Ride looks to spread good will among cities

As the cities of Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz remain mired down in legal combat over the Surf City U.S.A. brand, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts will make their second journey up the coast on a mission of peace when the two cities may need it the most.

During 2006, the light-hearted rivalry turned ugly when the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau secured trademark rights over the Surf City U.S.A. trademark. Santa Cruz responded with a lawsuit challenging the patent’s credibility.

Each city has staked its own claim on the branding. Santa Cruz declared itself the location of the first California surfing back in the 19th century, home to the first surf museum and internationally known longboard ride spot, Steamer Lane.

Huntington Beach, with its consistent warm weather and reputation as the hub of surf competitions and industry, has a modern tie to the sport.

The rancor exhibited by both cities over the exclusive use of a subtitle gives the journey this year a higher purpose for venturing out on the eight-hour ride, Huntington Beach ride captain Dan Traxler said.

“We didn’t care about the politics,” Traxler said. “Bikers like to show goodwill no matter where they go. That is what we’re trying to do — it’s good for the whole community.”

Riders will hit the road at 6 a.m. Saturday, crossing 412 miles of Golden State coastline, making pit stops only for gas and lunch.

In Morro Bay another 10 to 15 cruisers from Santa Cruz will meet up with the group and together they will complete the journey.

It’s all about the ride, not some fight between lawyers over an already over-used term, Santa Cruz ride captain Reg Kittrele said.

“The fight over Surf City is something that boarders on ludicrous,” Kittrele said, adding that there are many ways to go around it, make it something positive that would benefit both sides.

Santa Cruz Mayor Cynthia Matthews is scheduled to meet the riders at the end of the journey at the Harley Davidson and Buell store in Santa Cruz, Traxler said.

Traxler and his band of travelers, many with as much enthusiasm for hanging 10 as they have for a good road trip, hope the annual event draws in even more people in 2008.

“[We’re] just a group of guys who want to show goodwill between the cities, and any excuse to ride the coast works,” Traxler said.

Those who want to show their support for the goodwill trip should meet at Rich Donuts at 7598 Edinger Ave. by 6 a.m. to give the hog fanatics a proper send-off. Any turnout is better than last year, when the only well-wishers for the journey were two girls in a Red Bull truck, Traxler said.

“But, man, we were awake after we drank some of that,” he said.