Toy Run will be SA's biggest biking event

[totalmotorcycle]

Toy Run will be SA's biggest biking event
Monday, November 20, 2006 - By Dave Abrahams - Motoring South Africa - motoring.co.za


This weekend will see the 24th edition of the Toy Run, South Africa's biggest motorcycling event by far. More than 50 000 motorcyclists will gather for mass rides in more than 20 centres across the country, riding bikes of all makes and sizes, from Aprilia to Zongshen, from 50 to 2300cc.

The only thing they will have in common is that they will be laden with toys – cricket sets, big red fire engines, Barbie dolls, train sets, games, puzzles and, of course, teddy bears and fluffy soft toys by the thousand.\

They will rumble through their towns and cities in loud but good-natured processions, some up to 10km long, making Christmas come true, one child at a time, for thousands of children in homes and hospices everywhere, children without parents and children whose parents are too mired in grinding poverty to even think of Christmas

You are invited to join the party at the end venue of the Toy Run nearest you.

Even if you don't have a motorcycle, you are invited to join the party at the end venue of the Toy Run nearest you, to experience at first hand the warm-hearted, occasionally rough-edged camaraderie that has always characterised those who choose to travel on two wheels, rather than four – just bring toys!

The Gauteng Toy Run, by far the biggest, will start almost simultaneously from four venues:
Church Square, Pretoria at 9am.
Carnival City at 9am.
The Brightwater Commons at 9.15am.
Steeledale Hypermarket at 9.30.

The runs will converge on the Wesbank Raceway in Germiston, where the toys will be collected, and the riders will enjoy food and beverages, trade stalls, and shine up their bikes for the concours
The East London Toy Run is the only one that does not enjoy the active co–operation of the local traffic authorities
.

For more information contact Pete Beart: (011) 425-1470.

Cape Town's Toy Run has also grown too big for one procession; for the second time, the 2006 Toy Run will start at 11am from Ottery Hypermarket and Ratanga Junction, merging at Settler's way and continuing down Union Avenue to the end venue at Maynardville.

There the riders will find trade stalls, food and beverages, Toy Run memorabilia, live music, top comedy and magic acts, lucky draws and a concours competition. Guests are welcome – just bring toys.
For more details contact Rodney Ford: (021) 703-8121.

In Durban the Toy Run will start from the Pavilion at 9.30am; the riders will proceed along the N3 and N2 to Amanzimtoti and the Lords and Legends cricket ground, where there will be live entertainment, a flea market, and food and refreshments.

Contact Joe or Les Boes: (031) 705-3591.

Port Elizabeth's Toy Runners will meet at Pick n Pay Hyper William Moffet from 8am; the ride will start at 9.30am, along William Moffet, Cape Road, Russel Road, Settlers Freeway, Main Road Walmer, Buffelsfontein Road and Schoenmakerskop Road to the Victory oval track circuit.

Entry fee at the end venue will R20 per person, which will get you into the lucky draw. There will be food and beverages available, bike displays, trade stalls and competitions. The lucky draw will take place at 2pm and the public is welcome to join the fun.

The beneficiary of the 2006 Toy Run will be the Cape Recife school.

For more details call Tony Halket: 082 568 0682

As far as is known the East London Toy Run is the only one that does not enjoy the active co–operation of the local traffic authorities, who have consistently failed to attend coordinating meetings over the years.

Nevertheless the East London Toy Run has become a huge success; the 2006 version will start at 9am from the War Memorial in Oxford St for a short ride to the Gonubie Farmers' Hall.

There 150 children from homes and hospices in and around East London will be treated to rides on miniature steam trains and a jumping castle. Cambridge Lions will provide hot dogs for the children, the bike clubs will give cold drinks and sweets and, of course, a toy for each child.
Talk to Louis Myburgh at 082 660-6260 for more.

The Bloemfontein Toy Run will start from the Windmill gambling at 10am; the end venue will be Old Grey's, where there will be fun and games (and toys!) for children from local homes and hospices.

There will prizes for the riders who collect the most toys; the toys will be distributed by the Orange Vrouevereeninging on December 2 at St Nicholas' Hospice and various homes in Bloemfontein, Jagersfontein and Fauresmith.

More details from Appletjie at (051) 522-8725 or 072 678-1141.

Toy Runs will start at 9am from Flamwood Walk in Klerksdorp and Megaburger in Potchefstroom, converging on the Zirabi resort where there will be a live band, food and refreshments for sale.
The toys will be distributed to the inmates at children's homes and hospices in Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.

Contact Spikes Lawrence at 082 461 2507 for more details.

Nelspruit Toy Runners will meet at the Crossing Superspar from 8am and the mass ride to Oewersig Municipal Resort will leave at 9.30am. There will be live music, food and refreshments at the end venue; Round Table will man the beer garden, and will collect and distribute the toys.

More information from Marieta Drechenmacher at 072 203 5467

The Knysna Toy Run will be held one day early, on SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER; riders will meet at Loerie Park at 10am for the mass ride to begin at 11am. The route will be down Main Road and back along Waterfront Drive to Loerie Park, where food stalls, trade stalls and the all-important liquid refreshments will be on offer.

The toys will be distributed to orphanages and crèches in and around Knysna.

Contact Johnny van Rooyen (044) 382-1073 or 072 234-6924 for more details

Riders in the Richards Bay Toy Run will meet at North Coast Kawasaki from 7.30am, where hot drinks and rusks will be provided. The mass ride will begin at 8.30am, to Empangeni and back to Richard's Bay, ending at the Zululand Oval Track circuit.

The toys will be handed over to DICE (Do I Care Enough?), who will distribute them at homes and hospices throughout Zululand.

Talk to Clint Dreyer at (035) 789-6378 for more information.


At least five more Toy Runs have already been held in order to distribute the toys in time for Christmas parties at various institutions across the country – we'll have details of those as well in our complete report on the Toy Run on Monday 27 November.