By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

St. Cloud motorcycle enthusiast Don Williams is pretty happy that an American company finally made a worthy product.

Williams, the proud owner of a 2005 Victory motorcycle, was recently selected as one of 10 riders from a nationwide search that drew more than 350 entries to take part in the company’s True American Road Trip.

Williams, 53, won based on a 90-second video clip he sent in, discussing his ideal road trip, as part of the contest.

For his efforts, Victory awarded him a complimentary 12-month lease on its new Victory Cross Country motorcycle. Starting this month and over the summer, he will plan and document four road trips and share the sights, sounds and thoughts from the trip with the world through the company’s blog. Victory will cover all trip costs, like gas, food and hotels.

Williams, a maintenance manager in St. Cloud, said he had to work in the vacation time in a hurry.

“I talked with my boss and I think I’m going to be able to make it work out,” he said. “I’ll have to remember to take a lot of pictures. In turn for doing this, we have to show that we’re having a good time on their product.”

The timing of it all is pretty incredible.

“I just got my current one paid off,” he said. “I’ve been riding since I was 13, my first was a 250cc Harley Sprint that they don’t even make any more.

“I’ve had every Japanese product since, the quality of American products just wasn’t there for a while. Last time I decided to finally try one and I’ve liked it enough to stick with it.”

He picked up the new motorcycle this week. Later this month, he’ll head out on the May trip, with his wife Bonita riding shotgun, to the paradise that many know as Margaritaville.

“After I’d filled everything out, they told me I had to plan the first trip kind of fast, and we’d never been to the Keys so I just thought of Key West,” he said. “We’re going to head down (U.S. Highway) 441 and other two-lane roads and just take our time. This whole thing is about seeing America on the back of a bike.”

The Williams’ trips in June, July and August will follow the theme, “Drivin’ Through Dixie.” Don said one trip will likely be to Stone Mountain, Ga., but the others have yet to be mapped out.

Josh Kurcinka, marketing manager for Victory, said the idea behind the True American Road Trip is to offer the world a view of the relationship motorcycle riders share across the country.

“This program allows us to help fuel their passion with the open road, and a chance to tell their story through the road trips they construct,” he said. “This summer, Victory will offer the entire world the chance to follow along online, soaking up all the great sights and sounds this country has to offer from the comfort of their own home.”