Taso's Bike Run [Rescheduled]

Note: This article first ran on Aug. 7, the originally planned date for the Taso's Bike Run and Car Show, rescheduled because of rain.

Looking for a good cause to support today? Have a nice-looking ride (with two or four wheels) that you'd like to show off?

Starting at 9 a.m. today, you can register your motorcycle or car for the Taso's Motorcycle Run and Car Show, sponsored by Taso's Restaurant at 1500 Atwood Ave., to benefit the Johnston Community Center Association.

Glenn Carroll, president of the JCCA, said during a phone interview in August 5 that this is the first-ever event by Taso's to support the local organization, which led the recent effort for new soccer fields in town and hosts many holiday events during the year.

"This all started over the winter months — Mark Gilmore [VP of JCCA] and I announced high school basketball games, and Taso's was a sponsor for that," Carroll explained. "We'd have the Taso's halftime shootout, and Tommy [Thomaidis] gave us gift certificates for each game."

As the three mens' paths crossed in other ways — in Taso's sponsorships of youth sports teams and Carroll and Gimore's involvement in Johnston Lightning soccer, and in the JCCA officers' regular stops at the restaurant — Carroll said Thomaidis started talking with them about the bike run idea.

"He liked what he saw us doing in the community," Carroll said of Thomaidis, who owns a Harley-Davidson and participates in motorcycle runs for charitable organizations. "He told us, 'I want to do [a bike run], and I'm going to need some help.'"

Registration for the event is $25 per person, and includes coffee and doughnuts at 9 a.m., lunch at about 1:30 p.m. when the motorcycle run returns, and an event tee-shirt. Attendees need not have a bike or car in the event to attend, Carroll said.

"They can come down, pay the $25, and they'll get the same things that the bikers get," he explained.

Carroll also took a moment to praise Thomaidis and his willingness to put together today's event.

"I can't say enough about 'Tommy Taso' — he's just a great guy, and it's great to see someone who wants to give back to the town," Carroll said.

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