Love Ride #32 - First Now Last

Glendale CA, October 18 2015 - Over 32 years, the "Love Ride" has become a world famous event worthy of national news reporting. Started by Oliver Shokouh, owner of Harley-Davidson of Glendale - the charity focused event has raised a staggering $25,000,000 from the motorcycle-friendly community.

The event is a huge responsibility and significant amount of work. An army of 750 volunteers glad-handled over 13,000 leather and jean clad participants over two locations and 55 miles between Glendale and Castaic Lake CA. The Love Ride day begins with registration, breakfast and entertainment out on the streets of Glendale around Oliver's Harley-Davidson dealership.

Oliver Shokouh: Love Ride 2015 - a Long History in Short

Alas, all good things evolve in time. After tireless decades of contribution, Oliver Shokouh decided it was time to take more time for himself and family. He took to the street stage for his final Love Ride address to his loving and loyal audience of participants.

"This is bitter sweet for me too - after 32 years to come out and say goodbye to you all, but I want to thank you all for coming out year after year and making the Love Ride what it's been.

I figure after 32 years it's been a good run. It's been a big part of my life and I've sure enjoyed putting it on and doing it, and I'm going to miss it when it's gone. We're going to maintain the Love Ride Foundation - we're going to keep it going, but we're not going to have any more Love Rides. We might try to do things in a smaller way and still try to keep the Foundation alive and going - this year we are supporting the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

Now here's a guy that has supported us since the inception of the Love Ride. Back then he was a stand-up comedian and then he had his own TV show: Mr. Jay Leno!"

"Thank you, thank you! Well, it's hard to believe it's the last one, Oliver. We've been doing this for 32 years. You know, he's the guy (pointing at Oliver) that started it all. There's been a lot of bike rides since but this was the first one. Everybody's kind of copied this idea - so every couple of months there's another ride that kind of dilutes it a little bit, but it started here.

It's like there's only one Disneyland; there's only one Love Ride. A lot of amusement parks copied Disneyland but there's only one Disneyland. This is the one that started the whole thing, and all these others are just sons and daughters of what you started. So I want to thank you for that."