FAMILY VALUES

Joining HOG^® has meant more than just riding

By Dustin A. Woods

For many motorcycle enthusiasts, riding is often a solo activity that involves time spent away from loved ones out on the open road. For the Haas family, motorcycles have actually brought them closer together.

Darryl Haas, the Assistant Director of the Regina HOG^® Chapter, first experienced wind therapy on the back of his dad’s motorcycle at just four years old. Now a father himself, he carries on the tradition by riding with his two sons – Cole (21) riding two-up on the back of his 2012 Ultra Limited or 1997 Road King^®, and his eldest, Cory (23), on his own Road King.

The elder Haas, who has been riding since he was 18 years old, was initially drawn to HOG for the camaraderie. First meeting up for weekly rides, he noticed the friendships of longstanding members. Since officially joining five years ago, he has held the role of Secretary, Head Road Captain, and now Assistant Director. As he and his family got more involved in the community, their HOG chapter embraced them right back. “You can’t choose your family,” says Haas, “but you can choose your friends. And these friends have become our family.”

Cory got his motorcycle licence in 2021 and bought his first Harley^® shortly thereafter. His excitement level increases every season. Last year he joined HOG as a lifetime member, and he has become the chapter photographer. His enthusiasm has rubbed off on a couple of his friends, who have also gotten into motorcycles.

Darryl gets a kick out of hearing his son’s buddies ride past the house and give a little rev to say hello. His favourite part of joining the HOG community has undoubtedly been the quality time it has allowed him and his family to spend together through a common interest. Not only does he know where they are and what they’re doing, but riding together creates and sustains a very special bond at a time when most families start to go their separate ways. It makes him proud to see the men his boys have become and witness them being welcomed into the HOG community. “It’s more than just about riding,” he says. “It’s about family.”

Darryl’s wife, Coralee – the boys’ mother – doesn’t get as much seat time as she used to, but she’s happy to jump in and help support however she can. She’s often seen volunteering at fundraising events and barbecues, even piloting the chase vehicle on longer trips and cannonball rides.

But perhaps nobody has embraced the lifestyle or gotten more out of the experience than Darryl and Coralee’s son Cole. Born with Down syndrome, he developed a lung condition at three years old that requires him to be on oxygen 24 hours a day. Darryl drilled holes in the Tour-Pak^® luggage carriers on both his Harleys to accommodate Cole’s oxygen tanks and tubes.

Along with his HOG “cut,” Cole can usually be seen wearing the fabric tattoo sleeves his mom bought him, opting to take them off only when taking a shower or enjoying a hot tub. He loves nothing more than meeting up with the HOG family for a barbecue or going for a ride to get a frosty ice cream or (root) beer. Regina winters aren’t enough to stop him from asking to go for a (vroom) ride, even at -40 C.

An Associate HOG member, Cole has become a popular fixture of the group who has logged thousands of miles on the back of the bike and is well known for the quality of his hugs. HOG has provided him with a sense of belonging, but also pure, unadulterated happiness. The wholesome, genuine smile on Cole’s face leads to fist bumps and nods of approval from even the roughest looking bikers they come across. May we all be so lucky as to experience the sheer joy of riding that Cole does with his dad.

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