2011 Sleigh Riders Recap [GALLERY] [VIDEO] [POLL]

Wow! That pretty much sums up the 6th Annual Sleigh Riders Motorcycle Toy Run in a nutshell.  It was the most common word and/or answer I heard on Sunday December 18th, 2011 when asked how they enjoyed the ride and day; but for so many different reasons.   And before we go any further, if your not a friend of the Sleigh Riders Motorcycle Toy Run yet we invite you to do so right how by liking our official FB page.

Sure it was a little cold to start off and it was Keith Schorzman who rode up from Denver with his wife who said:

That 106 degree ride to Topeka was sounding pretty good on the way up.

But, he made it and so did over 300 other bikes including some from Sterling.

Everyone knows it's an obvious crap shoot to hold a motorcycle event in December and most who don't know anything about the lifestyle would think it's absurd.  In fact, an older gentleman called me in the K99 studio a few years ago asking

Why would anyone do something like this in December, why, that's just dumb.

And I sat back in my chair and replied with

Because last I checked Christmas doesn't come in July." [This where I got my original idea of doing a "summer" toy run but that's a different story]

He hung up and we got snowed out that year!  But those of us who live the lifestyle to one degree or the other go by 'can's' and 'do's' vs. 'maybe's' and 'might's.'

So we give it a go every year and 2011 proved to be the best year yet.  The weather couldn't have been any nicer and when it was all said and done, we had over 300 bikes in the parade line with over 500 people in attendance.  It's extremely difficult to track how many toys but we know the number for 2011 was close to 2000 once again and we collected close to $400 in cash as well.  We even had Santa Cops of Larimer County show up with a truck load of toys and Randy's Diner kicked in another truck load of toys thanks to our very own Brian Gary!

WOW!

Before we go any further {you have to read the part about who won the John Elway signed football} please remember that if you rode in this year's run there are at least two great ride pics of you on the thousands of pics taken during the event. This is how these guys live.  So please be sure to visit the galleries shot by Ripple Ratt of Phat Ratt Photography and also Larry Hartshorn of Renegade Reality.  Your picture are available to download with many different options and would make some fantastic gifts.  One shot of you will be with our majestic December Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.

Justin King provided video of the entire ride passing by as he helped block the intersection on 10th at the Greeley Country Club with his Dad Randy, both members of the HOG 411 Chapter at Thunder Mountain.  Plan on 5 minutes to watch it and see if you can find yourself.

WOW!  That's a LOT of bikes/toys!!!

Dave Benson of Longmont won the football signed by John Elway specifically for the 2011 Sleigh Riders {photo on left} and it could not have gone to a better person.  You see, Benson is one of the most die-hard Bronco fans you will ever meet.  He has a room in his home completely dedicated to the Denver Bronco's and has been collecting for years so this football is now surely the center-piece of his room or at the very least, will anchor his center-piece.  You could tell when his number was called at the end that the football was going into the right hands decked out in his Bronco hat, jersey and leathers.

But here's the real story:

'Benson' has had 15 heart attacks in the past 9 years and has spent over 400 days in the hospital due to many complications and a list of things I can't even remember including several incurable diseases.  Well, 'Benson' had to quit riding 9 years ago and sell his bike.  Come to find out, his girlfriend had recently bought him a used one and his first ride in 9 years was to ride up from Longmont to take part in this years Sleigh Riders Toy Run.  Hollywood couldn't have written a better script.  Benson not only had the best outlook on life but just a great human being in general.

He wasn't about to take a chance and "ride" his new football home so he called his girlfriend who was at a party in Denver to come up and get it to which she was thrilled to do.  Talk about true love and passion for not only a game and ride, but true love as well.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank our sponsors with whom this event would not be possible without their support:  Rusty and Theresa of Whiskey River, Jill and Justin from Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson and of course Todd Maul and Donna Darling from John Elway Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. In addition to these fantastic title sponsors I also need to thank all the volunteers who helped out including both the Loveland and Greeley HOG chapters, Roger Schmidt for providing all the safety vests, Fran for working the tables, Mark Forgue of the Greeley PD, our tireless radio station staff and our ride sponsors including Antommaria & Sledge, Maui Wowi, Phat Ratt Photograhphy, Inklings and the G.P.O.A.

The 2012 Sleigh Riders Toy Run will be on Sunday December 23rd so please make those plans now and ink in that date on your calendar as the Sleigh Riders again ride for Santa Cops of Weld County.  And don't forget to like us on FB!