Thousands Participate in 30th Annual Love Ride to Support the USO
Day-long motorcycle ride and music festival with Grand Marshall Jay Leno raised over $400,000, with proceeds benefiting the USO
Event featured performances by Jackson Browne, Jacksh*t, Chevy Metal, and The Forest Rangers with Katey Sagal,
#LoveRide30 #USO #JayLeno #FoodTrucks
Glendale, CA (October 24, 2013) –Over 4,000 motorcycle and music fans celebrated the 30th anniversary Love Ride on Sunday, October 20th, led by Grand Marshall Jay Leno, with performances by Jackson Browne, Jacksh*t, Chevy Metal, The Forest Rangers with Katey Sagal, The Loveless and American Hitmen. Budweiser Presents the 30th Anniversary Love Ride, Powered by GEICO Motorcycle, is the longest running single day motorcycle fundraiser in the world, and this year will donate proceeds to the USO, to help support America’s troops and their families, wounded, ill and injured troops and their caregivers and families of the fallen. Featuring Willie G. Davidson, grandson of a Harley-Davidson founder, Hollywood celebrities including Lorenzo Lamas and more, the Love Ride raised over $400,000, thanks to the efforts of more than 4,000 attendees and hundreds of volunteers.
In its thirty-year history, the Love Ride has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Bruce Springsteen,B.B. King, Billy Idol,Crosby, Stills & Nash,theFoo Fighters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry,Sheryl Crow, Steve Miller Band, and ZZ Top. Thanks to the dedication of attendees and volunteers, the Love Ride has raised over $24.5 Million for non-profits in its 30-year history.
Each year, the Love Ride kicks off with a concert at Harley-Davidson of Glendale, followed by a ride to Castaic Lake Recreation Area. For motorcycle riders and non-riders alike, the event features headline performances, plus delicious food trucks, drawings for exclusive prizes, a custom bike show and more.
For the 30th anniversary event, Marine veteran band and America’s Got Talent finalist American Hitmen opened at Glendale, followed by Southern California rockabilly band The Loveless. At Castaic Lake, The Forest Rangers with Katey Sagal kicked things off with a wide ranging set, including songs of Katey Sagal’s upcoming album, Covered. Jackson Browne and jacksh*t were next on stage, with a set that included some of Jackson Browne’s greatest hits. Chevy Metal, with Taylor Hawkins, Wiley Hodgden, Mick Murphy and Dave Grohl, closed the show with a set that included fan-favorite rock hits.
The Top Ten Fundraisers for Love Ride 30 were:
1. Eric Schmoranzer, who earned $2,000 in Chevron gas cards and a two-night trip for two to Las Vegas
2. Jim Carnes, who earned a Stephen Holland painting of Evel Kenievel signed by Evel and the painter, plus a two-night trip for two to Las Vegas
3. Judi Flournoy, who earned a Swiss Trax garage floor, plus a two-night trip for two to Las Vegas
4. Gerard McKenzie, who earned the David Uhl painting, entitled Once Upon A Time, plus a two-night trip for two to Las Vegas
5. Kent Vest, who earned the Jackson Browne auction package, plus a two-night trip for two toLas Vegas
6. Janelle Skeen, who won the Custom Love Ride Stratocaster guitar by Fender
7. Michael Mills, who earned $1,000 in Chevron gas cards
8. Douglas Eaton, who earned a $500 gift certificate redeemable at any Southern California Harley-Davidson association dealerships
9. Bobbi Kaelin, who earned a $500 gift certificate redeemable at the Harley-Davidson of Glendale
10. Michael Popovich, who earned $500 gift certificate redeemable at Hollywood Harley-Davidson.
Every Top Ten Fundraiser also earned a pair of 7Eye sunglasses.
The Love Ride 30 ride-in bike show was judged by celebrity builders Roland Sands of Roland Sands Designs, Russell Mitchell of Exile Cycles, Chica of Chica Custom Cycles, Lenny Meyer of Big Boy Choppers, Michael Schacht of Crocker Motorcycle Company, and Joan Krenning of Lady Road Dog. The bike show featured six categories and a people’s choice award. Mikei Bilek won the People’s Choice with a Boss Hoss Cruiser. Bruce Iverseon won the Custom category with a Boss Hoss Pickup. Randy Romero won the Sportster with a 1996 XLCH. Cardo Bongiorno won the Softail/FX category with a 2006 Heritage. Robert Shelton won the Touring category with a 2012 CVO Road Glide Custom. Denis Olsen won the Veteran category with a 1966 FLH. Donna Kaminsky won the Lady Ridden category with a 2008 Dyna Fat Bob.
The Opportunity Prize winners were Jim Carnes, who won the 2014 Harley-Davidson Road King; Susan Clarke, who won the trip for two to Milwaukee for private tours of the Harley-Davidson Museum and Factory; Eric Schmoranzer, who won the Micheline Abounassar (artist micha) Oil Portrait Painting 36"x30" of Jay Leno signed by J. Leno and the painter, plus two, two-night trips for two to Las Vegas; Michael Watt, who won the Steve Kaufman painting of Budweiser girls ; Jim Wilkey, who won $1,000 in Chevron Gas cards; Jodie Spencer, who won a custom, hand-crafted, personalized Krazyboy signature series 30th Anniversary leather jacket; Joe Vance, who won the Budweiser custom Fender guitar; Kent Vest, who won the Dell XPS10 Tablet computer and the Love Ride custom leather bike bag by LEDERHART; and Lupe Arvizu, who won the iPad mini, 16GB, White, WiFi; and Brad Brauer, who won the Replay XD Camera. Additionally every Opportunity Prize winner also won a pair of 7Eye sunglasses.
Supporting the Love Ride this year were title sponsors Budweiser and GEICO Motorcycle. The Love Ride has also partnered with Chevron, Sebastian Professional, Russ Brown, John Paul Mitchell Systems, City National Bank, Fender, 26 members of the Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association, and the City of Glendale. GEICO Motorcycle also hosted a sweepstakes for a 2014 Harley-Davidson, won by Paul Bywater.
The color guard was presented by the Santa Clarita Young Marines and the National Anthem was sung by Petty Officer Rebecca Lopez, USN.
For registration and more information about Love Ride 30, go to LoveRide.org. Join Love Ride on Facebook (Love Ride Glendale HD), Twitter (@LoveRide) and Instagram (LoveRide30).
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About Love Ride
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Love Ride is the longest-running one-day motorcycle event in the world. A place where people come to have a good time and make a difference. To date, Love Ride has raised over $24.5 million for charity, and the spirit of the event has expanded to annual events in Mexico and Europe. The Love Ride was in 1984 found by lifelong rider and Harley-Davidson dealer Oliver Shokouh. Through the years, the Love Ride has supported numerous national charities, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Autism Speaks, and the USO.
About the USO
The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.