Bakersfield Toy Run, Thousands rumble in Toy Run charity parade....

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http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1534674270/


Thousands rumble in Toy Run charity parade

BY GRETCHEN WENNER, Californian staff writer gwenner@bakersfield.com
Sunday, Dec 12 2010 02:37 PM Last Updated Sunday, Dec 12 2010 03:05 PM

Felix Adamo / The Californian Harleys, minibikes, foreign motorcycles, scooters, and four-wheel vehicles, they were all in the 27th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run cruising down 21st Street en-route to the Kern County Fairgrounds. Felix Adamo / The Californian Quads doing wheelies, always fun to watch. Especially in a parade atmosphere. Felix Adamo / The Californian No fancy custom motorcycle here, just an old school Harley-Davidson chopper powered by a H-D shovelhead engine. Felix Adamo / The Californian Ashley Lloyd, right, and Jennie Jones add some last minute tinsel to this Harley-Davidson Sportster before the start of the 2010 Bakersfield Toy Run. Felix Adamo / The Californian Toy Run Felix Adamo / The Californian The 2010 Bakersfield Toy Run was led by motorcycles, which thundered by four and five wide for approximately 17 minutes. They were followed down 21st Street by about 13 minutes of automobiles. Felix Adamo / The Californian Filling all lanes of 21st Street and stretching as far as the eye can see, motorcyclists in the 27th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run make their way to the Kern County Fairgrounds. Felix Adamo / The Californian Being both festive and safe, Camilla Padron, has her glittery Santa hat over her helmet for the Toy Run. Felix Adamo / The Californian You didn't need a big Harley-Davidson to participate in the 27th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run, a snappy little Italian job like Mike Anhalt's 1963 Lambretta scooter would do just fine! Felix Adamo / The Californian Eighteen year-old Genesis Martinez takes one last look at messages before the heading out on the Toy Run with her father. Felix Adamo / The Californian Black leather jacket and a black t-shirt (cigar optional), was the predominant attire for the 27th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run. Jeff Compton was one of a few thousand riders who participated in the event. For a full 30 minutes, a horde of Harleys -- punctuated by a jumble of Jeeps, a trickle of trikes, slips of sport bikes and even a couple motorized ice chests -- rolled out of Beach Park Sunday morning for the 27th annual Bakersfield Toy Run.
"It's about Christmas for kids," said Pat Johnson, before climbing on the back of her husband's tangerine and fuchsia 3-wheeler, which Gary Johnson built atop a VW engine.
Thousands of motorcycles, mostly Harley-Davidsons, crowded the road around the park as riders gathered for the 10 a.m. start down 21st Street.
Among the shiny gas tanks and black leather, toys of all sorts hitched rides. Teddy bears, trucks, puppets, Twilight dolls, Dr. Seuss characters and more were lashed to seats and sissy bars for the rolling parade along Chester Avenue to the Kern County Fairgrounds. There, organizers collected presents for the Salvation Army to distribute to needy families.
Last year, the Salvation Army served Christmas dinner to more than 1,200 families and provided at least two toys to each child.
Alma Benavidez and friends Nancy Macedo, Annie Evans and Betty Palacios, between them, brought two Barbies, a remote control car and dinosaur, a Tonka, a toy gun, a helicopter, ponies and two Fisher-Price pianos.
The event is about helping out kids, Benavidez said.
"They have to have a Christmas," she said.
Laurie Abshier, who helped coordinate the run, said organizers estimated 4,000-5,000 motorcycles were on hand.
"A heck of a lot," she said.
So many cyclists showed up some had to wrap around onto Oak Street because there wasn't enough room in the park, Abshier said. Another 300 cars and 100 off-road vehicles turned out.
Motorcycles, mostly four abreast, poured out of the park for nearly 18 minutes, followed by cars, trucks and ATVs.
Terry Kitts, who showed up with a basketball on his 1976 Honda Gold Wing, said he liked all of the Christian bike groups on hand.
"There are probably more than there are outlaw" groups, he said.
For motorcycle and car enthusiasts, the gathering was a bit of heaven.
Harleys dominated the scene, but tucked amid cush Electra Glides and throaty Fat Boys were European sport bikes, vintage Hondas, Suzukis and Yamahas, 1960s-era scooters, minibikes and at least one tiny two-wheeler with a 3-horsepower Briggs & Stratton lawnmower engine.
Four-wheeled participants also ran the gamut, from everyday mommy vans to hopping hydraulic jobs.
"It's just a good community event," said Gary Johnson, the trike builder and member of Jammin' 3-Wheelers club, before heading off to the fairgrounds to contribute a cash gift. "I enjoy helping out."