Revving Up!

In March, 2004, the Long Beach Long Riders set off on a cross country charity ride. The goal was to raise money and awareness for BroadwayCares/Equity Fights AIDS within the technical community in the entertainment business,  and have some fun along the way. By any measure you choose to use, they succeeded. In fact, the trip went so well and they had so much fun, that they decided to turn what was supposed to be a one-time trip into an annual event.

It was decided that Long Beach would not be the destination point, at least not for the next several trips, so a name change was in order. After much debate and the consulting of oracles, the Long Reach Long Riders were born. They also added a new charity to ride.  The ESTA Foundation’s Behind the Scenes program offers grants to technicians who, through illness or injury find themselves in crisis.

Trips 2 & 3, in 2005 and 2006, had the group going to Rapid City, South Dakota. The Badlands, Mount Rushmore and the Chief Crazy Horse Memorial were all on the agenda as well as some terrific go-cart racing on a track in town. Between the two rides they raised over $60,000.00

In 2007, they changed the route. They started out in Philadelphia and, seven days later, found themselves back in Philly. In between, they meandered through the New England countryside, stopping in places like Waterbury, VT, home of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Eastland, ME, the furthermost eastern point in the US. The group on this trip was the largest to date, with 19 riders at any one time.

Ride number 5 saw the group thundering through the canyons and deserts of the Southwest. They were awed and inspired by places like Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and, of course, the Grand Canyon. They also raised more money that any previous trip, topping the till off at $70,000.00

Richmond Virginia was the starting point for ride number 6 in 2009. From there they meandered south through the North Carolina country side, riding the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. They also ran roads with more colorful names like "The Snake" in Cherry Valley and "the Dragon Tail" in Deals Gap. While they meandered, they raised $45,000.00 which put them over the $200,000.00 mark total donations to date. Not too shabby for a recession year, eh?

Ride number 7 started in San Francisco. They went north up into wine country, stopping on occasion to sample the local vintages. Then they rode west to Truckee and Lake Tahoe, south to Hollister and over to the coast. Then back up the PCH to San Francisco. It was, to say the least, an amazingly wonderful ride. They had up to 25 bikes with them and they topped $250,000.00. Pretty darn awesome.

This year we start out in Billings Montana and head west through some of the most beautiful national parks in the country. We start early this year on July 1, 2011. 

The ride is fun, the people are great and the need is very real.