Large Turnout For Tim Aloisio

WESTFIELD, MA – Tim Aloisio doesn’t have an official fan club, but you’d be excused for thinking he does judging by the turnout tonight for a bike night benefiting him at Indian Motorcycle of Springfield.

Hundreds of Aloisio’s friends, supporters and readers of his “On Two Wheels” motorcycle column in “The Republican” newspaper in Springfield showed up and donated generously.

Aloisio suffered eight broken ribs as well as bruises when he was involved in an accident on Aug. 22 while riding his Harley-Davidson. A car that he was following in Wilbraham, MA, about a mile from his home, signaled to turn right but turned left as he was attempting to go around, and he ran into it.

Tim Aloisio, left, greets friends and well-wishers

“I thought I broke my back. As soon as I moved my arms, I heard snap, snap, snap,” he recalled as he greeted well-wishers. Aloisio spent a week in Baystate Medical Center and had surgery to install plates and screws. A machinist by trade, Aloisio also works part-time selling motorcycles for Indian Motorcycle of Springfield in addition to writing the column.

Dealership owner Dennis Bolduc has known Aloisio since grade school and decided to stage the bike night benefit. He said the monetary goal was “as much as I can get. The sky’s the limit.” An actual dollar amount won’t be known until Thursday.

Aloisio admitted to being embarrassed by the attention. “This is the kind of stuff I put on for other people,” he said. “I love that I have a million friends. I’m moved beyond words.”

The event ran from 6 to 9 p.m. and the parking lot at Indian Motorcycle of Springfield filled quickly, forcing spillover parking across Route 10. Westfield Police officers handled traffic and guided pedestrians. Aloisio’s supporters rode in on Indian and Harley-Davidson cruisers and on numerous other brands and styles of motorcycles.

Not surprisingly, there were many eye-catching bikes on display.

Donations for Aloisio are still being accepted by Indian Motorcycle of Springfield. Checks may be made out directly in his name.

Below is the original post about plans for the benefit…

WESTFIELD, MA – Indian Motorcycle of Springfield plans a bike night benefit for motorcycle columnist Tim Aloisio from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the dealership.

Aloisio’s a machinist by trade but also writes the “On Two Wheels” column for “The Republican” newspaper in Springfield, MA and works part-time in sales at the Indian dealership.

On Aug. 22, while riding his Harley-Davidson, he was involved in an accident with a car in Wilbraham, MA and suffered eight broken ribs. He had surgery to install screws and plates to mend six of them and was in Baystate Medical Center for a week.

“The Republican” has a more detailed story here.

The bike night benefit will include food and music, with proceeds going to help Aloisio and his wife, Trish.

Aloisio has long promoted safe riding in New England, is a down-to-earth guy, and is deserving of all support.