PAINESVILLE — Things looked bleak and soggy for the 25th annual Louie Run as volunteers sloshed through puddles during the setup Saturday night at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
But good weather and Louie Ivocovic himself smiled down on the unofficial opening of the 2008 riding season Sunday as the clouds parted to reveal bright, clear skies all day.
“The staff got soaking wet during the setup,” Louie Run Foundation chairman Michael “Redbeard” Warren said. “We are here to have fun and start the season out right.”
Rows and rows of motorcycles filled the fairgrounds, chrome shimmering and twinkling in the bright sunlight. The roar of unmuffled horsepower rumbled through the air, mixing with the smell of festival food and beer.
The Louie Run is named for Ivocovic, a non-riding member of the biker community who owned the popular Peppermint Stick Lounge, an establishment in Mentor open to bikers.
The Louie Run was first held at Ivocvic’s graveside in 1983 and now includes a memorial service for bikers lost to the road.
“Long” John Kotich of Bedford Heights was at that first, small run in 1983 and said he comes back to the Louie Run every year for the camaraderie.
“The first run was less than 100 people, just people who appreciated Lou and the Peppermint Stick. I didn’t know Lou personally, but everyone appreciated how he welcomed the bikers when no one else did,” Kotich said.
The run started at 15 locations in Lake and Ashtabula counties. The bikes left the start locations at 10:30 a.m. and rode together to the Lake County Fairgrounds for the memorial service and a special World War II war plane fly over.
John “Taz” Gamba said the run is like a family reunion.
“Everybody that I know is here,” Gamba said. “You meet new people and see people you haven’t seen in awhile. There are no attitudes here. It is perfect, really perfect.”
Warren said the run has raised more than $217,000 for Northeast Ohio charities in just the last nine years.
“That is a pretty good chunk of change,” he said.
Painesville resident Debbie Boss said she has been enjoying the Louie Run for 15 years and keeps coming back for the people more than the bikes.
“I love bikes, but I love the people the most,” Boss said. “The people are the real beauty here at the Louie Run. The bikes are great, but it really is about what people do for other people. That’s what keeps me coming back.”
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