Memorial Party

CCIB / CRKA 16 th Annual Renee Ledford Memorial Party

By: Wa y Wer ching

n Friday June 5th and

Saturday June 6th, the CCIB Land was where the Cleveland County Independent Bikers (CCIB) and Cleveland-Rutherford Kidney Association (CRKA) held their 16th Annual Renee Ledford Memorial Party. It was the biggest yet with all proceeds going to Cleveland-Rutherford Kidney Association.

Renee Ledford was responsible for bringing the CCIB and the CRKA together many years ago, so after she passed away, they started having the party in her memory.

Friday night, they had “Rocky Yelton, and the Hired Guns” on the stage. Saturday morning was the poker run with the first bike out at 10:00am. There were stops at East Coast Cycles in Forest City, VFW Post 4066 in Shelby, the Windjammers Clubhouse in Shelby, the CCIB clubhouse in Shelby, and finally

back at the CCIB land in Mooresboro, NC.

Later in the afternoon when all the bikes were back from the poker run, they had a cornhole tournament, and a bike show, and games. At night, the band “Generation AXE” performed on stage.

I arrived at the CCIB Land at a little after 9:00am on Saturday morning. After talking with a few of the club members, I learned that they had a large crowd at the concert the night before. Even though it had rained for some time. The rain didn’t dampen their spirits!

As it got closer to 10:00am, people were arriving, and congregating around a small building just outside the gate where they were registering for the poker run. I placed stacks of the Carolinas’ Full Throttle magazine from March, April, May, and June on the registration table. I figured that many of them hadn’t seen the older editions because of the event cancelations.

I love coming to these events. I get to see people who I don’t normally see – like “Radar”. We used to work together, and I’d see him every day. That was a few lifetimes ago, and we always had fun together. Now I see him a couple times a year unless the events get cancelled.

“Grumpy” rode in, and we talked for a while. We have a lot in common. I told him about the charity event I attended back in 1986 for the Kidney Association. It was a “Womanless Beauty Pageant”. There were 17 of us guys dressed as women, and needless to say we were a bunch of weird looking women. My neighbor was scheduled to be in it, but he had another engagement and asked me to take his place. He was on the high school football team, and I don’t think he wanted his teammates to see him in a dress. We had just moved to the area, so

I didn’t care who saw me. It was for a good cause.

After “Grumpy” walked to the registration table, I just stood, and listened to the men and women talking, laughing, and having fun. It was music to my ears – the sound I really missed due to the pandemic. Maybe now we can get back to normal – whatever that will be.

At exactly 10:00am, there was a prayer, and then “Radar” led the first group of over fifty bikes on the poker run. I took pictures as they roared past. It only took a few minutes until all was quiet again.

I walked back to “Miss Vickie” and was home in a few min- utes to talk with Cindy about lunch. I went to Showmars and brought home a take-out.

I didn’t plan on returning for the afternoon, and evening festivities. I’m sure that they all had a great time. Check out the Carolinas’ Full Throttle magazine Cruisin’ Calendar or the CCIB Facebook page for future events. They are always a lot of fun!