TOOLIN’ AROUND TOWN: Rob Anello’s Rip City Riders put generosity on wheels

The best way to describe the Rip City Riders is to say they’re a close-knit and generous group of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders, who unselfishly give, donate and contribute to many worthwhile causes. Donating to charities is the top priority for the club, founded by Rob Anello, who spearheads the fundraising for nearly two dozen charities in Sonoma and Marin counties. All the while, he emphasizes the club’s most important goal, one woven into the common thread of sharing a love and freedom of riding motorcycles - to present itself in a respectful and gracious manner at all times.

Image is everything to Anello. How the club presents itself in public and how others see it is important to him. When you’re the president of a motorcycle club, how that club is viewed by the public is everything. While frequently stressing the club’s image with its members, he really has little to worry about. The Rip City Riders’ courtesy and benevolence is so widespread, they’re already recognized as one of the most respected charitable organizations in this area.

The oldest of five children born to a San Francisco diamond setter, Anello was a freshman in high school when his family moved to Terra Linda. There, he played three sports at Terra Linda High School, and rode to his job at McDonald’s on his first Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Before becoming a diamond cutter, and joining his brother Barry working at a San Francisco jewelry store, Anello toiled in construction. He was married at the time, and the father of two children, Juliann and Vincent, whom he helped coach in local sports activities. He’s been a Petaluma resident for 37 years. In his early days, Anello and his friend Joe Brosnan would ride their motorcycles to San Francisco, ripping in and out of traffic on the Waldo grade. They came to be recognized as the guys who “ripped to the city,” which led Rob to coin Rip City Riders as their moniker.

In 1987, Anello and Brosnan began organizing group motorcycle rides, overnight trips, and other events. The group had a rather loose affiliation together until 2005, when Anello’s best friend and mentor, William “Chilly Billy” Walsh, died. Walsh had been Anello’s guiding light towards sobriety and his death created a turning point in which Anello vowed to forever stay clean and always acknowledge his late friend.

The Rip City Riders were formed on the day of Walsh’s funeral, with a pledge to raise money that would be donated to charity. The club has been pared down to about 115 members, each one of them family people and many business owners, who bought into Anello’s vision of helping the community.

“We’re a family that has grown together. What sets us apart from others is that we ride motorcycles,” said 62-year-old Anello. “Our main focus is to give back to the community. Our membership narrows down the charities that need money and we vote on the beneficiaries. There are 115 people who share in the credit. I’m just the guy who gets to speak.”

To date, Rip City Riders have donated more than $400,000 to local charities in Sonoma and Marin counties. The club’s showcase event, the wildly popular Chilly Billy Hot-Rod and Motorcycle Show, is held annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. Nearly 400 sponsors support the event, which draws hundreds of show cars and motorcycles. A highlight of the show is raffling off a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The club recently concluded its Twelve Days of Christmas offerings, in which it donated $1000 to twelve worthwhile causes, usually as a surprise to the beneficiaries in the form of an oversize check.

On December 23, working with Kimberly Saxelby, co-owner of Sax’s Joint, the Rip City Riders surprised members of the Vega and Focht families with presents and gift cards, and presented their unsuspecting children, Max and Keira Vega, and Zoe Focht, with brand new bicycles. The warm-hearted goodness extended by the club punctuated an otherwise chilly afternoon with tears of joy and happiness.

The Rip City Riders have purchased the historical Dunham School, in the Roblar District, with plans to convert it into a meeting place and recreational hall for the club, and to renovate and preserve it for future generations.

“It’s the generosity of the club members that fuels our enjoyment,” said Anello. “I owe it all to these guys who make the club look good. This is a full-time job on top of my full-time job. They make it all worthwhile.”

The Rip City Riders are a whirlwind of goodwill and their generosity radiates through the community. They’re welcomed wherever they go. After all, they’re the same as those of us who travel by car or recreational vehicle, they just do it on two wheels.

When you see them, give them a wave.

(Harlan Osborne’s column, ‘Toolin’ Around Town,’ runs every two weeks. Contact him at harlan@sonic.net)