Between 7:30 and 8 a.m. on the morning of Friday, April 1, local motorcyclist Glen DuPont will enter the United States via the San Ysidro border crossing and begin a 1,382-mile journey that he will have 24 hours to complete.
Hyper endurance riding is nothing new to DuPont who once rode from Malibu to Jacksonville in 44 hours, but this time, he is riding to raise funds for a cause that is close to his heart.
DuPont is the founder of the Long Riders Motorcycle Adventure Club — a group of three riders with diverse specialties who coordinate motorcycle expeditions, documentaries and special events. About six months ago, he received a call from the Autism Speaks Foundation asking if he could coordinate an event for Autism Awareness Month.
“We talked for about 20 minutes and the deal was done,” DuPont said. “It was a meeting of the minds, and they wanted to be involved. Autism is not synonymous with testosterone-driven events, and it should be because it affects a lot more males than females.”
DuPont said that his goal was to plan an event that is large in scope, yet manageable in time. He decided on the challenge of riding from Tijuana, Mexico, to Vancouver, BC, in under 24 hours. The three-country trek — known as the 3 Flags Ride — will raise awareness and funds for Autism Speaks.
Riding 1,608 miles in 24 hours is DuPont’s personal record, but careful preparations, planning and a bit of luck from mother nature are still necessary for him to reach his goal on Friday’s ride.
“My personal clock starts ticking when I wake up because, by the time it’s all done, I’ll already have been up for 30 hours,” he said. “I have to get up, prep, pack appropriately and — from where I’m staying in San Diego — go down, cross the border and turn around. By the time I do all that, I’ve already been up for a few hours.”
DuPont’s 24-hour clock starts running once he crosses the Mexican border into San Ysidro. From there, he will take I-805 to I-5, stay on I-5 until he reaches Canada and then ride for another hour-and-a-half until he reaches Vancouver. He says the Siskiyou Pass in Oregon is one of the ride’s biggest potential obstacles due to its 4,500 elevation and possible winter weather conditions.
“Riding a motorcycle in the snow is no fun,” he said. “Snow and ice are the most frightening conditions.”
Fuel stops are the only stops DuPont plans to make on his journey, as he typically nourishes himself solely with Gatorade on long rides.
“After about 10 to 12 hours, you don’t want to eat,” he said. “I’m prone to cramping — especially in my hands — so the electrolytes in Gatorade keep the cramps down.”
He calculated that, factoring in fuel stops, he must maintain a speed of at least 62 miles per hour to make the journey in 24 hours. He said he has already done dry runs of several parts of the journey.
When asked about the possibility of long lines at the San Ysidro border crossing, DuPont responded that it is not much of a concern as a motorcyclist.
“The beauty of riding a motorcycle is that it is perfectly legal in Mexico and in the state of California to split lanes,” he said. “I’ve already done a dry run at the border twice.”
DuPont’s motorcycle will be named the Blue Streak during the ride in honor of Autism Speaks’ Light it Up Blue campaign for Autism Awareness Month. After the ride, DuPont and his motorcycle will journey back to Los Angeles while making fundraising stops and visits to special needs schools along the way.
“We’ll let the kids look at [the motorcycle], take pictures with it, sit on it or whatever they want to do,” he said. “It’s a good cause and I’m trying to be of service to it.”
Autism is a cause that has personal significance for DuPont as well, as his mother was a special education teacher and his girlfriend’s niece is a highly functioning person with autism.
“Autistic children and adults are wonderful people because they’re so genuine and will tell you what they think,” he said. “I am very fond of those people.”
DuPont added that his upcoming journey has become more than just a ride — it has turned into a mission for both people with autism and those who educate them.
“This is a really tangible way for me to give to some wonderful people,” he said. “My mother was a special education teacher for 25 years. I know how woefully special ed teachers are treated and how poorly they’re paid. These teachers do a wonderful job and do it because they love it. It makes me feel good to know I’m doing something really good for other people.”
He added that, while dealing with sponsors, media and interviews over the past six months, it is important to still remember the basics his mission.
“The other day I was on the bike and I realized that I was on two wheels doing what I love,” DuPont shared. “I’m on the road and this is where Iove to be.”
For more information and to donate to the 3 Flags Ride, visit thelongriders.com.
