Eight British aristocrats, the ultimate in BMW motorcycles, and a 6000 mile journey across Russia, from Vladivostok on the Pacific Coast, through the Far East, Siberia, the European part of Russia, finishing in St. Petersburg. It could only be The White Nights Ride, a charity motorcycle expedition. Participants will set off on 2nd May 2005 and arrive at the English Embankment in St. Pete early in June. This exhilarating ride proves that adventure is not only the prerogative of youth. You might be the owner of a multi-million pound company with a receeding hairline, but apparently it’s still not too late to zoom across thousands of kilometres of undiscovered open plains, spanning 10 different time zones.
     The White Nights Ride has a planned budget of 1 million US dollars. The money will go towards children and families in need and assistance for cultural, social and ecological programs in the Russian cities lying along the route. The coordinators of the White Nights Ride are the Charities Aid Foundation Russia, the largest British charity operating in Russia, and the Centre for Development of Nonprofit Organizations (St. Petersburg).
     The initiative behind the White Nights Ride comes from passionate motorcycle enthusiast Lord Nicholas Fairfax. Heir of a well-known noble family in Great Britain, former member of the House of Lords & the Parliamentary Motorcycle Group, he is the owner of a large marine insurance company that has been doing business with Russia since 1982. The idea of the ride was born out of Nicholas Fairfax’s twenty year experience of travel in Russia, coupled with his fondness for motorcycling and a desire to raise funds for the Russian non-profit sector.
     Taking part alongside Fairfax in the White Nights Ride are:
     Rose Cecil, 48, professional artist, known for her work on a number of world-wide expeditions. Though she is the only woman on the expedition, this is not expected to be a handicap.
     58-year-old Prince Nicholas von Preussen, Director of ITL Fund Management Company, former Formula 3 racing driver and motorcyclist for over 40 years.
     Tim Von Halle, 49, Investment Banker specialising in the raising of debt capital for Global Corporations and life long biking enthusiast.
     71-year old Victor Emery, former director of many corporations and current Chairman of the National Byway (organisation that promotes cycling in Britain). A former naval aviator, Victor is ranked among the world’s top 5 cross-country skiers in his age group.
     77-year old Vernon Stratton, founder of the Vernon Stratton Advertising agency, supreme human interest photographer and former World Sailing Champion who also managed Britain’s Olympic sailing teams in 1968, 1972 and 1980. He travels to his boat races by motorbike.
     Ron Pape, 56, Risk Manager of P&O Nedlloyd Shipping. He has over 70 000 miles of biking experience under his belt.
     Kevin Sanders, 40, Owner of Globebuster Motorcycle Expeditions and current holder of two world records for fastest Circumnavigation of the World and the Americas by bike.
     Russian businessman, 36-year old Boris Zimin, Chairman of the Dynasty Foundation, is also taking part in The White Nights Ride.