By Kate Bartlett
The 3rd annual Go Topless Jeep Jam & Ride with Randy Motorcycle Cruise in Lakewood will take place on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. This police-escorted scenic 40-mile convoy around Chautauqua Lake starts at 11am followed by an after-party with live music, food trucks, and raffles from 1-6pm.
Michelle Turner and Bonnie Ridgeway founded this event in 2023 to gather the community for a fun, scenic ride around the lake for a good cause. Michelle always wanted to create an event built around a Jeep ride, and Bonnie loves to ride motorcycles, so this was the perfect way to honor Bonnie’s late husband, Randy, a local avid motorcyclist who passed away from cancer a few years ago.
The event starts and ends at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club with 3 stops along the way: Busti Tap House, 5 & 20 Wine and Spirits and the Bemus Point Golf and Tap House. Jeeps drive in one direction around the lake, motorcycles drive the other, but both groups make all three stops and return to the Rod and Gun Club for the afterparty. All vehicles are welcome. “We encourage anyone to join,” remarks Michelle. “We’ve had several Corvettes in the past, but really any vehicle is welcome. It’s a great day for a great cause.”
Each stop offers fun and excitement with food trucks, live music, raffles and giveaways throughout the day. The afterparty at the Rod and Gun Club will kick off with DJ Felix from 12-3pm and a live performance from the Tommy Z Band on the patio from 3-6pm.
This year, riders can participate in a poker run for an added element of excitement. Players will have the opportunity to draw playing cards at each stop (additional available for purchase) with the goal of building the best standard poker hand by the final stop. “It adds a fun, exciting, social element to the day,” explains Michelle. Prizes will be awarded for the best hand.
Michelle describes the ride as scenic and energetic. “The ride is beautiful; a nice long, scenic ride along Chautauqua Lake,” explains Michelle. “It’s a great gathering of a mix of two groups of enthusiasts that really take heart in what they do.” The ride offers a new stop this year at 5 & 20 Spirits and Brewing, giving riders something different to experience. “We try to keep it interesting for the riders,” explains Michelle. “All participating businesses have been great to work with this year and in previous. We’re fortunate to have such a supportive community.”
The ride attracts visitors from a wide radius including neighboring states. “It helps attract economic development to the area,” explains Michelle. “We hope that the ride continues to grow in years to come and attracts even more visitors to discover our region.
The event has gained momentum over the past 3 years, with participation at nearly 100 last year, and expected to be even higher this year. The ride has raised a cumulative total of around $30,000 for the Randy Ridgeway Foundation Scholarships along with the Lakewood K9 Unit and Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department. “We are thrilled that this event has been such a success,” remarks Michelle. “We hope to continue to gain momentum each year and make an even bigger impact through the foundation.
The Randy Ridgeway Foundation Fund is a donor-advised fund managed by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) that was established by his wife, Bonnie Ridgway, to honor the memory and philanthropic legacy of her late husband. Because Randy supported a wide variety of causes, the foundation is structured to be highly flexible. It does not focus on just one issue but rather directs grants wherever the community needs it most. Proceeds raised in past Go Topless Events have supported the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department and the Lakewood-Busti Police Department’s K-9 Unit.
Registration begins at 9am on Sunday, August 16 with the ride starting at 11am. Cost is $30 per vehicle with no membership required. The event is rain or shine with registration ongoing online. Follow on Facebook for more information @LakewoodRodandGunClubInc.