Bryan Harley
motorcycle-usa.com
The Love Ride will return to the friendly confines of Castaic Lake once again this year.
The Love Ride, once billed as the “largest one-day motorcycle fundraiser in the country,” is returning to Castaic Lake this year. The event, originally held at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu Hills, was eventually moved to Castaic Lake once it grew too large for the ranch. With its rolling hills, shady trees, a beautiful lake as a backdrop and enough space to hold 20,000 motorcyclists, Castaic served as a perfect venue for the Love Ride until organizers decided to move it to the Pomona Fairplex in 2007. It would be held at the Fairplex for the next two years before the event was eventually cancelled altogether in 2009 due to low ticket sales, a decreasing number of participating vendors and declining sponsorships.
Event organizer and Harley-Davidson of Glendale owner, Oliver Shokouh, would not be deterred by the gloomy economic outlook, though, and resurrected the ride last year. It was a smaller affair, limited to 1000 riders who rode out to Calamigos for the carnival-like celebration. This year, though, The Love Ride attempts to return to its former glory, supported by the return to Castaic.
'The Chin' aka Tonight Show host Jay Leno, an avid motorcyclist and overall gear head, will be 'Grand Marshal' of Love Ride 28.The benefactor of the 28th Love Ride is Autism Speaks, an autism science and advocacy organization. Tonight Show host Jay Leno will serve as Grand Marshal and Harley’s Willie G. Davidson is Honorary Chairman. We also talked to TV producer Chad Greulach and actor Lorenzo Lamas, partners in Lorenzo Cycles, who said they will be attending as well and intend on heading up a ride with service members from one of the nearby military bases. The headlining musical act will be country stars and Harley riders Montgomery Gentry.
In the past, the ride has started at Shokouh’s Glendale Harley-Davidson, which caused logistic problems getting out of the place. This year, Love Ride will be supported by the Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association, a 22-strong dealer group. Each of the dealerships will be serving as a starting point for this year’s event, which should alleviate traffic problems.
The event takes place on Oct. 23. If you live in Southern California or are going to be in the area that weekend, be sure to check it out. Shokouh is a magnanimous man who has raised millions for local charities, so support the cause if you can. Hope to see many of you there.
