com

The 2016 ride then was extremely important, for we had to remove some ashes & the the plaques from temple grounds by the lake.
Elaborate ceremonies were done at both temples, to obey Buddhist traditions, please the monks & spirits.
The full report is here

The 2016 8th Annual Tj John Hamilton-simon Siinthai Grant Mhs Memorial Ride

The 8th annual GTR MHS Loop memorial ride will be held the 1st weekend of November 5-6 November. Background The TJ Hamilton / Simon Siinthai Grant Memorial ride started in 2009, & has been held every year since in honour of departed GTR riding mates. Originally proposed in 2008 by Simon in...

www.gt-rider.com

2016 - 32 riders fronted up at the start

In MHS we regrouped & were required to sign the condolence book for King Rama 9 at the government offices.

A nice crowd at the Sunflower for the evening meal.

A morning gathering ready for Buddhist ceremonies at Wat Chong Klang to move ashes & plaques.

Procession to the wat

The first ceremony

Monk's blessings after the ceremony is finished

Next was at Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mou - there were two ceremonies.
First ceremony was in the main ceremonial sala.

Ceremony 1 done, it was time to walk up the hill to the new GTR chedi & have it "inaugurated," blessed by the monks, put the ashes of Dan White & Tom Forde in the chedi, and put the plaques on.

Happy participants at the inauguration of the GTR Chedi.

The ambassador & the old GTR fellah, very proud of a job well done.

Construction of our Chedi started after the untimely passing of Tom Forde after his family very generously allowed us to sell off his personal effects and donated the proceeds to start building. GTR will forever be in their debt!

The chedi members in 2016

A plaque in memory of Crazy John Olsen, who was killed in an accident in 2013.

 

[DavidFL]

2017
In 2017 it was 34 riders

The R1263 Hmong pit stop

Dinner was at the Sunflower in MHS & Johnadda provided the musical entertainment.

The ambassador chirped in with a cameo performance.

Lined up before the morning ceremony.

In 2017 we instigated a traditional Seub Star ceremony for a group blessing by the monks.

Bungy led the way the first time, as a senior GT Rider member.

The Seub Star ceremony is basically a cleansing ceremony - previous sins are forgiven, the body cleansed & bad luck removed, then good luck & harmony is put back in the body & soul, so you are fresh to go again. The group is tied together with strings and blessed as a whole.
You could compare it to a 100,000 kms bike service. engine strip down, rebuild with new oils & a top tune up.
It is a very powerful ceremony, especially when the group is tied together by strings, & so put everyone in harmony with each other

Contented riders at the GTR chedi after the event.

Closing down Crossroads Pub

2018

In 2018 it was a magnificent 56 riders & we were much better organized for the ceremonies:

1 Seub Star ceremony at the main sala &
2. Chedi ceremony

The main seub star ceremony

On the way to the chedi ceremony

Blessing the chedi

The Chedi Ceremony
This ceremony with the monks is basically to make contact with the departed & let them know they are not forgotten. We are still here for them, & should they have any trouble they can come back to the chedi, we are here for them always.

Respectful riders who appreciated the ride & ceremonies.

In 2018 plaques were added to the chedi in honour of two departed riders

Tom Wignall - had the first big bike rental shop in Chang Moi Gao road, & then worked with Joe from Joes Big Bike Team when they had the shop in Chang Moi. Tom passed away in Tha Ton where he had retired to.

John Scottenheimer had a condo in Chiang Mai. I've known him for 25+ years. He used to be based in Singapore, a senior pilot for Singapore airlines, then an instructor for Korean Airlines. He often rode from Singapore to Chiang Mai & return on his days off for fun. David Lek, Hubert & I rode with him often. John had been on GTR MHS Memorial Rides, the last one in 2017. In 2018 he passed away in the US after a struggle with the Big C.


A great party at night celebrating life & reminiscing over departed riding mates.

The day after

A magnificent happy group, who thoroughly enjoyed the event.

A donation to the temple after the event.

To be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

2019

In 2019 the turn out was another good turn out (52 riders) & there was a route change going to MHS via R108, rather using R1263 which was in poor condition.

A lunch stop was set up on R108 at Mae La Noi for riders.

@ MHS a regroup at the PTT before heading to the wat for the ceremonies.

The ceremonies

Robert Hoghead got to sit in the "seub star pyramid" in 2019

A blessing with holy water after the ceremony

The chedi ceremony

2019 was particularly good for me with some special friends in attendance:

My son Jason came for the first time.

Joe Cummings came for the first time. Joe was a close friend of Dan White, who's ashes we have in the Chedi. Joe is also the farang I have known the longest in Thailand, & vice versa for Joe & me.

Mike Gagne also came along in 2019 & even had a small tipple with the old GTR fellah.

We had an excellent party & music at the Sunflower again that night, with Stu Lloyd acting as mc for the night.

2019 was also the year one inebriated guy staggered off towards his guesthouse, but lost his way, fell over in the sala view on the lake & broke his hip. In the wee hours in a drunken state he lay there until first light the next morning, when some locals found him & took him to he MHS hospital! 6 weeks later he was able to be transported to Chiang Mai. We're lucky we didn't have to put him in the chedi.

See also

The Ride - 2019 Gtr Mhs Memorial Ride

The Ride - the 2019 #11th GTR Mae Hong Son Memorial Ride From: 2019 Gtr Mae Hong Son Memorial Ride # 11 They keep getting better & running smoother - thanks to everyone who came, participated & rode. more to come..

www.gt-rider.com

for lots of happy party images

We also had some nice sponsorship from Big Bike Tours & Moto Bistro, to help cover costs for the event.

In 2019 we were able to make a nice donation to the temple after the event.

Present were Joe Cummings, Tim Stanley & Vero.

The 2019 GTR MHS Memorial Ride was a ripper success!

To be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

2020
We started with 76 riders indicating they would go, but in the end the number was 57.

Concerned about the large number, & dangers associated with a large caravan going along the road, we took precautions & (1) decided against R1263 to make the route a R108 ride & (2) arranged for an ambulance with medical staff from the Mae Sarieng hospital, to follow the group from Hot to Mae Hong Son. Fortunately their emergency service was not needed on the day, as everyone rode sensibly at their own pace, and spread out as required.

In 2020 the lunch stop was gain at the salaview point at Mae La Noi.
The restaurant management were a lot more organized for us in 2020.

At the rendezvous spot in MHS we overwhelmed the PTT petrol station & caused the management some concern.

Fortunately the tourist police soon arrived to provide our escort up to the temple.

In 2020 we changed the format slightly & used a new aircon sala, further up the hill & closer to the GTR Chedi, for the main ceremony.

In the afternoon heat, the aircon was most welcome by both the riders & monks.

Graham Edwards had the honour of sitting in the "seub star pyramid" as the senior representative of GTR.

The chedi blessing ceremony

A final group photo after the ceremony.

In 2020 there was no event at the Sunflower, but a function at the Piya guesthouse, which GTR had blocked book for a GTR Memorial Ride function. Dinner was top class and provided by Nang from Salaween.

We also had some light entertainment provided by our long neck friends

We have a long history & friendship with them, going back to the MHS International Music Festival in 2012, plus from Jurgen who has known the girls for much longer.
The Road To Nai Soi (karen Long Neck)
“Poi Ton Tee” – The Kayan New Year

The GTR History of the long necks
The Long Necks
Mae Hong Son - Kayan - Long Neck New Year

In 2020 The long necks made such a good impression that night, that an outsider present at the event, has since started a successful annual charity ride to help the long necks.

In 2020 we also arranged 1864 Conquest Certificates for some riders, as requested.

Breakfast the next day was awesome @ the Salween by Nang

A morning after group photo by the lake

Presentation of donation money to the temple = thamboon. TQ for allowing GTR to build the GTR Chedi on the mountain.

For those unaware, the small plot of land graciously granted by the abbot, who is head of the Buddhist clergy for MHS province, to build the GTR Chedi was free. There is no fee or rental.
However we like to say thank you & show our appreciation every year by holding the traditional Buddhist ceremonies & donating excess monies received from riders to the wat. The abbot greatly appreciates this & is always happy to see the farang GTR crew coming every year to pay their respects & make merit. This annual ride is a unique event & long may it continue with mates & happy riders.

To be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

2021
In 2021 the format was changed yet again, mainly due to covid-19 restrictions imposed by the public health department, permitting us to hold the event at the time.
It certainly wasn't easy to organize & was only clear that we could actually hold the event, after a visit to the Public Health Department in MHS.
David Andrew & I were the two brave ones to have a frank discussion with the MHS officials and be given our orders on what we could / could not do.
The instructions were

• Limit 50 riders. More than 50 participants, approval is required in advance from the governor & health department.
• No official ride, but meet at the PTT in Mae Hong Son by 3pm, ready to proceed to the temple & the one ceremony at the Chedi. Make your own way to MHS!
• Participants coming from any designated Dark Red red one, need a double vax with certificate or covid free certificate.
• 1 simple ceremony at the Chedi.
• Wear a mask when in public!
• Piya GH no party scene. Social distancing to be observed.No alcohol served.No buffet dinner, get your own food from outside. No music.To summarize = no official event at Piya.

23 riders made that ride out of an initial 42 who indicated they would go.
There was no ride from Chiang Mai, but a rendezvous to meet up in MHS @ the PTT

Some riders put in the kms & made a special effort to come
Pauly Gee from Ko Samui
George from Hua Hin
Mike & Lee from Chonburi
Matthias from Bangkok
HawaiianBrians from Khon Kaen
Markus from Phuket

In 2021 we also changed the ceremony venue for convenience, to beside the chedi = a "one-stop ceremony."

In 2021 we had the Rider's Memorial built to honor departed riders from outside the immediate GTR community.

This monument, sponsored by GTR, was built in response to requests for places in the GTR Chedi, from other bikers & biking communities, to be able to pay our respects to fellow bikers who may not have been so closely involved with GTR over the years, but who nevertheless we wish to honour.

"The Rider's Memorial" @ the GT Rider Chedi site

GTR has been so inspired by the positive response from the Thai and expat biking communities for the annual GTR MHS Memorial Ride and requests for places in the GTR Chedi that we have sponsored a second monument in order to pay our respects to fellow bikers who may not have been so closely...

www.gt-rider.com

The first plaque was placed on the memorial - for Alexandros James Christodoulou - from Chonburi, by his good friends Lee & Mike who rode up from Chonburi for the event.

Another plaque was placed on chedi for a rider, Evan Jones, an old mate of Bungy, Brian Jones & myself.
(Apologies I don't have a photo of Evan's plaque.)

A special thanks to the crew who turned up in 2021 in trying times.

There were 2 donations for the wat
1. GTR

2. From the yoga group of Brian Jones' wife, as thamboon - 4,500 baht

To be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

2022
In 2002 it was a more quiet event with 34 riders attending.
It was a free ride to MHS, just meet up @ the PTT in MHS.
I personally almost didn't make it to this 14th annual GTR MHS Memorial Ride, having a big bike crash in June 2022.

Thanks to Ughetto for picking me up & giving me a lift to / from MHS.

In 2022 we added two new plaques to the chedi, consequently the 2022 event was a more subdued event.
1. Vero / wife of Tim & a great stalwart of GT Rider. Vero was a wonderful women & basically functioned as the matriarch of this GTR group.

Her ashes were placed in the chedi in a private ceremony mid 2022.

2. Keith McVeighty.

Keith was a loveable senior rider who had been on multiple GTR Memorial Rides.
An excellent eulogy for Keith was delivered by Andy from Nan.

The dinner function was again at the Piya guesthouse

Food was a yummy buffet supplied by Nang from the Salween.

 

[DavidFL]

None of this or these events would be possible without the invaluable help of George, ex owner of the once upon a time Sunflower restaurant in MHS.

George has greatly assisted GTR from day 1
1. assisting with the monks & setting up the original set up with rose bushes at Wat Chong Klang by the lake.
2. assisting with the abbot of Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mou, to make the original introduction
3. assisting with the Tourist Police & Officials in MHS.
4. setting up the original MHS International Music Festival with GTR.
5. assisting with the original contact with our long neck friends to join the event.
6. assisting with explanations of the BUddhist ceremonies. so people have an understanding what is going on.
7. assisting with getting Ajarn Darunee to be the Master of Ceremonies at the memorial services.

In short we would not have got to first base without George from day 1!

A very big thank you to George. We love all you have done for GTR & us every year on the memorial ride.
Respect! Long may our relationship continue.