October 10th, 2009

AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track Series Still Happening!

Friday, Oct 10, 2009: Daytona Beach, FL & Pomona, CA – There’s been a great deal of concern as a result of the highly unexpected and unfortunate cancelation of the Love Ride, that the halo Flat Track event would be affected, but AMA Pro Racing & Gene Romaro’s West Coast Flat Track Series are proud to reconfirm the unprecedented event on October 24, 2009. The AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track Series & The WCFTS, Co-Headline Motorcycle Race Event at the amazing 5/8’s of a mile Fairplex Race Track in Pomona, California. Gates will open at 3:30 pm, opening ceremonies are at 6:00 pm, and the first race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm, sharp. Tickets are available at most So Cal Harley-Davidson Dealers, Ticketmaster and the Fairplex box office on the day of the event. Reserved and GA tickets are available and children under 12 are just $10.00 (GA Only)

This is the first time the AMA’s Pro Grand National Twin Flat Track Series has been in Southern California in a decade. All the top riders and teams will there. The climactic, season ending AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track event will held in conjunction with Gene Romero’s West Coast Flat Track Series, the well established West Coast Series that has run two successful and exciting Pacific Coast National events in 2007 and 2008.

“We’re overjoyed that the race is going forward as planned. The 2009 AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track schedule has been a long process to complete,” said Mike Kidd, AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Director. “Our flat track series hit Daytona Bike Week, Indianapolis MotoGP weekend, Sturgis Rally and Pomona, as a part of the California Bike Week which are four of the largest motorcycle events in the nation. Throw in the Springfield’s, Lima, Peoria and our other events, this is a great schedule for our fans, riders and sponsors. We’re excited and honored to be joining Gene and his series and look forward to a powerhouse night of racing. I’m really looking forward to this event and wrapping up our series on the West Coast…with only a few points separating the top three riders, the Championship will be decided in Pomona.”

Added Romaro “Despite rumors to the contrary in the face of the recent cancellation of Love Ride 26, the Pacific Coast Nationals flat track race scheduled for October 24 at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California, will proceed as planned. The co-sanctioned race will serve as the series finale for the AMA Flat Track Championship and Gene Romero’s West Coast Flat Track Series, with champions being crowned in both series. Racing is and always has been partially driven by rumors—that’s part of what makes it exciting—but in this case it is important to be crystal clear that Pomona is going to happen, no ifs, ands or buts,” event co-promoter Gene Romero said. “All the parties responsible for putting on this history-making event have worked side by side to ensure that this event will be a home-run success, and we are continuing to move forward and preparing for what will certainly be the crown-jewel motorcycle flat track race on the West Coast. I’d like to thank the racers, fans and everyone involved for their continued support of the Pacific Coast Nationals. It’s going to be a great show.”

“There was a lot of concern over the past few days, after Oliver made his announcement about having to shut down the Love Ride for this year, but the Flat Track event is full steam ahead, we’re 100% focused on presenting not only the best major Flat Track event in the US, but one of the very best racing events, period. Our ticket sales the past few weeks have been brisk and the phones are ringing off the hook, I’m certain the fans are going to see an amazing, action packed night of bar to bar and shoulder to shoulder racing. We’re also planning to have a scaled down version of our vendor area, a few big surprises and we’ll definitely be maintaining the spirit of the Love Ride & California Bike Week” Donnie Graves, CBW Producer.

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes American SuperBike, Daytona SportBike, SuperSport, SunTrust MOTO-GT and the AMA Grand National Flat Track Series.

The West Coast Flat Track Series is based in Brea, California and runs a full schedule of Professional Motorcycle Dirt Track Oval racing in many western states, between January and October.

Learn more about:
AMA Pro Racing at: www.amaproracing.com
The West Coast Flat Track Series at: www.wcfts.com
The Love Ride at: www.loveride.org

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All major CBW activities, such as the ride in custom bike show, stunt shows, Wall of Death, huge vendor area, etc, have been canceled, as a result of the Love Ride. There will be Flat Track & CBW T-Shirts, a smaller vendor area, and plenty of concessions that will accompany the AMA/Gene Romero Flat Track Event (Times & Ticket Details Below) Click the Ticketmaster link for tickets, or hit the Buy Tickets on the top right hand corner of the Home Page for Flat Track tickets, hope to see you there!

Flat Track Schedule for Saturday, October 24th:
Practice Starts at 3:30PM
Opening Ceremonies at 6:00PM
Races Begin at 6:30PM

Tickets Available at:
Participating Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealerships
Ticketmaster
The Box Office at Pomona Fairplex Day of The Event Only

$40 Reserved
$30 GA
$10 Children Under 12 (GA Tickets – Pomona Box Office Day of The Event Only)

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October 9th, 2009

LOVE RIDE 26 HAS BEEN CANCELED, BUT…

Due to the cancellation of the Love Ride, many of the CBW related activities have also been canceled, including the Friday Night Events, Wall of Death, Stunt Shows, Ride in Custom Bike Show etc.

We are still planning to have the AMA/Gene Romero Grand National Flat Track Championship race as planned and hope to have a reduced vendor area, as well. This is the first time the AMA Grand National Series has raced in California in over a decade. Racing is Saturday, starting at 3:00PM. Hope you’ll join us, as the race will be totally unaffected by issues related to The Love Ride, and as you all know…the AMA Champion is going to be decided at this event.

Flat Track Schedule for Saturday, October 24th:
Practice Starts at 3:30PM
Opening Ceremonies at 6:00PM
Races Begin at 6:30PM

Tickets Available at:
Participating Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealerships
Ticketmaster
The Box Office at Pomona Fairplex Day of The Event Only

$40 Reserved
$30 GA
$10 Children Under 12 (GA Tickets – Pomona Box Office Day of The Event Only)

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October 8th, 2009

Love Ride 26 Canceled

Weak Economy Cited, Biker Charity Event Will Return As Economy Improves

Glendale, Ca — Love Ride 26, slated for October 25, 2009, has been canceled.  The announcement was made by Love Ride founder Oliver Shokouh, speaking on behalf of the Love Ride Foundation, which cited the weak economy as the reason for the event’s cancellation.  
 
In place of the usual event, Glendale Harley, Home of the Love Ride, is sponsoring an autograph session with Peter Fonda and free movie screening,  commemorating the 40th Anniversary of  Fonda’s starring role in “Easy Rider.”  The event will take place at the dealership (3717 San Fernando Rd. in Glendale) Friday, October 23rd from 4-10pm.  Volunteers from the Love Ride Foundation will also be selling Love Ride memorabilia (Love Rides 1-26) on Saturday, October 24th from 9am-4pm and Sunday, October 25th from 6am-2pm. The hope is to assist the Love Ride Foundation so that it can continue to support the charitable organizations it supports. The dealership will also have representatives on hand to answer any questions. If you have pre-registered for the Love Ride this year we will be honoring refunds if requested. Please call (818) 246-5618 ext. 141 or email Joe Emma at HYPERLINK “mailto:registration@loveride.org” registration@loveride.org. However, we are asking if you would consider still making a donation to the Love Ride Foundation and in exchange we will provide some Love Ride 26 merchandise as a token of our appreciation.
  
“This was a gut wrenching decision for both me and the Board,” says Shokouh, who founded the Love Ride in 1984 and within a few years built it into the world’s largest one-day mortorcycle charity event.  “I want to make clear that this has absolutely nothing to do with the Love Ride staff, volunteers or organizers.  Everyone has worked hard for the past 25 years.  Our problem boils down to one thing, the economy.  The bottom line is that the Love Ride is a victim of the recession.  We did a very careful analysis over the last several months, and realized that ticket sales weren’t enough to offset costs.  Simply put, there would be no money left to help the kids, the sole reason for the Love Ride.”
 
The Love Ride started back in 1984 as an event to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  As the Love Ride grew, the destination changed from Calamigos Ranch to Lake Castaic and then to the Fairplex.  The list of beneficiaries also grew, from MDA to over one dozen children’s charities, including Autism Speaks.  
 
Last year’s Silver Anniversary Love Ride 25 drew thousands of bikers for the fund-raising motorcycle ride that featured an afternoon concert  headlined by ZZ Top and the Foo Fighters.  “Things were on track for continued growth, then the economy collapsed,” adds Shokouh.  Circumstances turned against us.  2009 is simply not a good year for a charity event.”
 
Shokouh was optimistic that the Love Ride would return, if not next year, then in 2011.  “Times are tough, we’re lovin’ but not ridin’, at least not this year”, says Shokouh, who started his Glendale Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership in 1976.  “After 25 years of expansion, it may be time to return to our roots with a smaller, more intimate event.  But we will be back.”

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