Motorcycles: 'Harleys on the half-mile'; Benefit Bike Ride
18 October 1999
Irwindale, Calif. - - As many as 1,000 motorcycles are expected to take a "victory lap" of the Irwindale Speedway race track on Saturday, October 23 as a finale to a ride benefiting "A Special Wish Foundation". Los Angeles' oldest Harley-Davidson dealer, Laidlaw Harley Davidson in Rosemead, California will stage the first-time event with the cooperation of Irwindale Speedway. Plans for the participants include taking part in the 2-hour ride, partying at Irwindale Speedway that afternoon (food, live rock band, motorcycle show), and staying on to catch some great NASCAR stock car action from the grandstands that evening. One of the highlights of the event should be the massing of all the participating riders on the Irwindale track for a "group portrait" during a victory lap of the hot half-mile. "That's going to make one heck of a great snapshot," said Traci DeWolf, Laidlaw's director of marketing. "A lot of planning has gone into this first event … We are particularly pleased to be able to benefit such a worthy cause as A Special Wish Foundation, their work is something that we can all respect and get behind." For ride information call (626) 280-3977 x 233. A Special Wish is the third-largest non-profit wish-granting organization in the U.S., and the only one granting wishes to children from birth to the age of 20. They are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness by granting their own personal "special wish." "We are truly delighted," said Ginger Hall executive director for the southern California chapter of A Special Wish Foundation, Inc. "This is the first time that we've had a charity motorcycle ride to help us raise funds to grant wishes, and we're looking forward to seeing a tremendous turnout of motorcycle riders come roaring into the Speedway at Irwindale to complete this wonderful ride." Pre-event sign-ups to take part in the ride are going very well, "We've had a tremendous response already," DeWolf reported from Laidlaw. "People are coming into the shop, calling, mailing, and faxing in their early entries … This ride, the important cause, and the great final destination, have really caught everyone's attention … They're very excited about the whole package!" On the card for racing entertainment the night of the 23rd is a great slate of action events led off by an open competition 75 -lap race for NASCAR Late Models and a special 50-lap event for the brawling Super Stocks, in addition IS guests will witness a Mechanix Wear Speed Truck race and a Mini-Stock event. Irwindale's ticket booths will open at noon, gates at 2:00pm, with practice, qualifying, and racing following in short order after that. Opening Ceremonies and the always exciting Trophy Dashes are on schedule for 7:00pm sharp. For more information, or to purchase their tickets in advance by phone, fans are advised to call: (626) 358-1100. A toll-free telephone Hot Line (888-954-2500) and world wide website (www.irwindalespeedway.com) are both available for public access to reliable track information 24 hours a day.
