On Sunday September 29h 2019, over 120,000 distinguished gentlefolk in over 650 cities worldwide will don their cravats, tustle their ties, press their tweed, and sit astride their classic and vintage styled motorcycles to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and men's mental health.
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
Was founded in Sydney, Australia by Mark Hawwa. It was inspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic bike and wearing his finest suit. Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles, whilst connecting niche motorcycle communities together.
That first ride in 2012 brought together over 2,500 riders across 64 cities. The success of the event encouraged the founder to consider how it could be used to support a worthy cause.
Influenced by the tragedy of losing one of our ride hosts to depression, from 2016 we have seen a change in our health fundraising goals. Now, the funding of men's mental health programs is a Distinguished Gentleman's Ride focus, in addition to prostate cancer research through our new official charity partner The Movember Foundation and the support of our title sponsors Triumph Motorcycles and Zenith Watches.
The Ducati 907 i.e. and the Paso bike line:
(Source: WIKIPEDIA)The Ducati Paso was introduced in 1986 with the slogan "Il nostro passato ha un grande futuro" (Our past has a great future). The name was in honour of racer Renzo Pasolini, nicknamed "Paso", who died on 20 May 1973 in an accident at the Monza race track during the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix (Gran Premio motociclistico d'Italia).The challenge consisted in constructing a bike with innovative technical characteristics and image to fight the intense Japanese competition. To undertake the ambitious objective Ducati hired Massimo Tamburini, co-founder of Bimota. Tamburini would go on to design the Ducati 916 and MV Agusta F4 series, included in the Guggenheim Museum's The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition of 1988–1999,[7] and the MV Agusta Brutale series.[2]
Tamburini decided to streamline the bike and its 750cc motor in a close-fitting integral fairing that hid all mechanical parts - one of the first motorcycles to do this, along with the Honda CBR Hurricane series, introduced the same year. He also reversed the rear cylinder head in order to meet emissions and noise restrictions abroad.[8] The Paso 750 was equipped with latest-generation technical features: square frame tubes made in chromoly steel, rear aluminium swingarm with progressive suspension, 16-inch wheels with radial tires, air-and-oil cooled engine,[1] electronic ignition and a comprehensive dashboard.
The finished design was christened the Paso 750 and debuted at the 1985 Milan Motorcycle Show, along with a 350 cc version that was never produced.[8] Although initially offered only in red, by 1988 it was offered in red, blue and pearl white.[2] Ducati and Cagiva had hopes that the new machine would redefine sports touring motorcycling and complement their sportsbike line, especially in the American market.
The commercial success didn't come however, and worldwide the Paso 750 only sold 4,863 units between its introduction in 1986 and 1988.[1] Only 700 were imported into the United States in 1987.[9] The Paso was more expensive and had lower performance (72.5 hp and 210 km/h top speed) than its competitors, and had some reliability and rideability problems with the electrical and fuel systems, due to the use of an automotive Weber carburetor, which was ill-suited to a small-capacity motorcycle engine.
In 1989 the Paso 906 was introduced to replace the 750, with a six-speed gearbox, a 904 cc engine which provided 88 hp[8] and a 220 km/h top speed. The bike still had the same automotive carburetor and unreliable electrical system, but its greatest development was the incorporation of liquid cooling. 1,802 Paso 906's were built between 1988 and 1989.
After further development, the final version of the design came in 1991 with the 907 i.e. (iniezione elettronica); now without the name "Paso".[8] The engine remained liquid-cooled and the carburetor was replaced by the most modern Weber-Marelli IAW 043 system that integrated ignition and electronic fuel injection, which transformed the rideability of the bike. Power increased to 90 hp and top speed to 230 km/h. The wheels were changed to 17 inches, giving the bike more stability.
Despite these advances sales of this model remained sluggish, and when production ceased in 1992 only 2,303 907IE's had been built. The production line was dismanteled and adapted to produce the Ducati Monster, a succesfull bike concept now running over 25 years in continuous production.
Last year this global event raised US €4.85 milion for the Movember Foundation which is already being invested into men's healt programms, and this year, 2018, we are aiming even higher and have set the goal at US $ 6 milion. Let's make it happen! With your donation, your (company) name will be presented during the ride on the bike as a true sponsor in the ride.
On Sunday the 29th of September, I will don my finest attire with my fellow men and women across the globe to join the fight with The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride to raise awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health.
But before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I need you to donate what you can for this meaningful cause and help me reach my goal and earn a mention on my "Fairing of Fame" during the ride. Please support us with a donation (no matter how small) and sharing this ride to your network to create awareness!
My fund raising page to make a donation is HERE! Tax deductable recepy included!
But before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I need you to donate what you can for this meaningful cause and help me reach my goal and earn a mention on my "Fairing of Fame" during the ride. Please support us with a donation (no matter how small) and sharing this ride to your network to create awareness!
My fund raising page to make a donation is HERE! Tax deductable recepy included!
For your uncles, your brothers, your fathers and friends.
Donate what you can, for their lives need not end.
Ellen & Olaf, Hengelo Ov. the Netherlands
P.S.
Are you also participating and riding a Ducati on this event?
Join the "The Distinguished Dutch Ducati Riders Team" and share the inspiration.
