All Systems GO for Nelson's Ride on 8/23

Update - 8/8/08
www.NelsonsRide.org

All systems are GO with the MMSF's Event Planning Team for the 10th Annual "Nelson's Ride," for Sunday, August 23rd, at the beautiful Stage Fort Park, off Routes 127 and 133 in Gloucester.

Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, swim suit (for a jump in the ocean if you’re game) and a fun attitude for a GREAT Event!

Here's some of the highlights . . .
Advance purchase for a discounted rate of only $10 each available on-line at www.NelsonsRide.org for event tickets (per person), limited 10th Annual Event t-shirts, and Patch & Pin sets. Advance purchase also available at these supporting businesses [cost will be $15 each the day of the event]:

Beverly, Cycles 128!
Ipswich, Whittier Motel,
Ipswich, VFW, 110 County Road (Rte. 1A)
Peabody, Provanzano Law Offices, 16 Bourbon Street
Newburyport, Seacoast Cycle
Rowley, Gypsy Cycles, 295 Newburyport Turnpike (Route 1)
Rowley, Eric's Auto Clinic, 24 Central Street in Rowley
Salem, Witch City Cycles
Salisbury, Black Death Cycles, 25A Atlantic Ave., Salisbury (call first at 978-462-8834)
Wakefield, Stewy's Custom Cycles


Ride or drive, special Nelson's Ride car parking area will be available.

Purchasers of Advance Event Tickets will be given preferred placement close to the front of the ride and be sure to fill in the back of the ticket for entry into the door prize drawing. Encourage your friends to pre-purchase tickets so they can stage and ride with you. Advance purchase “Will Call” pickup riders will be directed to our “Products Area” for your t ickets and event items.

On-Line advance sales via credit card for “Pre-Mailing” ENDS Monday night, August 17th at 11:59pm.

On-Line advance sales via credit card for “Will Call” pick-ups ENDS, Friday night, August 21st at 11:59pm.

Some of the above listed supporting shops are CLOSED on Saturday or close at NOON, be sure to check with the business for their hours.

VENDORS - final call for Vendors ! We need to pull permits 10-days in advance from the City of Gloucester for all vendors ! Write us at http://www.massmsf.org/contactus.html


The FINAL Ride Route, planned and mapped by our Road Captains Sherm of Christian Motorcycle Association and Eric of Star Touring Chapter 240, is posted on www.NelsonsRide.org, with a map and expected times the Ride will be traveling past various landmarks on the Ride Route. TONS of thanks to the communities and Police of Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Wenham, Hamilton, Ipswich, and Essex. All have been great in finalizing this Ride Route for the enjoyment and safety of all. The Ride will be a "Slow-Ride", 30-mile / 1-hour / memorial procession, beginning and ending at Stage Fort Park.
Road Guard groups and volunteers already helping include: North Shore Riders, Boston Cruiser Club, Fire and Iron Chapter 777, the Aces and Eights RC, the East Coast Biker Chicks, Star Touring Chapter 240, Xtreme Riders RC, Woman on Wheels, the New England Riders Association, and several independents. Special Road Guard Parking will be marked off. Write us at http://www.massmsf.org/contactus.html if you can Road Guard.

THANK YOU's - Watch and listen before the Ride leaves as several individuals whose families you've helped - step up to say a sincere 'thank you,' . . . to you. Everything each rider does contributes to those in need, they appreciate your help. It all adds up to a whole lot !

PARADE QUEEN - Nelson's Mom, Faye wi ll be riding the Event for the first time with Larry Cahill of www.BostonBiker.com on his "DEMON" Trike. Nelson’s step-dad, Bob Brophy will be riding with our own MMSF Clerk and WOW member, Jacky Kieras. Nelson’s widow, Felicia will be riding the Event with Bentley Warren.

PARADE MARSHALL - The MMSF and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be honoring and recognizing Joe "Sarge" Komola, for his past 10 years of service dedicated to motorcycle safety and awareness, and his 39 years of active and inactive reserve military duty to the Country and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ensure you give Sarge a HUGE ROAR and SALUTE of Appreciation before the Ride leaves.

FOOD - Pay as you eat, will be available from Dean's Concessions of Somerville. They were with us at Raymond's Field and the Topsfield Fairgrounds, and always provide fantastic food and a very generous donation to the MMSF!

50/50 RAFFLES - a morning 50/50 will be drawn prior to the ride leaving at about 11:35 - and an afternoon 50/50 will be drawn about 3:30

SILENT AUCTION - Big ticket items donated from our sponsors and supporters – include:

Priceless - a beautiful hand-painted EAGLE on a circular saw, created and donated by Joanne Gallant of Ipswich. Last one she donated brought in over $700 and is at the Choat e Bridge Pub (Thanks, Angus!)

$1,000 + value - Scott Ringland of Methuen has donated his landscaping services, for 8 hours - 2 men and a truck - they are YOURS for a day, 35-mile radius of Haverhill area. GREAT buy, save your back in Sept !

$800 value - a Lojack anti-theft system (donated by Lojack and installation donated by co-sponsor Cycles 128! http://www.lojack.com/motorcycle/pages/motorcycle-recovery.aspx

$450 value - a brand new, great product - Rhino truck bed liner, donated by Mark Lombardi of Rhino-Liners of Danvers. His own truck will be on display near the Auction table to see the tremendous quality of this product!

$ 375 value - each - two Rider Training Course Gift Certificates, donated by www.Cycles128.com

$ 375 value - each - two Rider Training Course Gift Certificates, donated by http://www.ironstoneventures.com/

Plus some additional items are expected.
If you'd like to donate a BIG TICKET item - contact Jackie Monahan at http://www.massmsf.org/contactus.html

PICK YOUR PRIZE RAFFLE - Shirley and others have been busting their butts collecting donations of gift cards, gift certificates for all sorts of things, over 70 items collected to date and more coming in each day. We will be 'grouping' the items into 15-20 lots - buy your raffle tickets and put them in the bags for only the prizes you want to win ! And if you can't carry all your prizes home on your bike, we'll have a pick-up Thursday night (August 27th) at the Whittier Motel in Ipswich to come in your car and get your stuff!

LIVE MUSIC by Acoustic Outrage - in the afternoon - this great sounding band from the Merrimack Valley - Southern, NH area has played at our Events for Ben Knight in Merrimac last December and at Bill's Ride at Lawrence's Gateway Pub this past April. You're going love their tunes! Get a sneak peek at their MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/acousticoutrage.

BIKER GAMES are back ! Enter and get a prize from the Registry of Motor Vehicles and a chance to win a 'one of a kind' WINNER's medal. Slow Race, Hula Toss, Balloon Toss and Weenie Bite ! (There may even be a hula hoop contest for those non-riders to play !)

We expect everything will wrap up by 4:30 - then Mark Lombardi's Crew will be 'breaking down' the tents, tables and picking up the=2 0grounds so we leave it cleaner than when we got there - help Mark out and sign up for the breakdown crew at http://www.massmsf.org/contactus.html or just stay and lend a hand.

"Nelson's Ride started a movement in Massachusetts that has sparked others nationwide, to promote motorcycle safety and awareness to reduce accidents and allow the riding community to take care of its own," said State Senator Bruce Tarr and State Rep. Brad Hill, who have been with us since year 2000. If you ride, if you care, . . . Stage Fort Park is the place to be Sunday, August 23rd !