Since 1959, the BackStoppers have served the families of police officers and firefighters in the St. Louis area who have perished in the line of duty. The BackStoppers have but one purpose: to ease the suffering and provide much needed financial assistance for the spouses and dependent children of these public servants who have lost their lives. The BackStoppers depend heavily on donations and support from the community, and this ride is another effort to help and show appreciation for the critical work of this organization.

About The Ride:

Originally known as the Bike and Badge Ride, organizers have renamed the ride to honor Mr. Dave Mungenast, Sr., a man who believed in his community, often helping many charities without expecting recognition. His support for the Bike and Badge Ride was no exception, and without his help, our ride would not exist today. Mr. Mungenast passed away in the Fall of 2006, and we hope to honor him and his memory by renaming this event to "The Dave Mungenast Sr. Memorial Bike and Badge Ride.”

On the date of this year’s event, Sunday Oct. 2, 2011, registrations will be taken from 9:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. at the ride, which begins at Mungenast Motorsports, located at 5935 South Lindbergh Blvd.(located directly behind the Honda car store). Registration is just $25.00 and all proceeds benefit the BackStoppers. T-shirts, sweatshirts, and ride pins will be on sale during the time of registration.

The ride itself begins at approximately 11:30a.m. A police escort will assist with the start of the ride, and normal traffic laws apply after. The ride is more than 100 miles. Registered participants will receive route directions and a detailed map. Riders may stop for breaks or refreshments if desired. It is open to the public, and all licensed riders and legal street motorcycles are welcome. Any individuals or motorcycle clubs promoting unsafe riding are not expected to attend.

To Participate:

To participate in the ride, you will need a street legal motorcycle, valid motorcycle license, and a desire to ride with fellow enthusiasts for a noble cause. The registration fee is $25.00 – pre-registration is available via regular mail, or you can register on site the day of the event. Feel free to email info@bikeandbadge.org with any questions.

We must remind all participants to not drink and drive. It is against the law and could cause serious injury to you or someone else.

If you are a non-rider, please feel free to join other participants in downtown Ste. Genevieve.