By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

If you tune to WPME channel 17 Sunday morning, you might catch a glimpse of a local establishment and learn a thing or two about motorcyclists and their bikes on the new show “Ridin’ Steel.”

The half-hour show, produced by Stephen Marois, of Bath, premiered on the local station in November after briefly running on a local access channel, but started when Marois compiled footage from “Stoney’s Lobster Run,” a motorcycle ride to raise money for the Children’s Cancer Program. 

“As I was doing the shoot, I got caught up in the benefit itself,” Marois said. “The bikers were gathering for a cause and it was a compassionate thing.”

From there, Marois asked “Stoney’s Lobster Run” founder John “Stoney” Dionne to host a series of shows based on different motorcycle rides in Maine. 

Currently WPME has four episodes running Sunday mornings, including this past week’s episode featuring a ride from L-A Harley Davidson in Lewiston to Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel. The show highlighted the fundraiser for L-A Harley Davidson employee Ewing Fox who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in August. At the time, Fox was still in a coma from the accident and facing large medical bills, and while Fox has recovered from the coma, Marois said he is still dealing with the bills. Footage showing bikers walking up to an open guitar case and tossing in money depicted how generous riders can be, Marois said. 

“Motorcycle riders are often stereotyped as rough, but I wanted to show them in a better light,” Marois said. 

During the show, Bentley’s owner Bentley Warren said the business hosts many fundraisers throughout the year to help the community and various charities.

“It’s a way of giving back and hoping they’ll put up with us being here,” Warren said. 

“Ridin’ Steel” isn’t just about the charitable efforts of the bikers however, it also shows footage from the actual ride and Marois interviews people involved along the way. 

“It’s a way for me to meet different people and get away from the kids,” rider Liz Roberts said during the show. “Riding is a sense of freedom.”

Many of the riders interviewed likened riding motorcycles to a sense of freedom, and Marois agreed. 

“At times of stress like this with the economy the way it is, people are trying to get away, to escape, but they are still thinking of other people in the process,” Marois said. 

Having been a motorcycle enthusiast for years, Marois said he was aware of various rides during the summer months, but never realized the extent rides benefit charitable causes. He said people turn out for fundraising rides in large numbers and come from all walks of life. Marois said he hopes he can “move people” with his documentary-style show and reach more people through airing the show on a local station with nearly 400,000 viewers. 

“I’m determined to make the show succeed,” Marois said. 

Production is already ahead of schedule, having originally planned to air the first episodes this coming spring, Marois said. Now, with four episodes done, Marois said he is coming up with different ideas all the time and is excited for spring and another riding season to begin. 

“This is not just about people getting together in a spot and riding to a destination. They are working hard to raise money, even in the off season,” Marois said. 

The episode featuring the ride from L-A Harley Davidson to Bentley’s will air again Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. Marois can be contacted at 504-1631 for more information.