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Click on the little pictures, get the big pictures.

“LoDown” Dan Parker

Nevada City, California, December 13 2003-

Send us your damp, your dank, your thoroughly sodden biker masses. The night before an annual second Saturday in December run to put toys and holiday food in the baskets of less fortunate families in this Sierra Nevada foothill region, it literally poured rain across the valley and over the ridges. Just above here, the mountains were flocked with snow.

Riders headed for the 12th Annual Nevada County Food and Toy Run and the accompanying big Boozefighter MC after-run dinner and party awoke to see putty gray clouds hanging low over the hillsides. The pine trees continued to drip and there were huge puddles of standing water on the roads and elsewhere.

No one would have been surprised to hear the loud report of snooze alarms being smacked all over town. Honey; wake me when it’s not winter.

Instead, first in two and threes and then in ever increasing numbers, foothill riders and many coming up from the valley too could first be heard and then seen as they ignored the weather dude and dodged the puddles. In the end, they turned out in large enough numbers to make the day, the toy run and the BFMC blowout a fine success.

Rolling all morning into the staging area at the Eric Rood Center just above the town of Nevada City, riders were treated to hot coffee served by members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.  Unfortunately, standing in the parking lot bikers also received another face full of drizzling rain.

But riders’ spirits never flagged as they waited patiently for the noon start. That was due, no doubt, to the knowledge that the Boozefighters MC Charter 6 had been toiling since daybreak preparing huge steaming vats of chili and stew for a post-ride feed.

The BFMC Charter 6 has been an involved in the Nevada County Toy and Food Run in a big way for many, many years. Beginning last year, the club decided that the generous riders participating in the annual event deserved a place to warm up after delivering the goodies to children and families waiting at the fairgrounds in Grass Valley.

The idea was for the Boozefighters to layout some good chow, open the bar, and get the party started. Near to the fairgrounds, the Moose Lodge on Highway 49 just below Grass Valley has proved a perfect venue.

Near the noontime start of the run, Carl “Big Daddy” Spotts,  West Coast BFMC representative and other national club officers such as Long John, Egor, and Leadfoot led a large contingent of green and white riders fired up their bikes. The BFMC then accompanied Santa at the head of the Nevada County Toy Run pack. As riders fell in behind and local law enforcement blocked intersections, the group wound its way down the narrow, wet hillside streets.

Along the way, children, parents, grandparents and other appreciative folks lined the streets or stood in their doorways in Nevada City and then Grass Valley - both beautiful Victorian-era towns in the heart of California’s Gold Country - to wave and encourage the procession. As the rain picked up a bit, spectators unfurled umbrellas and riders ducked a little deeper in their leather jackets.

Everyone’s goal was to get to the fairgrounds safely and deliver the items that help make this run an annual success. According to the run committee’s Website, local service organizations benefit from the Nevada County run throughout the year and needy area families receive food for a Christmas dinner - turkey, potatoes, and canned goods - and children are given toys as well. In turn, each biker arriving at the fairgrounds received a handmade “thank you” card from the children.

Once at the fairgrounds, riders parked their bikes on the very soggy grounds and slogged their way to the delivery areas. Once inside, bikers delivered enough toys to make many, many tables groan. More than a few, however, spotted the green and white Santa and, once their mission was accomplished, they followed the jolly old elf right down the road to the Boozefighters post-run party.

As the parking lot filled with bikes, the sky began to clear and rain ceased. Inside, BFMC Charter 6 President, Dante, and VP Manzo   greeted a packed house that included representation from a number of local clubs, including Resurrection MC Sierra Nevadas chapter, the Grand Fathers MC, Capital City, the never-to-be-teased Weasels, Christian Motorcycle Association riders, and many, many independent riders as well.

Back in the kitchen, member Brik, prospects Dan and Brian, and others keep the fire hot under the kettles of hot food. Up front, members Abnorm, Wheels, Rusty, Blue Light, and Busy got busy selling dinner tickets and chances to win a 2004 Sportster. Mondo and Logan, prospects that rode over the Sierras to be at the party, helped with the support wear sales. Streak and hang around Mike sold raffle tickets. Virtually everyone in green and white pitched in. Zoey and Renee, the crew from Heart and Soul Tattoo, were on hand as well.

Omnipresent was the green and white clad Santa - rumored to have been RJ “Cowboy” Carter - who spent a good deal of time in the Moose Lodge bar (making a list and checking it twice). Having been mobbed earlier in the day by children and non-children alike down at the Grass Valley fairgrounds was good practice for handing out the raffle prizes.

Together with member Pizano, the green-hued Santa kept everyone entertained as a stream of raffle prizes donated by shops from throughout the region went to many, many happy riders. In the end, all attendees and club supporters were thanked by Big Daddy and invited back to Nevada County to do it all again next year.