Undated, MN (KROC AM News) - If you are driving anywhere near the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota this weekend, expect to see motorcyclists.

This weekend marks the 51st annual Fall Flood Run and thousands of motorcyclists are expected to take part - either officially or unofficially. Most of the motorcyclists run up and down the Mississippi, on both sides of the river.

According to organizers, the annual charity event - which includes rides in the spring and fall - began in 1965 when a dozen riders drove from the Twin Cities to Winona to help deal with the severe flooding that hit the region that year. Money raised from the event is given to Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul.

The event began Saturday morning with breakfast at Shiner's Bar and Grill in Lakeland.

The scheduled emcee was a rider known as Sam " 205 " Tilley - described as “the holder of the fastest speeding ticket in America.”

He was clocked driving his Honda 1000 motorcycle at 205 miles per hour during the fall Flood Run in 2004. Tilley was driving his bike on Highway 61 near Wabasha when a State Patrol pilot who was patrolling the area in an airplane estimated his speed at 205.11 miles per hour. A trooper caught up with Tilley and he was ticketed for reckless driving, driving without a motorcycle license and driving 140 mph over the posted speed limit of 65. At the time, his father was working as a deputy in Washington County.

 

 

 

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