CALIFORNIA: Star-studded motorcycle event, the Love Ride returns

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Star-studded motorcycle event, the Love Ride returns

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 | Written by Digits | | A staple of the motorcycle calendar will return this year as the star-studded event known as the ‘Love Ride’ will bring out big-hearted bikers in a very public fashion.
Tonight Show host, Jay Leno, will lead thousands of bikers to Castaic Lake for the 28th annual Love Ride on October 23, 2011. As the largest and perhaps most eagerly-anticipated motorcycle ride-for-charity in the country, Love Ride is a mega-event that draws thousands of generous motorcycle enthusiasts, concert-goers, and a number of celebrities each year to partake in the pleasures of helping others while enjoying music from top American artists.
The legendary Love Ride caught motorcycle enthusiast’s imaginations for twenty-five years before a struggling economy put the event on hold in 2009. Last year it rode back with a smaller group of participants and now it appears to be in top gear.
This year the award-winning country duo of Montgomery Gentry brings their special sound and personality to the main stage.
Beloved by fans for their story-telling music style and personal values, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry also ride Harleys – a combination that promises to make Love Ride 2011 an unforgettable biker experience.
“The Love Ride is truly unique because it’s not just entertainment for charity,” notes event founder Oliver Shokouh. “It’s a full-immersion experience that lets people participate in a way that raises the spirit of giving to high levels, mainly because it feels so good.”
No Love Ride would be complete without its loyal celebrity supporters. This years’ cast of characters includes Robert Patrick, Peter Fonda, Lorenzo Lamas, Larry Hagman and Willie G. Davidson (plus typical surprise celebrities) all dedicated Love Ride veterans who can often be found mingling with fellow bikers.
Perhaps perfectly named, the Love Ride is that rare charity event that bikers look forward to every year. Version 2011 promises to amplify this annual rite with a mix of new and traditional elements designed to melt hearts, and pry open a few wallets all for a worthy cause.
Since Love Ride’s humble beginning in 1984, thousands have come together year after year to support its causes, experience some of the best music in the country and enjoy quality food with like-minded people.
Great music is known for its ability to elevate the spirit. Exceptional live performances by world-renowned artists are a tradition at Love Ride and a cornerstone of its unparalleled success. Music legends such as Bruce Springsteen, ZZ Top, Cheryl Crow, Foo Fighters, B.B. King, CSN, the Doobie Brothers and many more helped Love Ride achieve status as the largest one-day motorcycle fundraiser in the country with a total of more than $13 million given to children’s charities since 1984.
The music will highlight a day dedicated to an important cause. That cause is autism, a challenging neurological disorder that affects a growing number of children and their parents each year. As in 2010, the Love Ride charity is Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism. Through the generosity of bikers and everyone involved year after year, the Love Ride can make a significant impact on the disorder.
This year, Love Ride greets a major new supporter, the Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association. The 22-strong dealer group adds an important new feature to the event by offering each of their dealerships as launch points for the ride. This approach will make it more convenient for bikers to start their rides while also improving logistical aspects for a smooth beginning to the day.
Castaic Lake is the setting for the 28th Annual Love Ride to help raise funds for Autism Speaks.
Castaic Lake, with its rolling hills, shade trees, and the beautiful lake makes an ideal setting for a long list of activities: The music of Montgomery Gentry backed by hand-picked gourmet food purveyors, motorcycle stunt shows, plus an eclectic variety of vendors with souvenirs to take home. Proud bikers can also display their rides in a bike show and special prizes for top fund-raisers will also be featured.
All makes of motorcycles are welcome to participate in the Love Ride. And even if you don’t ride a motorcycle but want donate and hear a great concert in beautiful Castaic Lake, there is ample and free parking for cars and trucks too.
“Everyone involved is working in concert to make the Love Ride a most auspicious event,” said Shokouh. “The cooperative spirit is just the antidote for the still-lingering effects of a tough recession. It reflects our values as well as those of our sponsors and the many volunteers needed to make Love Ride 2011 another huge success.”