It’s that time of year again when the biker nation gets together for what has been billed as the largest one-day motorcycle fundraising event in Southern California. The Rip’s B.A.D. Ride. In it’s 14th year, the BAD Ride has helped to raise over 6 million dollars for the American Diabetes Association! That’s incredible and the Orange County arm of the ADA is proud of their record that over 80% of all funds they receive go directly to research and help for those suffering from diabetes.
As many of our regular readers know, Blacktop Magazine was the host of the first-ever car show at the Rip’s BAD Ride. You can read about the car show at this LINK.
This year Willie Davidson came out to the show. We got a chance to meet him and show him our ratty Rapido-hack project we entered in the highly competitive bike show. His wife wanted us to get a shot of Willie with Billy in front of the Rapido.
The bike-games are always a favorite at the show. Thanks to Gil and the folks at A.B.A.T.E. for bringing the games out. Potter and Terry joined in on the fun at the Slow Race. Also at the games were the popular Weenie Bite and the “Bike Wash”.
The Bike show was fantastic with many different categories which brought out about 100 bikes to be judged by professionals such as Kim Petersen from Easyriders and John Gilbert. There was a spectators choice as well. We entered the Rapido in the three wheeled class and missed that trophy and the Rat Bike trophy. Oh well, we were honored to have Willie G give it a look and say it was really cool!
The event ended with a big long set by Lee Rocker of Stray Cats fame. He really rocked the park and had the biggest crowd I’ve seen in the past several years of the BAD Ride. Check out our YouTube video of the Car Show with Lee Rocker playing in the background HERE.
A big thank you goes out to all who volunteered and organized the event headed by Chae Polonia of the American Diabetes Association and Melissa Swizz of Anaheim/Fullerton HD. Check out the event next year and in the meantime, The American Diabetes Association is still fundraising for the event with a Summer Festival, Saturday July 30th at Hooters lake Forest and their VIP night at Knott’s Berry Farm on August 20th featuring Turn the Page and Live and Silent Auction for top fundraisers. Earn $500.00 in fundraising and you get to attend. For donations please visit this link: RipsBADRide.com.