This photo of actor Jon Hamm playing Don Draper in the TV series, Mad Men, inspired Sydney rider Mark Hawwa to start the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride.
It’s a photo that has started thousands of distinguished gentlemen’s engines in the event which is dapper affair where riders wear their finest tweed and ride to help fund the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Don Draper of Mad Men
It began in Sydney in 2012 (see the video above), raised $277,000 last year and in it’s third year theDistinguished Gentlemen’s Ride has grown to 235 cities in 55 countries and has already passed the $1 million fundraising mark for cancer research.
The third Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride is on this Sunday (September 28) and it is now so popular that organisers aren’t asking for more people to join the ride, but to come along and watch and support the fundraising event.
Jeff Gough and his ThruxtonIn fact, to keep motorcycle numbers under control, and to keep with the original theme of the event, the ride is restricted to cafe racer, custom, classic, retro and quirky style motorcycles and scooters. All riders are also required to be appropriately suited-up and looking “dapper”.
Last year I was in Melbourne to witness my first DGR and this year I’ll be in Brisbane where the ride is again being organised dapper gent Jeff Gough: “The aim is to raise as much money for prostate cancer as possible while having a blast doing it,” he says. “We aren’t advertising for riders – word of mouth will bring plenty – but we would love spectators along the way and plenty to come out to the Morrison Hotel and support our supporters. This year we expect to get over 200 riders making it the largest mobile show of cafe racer/classic/custom motorcycles Brisbane has ever seen.”
2013 Melbourne Distinguished Gentlemen’s RideCLICK TO SEE 2013 MELBOURNE PHOTOS
So far, the Brisbane ride has already raised over $24k, which puts them fifth in the world for the most money raised by a single ride.
It will start from Oliver’s Motorcycles, Moorooka, run through the city, Paddington, Mt Coot-tha and Southbank to finish about noon at the Morrison Hotel in Wooloongabba. The hotel will hold a ‘Craft on the Commons’ day with bands, craft beer and “gentlemanly pursuits”.
Click here for the official world DGR website.
Click here to register for your closest ride.
The world’s top three fundraisers for prostate cancer research will also win a Davida DGR limited edition helmet.
Check it out below!
Davida DGR helmet