Motorcycles make first annual ride Saturday

New event designed for patriotism, relaxation

MOSES LAKE — Scott Reed and business partner Pat Wyse wanted to put on an event designed to make people feel patriotic and appreciate the armed forces.

The resulting project, after eight months of work, was the first annual Columbia River Cycle Classic, taking place Saturday at Lakefront Bar and Grill and all the way down the back alley through Alder, closing off Ash Street. The event kicks off at 10 a.m.

But Wyse will not be able to attend, as he was called to duty and deployed to serve 34 days along the Mexico-Arizona border.

"He has to go and he has to miss this event," Reed said. "So I'm cheering for him, too, and my brother in Iraq."

Reed is also a veteran, and said those reasons factor into the decision to put on the event.

Reed said the new event is designed to be more "people-oriented," noting he would like to try to distinguish it from other events.

The event includes a car show. The Moses Lake Car Club is presenting the event and a bike show. Live bands slated to perform include Moral Crux and Ground Zero.

"It's a day to get a lot of people together, just kind of hang out, check out everybody's bikes and just have a good time," Reed said. He projects 700 to 1,000 people could attend throughout the day.

"We wanted to do an event that really hadn't been done before, and especially with 9/11 coming up, it's good to get people out of their houses, out for the day and … give them something else to think about," Reed said.

A 70-mile Sept. 11 memorial ride drives through downtown Sunday. Entry donations are $15 or two non-perishable food items. Ride proceeds go to support the troops.

"When you get bikes and cars and everything together, they do want to go out," Reed said. "It's cool to kind of make a ride to get them out."

The ride goes through downtown to Highway 17 toward Steamboat State Park.

Reed said he heard many people saying Moses Lake needs an event like this.

"Moses Lake has a lot of potential for growth on this, being centrally located in Washington, having the two exits and plenty of room to grow," he said. "It can pick up a lot of steam over the next few years. It can be a fun event for the city."

For information, contact Reed at (509)764-2005.