Soon after they were married in 1967, they purchased their first motorcycle, a 450cc single-cylinder Montgomery Ward (made by Bennelli). A succession of larger and larger bikes ensued until in 1977, they purchased a Kawasaki KZ750 Twin and began touring the US. This led to still larger bikes and in 1981, they purchased a Kawasaki KZ1300 Touring bike.

During this period of course, they took time out from riding to have a family, beginning with Kimberly in 1971, followed by Christopher in 1974, and finally Colin in 1976. In 1985, they left their hometown area of Pasadena, and followed Chris' work to Richmond, Virginia, where he is now employed as a Nuclear Technical Specialist in the Nuclear Engineering Department of Dominion Virginia Power and is a nationally recognized subject-matter expert on Flow-Accelerated Corrosion. They rode the roads of Virginia for a while after settling here but, unfortunately, between work and raising the family, the KZ1300 ended up gathering dust in the garage.

In 1992, after the kids were pretty much through with schooling, Kathy got the urge to hit the road again. She told Chris to get the Kawasaki running. Well, several months and $1000 later, they were ready. But, after much soul-searching, they decided that a bike that old would not carry them on the types of trips they really wanted to take. So, they purchased their first Gold Wing, a Red '92 GL1500 Aspencade. Soon after, they joined GWRRA and Chapter D in Richmond, and have been having a blast ever since.

Not long after joining Chapter D they became the Public Relations Coordinators to help promote the Chapter's activities, GWRRA, and motorcycling in general. Through the Hooper's efforts, the Governors of Virginia have proclaimed May as Motorcycle Awareness Month every year since 1993. Kathy was a principal rider in the 1996 Pony Express Tour, the National Relay Ride for Breast Cancer Research, which raised over $317,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Both Kathy and Chris were principal riders in the 1998 Pony Express Tour and assisted in raising more than $613,000. Chris became a member of the Pony Express National Staff in 1999, and was the Web Administrator of the national website. He was a Promotional Team member for the Southwest Trail in the Pony Express Round-up 2000, and rode out to Los Angeles in June of 2000 to participate in the trail back to Peoria, IL, traveling 7500 miles in the process. Chris was also a charter member of the Richmond Ride for Kids Task Force and since 2002 has assisted in raising over $250,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. In another area, directly through Chris' efforts, and with the assistance of the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM), those who have the need, can now acquire handicapped license plates in Virginia for their motorcycles and trikes, which will allow them to park in restricted zones. Chris has also been named to the Advisory Board of VCOM, a political action committee which looks out for motorcyclists rights in Virginia.

In 1995, Chris and Kathy became the Virginia District Public Relations Coordinators (now called MED), so that they could help carry the GWRRA image to a higher plain. Chris became a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor in 1996, and Kathy was certified in 1997. Chris was a Contributing Editor of Wing World, the GWRRA magazine, from 1995 thru 1998, and is the WebMaster for the GWRRA Virginia District WebSite, and the Chapter VA-D (Richmond) WebSite. Chris & Kathy have served as the Chapter Directors for Chapter VAD. Kathy also previously served as Chapter D Educator and Asst. Chapter Director. Most recently, they have served as GWRRA VA Asst. District Directors (Central), stepping down in 2006. Kathy was previously the webmaster of the Motor Maids, Inc. national WebSite. Chris & Kathy are both Senior Master Tour Riders and hold GWRRA Rider Education Level IV. In 1999, Kathy was named the Region "N" Educator of the Year at the GWRRA Region Rally in Bristol, VA. Chris was presented with the Vernon L. Needham Spirit of Virginia Award at GWRRA VA Rally in the Valley 2000. They have both participated in the GWRRA Horizon's Leadership Training Program, and Chris is a Certified Instructor in GWRRA Leadership Training Division. The Hooper's believe that safe motorcycling is the best public relations tool there is. They also believe that public relations is "Everybody's Job." They feel that when you are on your motorcycle, you represent everyone else that rides, in the eyes of the public.

In their years of riding, the Hooper's have taken their bikes to all 48 contiguous states, eleven Canadian provinces, and Mexico. Chris now rides a 2002 Pearl Orange GL1800 called "Orange Crush" and a 1984 Honda VF700 Interceptor. He has over 500,000 miles traveled by motorcycle in his lifetime. Kathy has given up riding her own bike, preferring now to just let Chris chaufer her around. Their favorite trip thus far was a 27 state, 30 day tour to the West Coast in 1994. In the summer of 1998, they again traveled to the west coast and returned home through the Canadian Rockies each pulling a camper trailer while doing a 28 day evaluation for Wing World. In the Summer of 2003, Chris rode out to San Diego, CA, completing an Iron Butt Ride (1000 mile in under 24 hrs.) enroute and Kathy flew out to join him. After visiting their daughter and son-in-law, Kim & Fran Coyne, for a week, they completed the trip on bike by traveling the entire length of Rt. 66 from Santa Monica Pier, CA, to the Lakefront in Chicago, IL. Since 1994 the Hoopers have taken four trips to the Canadian Maritime Provinces, their most recent trip to Newfoundland and Labrador. They really enjoy the scenery and people of that area of the world. The Hoopers hope to one day travel internationally and tour Scotland, the Alps and, eventually, New Zealand.