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Update since this post has been searched often recently: Today, 5/1/14, John passed away and at his bequest, his organs were harvested for donation to help others. A large number of family and friends were together at Sharp Hospital. There is a website for donations for final expenses, and there will likely be another ride but this time up in Long Beach. Date is TBD, I'll post info here and on Facebook when I know something.
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Yesterday in San Diego I was able to participate in a fundraiser for John "SoLow Cali" and Anna "Barbie". The couple was in a bad solo bike wreck a few weeks ago on CA-67, one of our regular riding areas. Both sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalized. They were popular riders in the local sportbike and stunting scene-John even taught bike handling and stunting skills at the routine stunt gathering and both were well-liked.
Family and friends put together a ride, family fest and cook-out, while other events have also been going on. Yesterday morning a huge group of riders, sports car enthusiasts, supporters and family gathered at South Shore Park near Sea World San Diego. There were probably 300 bikes-mainly sportbikes but a few cruisers and at least one fairly pristine Gold Wing 1500 with over 100,000 miles on it! Many clubs rode in as well as lots of independent riders. After a ride brief and a brief pause to let some folks gas up, one of John's family led the ride off in his S2000 sports car and cars and bikes streamed out for nearly 5 minutes. I was there in my "shop truck" as I was hauling the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) bike blessing and hospitality booth supplies, but a few CMA'ers went out on the ride with all the other bikes.
A convoy of 7-8 cars and 1 bike went to Hospitality Point while the ride did a safe and calm freeway loop. For the ride, stunting was prohibited to keep the large number of bikes safely moving through San Diego traffic. The ride lasted about an hour, while we set up our booth and the grills were fired up at the end point. Soon the roar of performance bikes could be heard and the riders arrived at Hospitality Point. There had been one small wreck on the ride when an SUV cut through the line of bikes a little too close, and I think one bike tipped over as they slowed to a crawl entering the end point, but everyone was ok. After a short thank you speech, the food lines formed and folks also bought raffle tickets for the many prizes donated by local businesses. I sampled both the taco truck and the SD Rider Girls chicken skewers-both great, and the hot dog and hamburger line also did brisk business.
Folks from CMA got to bless a few bikes, make some new friends, and even help one rider whose clutch cable decided to fail at the end point. Fortunate for him it happened while he was about to head home instead of on the road! We couldn't make an expedient repair that held enough tension to actually get the bike running, so we loaded his bike in the truck and I was able to get him, his girlfriend and his bike back home. I hope he can get a clutch cable, as it sounded like he's "two wheels only" or T.W.O. like a hardcore biker would be. We're all bikers after all, even if the bikes are different styles. If somehow he finds this page and still needs a clutch cable, click one of the links to BikeBandit-lightening fast shipping to San Diego as most orders are fulfilled here or in a nearby distribution. Plus, as an affiliate marketer, I get a small commission, so thanks for the support!
As I got back to Hospitality Point, the stunters were heading out to the stunt spot, but I was able to return the tie-down straps we had been loaned. I think one of the riders who loaned us a ramp and the tie-downs goes by "Gixxer Girl", so if any of the stunters read this, please pass on a "Thanks Again!" from CMA. I need to reload my tie-downs in the truck!
Keep Praying for SoLow Cali and Barbie-many medical challenges still must be overcome. Be on the lookout for other fundraisers and events, and I hope to see more of these riders at Bike Nights, club events and track days/races.
