Daily News Love Ride Article

Video of KABC 7 News Item

Love Ride Retro 2010 Slated for Sunday November 7th

For Immediate Release

Contact: Steve Fisher

Marketing Director/Glendale Harley

818-688-1502
 

Glendale, California -- The Love Ride will feature a “retro” run this year on Sunday, November 7th, 2010 from Glendale Harley-Davidson to Calamigos Ranch in Malibu.The announcement was made by Love Ride founder Oliver Shokouh, who along with Jay Leno, will lead riders back to the same venue where the Love Ride began twenty-six years ago.  Tickets will go on sale starting at 9am on Saturday, July 24th, at Glendale Harley and online at www.loveride.org.  Ridership will be capped at 1,000 bikes for this special retro event. 

“We are very happy to be back with the Love Ride, actually much sooner than we thought,” says Shokouh, who last October cancelled Love Ride 26 citing a “very challenging” economy.  Earlier this year, it was announced that the Love Ride would return in 2011, but demand for the ride remained too strong to skip a year.  “We were going to do a street fair outside the dealership, but our loyal volunteers and veteran love riders wanted to do more. So, in conjunction with the Love Ride Board of Directors, we started planning a “retro” ride, taking us back to where it all started, Calamigos Ranch.”  

Love Ride Retro 2010 will be a trip into the Love Ride’s glorious past.  26 years ago, Oliver Shokouh rode out from his fledgling Harley-Davidson dealership in Glendale with 500 bikers to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  “The Love Ride was about riding out with friends for an afternoon picnic with great bbq and wonderful music, shade trees and fresh air off the ocean,” says Shokouh.  All to raise money for children in the community less fortunate.  We want to get back to that with Love Ride Retro 2010 in November.”  

Having the retro theme and knowing that the Calamigos Ranch venue cannot possibly accommodate the thousands of bikers the Love Ride is known for, Shokouh is capping this year’s ride at 1,000 bikes.  “It wouldn’t make sense to go retro with 15,000 bikers, so this year’s event will be kept intentionally small,” adds Shokouh.  By keeping the event costs down, adding some sponsors and relying on people’s generosity we still hope to raise a good chunk of change for this year’s beneficiary, Autism Speaks.”  The Love Ride Foundation is a registered 501c3 charity organization that has over the years raised millions of dollars for children’s charities. Over the last 26 years, the Love Ride has grossed over $22 million and netted over $14 million for children’s charities in the community.  

In line with the retro theme, long-time Love Ride Grand Marshall Jay Leno is scheduled to lead the ride back to Calamigos.  “Jay has been an icon for the ride, he’s what makes the heritage of the Love Ride so rich.  He wants to be a part of this year’s “retro” run and we couldn’t be happier.”  Also scheduled to be on hand is Robby Krieger of The Doors, one of the Love Ride’s original performers, who promised a memorable “retro” set of music on November 7th.  The Love Ride has a long history of inspired music performances, with the likes of Krieger, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, David Crosby and others performing at Calamigos.  “The fun of it was you never knew who was going to show up,” Shokouh says with a laugh.  “Only 1,000 bikes will be registered starting July 24th, so please make your plans early to register and go retro with us.”  

Tickets for this year’s event are $100 per person and will go on sale starting Saturday July 24th at Glendale Harley and online at www.loveride.org  The price of admission includes a commemorative ride pin, bbq chicken and tri-tip lunch, entrance to special Love Ride Retro activities, Love Ride Retro Slide Show sponsored by Thunder Press and CommCinema, beer garden sponsored by Quick Throttle, and an afternoon of great music, entertainment and prizes.  One opportunity ticket for the use of a 2010 Harley-Davidson Fatboy Low for a year (gas and insurance not included) is also included. Extra opportunity tickets will be available for $10.  Collectible Love Ride Retro 2010 patches will also be available for purchase the day of the event.  

Special thanks to PRINTEFEX in Glendale for all our poster printing and collateral needs.  

For the latest information and updates on the ride, go to www.loveride.org