Riding for research

When motorcycle builder and Hog Pen bike shop owner Steve Smith recently lost his father to cancer, it made him think about how things could possibly be worse.

“It’s tough,” Smith said, who flew to back and forth to Michigan to visit his father during his father’s battle with the disease. “I asked myself ‘what could be worse,’ and having a kid with cancer would be rough.”

The Costa Mesa-based Hog Pen hosted a motorcycle rally to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation Saturday that featured music, food and raffle prizes. Based in Irvine, The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation donates about $1.8 million each year to research to find cures for cancers that affect children.

“This is a seed that we hope will grow into something big,” said Kristina Verzi, marketing and public relations representative for the Hog Pen, who organized the Saturday event. Verzi also lost her father, a pediatrician, to cancer. Verzi said she wants the ride to become an annual event to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

“They’re a local charity, and it’s something that I have a personal connection with,” she said.

The Saturday rally also served as a grand opening for the Hog Pen, which is Smith’s newest business venture. The Hog Pen functions like a motorcycle club for bikers who don’t have a lot of space to store their motorcycles, said Smith, who also owns the Bike Builder Warehouse, which sells custom chopper kits. The Hog Pen offers a place for motorcycle enthusiasts to store their bikes, a shuttle service, roadside assistance for breakdowns and just a place to hang out after a weekend ride, Smith said.

About 50 people signed up to ride in Hog Pen Monster Ride to cruise up Pacific Coast Highway from Costa Mesa to Long Beach and back, said Lynda Buckles, marketing and sales representative for the Hog Pen.

Buckles’ boyfriend, Dave Amato, lead guitarist for the band REO Speedwagon and his bandmates pitched in to buy a Fender guitar to auction off at the event. The white Fender was autographed by all of the members of the band. Since the band members don’t all live in the same place, they all signed the guitar while performing at a concert in Puerto Rico.

“I hand-delivered it from Puerto Rico myself,” Buckles said. “They were all eager to pitch in and sign it.”

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.