By Ethan Forman
Staff writer
June 17, 2008 05:04 am DANVERS — For six years, a group of high school band parents and bikers known as the Danvers Falcon Riders used to hold a charity motorcycle run to support their children's music and art programs. Those runs, where they joined 200 other motorcyclists around the North Shore, stopped a few years ago as their children graduated from high school. Now, the Falcon Riders plan to head out during Family Festival, this time in support of the Danvers-based nonprofit Operation Troop Support, a grassroots group started by Dick and Christine Moody of Danvers to send care packages to troops overseas. "We enjoy doing it, and we had fun putting it on," said Scott James, a member of the Falcon Riders, about the past charity motorcycle runs. An organizer of this latest run, James said the idea for it came while he and Ira Malkin, another member of the Falcon Riders, were walking by the Operation Troop Support booth at the Danvers fireworks last year. They decided then and there to ride for the troops. "Our first focus is to have a fun and a safe ride," James said. The ride also serves another purpose. "You don't find a more charitable group than motorcycle riders," James said, adding that bikers tend to be patriotic. The American Motorcycle Association has sanctioned the run, said Selectman Gardner Trask, one of the ride's organizers. It is open to any licensed motorcyclist who wants to ride. James would like to see a big turnout. "It would be great to put some money in the bank for the Moodys," said James, who said Operation Troop Support has to bear the expense of shipping care packages overseas. To help spread the word about the run, James and Malkin were up in Lake George, N.Y., last Friday passing out fliers at Americade, a touring motorcycle rally that attracts 50,000 bikers annually, James said. The police-escorted ride on June 22 starts staging at 9 a.m. at Danvers High, 60 Cabot St. Kickstands go up at 11 a.m. for a two-hour loop around Danvers, Beverly, Manchester, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton and Wenham. You can catch the ride as it rumbles through Danvers Square at 11:03 a.m. Riders will return around 1 p.m., and those waiting for the riders to return can take in a free antique car and military vehicle show, which starts at noon.
If you ride What: "Ride for the Troops" Motorcycle Run When: Sunday, June 22, during Family Festival Where: Danvers High, 60 Cabot Road Time: 9 a.m. registration and staging; kickstands up 11 a.m. Starting at noon: Food, raffles, music, antique cars and military vehicles show Donation: $20 per rider; $10 for a passenger Commemorative T-shirts: $10 For more information, or to sponsor the run, call: 978-774-6380.
Ride route The Danvers Falcon Riders "Ride for the Troops" on June 22 loops around the North Shore, and will require the closing off of intersections as it passes by on Routes 127, 127A, 133 and 1A. Here are approximate times the ride will pass certain points: Danvers Poplar and Locust streets 11:03 a.m. Beverly line 11:08 a.m. Lothrop and Hale streets 11:16 a.m. Manchester line 11:27 a.m. Beach and Summer streets 11:29 a.m. Gloucester line 11:35 a.m. Washington Street and Western Avenue 11:43 a.m. Rockport line 11:46 a.m. Rockport center 12:04 p.m. Gloucester line 12:11 p.m. Grant Circle, Route 128 12:23 p.m. Essex line 12:30 p.m. Routes 22 and 133 12:33 p.m. Ipwsich line 12:37 p.m. Left onto Route 1A 12:40 p.m. Hamilton line 12:43 p.m. Railroad tracks at Hamilton center 12:48 p.m. Wenham line 12:48 p.m. Route 97 and School street 12:53 p.m. Danvers line 12:55 p.m. Source: Danvers Falcon Riders
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