The word “Love” in Love Ride has meaning because of the thirty charities the ride benefits but it also has meaning to the 20,000 motorcyclists who attend each year for varied reasons. For me, it has brought together a family who obviously love one another that otherwise might not come together so easily. The Love Ride was actually the first time I ever rode with my kids and I remember how much my oldest son grinned from ear to ear. Finally, we had something in common!

This year was extra special for Pizano and I because Robert Patrick. Michael Irby and Max Martini from the Unit, Ethan Embry from the Brotherhood and Steve Watson who are all prospecting for the Boozefighter’s, invited us down along with several other Boozefighter’s to join them for the three day event. I thought it would be interesting to tag along to see the interaction.

These Hollywood boys from Chapter 101 (a brand new Chapter) showed their Boozefighter guests a really good time and as all good Prospects should, they took very good care of their patch holders. It was very odd to see Prospect Robert Patrick bringing orders of hamburgers and French fries to all of the guys. They planned rides together, dinners, drinks and other outings and had a great time.

We rode to the Peterson Automotive Museum on Friday night and enjoyed the display of wonderful antique cars, collections of bikes used in movies or used by royalty. It was very cool to see Robert walking around in his vest with green and white patches on it and hanging out with the guys, yet always taking time out to take a picture or two with a star struck guest. As usual, though the star of the day was Steve McQueen and his numerous motorcycles and collectibles.

I wandered away from the guys and met Barbara McQueen who was signing a book that she has written along with Marshall Terrill, called The Last Mile. Barbara was very kind and very beautiful…still, after all these years. Once a model, the book is a very personal pictorial of the actor and his wife’s life together and though I won’t review it for this issue, the pictures alone are worth buying the book and placing it on your coffee table. Meeting Barbara was really the highlight of my evening. She was so hauntingly charming that she leaned across the table to connect with me and so she did so with ease and grace. She gave me her book as a gift and wrote a very sweet note inside. Needless to say she has a new fan.

I listened to the band playing in the background and realized that this was Ricky Nelson’s son. The Mathew Nelson Band played a review of all Ricky Nelson’s songs to about 500 guests as the previewed the collectables that would be auctioned off the next morning.

The next morning, we all met Robert and the boys from Chapter 101 along with the rest of our Boozefighter friends to have breakfast at Bobs Big Boy. We took a quick picture and Robert took us into Glendale for our big day. All of us were all invited into the VIP area. They were some happy Boozefighter’s because they got to take pictures with many of the stars and some very pretty girls, too.

The festivities started with Edgar Winter at 7:00 am. If you have attended the Love Ride before you know of our favorite Ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy Chris Houle. Founder and chairman of the Love Ride, Oliver Shokouh announced to the crowd that Chris had died of complications from Muscular Dystrophy on September 16th

^{Chris’s parents were present as the announcement was made and a hush came over the crowd.}

Glendale’s Celebrities included Robert Patrick, the Mayor of Glendale, Dave Weaver, Max Martini, Michael Irby, Gilby Clarke, Larry Hagman, George Barris, “King of Kustomizers” (the Batmobile and many others), Kristy Swanson from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, Michael Rooker of “Thief”, Kevin Chapman and Ethan Embry of Showtime’s “The Brotherhood.” Oliver ended the press conference by calling Farmer’s Insurance Group to the stage, who presented the Love Ride Foundation with a $500,000.00 check.

While the press conference was going on, I got to spend some time talking to one of my all time favorites, Dan Haggerty from Grizzly Adams and he is just as nice as I imagined. (I have to be dating myself now.) I also got to spend time photographing many other favorites as they waited to go on stage. I kept thanking God that I have such a great job!

It was time to ride to Castaic Lake. The sounds of thousands of engines roaring, is an incredible sound to describe, but it is something akin to the beginning rumblings of an earthquake. And as you parade down the road to the freeway, people line the streets waving, reaching out to touch your hands as though each biker is a celebrity of sorts. Children are jumping up and down and cameras are flashing. There are TV cameras everywhere and the press is on every street corner. This ride is the largest fundraising event in the world, so on Sunday, November 12th, the media was out in force.

After riding about 40 miles to Castaic Lake, we were whisked to another VIP area, one I had not been to before. I spent some time there talking with many new people I hadn’t met and a few people I had. We once again, saw all the stars and there was a lot of hoop-la over Steven Tyler. Man…my son and my husband were all over that! I never get to see my editors, Chris and Lisa, so they tend to be my celebrities…lol, so I spent time with them while Pizano chased Steven Tyler down hoping to get a photo for me.

I finally got out and walked around to see the people, which is my favorite part of this work. There were probably 100 vendors and a huge crowd as usual. I took some pictures of people with the stars and shopped the vendors. I spent time with my family who were all very excited to take pictures with the celebrities that were from the Unit and the Brotherhood which is regularly recorded in all our households. We sat on a blanket and just enjoyed the music being played by the famous and beloved Fryed Brother’s. It was just the most beautiful day.

As I returned to Boozefighter’s who were still in the VIP area gabbing and enjoying each other’s company. Soon, I found myself following a trail of Boozefighter’s to a private chain linked area. When I asked where they were going, they explained that they had been invited to join the “Ugly’s” (which was a first) and they felt honored. The Ugly’s are a group of celebrities including Peter Fonda. They hung out together and had a few drinks and got to know each other while I ran around taking more photos.

After I returned to the Ugly’s private compound, it seemed that all were having a great time. Meanwhile, on stage Jay Leno introduced Steven Tyler who was joined by Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford. This crowd was really getting hyped up. By the time Cynthia Fox from KLOS introduced the Black Crowes, they really got a rise out of the crowd as they rocked their world with hard driving rock and roll. I thought, man…what a great show this whole day has been!

Sadly, though, while I was out and about talking with the crowd, I heard a lot of complaints about the food, which I never ate that day, so I can’t give you a review, but the food is usually from Tony Roma’s and is always great. I heard other complaints, like…”Where were Willy G. and the Davidson’s and Peter Fonda and the regular’s”? I don’t have definite answers for these questions but I do have a theory.

In past years The Love Ride has suffered criticism for spending too much money on the Hollywood VIP’s and too much money was believed to be siphoned into administrative hands. It has been a well known fact that many bikers purposely had their own rides on the same day in protest of the type of Hollywood glam event and they have complained, the cost of tickets are too expensive.

First, I would like to say that I have paid far more for a concert with no food or any other form of entertainment and none of the money that I paid went to charity. So basically the food at the Love Ride is a given. The vendors are there for our enjoyment. The celebrities that are walking around at Peterson’s Museum, Glendale and Castaic are a perk. Peterson’s Museum is an awesome museum of cars and bikes, etc and it is included in the price of the Love Ride ticket and if you have never attended, you have missed an awesome evening. On Friday and Saturday there is usually another event of some kind and this year you could have taken part in Universal City Walk’s first Southern California’s appearance of the Harley Davidson Road Tour and free demo rides.

If you chose to take part in the three day party as we did, you would have been riding around the Los Angeles area from morning til night and all for less than $75.00. If you chose not to participate in everything, I still think the concerts, celebrities, meal, stunt shows, vendors and ride pin is a pretty decent deal. It is all in how you look at it. My family makes a day out of it and we go to enjoy each other’s company and feel the money is going to a good cause. Every year is going to be different and one year will always be better than another and as the saying goes; “You can’t please everyone”.

Now, I think that Oliver Shokouh may have listened to the magazines and newspaper’s speculation’s and may have decided to cut back this year on many expenses so that more money could be funneled to the many different charities. Remember, this is just a theory of mine because who knows, maybe the regular stars had other commitments and could not be there. But, if he chose this route, it was worth it because Love Ride 23 raised $1.56 million dollars. That is pretty amazing. And if you really think about it, isn’t it worth eating a dish of food that may not be rated on your A list?

Who knows what Oliver and his committee will chose to do next year, but whatever he does, he has my support. His 30 charities have my support. The amount of work that goes into a show of this magnitude is beyond my comprehension so I give Oliver’s and his committee my support.

I definitely will always want to see Willy G and the Davidson’s and all the charter members, but maybe that is just not possible every year. So, do we complain or do we go with the flow and enjoy the day? I think for the price, we should enjoy our friends, the celebrities, the music, the ride and helping those who can’t help themselves because isn’t that what this whole thing is all about?

At the end of the day the top fundraiser was Eric Schmoranzer at a whopping $24,123.00. There were nine other top fundraisers ranging from $1500.00 to $7050.00. All top fundraisers received trips and special prizes for their hard work. The Boozefighter’s National V.P. Carl Spotts was called to the stage to make a presentation of $1,000.00 to the Love Ride Foundation.

Steve Bright from La Crescenta drew the Grand Prize winning ticket for the 2007 Harley Davidson Street Glide. The final prize was a 2006 Harley Davidson Softail autographed by Jay Leno, Peter Fonda, Robert Patrick, Fred Durst, George Barris, Bathazar Getty, Willie G. Davidson, Karen, Nancy and Bill Davidson, The Tuetals and Lorenzo Llamas. The winner was Louie Amigo of Whittier.

I had wonderful time. I want to say a special thank you to Oliver Shokouh and his committee, Barbara McQueen, Robert Patrick, Max Martini, Ethan Embry, Michael Irby, the Ugly’s, Steve Watson, Chapter 101 and all the Boozefighter’s, my family and Chris and Lisa Dalgaard for making this Love Ride especially wonderful for me. They all had some part in making it so special. You guys are the best!

Article by Babydoll

Pics by Babydoll and Pizano