People are funny. Not haha funny, strange funny.

We idolize rock stars and actors but think of cops as the bad guys when they give us a ticket for going 80 in a 60km zone.

We pay hockey players millions so we can watch Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday, but we pay surgeons who can save our lives a mere pittance compared to our hockey heroes.

It's a reality that's never made much sense to me but the truth is as a society, we all want to be seen hanging around with the local radio celebrity or be seen at the local eatery with a member of the local sports team. Like it or not, we're all addicted to fame and fortune.

So when the call came for me to interview legendary radio star Bro Jake from Rock 101 FM in Vancouver, I have to admit I was intrigued at the chance to speak with a media mogul whose career has taken him across the country and now sees him as the morning man on Vancouver's number one rock station.

"I've been riding since I was a kid," he started. "My bud Steve McNeil got a Honda mini-bike and he was the first guy on the block with a bike so we were all fascinated. After that I started riding a dirt bike - a BSA 441 Victor - and I thought it was the greatest bike ever, but it weighed as much as a tank. Bikes have come a long way since then. Right now I'm 51 (years old) and I've had 60 bikes and they just keep getting better."

Considering the number of rides the popular radio host has gone through it should come as no surprise that he eventually took his fascination to the drag strip.

While working in Winnipeg in 1992, Bro Jake was convinced to get on a 9-second bike that hit top speeds of over 170-mph and the next thing he knew he was a regular at the drag strip in Gimli, Manitoba, just outside of Winnipeg. In his first year he was named the Rookie of Year, but job commitments would make his racing career a short one as he soon headed for the west coast.

After getting off the racetrack, Bro Jake experimented with a number of different bikes and eventually got involved with the ever-expanding charity world. He uses his love of riding to help a number causes including the Ride For Sight. The multi-time winner of the Broadcaster of the Year award in Canada uses his media power to extend a hand to a variety of worthy causes and he talked about his attraction to charities.

"If it has anything to do with a bike, I'm in" he laughs. "When I was in Toronto at 107 FM I was involved with the Ride For Sight and there was 7 to 8,000 bikes."

"This May I'm involved with a big cruise to Oregon to raise money for autism. The B.C. government has stopped the funding for a number of programs so we're going on a high-end ride to raise some money. The bottom line is that the need for funding is over the top and there's just so many charities out there that need help from Tsunami victims to problems right here in our own back yard. The nice part is that Canadians are the most generous people in the world and the motorcycle community is the best. I can go on air and announce a ride to the island (Victoria) to raise money for one thing or another and the next thing you know there's 50 bikes lined up that weekend to help the cause."

In fact, Bro Jake's penchant for raising money on the back of a motorcycle has almost gained legendary status and in 1981 he was nominated as the Outstanding Canadian of the Year after embarking on a cross-Canada ride promoting Big Brothers.

As it turns out, Jake was defeated by Ken Taylor (who was instrumental in gaining the release of Canadian hostages overseas), but it was still a feather in his cap and indicated the length to which his charity work has gone.

Considering he's not a youngster anymore having passed the big 5-0, Bro Jake's taste in bikes has also changed over the past few years. From dirt bikes to drag bikes he's seen them all, but these days he's chosen to ride in the lap of luxury after picking up a brand new Gold Wing from Carter Motorsports in Vancouver. As he describes, the unit has just about everything except running water and a kitchen sink.

"It's amazing how many guys are out there who have been married for 20 years and are just getting into bikes now and like me they want something that's comfortable," says the eight-year veteran at Rock 101 Vancouver. "This new bike is so luxurious I can't believe it. It damn near has a La-Z-Boy to relax on, a sound system you wouldn't believe and everything you could possibly need for a road tour. I made the mistake of taking my wife for a ride and now I can't get her off."

"To finish it I had the guys at D and B Custom paint it for me and they did a great job. The bike actually looks like it's on fire when you drive by and I get a lot of looks when I have it out on the street."

Unlike many celebrities, Bro Jake hasn't let his status or reputation go to his head. In fact, he parlays his media power to make life a better place to be for people who are less fortunate while enjoying everything that motorcycling has to offer.

Not a bad mix and one that leaves Bro Jake at the top of the charts.