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The longest-running motorcycle fundraising event in the world is this Sunday and Antonio Sabato Jr and Lorenzo Lamas are extending an invitation to join them on a star-studded ride.
This year's Love Ride will benefit the USO which provides critical support and morale boosting programs and services to troops, military families, the wounded, ill and injured, and their families, and the families of the fallen.
Over the years,Love Ride has raised $24 million for charity. Last year's Love Ride 28 grossed $350,000, with proceeds going to Autism Speaks TM. The Love Ride was founded in 1984 by Oliver Shokouh,the owner of Harley-Davidson
LA.COM chatted with Antonio Sabato Jr. and Lorenzo Lamas about the upcoming event.
LA.COM spoke first with Sabato and asked how long he has been part of the Love Ride.
"For many many years,since I first heard about it back in the day."
"I love motorcycles and I love the cause behind it. It's a bunch of cool things all put together."
"I mean, just riding with a bunch of friends that I don't get to see all time, Jay Leno and those guys." "It's cool -- what they do with the money and how much money they were able to raise." "They accumulated so much money over the years for a great cause, and that's just amazing."
"I love it."
"There are concerts involved, people coming together and riding motorcycles -- if you love motorcycles, you will get a chance to see pretty much every one of them. From all kinds of brands, to every type, Harley-Davidson , to Yamahas to Ducatis,Kawasakis, you name it." "Everybody's there with their own little toy." "And the sponsors, Coca-Cola,Harley-Davidson,Budweiser,Geico and a whole bunch of others." "It's a great cause to have in Los Angeles because, you know, we don't get to do a lot of those
"Best Buddies is another one I take pride in working with. Anytime they need me, I show up and do a bike ride, or a run or just show up and talk about it and hang out with just the most amazing kids in the world."
"These are disabled kids, mentally ill kids, they're just great." "And Best Buddies is able to offer to a lot of these teenagers and young adults, a chance to get a normal job,a 9-to-5 job, to be with the rest of the world, and not to be put aside."
" These are the causes that I take pride through-out the year, the
Asked how he would motivate others to participate in times of economic slow down Sabato responded unwaveringly, "Well you do whatever you can,this is the 29th year in a row,and this year is to benefit the USO, and not only by donating money, but just to show up and be a part of the cause and to talk about it." "To say , this is what we do every year,if you can't make it this year,make it next year. It's just a great cause and to be able to come together in one day, as many people as we do every single year,and they come from all over the world to ride over." "I would say it's a great cause and it's only getting bigger and bigger every year,
"We are going to do this every year, no matter what happens, we leave politics out of it, we leave the finance world out of it and we just do it. rain or shine,the people show up and they want to support it. And it's just a fun day, with great concerts and BBQ's ."
Sabato is currently working on several projects that include his company,MDI Carbon Fiber, a company that produces Carbonfiber for motorcycles and cars worldwide.
He also has a project with Fiat 500 & Sema which the biggest after market car show in the world,building a Fiat 500 Abarth.
Sabato has a store front website with fitness products called inutrition.co which carries protein shakes,vitamins, dietary programs. His recent movie and televison work include, "The three stooges","Little Women, Big Cars", and HBO's televesion series, "Femme Fatales".
For more information on the Love Ride 29
Antonio Saboto JR.
