Fear of Trouble Cancels 2 Events

Two summer events that bring thousands of motorcyclists to Ventura have been canceled over fears that they would serve as a backdrop for violence between rival groups of biker clubs.

State parks officials have denied a permit for the annual Beach Ride, a July gathering that raises money for a children’s charity, according to the organization’s director.

Meanwhile, Ventura County Fairgrounds officials have canceled one of the West Coast’s biggest vintage motorcycle races.

The actions were taken after a brawl that escalated into deadly gunfire last month between members of the warring Hells Angels and the Mongols in Laughlin, Nev. Three people died and at least 16 were injured in a late-night melee at a Laughlin casino.

Citing that bloody episode, Seaside Park director Roger Gibbs said Wednesday that he called off Ventura’s vintage bike race after conferring with local police. The race and an associated swap meet were set for June 29 and 30.

“This wasn’t an easy decision to make,” Gibbs said, “but if something were to happen, I’d have to live with it.”

In the last month, police officers, fairgrounds officials and the race’s promoters met to discuss the possibility of violence erupting at the event. Police were anxious about a large gathering of bikers but had no specific indication of any planned threat, said Sgt. Brock Avery, a department spokesman.

“Based on what we know happened in Laughlin, we just had a general concern for the public’s safety,” he said.

This would have been the 10th year for the Outlaw Vintage Short Track Motorcycle Race, which draws 150 riders and about 6,000 spectators, according to Dave Hansen, one of the race’s promoters.

“People come from all over the country for it,” he said. “We’ve had racers from as far away as Japan.”

Promoters said their loss would be substantial but they didn’t contest the decision.

“It’s just like Sept. 11,” said Jim Naylor, Hansen’s partner in the event and the operator of the Ventura Raceway. “With this much fear, this is what we need to do.”

The sponsor of the Beach Ride said the cancellation would cost the charity for developmentally disabled children as much as $100,000 in donations.

Scott Bowling, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles-based Exceptional Children’s Foundation, said the event is his group’s biggest fund-raiser.

The ride has drawn motorcyclists to San Buenaventura State Beach since 1991. Last year, more than 10,000 people showed up for music and beer, with actor Larry Hagman serving as grand marshal.

Bowling said Richard A. Rojas, a state parks district superintendent, told him Wednesday that the permit had been denied.

“Because of the incident in Laughlin, there is a concern that some type of repeat incident could happen in Ventura,” Bowling said.

The Hells Angels and the Mongols both have contingents in Ventura County.

Bowling said park officials asked him to guarantee there would be no violence. Although the event has been marred by nothing more serious than a fistfight in the past, he said he could not make that promise.

“I am extremely disappointed,” Bowling said. “I feel like they are trying to take what happened with a small minority of individuals in Laughlin and generalize it to a whole community.”

Bowling said the foundation’s board will discuss an appeal.

Rojas said he denied the permit for several reasons in addition to the Laughlin melee.

“It started as a friendly mix of different motorcycle enthusiasts

Since about 1999, though, there have been increasing problems, including drunkenness and a motorcycle theft, Rojas said.