Guzzi Inj. Riders Fund

Pescadero Beach photo op.
26th July 2009
Mark W wrote:
Picked up the baton from Willy yesterday and thought I'd take it for a little ride.

I left Alice's and followed a group of squids west toward the Ocean. I was really liking my new GuzziTech front suspension as I kept up with some fast company down to Stage Rd., where I turned off. Eventually I made it to Hwy 1 and stopped at Pescadero Beach for the first photo op.

Then I headed south and made the next stop at Pidgeon Point Lighthouse.

I then headed to Santa Cruz and made the mistake of getting too close to the wharf and found myself in crazy traffic. I did stop for a pic with the wharf in the background but it didn't come out. After I finally got out of SC, I lane split down 1 to watsonville where I cut off and took Elkhorn Rd over to Castroville, the Artichoke Capital of the world. Here I stopped at the famous Giant Artichoke.

Afterward, I headed inland toward Hollister and made a quick stop at the Historic Mission in San Juan Bautista where the tower scene in Hitchcock's Vertigo was filmed. Let me tell you, you get lots of strange looks taking pictures of a big red disc at a tourist site.

After leaving the mission I took a loop around Hollister and stopped for one more photo at my favorite clamper plaque on cienega Rd. It's a shame what vandals have done to it. Hard to even read anymore.

That was my ride for the day. Saturday, I'll see about getting some folks together and visiting the Guzzi dealers in San Jose and Livermore. Maybe taking it up Mt. Hamilton.

Next stop, Monday, August 3rd to NORCAL Guzzi Bike Night.

26th July 2009
Willy E. wrote:
I met up with some of the NorCal Guzzi guys at the famed Alice's Restaurant this morning to hand off the relay baton. A typical bay area summer morning:

I got to Alice's a little early and was starving, so I grabbed some breakfast while waiting. If you every make it to Alice's in Woodside, CA don't just stare at all of the bikes and cars, grab something to eat, the food is good. I handed off the baton to Mark West & Co (pic below) and had a nice ride home except for the bee that flew into my helmet. I had the baton for a day and raised $170 total. I challenge every rider after me to raise more. Your prize will be the gratitude of fellow Guzzi rider.

Stephen G above carries the baton from WA to Yuba City, CA
25th July 2009
Willy E writes:
I picked up the baton today from Stephen at what used to be a Denny's, but is now a pile of rubble. We chatted for a while and then I was off back to the parking lot of a freeway, I'm so glad lane splitting is legal in California. Nobody else around to take pics so here's one of Stephen (above) handing it off.
And one of me picking it up:


I took the baton over to Moto Marin, the Guzzi dealer in San Rafel and told the guys and girls there about the baton relay and injured riders fund. They were really friendly about it and the manager went and got the owner and he took the time to talk to me and made an extremely generous donation to the fund. A great group of people and a really nice dealership. I've only had a couple of dealings with them before and I only have positive things to say about them.

A pic of the staff and owner holding the baton:

Steak and Motomonster with the Baton where we stopped to admire the view.

10th Friday, 2009

Greg wrote:
A pack of us left for the Deep Forest, baton in hand, for a great campout put on by Dick and Gayle Guthrie, the WA MGNOC reps near Randle, WA. Some where on the journey, I passed the baton to Steve Daley (Steak), who would carry it to Randle on his Griso.


Here’s the Baton resting before dinner, worn out after the long ride around Mt. St. Helens.

After dinner, Dick Guthrie held a little meeting, at which I had the opportunity to show the Baton and explain about the injured rider’s fund and call for donations. This crowd really opened their wallets. Only 72 people were there, but we raised nearly $700.


Here’s Wayne Wakeland (on the right), one of the big donors of the day. He had won over $130 in the 50/50 drawing and donated the entire amount to the fund. Good show, Wayne!

Todd requested that it be sent south toward California, so I asked around and found a California rider, Stephen Graham, to carry it south and pass it on.

Greg hands-off to Pedro (above) just before crossing the river from Lewiston, Idaho to Clarkston, Washington.

Greg Field wrote:
Mike Taylor had carried the Baton from Arkansas to the MGNOC National Rally in Salida, Colorado. After a nice presentation by Sam Baker (of Texas) on the history of the Baton and the Injured Rider’s Fund, Mike passed the Baton, the logbook, and the donation money that was the start of this year’s Injured Rider’s Fund.

Sunday morning, my buddy Pedro (on his Quota 1100ES for this trip) and I reluctantly left the National about 10:00 a.m. determined to get home to Seattle sometime Tuesday but equally determined to do it with as few freeway miles as possible. Three days later, and several tire plugs later we arrived.

A few days later, Pedro brought the Baton up to Moto Intl., and I took it back, intending to take it to the Deep Forest campout a week later.

27th June 2009
Mike T. hands off to Greg F. at the National in Salida, CO. The baton will finally see the PNW!
We will keep the baton moving until Dec. 11th when the I.R.F. collection ends.... hopefully landing the baton at next years National in John Day, Oregon.

24th June, 2009
After showing the baton some of the most interesting/scenic areas of Colorado, Mike makes it early to the National Rally in Salida.

Jim, Steve, and I with the baton.

Mike wrote:
We made the hand-off today... Just after 10am I arrived at he square in Bentonville to find Steve Walker and Jim King awaiting my arrival.

We decided to make the hand-off at Walton's Five and Dime, then from Bentonville I decided to head to Rogers and take the twisty AR-12 East to War Eagle Mill then to the more twisty Arkansas roads home to Fayetteville.

So here the baton sits until the 18th when I head West to Colorado!