Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/763593
18 nJanuary 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Mongo SACRAMENTO, CALIF., NOV. 19—Now that I'm grown up, or at least older, I realize that as a child I had a charmed life. Two parents, a dog, and even a pony until I grew too big to ride him, or discovered motorcycles. My siblings were a decade and more older than I was so it was almost as if I was the only kid in the house. The "Christmas season" is exactly what winter would bring into our house and small community along the river. After Thanksgiving passed, the Christmas lights, decorations, and tree went up. Every boy and girl knew that Ol' Saint Nick was check- ing his list twice. It was a family gathering to hang the ornaments and anxiously watch as the presents mag- ically appeared on the countdown to Christmas morning. Such as it was, with the exception of the year that my mom and dad divorced. That year there were no decorations, no tree, and no St. Nick. The following year Pops had rebounded and we even picked out a live tree that we planted in the front yard after we were done with it. The year after that my dad was engaged to a wonderful lady and, for the most part, Christmas returned to its former glory. Despite the many wonderful celebrations of Christmas, I'm incapa- ble of reminiscing about that holiday without the single spoiled one coming to the forefront of my mind. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, or at least it should be. Unfortunately not everyone is as blessed as I was. There are far too many children that have no joyous memories of the most celebrated holiday of the year. Fortunately for those kids there are people like Troy D. Rowsey, owner and operator of Renegade Classics in Sacramento, California. Over the past 14 years his toy runs have collected over 100,000 toys, which are then distributed to local children's charities. In 2003 Troy opened his store and started the toy run. To date he is generously giving to fi ve charities including, but not limited to, Kids First, Mustard Seed School, Boys and Girls Club, Rise Inc., and Yuba Sutter. On November 19, bikers showed their kindness by gather- ing at Renegade's on 6758 Folsom Boulevard. They rolled in with toys tied to their bikes and the spirit of the season in their hearts. As it will do at this time of the year, rain was falling all around the area but, luckily, it was dry at the store. But that was the exception. Riders arrived suited up against the weather with their toys wrapped in plastic. The bikes were staging in the parking lot while riders were greeting one another and helping themselves to the free hot coffee and snacks. Like any biker event there are fi rst timers, and those that have been around the world a time or two. One such veteran, and historian, is Wolf who brings two kids scooter bikes: one girl's and one boy's. The good tiding riders left Sacramento toward Thunder Valley Casino and Resort straight into the downpour that blasted them along the way. Having bested the elements the wet but festive bikers were given a police escort to the entrance of the indoor parking. Directed to the third level of the garage it quickly fi lled RENEGADE CLASSICS 14TH ANNUAL TOY RUN Santa, the cavalry, and a wolf with horns Smiles for Christmas See "Renegade Toy Run," page 38, column1 "Wolf" at the front of the pack Damp riders with high spirits Troy Rowsey (c) fl anked by Santa's hotties Tiffani (l) and Donna (r) in front of the raffl e table has moved online! Submit and read letters at thunderpress.net/letters