Roll on Columbus (ROC) kicks off Saturday, May 22 at the Arena District in Columbus Ohio, and of course, all proceeds go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. But not only is the money raised from the event destined for the kids, but so is part of the event as well.

Keeping with the family entertainment theme of ROC, kids will have their own special area with activities designed for them at the Kid’s Zone. There they’ll find a number of things to see and do, highlighted by the opportunity to help paint and decorate an actual road racing motorcycle, owned by local racer Nathan Docken!

Nathan DockenNathan is a senior at The Ohio State University, studying Marketing and Business Management, and he’s actively involved with Ohio State’s CAR (Center for Automotive Research) and their Formula Buckeye team. He’s also an Eagle Scout and enjoys being outdoors, whether its playing soccer, ultimate disc, camping, hiking, cycling or rock climbing. In addition to all that, Nathan is also an active road racer. He’s been riding for eight years and has been racing for about four.

“My family is a true racing family,” he says. “My dad is a Porsche enthusiast and was the one who introduced me to the engineering side of an engine and how it worked when I was real young. We attended numerous racing events at Road Atlanta when we lived in Alabama back then. My most vivid memory was when we went to Road Atlanta and there was a rain delay during practice, so most of the bikes weren’t out on track. My dad and I walked around the paddock and were able to talk to a lot of the riders, and I was even allowed to sit on a pro rider’s race bike. It was that moment where I knew I was going to be a rider. We moved to Ohio when I was in third grade and have been to every Supercycle weekend at Mid Ohio since. I absolutely love it there and I’ll always remember the first time I was able to get on the track with my bike. It was an awesome experience for me and a life goal accomplished,” he says.

With his own Yamaha R6 he races on the tracks around the country, Nathan needs a great paint scheme for it to show what a unique and talented rider he is. “The idea is to paint the entire bodywork of my bike white as a base canvas for the kids to work with and then have the kids finger paint, hand print, brush, or use whatever tool they want to use with many colors available to them,” he says.

“It’s also a chance to allow the kids to be up close and personal with a real track/race-prepped bike as well as allow them to be a part of it with their own creativity,” he says.

“The end result will be a completely unique, one-off design that not even the top creators in the world could reproduce. The bike will turn heads wherever I go and get people talking. I am extremely excited to be a part of this awesome event and look forward to seeing what the kids can do to the bike,” Nathan adds.

The Kid’s Zone is only one of many great activities on tap for ROC, joining bike shows, mini-road racing, stunt shows, trials exhibitions, performances by three great rock bands plus the Ohio State University Alumni Band (and cheerleaders), dozens of vendors, seminars and more. Best of all, kids under 12 are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Admission is $15, and doors open at noon.

See you there, rain or shine.