Bert King, owner of Bert\u2019s Barracuda Harley-Davidson, is hoping the local biker community can break a Guinness World Record and for a good cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since he acquired the Clearwater motorcycle dealership nine years ago, King has continued a tradition that the previous owner established. The company\u2019s annual holiday toy run will take place Sunday (Dec. 7).\u00a0<\/p>\n
To participate, riders are required to donate a gift. These will be given to the Lealman Fire District to distribute to underprivileged children in the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, there\u2019s a unique catch to receive the record of \u201clargest motorcycle toy run.\u201d Participants must ride with the toys on the approximately two and a half hour journey, King said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He explained that the current Guinness World Record was set in the United Kingdom in 2014 by the Reading Toy Run. The event had 1,735 participants. \u00a0<\/p>\n
A Guinness adjudicator will be in attendance to document the ride and determine if a new record is created.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The trip, which starts and concludes at King\u2019s dealership, will bring riders to St. Petersburg, Treasure Island and Pass-a-Grille. An after party at the OCC Road House & Museum will follow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than 1,300 people have pre-registered for the Sunday event. King expects more to sign up today and Sunday. Over 30 police motorcyclists will be present in order to shut down roads on the route.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orange County Choppers founder \u2013 and American Chopper TV personality \u2013 Paul Teutul Sr. is scheduled to participate in the ride as well, King added.\u00a0\u201cThe community\u2019s coming together in a bigger way because everybody would like to bring this record to the U.S.A.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, he emphasized that the most important aspect of the event is serving local children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids we get to recognize do not have anything. By giving them a Christmas, it makes it really special,\u201d King said. \u201cYou\u2019re not only having fun doing something you like to do, but you\u2019re doing something for a great cause and you\u2019re giving these kids hope that there\u2019s going to be a future out there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Participants also have to pay a fee to participate. The funds raised will benefit Bert\u2019s Salute to America Foundation, which supports military and first responder families.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Local marketing company Our Town America is joining as a partner in the run this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an event I\u2019ve rode and participated in for years,\u201d vice president Jim Pouba said.\u00a0\u201cWhen we had the opportunity to interact on a larger scale, we jumped all over it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n