It’s way too early. Still dark out and something o’clock in the morning. There is a spooky haze in the air. The endless Los Angeles wild fires and winds create something like an all or nothing air quality. Depending on wind direction, it can seem like there’s a bonfire around the corner or a pristine clear sky day. David Kuntz and I arrive at Los Angeles Fire Department’s Firehouse 84 to begin setup for the event. As we approach the front door, the firehouse's garage doors roll up and their shiny red and chrome emergency vehicles wail away towards what turned out to be a tractor trailer fire on the freeway. Luckily, a visiting firefighter was still on site to grant us access to the rear lot where the sixth Socal Burn Ride would start in just a few hours.

First starting back in the summer of 2014, the Socal Burn Ride is a compassion project from the hearts of Trevor Holtan and United States Marine Corps Major David Kuntz. David’s longtime girlfriend Kim Botbyl has put her heart and soul into the project, as well. Both parties had parallel ideas to start a charity motorcycle ride to benefit burn survivors and met each other after they both reached out to the Grossman Burn Foundation and the Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors in pursuit of their individual quests. Joining forces, the three motivated individuals would launch their first event in just three months time. Six years later, the Burn Ride has become one of the most important source of funding for the two organizations and 100 percent of the proceeds generated from this year’s event will go on to be used for a recovery activity known as Family Camp. According to the Burn Ride website (www.socalburnride.com), Family Camp is “a three day weekend where a safe environment is provided for burn survivors and their families to have the opportunity to build confidence and independence, learn teamwork and develop problem-solving skills through diverse sports and camp programs while also providing forums for peer support”. Even the event’s expenses were artfully planned. For instance, the use of Disabled Americans Veterans Hall 73 as a final location, resulted in money going into the DAV73 disaster relief fund and not merely being used to pay for the event.

Knowing David and Kim first hand as friends and colleagues, the easily apparent deep and self sacrificing motivation to make this event the best it could be for those in need is only matched by the importance of the cause. Burn victims face some of the most complicated and difficult paths to recovery. They face not only the physical pain and damage to their bodies, but also the deep turmoil of acceptance and the impacts to their self image. Burn survivors have to fight for every smile in their lives. With this struggle in mind, David, Kim and Trevor, who is a burn survivor himself, spent many sleep deprived nights and extra hour days doing everything in their power to make this event as profitable as it can be for the charity and as entertaining as it can be for those who participate.

Each year, the ride itself takes a different route, but the theme remains the same. The riders embark on a trip from a hospital, a firehouse, or another relevant beginning point. The group rumbles into the Pacific coast mountains stopping at points of interest such as Paramount Ranch or another firehouse before returning for a post ride event. Blacktop Ranger volunteered time to take photographs at the beginning of the event and assist with the setup. At Firehouse 84, many volunteers quickly arrived after David, Kim, Trevor and I in order to assist. Jeff from Turn and Burn Magazine took and uploaded a massive amount of photos quicker than we ever could of every participant at the ride and repeat banner. Like a red carpet photo wall, motorcyclists rolled in and stopped for a photo before joining the growing horde of iron filling the parking lot. Supporting sponsors like Reign Energy, Born Free Motorcycles, Tobacco Motor Wear Company, and others provided giveaways and entertainment to the group before and after the ride. At the end point, vendors and sponsors and the organizations responsible for the event had food and drinks and motorcycle related gear, music and a grand celebration to finish off the festivities.

The firefighters of Firehouse 84 themselves also put in their time to assist. Not only allowing use of their firehouse, but also using their engine to provide a fitting backdrop for the Burn Ride banner to hang. With over 250 registered participants silently watching, the Fire Department’s color guard presented the flags of our country, our state and the fire department. Elliot McKenzie, a USMC combat veteran who found strength in his fight with PTSD through music beautifully sang the national anthem once the color guard stood before the respectful crowd.

After a few necessary and thoughtfully concise speeches, the swarm of two wheeled machines was ready to be released onto the streets. In an effort to increase safety, and with byproduct of extreme coolness, the Fire Department blocked off both directions of traffic with their emergency vehicles providing the riders a safe and uninterrupted beginning to their ride. For nearly ten minutes, roaring bikes poured onto the once city street like a flood of water putting out a troublesome fire. A fitting description considering the purpose of their journey.

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For the Enthusiast

Socal Burn Ride Six: One Down Five Up

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