Last weekend 120,000 well dressed two-wheeled fanatics donned their best brogues, waxed their moustaches and put on their finery to ride in 650 cities worldwide as part of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Now into its eighth year, The DGR has become a global phenomenon, raising millions for men’s health charities in the process.
It’s a huge rise from the 2500 who took part in 64 cities for the first event in 2012. Australian creator, Mark Hawwa thought putting on your finery for a little ride out would be a good way to raise the profile of motorcycling in a positive way and help to connect niche groups of riders. In 2013 he decided it was also a good way to raise some cash for prostate cancer, the event raised $277k. Since then it’s grown year on year.
The charity target for 2018 was $6m, with cash going to prostate charities through DGR’s new official charity partner, The Movember Foundation, as well as mental health programs. one of the ride hosts suffered from depression and died tragically in 2016. It’s something many of us could one day benefit from. With more and more scooter riders now getting involved, we asked Howard from the Salford Knights to dig out his tux and go undercover to check it out for us…
Manchester DGR
I’ve done the DGR or Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, for the past couple of years. I first heard about it through an old mate of mine, Steve Berry (old Scootering mag editor, Top Gear presenter and now Real XS radio host, as well as promoter of Ride Safe Back Safe. So last Sunday, just like in Hundreds of cities and towns around the world, I donned my best dinner jacket and dickie bow, my Belstaff and Bedale brogues and set off to meet s couple of mates on the ride.
The main remit for the ride is to wear dapper, so think tweed, smoking jacket, dinner suit or mix it up with the best Selvedge and waxed moustache. I met up with Chris (Salford Knights ) and Jonah (Stockport Crusaders), Chris turned up in tweed and a dickie bow and Jonah I think must of thought it was the last night at Woolacombe and had on a frilly pink Liberace type jacket that would of gone down a treat in Studio 54. After meeting the guys we set off to the start point, only to have missed it by a few minutes – in typical scooterist style, so we set off again and caught up with the ride on the Mancunian Way. Almost 400 motorbikes and scooters all with sharply dressed riders.
The ride ended up at Dukes 92 in the Castlefield district of Manchester, where we met up with other pals and got to have a look at all the beautiful machines on show. Some real stunners from a vintage Matchless to a stunning Ural sidecar combo and the return of local Bolton company CCM with their stunning new Bobber and Street Racer. There were a good few scooters on show as well, a couple of cut downs, an auto conversion that was really well worked and a stunning yellow Lambretta chopper.
I also bumped into quite a few old friends from the 80s who had got into the bike scene so it was great to catch up. As well as with the other lads from the Salford Knights and other local clubs. This is one of those rides that makes you smile. It’s all done in aid of research into prostate cancer and men’s mental health support. I urge everyone in the scootering community to do it next year. It’s a great laugh, make an effort to dress up, and raise some funds for a great cause.
PS, Jonah left early because he thought it was the Disco Gentleman’s Ride and that’s why he came in his pink girl’s blouse.
Until next year folks, ride dapper.
Words and photos: Howard
Want to get involved?
I think next year the scooter community should make a massive effort to attend the various rides (there will be one close enough to you wherever you live). The DGR takes place on the last Sunday of September in 650 cities. You can keep up to date and donate by visiting the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride website. In the lead up to next year’s event, we’ll give you all a reminder but it’s well worth putting in your diary.
Howard’s spy shots
New products always in development…
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ScooterNova – issue 2 | MAGAZINE
£5.00
Last weekend 120,000 well dressed two-wheeled fanatics donned their best brogues, waxed their moustaches and put on their finery to ride in 650 cities worldwide as part of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Now into its eighth year, The DGR has become a global phenomenon, raising millions for men’s health charities in the process.
It’s a huge rise from the 2500 who took part in 64 cities for the first event in 2012. Australian creator, Mark Hawwa thought putting on your finery for a little ride out would be a good way to raise the profile of motorcycling in a positive way and help to connect niche groups of riders. In 2013 he decided it was also a good way to raise some cash for prostate cancer, the event raised $277k. Since then it’s grown year on year.
The charity target for 2018 was $6m, with cash going to prostate charities through DGR’s new official charity partner, The Movember Foundation, as well as mental health programs. one of the ride hosts suffered from depression and died tragically in 2016. It’s something many of us could one day benefit from. With more and more scooter riders now getting involved, we asked Howard from the Salford Knights to dig out his tux and go undercover to check it out for us…
Manchester DGR
I’ve done the DGR or Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, for the past couple of years. I first heard about it through an old mate of mine, Steve Berry (old Scootering mag editor, Top Gear presenter and now Real XS radio host, as well as promoter of Ride Safe Back Safe. So last Sunday, just like in Hundreds of cities and towns around the world, I donned my best dinner jacket and dickie bow, my Belstaff and Bedale brogues and set off to meet s couple of mates on the ride.
The main remit for the ride is to wear dapper, so think tweed, smoking jacket, dinner suit or mix it up with the best Selvedge and waxed moustache. I met up with Chris (Salford Knights ) and Jonah (Stockport Crusaders), Chris turned up in tweed and a dickie bow and Jonah I think must of thought it was the last night at Woolacombe and had on a frilly pink Liberace type jacket that would of gone down a treat in Studio 54. After meeting the guys we set off to the start point, only to have missed it by a few minutes – in typical scooterist style, so we set off again and caught up with the ride on the Mancunian Way. Almost 400 motorbikes and scooters all with sharply dressed riders.
The ride ended up at Dukes 92 in the Castlefield district of Manchester, where we met up with other pals and got to have a look at all the beautiful machines on show. Some real stunners from a vintage Matchless to a stunning Ural sidecar combo and the return of local Bolton company CCM with their stunning new Bobber and Street Racer. There were a good few scooters on show as well, a couple of cut downs, an auto conversion that was really well worked and a stunning yellow Lambretta chopper.
I also bumped into quite a few old friends from the 80s who had got into the bike scene so it was great to catch up. As well as with the other lads from the Salford Knights and other local clubs. This is one of those rides that makes you smile. It’s all done in aid of research into prostate cancer and men’s mental health support. I urge everyone in the scootering community to do it next year. It’s a great laugh, make an effort to dress up, and raise some funds for a great cause.
PS, Jonah left early because he thought it was the Disco Gentleman’s Ride and that’s why he came in his pink girl’s blouse.
Until next year folks, ride dapper.
Words and photos: Howard
Want to get involved?
I think next year the scooter community should make a massive effort to attend the various rides (there will be one close enough to you wherever you live). The DGR takes place on the last Sunday of September in 650 cities. You can keep up to date and donate by visiting the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride website. In the lead up to next year’s event, we’ll give you all a reminder but it’s well worth putting in your diary.
Howard’s spy shots
New products always in development…
Looking good, brother. Me and Karen went to the start point in Liverpool at the old Cains Brewery which is now a food, drink and live music centre and well worth a visit. Followed a Harley 3-wheeler Servicar through the tunnel with the siren going all the way – hilarious.
Eww, dappery, no thank you. Wake me up when they have a dishevelled gearheads ride.
The dapper origin come from the first of these rides in Australia where back patch bikers clash. The idea was to dress everybody outside their comfort zone and without the back patches. It worked and the trend spread around the world. For most of us dressing like sherlock homes is a bit weird but no weirder than wearing a dress at a king Kurt concert….. it’s a huge and great ride. Some fantastic bike scooters and custom vintage mopeds.