Santa rides his Harley, gives reindeer day off

Gary Moskowitz

GLENDALE - They showed up with teddy bears strapped to their bikes,

ready to roll.

With an entourage of more than 1,000 bikers, Santa and Glendale’s

Golden State Hog Chapter of Harley Davidson participated in the 13th

annual Skid Row Toy Ride Sunday at the Fred Jordan Mission in Los

Angeles, an event that makes sure children get toys for Christmas.

Bikers from Los Angeles and Orange counties met on Mira Loma Avenue in

Glendale on various types of motorcycles, dressed in leather chaps,

leather jackets, bandanas and black boots.

Strapped onto the motorcycles with bungee cords or stuffed into saddle

bags were teddy bears, Teletubbies, scooters, Blue’s Clues, Pokemon,

candy, balls, Tonka trucks and one fully equipped, four-man action squad

play set.

“You should have heard these guys screaming on the freeway,” said

Aliso Viejo resident Ted Hubbard, joking with his wife Linda about taking

four teddy bears on their motorcycle for a trip down the freeway. Hubbard

added, “This event is a little more personal, because you get to see the

kids get their gifts.”

Since 1947, the Fred Jordan Mission has fed hungry people every day

and tries to educate and rehabilitate impoverished and needy men, women

and children.

Harley Davidson of Glendale decided to get involved because of how

personal the event is, according to Richard Wagner, a parts manager with

Harley Davidson for 17 years.

“If you’ve been down there to the mission, it’s a dreary place,”

Wagner said. “You should see their faces when we come around the corner.

It really lets them know someone is thinking about them.”

Thirteen years ago, a few hundred bikers got involved with the first

toy ride. Over the years, attendance has grown and many bikers come back

every year to be involved with the ride and have a good time. Many

participants come with their spouses and children, and make a day of it.

San Marino resident Lee Cain has been doing the Skid Row Toy Ride for

10 years. This year he brought his daughter Christine along for the ride.

They showed up on Cain’s taxicab model hog.

“The gift of giving. That’s why I brought Christine, so she could see

all of this,” Cain said. “She’ll understand after this.”