Riders turn out to help friend
BUTLER TWP — The deafening thunder of 662 motorcycles on Greenwood Drive on Saturday morning was really the sound of love and respect.
More than 780 Butler bikers and their passengers rumbled and buzzed into the Rock Ann Haven parking lot on 662 motorcycles between 9 and 11 a.m. to show their support for Bob McChesney, who has worked on many of those machines.
McChesney of Butler worked as a mechanic at Zanotti Motor on Route 8 south of Butler for 36 years prior to its closing at the end of last year.
As McChesney was sitting up a new motorcycle shop this spring on Route 8 in Center Township, he fell 14 feet through the rafters onto the shop's concrete floor while running electric lines.
McChesney's multiple injuries have caused him to fall behind in his mortgage payments at the home he shares with his wife and two children, and his medical bills have also become overwhelming.
But it was more than the soft-spoken McChesney's skill as a motorcycle mechanic that caused the huge turnout for the poker run on Saturday morning.
“He's just a super guy that you can't say enough about,” said Sam Lovric of Butler, who rode a 2011 Harley-Davidson Ultra Electra Glide Limited on Saturday. “I think this crowd proves it.”
Monica Rusch of Chicora led a group of about 50 bikes from the Rock Ann Haven to the five stops on the run and finally to the Lyndora American Legion Post 778 shelter where a buffet and raffles concluded the event by 6 p.m.
Rusch, whose 2004 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic is known as “the dragon bike,” said McChesney helped her build her coveted custom bike and did all the mechanical work on it.
“Bob's the only one I trust with my bike,” said Rusch of Chicora.
Rusch's group of bikes did the leading and blocking tasks for the run, meaning those riders pulled into intersections to block cross traffic and lead bikes through safely.
“I'm really glad we had the turnout we did,” Rusch said of Saturday's run. “It says a lot about Bob and the support he has.”
McChesney, who sported a cast and gripped a pair of crutches on Saturday morning, shook hands and quietly talked with hundreds of his bearded, leather-clad supporters and friends.“It's unbelievable,” McChesney said. “I can't really comprehend it.”McChesney said the event proves folks should look differently on bikers, instead of judging them by their tough exteriors.“They're the best,” he said.One of the youngest riders was Blane Saelor, 18, of Butler. Because Saelor's father is a friend of McChesney's, Blane has known him his whole life.“He's helped all these people with their bikes over the years, and now they're here to pay him back,” said Saelor. “(Being a biker) is a brotherhood thing.”Participants paid $20 per driver and $5 per passenger for the event, all of which went to McChesney. Donation buckets were set up at stops throughout the event, and multiple raffles were held at the Lyndora American Legion.Organizer Bill McNutt hesitated to divulge the amount raised, but said it would greatly assist McChesney and his family.“That's what bikers do; they support each other,” said McNutt.After leaving Rock Ann Haven, bikes traveled to Runt's Roadhouse on Route 356 in Sarver, the Hot Spot Hotel in Kittanning, the Millerstown Inn in Chicora, Lee's Place in Summit Township, then to the Lyndora Legion.Hot dogs and soft drinks were available at the stops, where participants socialized while they took a break from the sun and the dust. Each participant also had a card stamped at each stop, then drew five cards, representing each stamp, at the Lyndora Legion. The rider or passenger with the best poker hand won a cash prize, but many winners donated all or part of their winnings back to the cause.Steve “Wedge” Collier, co-owner of the Millerstown Inn, welcomed riders from two separate motorcycle runs on Saturday. In addition to McChesney's run, Collier welcomed riders supporting the family of a Westmoreland County policeman who recently was struck and killed by a pickup truck.“I do it because I like to help people,” Collier said.Harley-Davidson shirts, leather vests and do-rags were common sights on the patio and in the large bar he added two years ago.Collier said more than 700 bikes filled his parking lot on Saturday. He hosts 15 to 20 bike runs per summer and always has a good time.“Bikers are a good and generous group of people,” Collier said. “I've never had a bad experience with them.”Bikers and their guests dug into pork sandwiches and a wide variety of hot and cold side dishes at the Lyndora Legion shelter while a DJ played classic rock.Asked what he thinks of the seemingly tough biker demographic, McNutt gazed across the crowd of bikers, who represented both genders and all walks of life as they talked, ate and laughed together.“They support each other,” he said.
