RECAP: Our mission - A record and a legacy

On June 20th 2026, four men and a dozen crew set off from Oceanside, California on a mission to set a new Race Across America (RAAM) record in the 60-69 age group. RAAM is known as the world's toughest bicycle race. The motivation that drove the team is, of course, the challenge of working as a team to win the race but also, to raise funds for causes dear to their hearts.

Officially, we finished the race in 6 Days 17 Hours 45 Minutes. This was an average speed of 18.97 mph. The record set in 2014 was 19.07 MPH. So we were less that a tenth of a mile an hour average away from the record. 

The race threw many challenges at the team. One racer was sick out west as we were climbing through the Rocky Mountains and over the Great Divide so we wer reduced to a three man rotation. Another got sick in Ohio and needed to see an urgent care doctor while the other three pushed through three time stations. He was able to re-join the team in Athens, OH but not at 100%. There were headwinds in Eastern Colorado and Kansas to overcome as well as thunderstorms in Illinois.

The crew was amazing, selflessly working toward the single goal of safely and quickly making it to Atlantic City. We were a well-oiled machine of four vechicles, four racers, and twelve dedicated crew. It was an experience that cannot be put into words.

While we didn't break the record, we did win the race. Our arrival into Atlantic City the morning of June 27th 2026 earned us the victory in the four man, 60-69 age group.

The racers

Brad Wiggs, Rob Kelly, Bob Vigil, and Bob Murphy

This crew represents multiple RAAM finishes, world record titles, and a passion to crush the age group record. 

the crew

Gregory Mathes - Crew Chief, Mackenzie Murphy Marynak, Mike Pesses, Tom Kelly, Marlon Diaz, Shilo Vigil, David Wiggs, Belton Hogue, Bradley Wiggs, Tony Deshields, Suzanne Deshields, and Austin Sloma!

the legacy

Bob Murphy and his wife Deidre (a lifelong educator) are passionate about education. Public institutions like UCLA and SDSU derive some funding from the state of California but you'd be surprised at how little it really is. Young people are our future and we believe that if we can give them a little extra support, it can better help them focus on their education and not have to worry so much about paying for it.

We've setup three endowments that support specific areas that we believe will make a difference.