What it takes to organize the Hotter’N Hell Hundred event every year

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - With the annual Hotter’N Hell Hundred event just around the corner, you may be wondering what exactly it is about the bike ride that riders come back year after year.

The Hotter’N Hell Hundred steering committee tells me this is the 45th year of the event. With just five years away from the 50th year, the team has created special, collectable finisher medals leading up to the big five-oh. Each year, you get a piece of the state of Texas, and when you get six pieces, they fit together to make the entire state.

The race chairman tells me the community is what inspires him to host the event each year.

David Coleman, chairman of the Hotter N’ hell hundred, shared that after five years as race director, he has witnessed firsthand how the event unites communities for an unforgettable ride.

“There’s eight thousand people lining up, and down Scott Street the national anthem plays, the Air Force flies over, the cannon goes off, and it’s just an amazing moment to be in a group of that many people all coming for one event,“ Coleman said.

Coleman said the race is not possible with just one team. He explained that it takes the whole community to make it happen. Medical staff, security, water stations, rest stops, sag wagons, and emergency centers all play a part. Coleman emphasized that this community support is what brings riders back every year.

“The people, because the people of Wichita Falls are awesome, so when they get to town, when they leave, they’re treated with hospitality the second to not when they go out to the rest stops; the people are friendly, everybody at the start line, and there’s an energy that’s hard to describe,” Coleman said.

Mario Arroyabe leads the cycling team at MSU and directs the Hotter N’ Hell races. He has been involved with the cycling program since Oct. and has coached for many years. His students are often pro-racers in the Hotter’N Hell Hundred, something he has a passion for.

“That’s how I got started actually racing my bike, so when I had the opportunity to actually be the director of a cycling program, I thought to myself, what a better way for me to give back. I am not as young as I once was, and so this is kind of my way of giving back to the upcoming generation of these young men and women that are going to be the star racers for us,“ Arroyabe said.

Coleman said new this year is the triple-h headstart event. It’s happening this Sunday, Aug. 23 at MSU starting at 4 p.m. The event will take place right in front of the University on Taft Blvd. There will be kids’ activities; their bikes are encouraged to be brought. It is encouraged to come out to the event to feel what the actual Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred event will be about the following weekend.