The event is in honor of Riley Caple, and aims to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.
TEMPLE, Texas — Saturday, Feb. 28, 2025 marks the second annual “Revving for Riley” memorial car show at Horny Toad Harley Davidson, honoring the life of Riley Caple, who died by suicide over a year ago. The event takes place from 12 p.m. to 4 pm..
The memorial car show was created by Riley’s parents, Justin and Tracy Caple, who turned their grief into action by establishing the Revving for Riley nonprofit organization. The initiative combines Riley’s passion for cars with their mission to support suicide prevention efforts.
“He was a protector. He was a provider, he was a big servant, and he was goofy as all get out,” Riley’s parents shared, describing their son who passed away at the age of seventeen. “That’s just what we want to be for people.”
The highlight of tomorrow’s event will be at 1:30 p.m. when all attendees are invited to join in “Revving for Riley” – a collective revving of engines as a birthday salute to Riley and recognition of the lives saved through the foundation’s work.
“It brought chills, it brought all the emotions that I didn’t expect to have,” the Caples recalled about last year’s engine revving tribute. “It floored us both.”
The organization welcomes all vehicles to the show – cars, bikes, trucks, jeeps, and even scooters.
“If it’s got an engine and makes noise, or has wheels and rolls, we want to see it!” the event announcement states.
Vehicle owners can register for award categories with an optional $20 fee, with all proceeds benefiting the nonprofit.
Last year’s inaugural event drew hundreds of vehicles, and organizers hope for an even larger turnout this year. In addition to the car show, attendees can enjoy food trucks, sweet treats, a bouncy house, and more family-friendly activities.
Kord Davis, who works at Horney Toad Harley Davidson, expressed how the initiative has made a personal impact.
“It has touched me personally. I’ve been able to contact Justin and Tracy for help for other people, and that lifted so much weight off of the whole entire situation,” Davis said.
The Revving for Riley nonprofit, which is in the process of becoming a 501(c)(3) organization, focuses on creating a culture where it’s acceptable to discuss mental health openly. Their mission involves educating people to recognize signs of suicide risk and providing resources for those in need.
“That’s what our goal is – to make it a little bit easier and not as shameful to talk about because people don’t want to say the word suicide,” the Caples explained.
They hope the event will reach those who might be struggling and those who know someone in need of support.
“The key is to get as many people here because not the folks that may be thinking about suicide will be here, but somebody who knows and loves them might be,” Caples said.
“We’re working to preserve his legacy of everything that he loved – the people he loved, what he loved doing – through everything that we’re doing,” the Caples said of their continued mission to honor their son while helping others.
The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988 for anyone needing immediate assistance.
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