HD Open Road

For Immediate Release
Contact: Steve Fisher
Marketing Director/Glendale Harley
818-246-5618 ext. 133

Comeback Planned For Legendary Motorcycle Charity Event

Oliver Shokouh, Founder & Chairman

Glendale, Ca — The Love Ride, canceled last year because of a challenging economy, is planning to start again in fall 2011. The announcement was made by Oliver Shokouh, Love Ride founder and owner of Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale. As part of the announcement, Shokouh confirmed that there would be no “Ride” this year (in 2010). In its place, there will be a Love Ride 261/2 Biker’s Carnival held at Glendale Harley-Davidson on Sunday, October 24, 2010.

“The economy remains in flux, and although there are some positive signs, we want to make sure both the Love Ride and the Love Ride Foundation are on solid ground before we continue our mission,

Peter Fonda, Honorary Grand Marshall

which is to raise money for children’s charities and those less fortunate in our community,” says Shokouh, “We’re excited, and at the same time, humbled by the response from the community at large to bring the Love Ride back as soon as possible. Meetings have been slated for the Love Ride Board of Directors and other community leaders. We are meeting to outline a new game plan for the ride. As a stopgap this year, our Love Ride 261/2 Bikers Carnival will be held at Glendale Harley on the day usually reserved for the Love Ride. With this biker’s carnival, we’re going retro.”

Shokouh’s “retro” reference refers to how the Love Ride started in 1981 and 1982 as a biker’s carnival, then skipped a year before coming back as the Love Ride. “Our beneficiaries still need our help and support,” adds Shokouh.

Citing slow ticket sales, vendor bookings and sponsorship, Shokouh pulled the plug on Love Ride 26 last October after a quarter century of consistent growth. In its twenty-five years, the Love Ride has raised $22 million for various charities, in the process becoming known as the “Granddaddy” of motorcycle charity rides. Each year, riders come from around the world to experience the feeling of riding with 20,000 bikers from Glendale Harley to a predetermined venue for an afternoon filled with great food and music.

Willie G. Davidson, Honorary Chairman

The ride has attracted hundreds of thousands of bikers, from regular guys to A-list celebrities such as comedian/TV host Jay Leno, who served as the ride’s official Grand Marshal for twenty-four straight years. The Love Ride has featured performances from some of the biggest names in music, most recently the Foo Fighters, who headlined the event’s Silver Anniversary in 2008. Other talent gracing the Love Ride stage has included Robbie Krieger (from the Doors), Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Idol, Mick Fleetwood, Jackson Browne, ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood, BB King, Sheryl Crow and Gregg Allman.

Although the Love Ride “event” is on hiatus, the Love Ride Foundation continues to accept donations throughout the year through the sale of Love Ride merchandise and the aforementioned Love Ride Biker’s Carnival to be held this October.

For more information and updates on the Love Ride and Love Ride Foundation, go to http://www.loveride.org or contact the Love Ride Chairperson, Oliver Shokouh, at oliver@loveride.org.

Jay Leno, Grand Marshall

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