Love Ride 24: New and Old All At Once

Now part of the inaugural California Bike Week (November 9-11) held at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA, Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale owner and Love Ride founder, Oliver Shokouh, finally gets to see the bigger picture realized. "For years weve wanted more activities and events for motorcycle riders in California - something to offer all motorcyclists - and now weve got it...California Bike Week features things motorcyclists have wanted for years, no matter what brand or style of motorcycle they ride," Shokouh remarked.

Asked if some people were hesitant to change the riding destination from Castaic to the Fairplex, Shokouh replied, There are always a few resistant to change, but most people are really excited about growing the Love Ride into a motorcycle event thats truly major league. We think people will be very pleased with the new ride and venue.

LR 24 will close out the busy weekend of bikes, drag racing, dirt-track racing, music, food and so on. Here's sampling of what to expect during California Bike Week: The debut of the Pacific Coast Nationals - a first-class, national-level flat-track racing series; AHDRA drag racing on the famous NHRA strip; a large vendor village/trade show; stunt riding exhibitions; the Victor McLaglen Motor Corps Stunt Team; major manufacturer demo rides, as well as daily musical entertainment. Sponsored by more than 75 California Harley-Davidson dealers and heavily supported by the Harley-Davidson Corporation, California Bike Week will launch Friday, November 9th at the Fairplex.

That same Friday the LR will have its usual kick-off party, this year, at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

As for an opening act, Shokouh hinted at some big surprises in store for people who attend this year's Love Ride event, including special guests performing songs from the very first Friends of Love Ride 24 CD. This new compilation includes original songs by recording artists Andy Summers (The Police), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Jackson Browne, Jeff Healey, and an all-star cast of others including: Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Todd Smallwood (Mick Fleetwood Band), Jack Mack (America's #1 Rock n Soul band), Brian Ray (Paul McCartney), Too Slim and the Taildraggers (currently in Billboard's Top Ten), and more.

Love Ride 24 will begin at 6:00 a.m. on the 11th of November at Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale in Glendale, CA and set on down the highway around 10:00 a.m. with 20,000 riders expected to participate. You can sign up now through Friday, November 9th, and the minimum "donation" is $70 per person. It's a charity event benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association, among others, and provides the opportunity to have people or businesses sponsor participants, thereby potentially raising more than the minimum $70 donation required.

Motorcycle.com will be there to shoot pictures and videos, so youll want to check in with us on November 16 for our report.