There were more than a few things about Love Ride 18 that were slightly out of the norm for the event. People started lining up in front of Glendale Harley-Davidson during the usual pre-dawn hours, but something rarely seen at the event delayed the start of Vanilla Fudge's kick-off concert -- it rained. It wasn't a torrential downpour, it was just enough to potentially soak all the stage equipment and anything else that wasn't covered. By 7:45 a.m. the rain had stopped and the show was a go, with Vanilla Fudge preceding appearances by celebrities such as Branscombe Richmond, Robert Patrick of the X-Files, Willie G. Davidson, and Grand Marshall, Jay Leno.
Another unusual item worth noting is the overwhelming display of patriotism for the United States. Although Harley crowds, by their very nature, seem to have no problem expressing their passion for America, what happened in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, just two months prior to the running of the Love Ride had a huge impact on everyone who attended. Besides the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Reading By 9, and a host of other charities, a sizeable amount of money was set aside for the victims and disaster relief funds relating to Sept. 11.
The rain had been gone long enough for the roads to dry out before Jay Leno led the pack of riders from Glendale Harley-Davidson to Castaic Lake at 9:30. It seemed as though the ride to the lake would be a dry one, until about 5 miles into it when the group hit Burbank just west of Glendale. The rain started to come down and continued for at least the next 15 to 20 miles, giving way to clear skies from there on throughout the day.
Though many had been awake since 4 or 5 a.m. getting ready for the ride, the day was just beginning when the group reached the lake. Ford had an impressive display of its new '02 Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew pickup with complete trucks and cut-away versions. Live entertainment included Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Wayne Shephard, and Joe Walsh who rocked the crowd for hours using the lake as their backdrop as they bounced about the stage.
A ton of motorcycle manufacturers and aftermarket vendors displayed their latest wares, and Rhett Rotten's Wall of Death kept people coming back all day for more. The Wall of Death is a huge circular wood drum, and Rhett clings to the wall on his motorcycle as he performs tricks, using nothing more than centrifugal force to glue his bike to the wall as he goes around. If you haven't seen Rhett in action, you really need to. This guy is just plain nuts, twisted, or possibly both. He rides with no hands, no feet, and plucks money from people's teeth as he flies past. If you got hungry, Tony Roma's was there with a lot of good barbequed ribs and chicken, as well as a few more snack and drink booths that were sprawled about the property.
It is not too early to start thinking about this year's Love Ride 19. The event is scheduled to take place on November 10. For more information, about the event, contact: (818) 246-5618, www.loveride.org.