Some great changes were in the works this year!
Photos/Video and Story: T-Bone
Sixteen years ago, Rip Rose, photo/editor at Easyriders Magazine created the B.A.D. (Bikers Against Diabetes) Ride. We have been involved for many of the recent years and some of you may recall Blacktop Magazine hosted the first-ever Car Show on the grass in the middle of their annual festival. Last year the festival changed venue with mixed reviews. This year Heather Erickson, Rip’s B.A.D. Ride manager for the American Diabetes Association decided to go back to the roots and focus the efforts on fundraising through”third-party” events.
In September we rolled along with a local poker run. It was a neat little event and reminded me on how fun Poker Runs are. Not just sitting in a parking lot, park or bar, but actually riding the bikes from spot to spot meeting new and old friends alike along the route. You can read more about the Rip’s B.A.D. Ride Poker Run here.
In October, Bartels’ Harley-Davidson in Marina Del Rey celebrated their 30th anniversary. They sure know how to throw a party. There was an escorted ride through the beach communities of Venice, Santa Monica and Malibu before ending up with a BBQ Chicken and Tri-Tip lunch at Sycamore Cove State Park. A little known California State Park right on the sand backed up by the cliffs of the Santa Monica Mountain Range and just across the border into Ventura County. Another great run where all the proceeds go to Rip’s B.A.D. Ride. You can read more about that event here.
With our marketing efforts and the B.A.D. Bike Build project benefitting the Rip’s B.A.D. Ride for 2014 we were invited to the annual V.I.P. Party. The V.I.P. event invites B.A.D. Riders who have fundraised over $500.00 worth of donations to the American Diabetes Association. This year the event was held at Original Mikes Restaurant in Santa Ana. The restaurant was Santa Ana’s first Buick-Horseless Carriage Auto Dealership built in 1919. The bar had First Bitten playing classic rock tunes. The patio hosted a casino event where people could buy chips for prizes awarded at the end of the afternoon party. There was a silent and live auction and the Victor McLagen Motor Corps riders put on a great show!
All-in-All we think this years’ Rip’s B.A.D. Ride was a success! We like the smaller rides and the focus on helping people with Diabetes rather than a super-expensive party for the ADA. We look forward to next year and being able to make a significant contribution, WITH YOUR HELP, to the American Diabetes Association through our B.A.D. Bike Build. Thank you to our early supporters; Schapiro and Leventhal, THE Motorcycle Attorneys; So Cal Cycle Swap Meet, Cyclepath Cycle, K&N Filters and those who have made personal donations and support by purchasing a t-shirt or other merchandise! Also a big thank you to our media partners at Primer Podcast for their updates to our project. To learn more about the B.A.D. Bike Build visit: www.BADBikeBuild.com