'West Coast Thunder' Offers Memorial Day Tribute, Harley Style

RIVERSIDE, CA - Thousands of motorcyclists will roar through Riverside and Moreno Valley on Monday in a Memorial Day tribute that will conclude with a patriotic concert in San Jacinto.

The 17th annual West Coast Thunder ceremony is set for 8 a.m. Monday outside Riverside Harley-Davidson, 7688 Indiana Ave.

Motorcyclists will assemble outside the dealership, between Adams and Winstrom streets, where the "Star Spangled Banner" will be sung and local officials will briefly address the crowd.

At precisely 9:11 a.m., riders, many of them affiliated with veterans' organizations, will head out on a 10-mile trek to slow-roll past Riverside National Cemetery, with the Inland Empire Harley Owners-West Coast Thunder Honor Guard leading the procession, escorted by Riverside police units.

Last year's event drew more than 7,500 riders, according to organizers.

Temporary road closures will be in effect along the way to accommodate the motorcyclists. The route runs east on Indiana to Arlington Avenue, turns south on Alessandro Boulevard and continues to Trautwein Road, then goes east along Van Burn Boulevard until reaching the cemetery, where some riders will peel off to pay their respects.

For the fourth consecutive year, many participants will continue past the cemetery and head into Moreno Valley via state Route 60. At Frederick Street, the riders will exit the freeway and rumble into the city, turning east onto Sunnymead Boulevard, where they will travel a mile-long route as part of a veterans' salute by the city.

Riders will depart Moreno Valley via Heacock Street, re-entering the eastbound 60 and proceeding south to the Soboba Casino under escort by the California Highway Patrol.

At 11 a.m., riders will gather for a concert featuring patriotic music at Soboba. Scheduled performers include country-western artist Frankie Ballard.

A large share of the proceeds raised from the ride and show will go to the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee, which relies on donations to build monuments and make other improvements at the cemetery where more than 200,000 U.S. military veterans, police officers, firefighters and others have been laid to rest.

More than $400,000 in donations have been made, according to Riverside Harley-Davidson, which previously did business as Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson, founder of West Coast Thunder in 2000.

– By City News Service.