Review and Photos by Ryan Bastianelli

While everybody else was at the Niagara Rally getting drunk, the Regulars of Minnesota where doing some good for a bunch of little kids.

I had to work the weekend of Niagara so I couldn't go this year. I read about the Toy Run on the Regulars message board and asked what time they were doing it. I work overnights and I get off work at 7am, so my plan was to fly out to Minneapolis after work, do the ride, and fly back to Chicago on the last flight of the day to be at work by 9pm. I can sleep when I'm dead.

I made it to Minneapolis, no problem. Matt was waiting for me at the gate (What? No funny sign) and Trish was circling the terminal with the car.

We drove to Nate's apartment. Nate is a Regular and a Jedi. He has a really cool place with a nice collection of full size video games. I was to ride Nate's silver P200 and Nate was going to ride his VBB, but the P was having problems. The oil metering valve for the oil injection was hanging up and the bike wouldn't drop to idle. After screwing with it for while with no luck, Nate just told me to take the VBB and he drove his car. Nate is my hero.

We headed to Bryant Lake Bowl in Uptown Minneapolis. This is the Regulars’ main hangout. A Mini car group called the MMPEAPSHA joined the ride, too. Two cool Austin or Cooper Minis (dont ask me which is which) came along on the Toy Run. One was just imported from the UK, and had a right-hand steering wheel.

We made our way to the Target to get the toys. This was the deal (gents). You pay $25, get a t-shirt and banner for the scooter, and you get to pick out toys equalling $10 for each card you pull. I drew a teenage boy and a 6–8 year old boy. I got the teenager a soccer ball, and the 6-8 year old a crotchrocket toy motorcycle that you launch across the room with a launcher. 120mph, scale speed!

Matt chooses a toy for a 32-year-old boy

People were checking us out in the Target parking lot.
This guy just went to Target to get a pack of cigarettes and a kiddie pool.

From the Target, we drove to the Children's Hospital. To be honest, I didn't know we were dropping the toys off in person. The Toys for Tots ride in Chicago is different, you just throw your stuff in a big box and hope it gets to the children, but we actually gave the toys to the kids.

We put the stuff on shelves according to age (and height, I guess,) and the children came down. Some were in wheelchairs and some had I.V. hookups. The kids loved seeing the scooters and little cars. One cute little girl had her dad put her on all the scooters, and she sat in a Mini, too.

After that, we had pizza. And I flew home.

Thanks to all the Regulars. It was great meeting all of you, even the one known as "Luther's sister".