Mayflower Moves More Than 64,000 Pounds of Motorcycles for Kyle Petty Charity Ride

SAN JOSE, Calif. –- Piedmont Moving Systems, an agent for Mayflower Transit, one of the nation's oldest and largest van lines, teamed up with the Kyle Petty Charity Ride to transport more than 80 motorcycles from North Carolina to Oregon. Using three tractor-trailers, Piedmont took the more than 64,000 pounds of bikes to the start of the ride in Lake Oswego, Ore., where riders saddled up and traveled a Pacific-Northwest route through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Kentucky, and Tennessee before returning to North Carolina. More than 250 motorcycle enthusiasts traveled for nine days to their final destination - the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C.

NASCAR driver Kyle Petty combined his passion for helping others and a love of motorcycles to create The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. This annual trek features NASCAR celebrities, sponsors and fans traveling cross-country to raise money for children's charities. Now in its eleventh year, the Charity Ride has logged more than 38,000 miles, included more than 5,000 riders and has raised more than $7 million. The main beneficiary of the 2005 ride is the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which helps chronically ill children create memories that will sustain and inspire them.

“It's an honor and inspiration to be a part of the ride again,” said David Bartels, president of Piedmont Moving Systems. “Like the Petty Ride organizers, we believe in strong family values, strive to have a positive impact in local communities, and want to help improve the lives of these deserving children.”

Piedmont has transported the motorcycles since the inception of the program 11 years ago. Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley for a quarter century, Piedmont has positioned itself as a leader in the transportation of high-value electronics and household goods.

Mayflower Transit transports electronic equipment, trade show exhibits and displays, works of art, and specialized freight, in addition to household goods, utilizing a network of 700 affiliated agents throughout the United States and around the world. Mayflower's headquarters offices are located in suburban St. Louis, Mo.