CULVER CITY : Harley Riders Head to the Beach for Benefit

That loud noise you may have heard this morning wasn’t a replay of the Normandy invasion.

It was the roar of hundreds of motorcyclists who were scheduled to rev up at two Westside locations for the third annual Beach Ride benefit to raise money for the Exceptional Children’s Fund, which helps developmentally disabled children and adults.

“I warned all my neighbors that it’s going to be very noisy on Sunday morning,” said Marty Harrison, owner of Marty’s Custom Motor Cycles in Culver City, who expected 40 bikers to gather in the early morning hours.

At Bartels’ Harley-Davidson on Lincoln Boulevard in Marina del Rey, some 500 owners of Harleys and other makes are expected, including TV actors Dean Cain of “Superman” and Daphne Zuniga of “Melrose Place.”

The mass ride, beginning from 15 points throughout Southern California, will wind its way up Pacific Coast Highway and along the Ventura Freeway to San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura.

The event, at $25 per person, is scheduled to continue throughout the day with a barbecue, music and a Mr./Mrs. Beach Ride Contest.