Darren Alexander Winston Memorial Charity Ride

CLINTON TOWNSHIP —Motorcycle stars led a ride Saturday, Oct. 4 to benefit a local sports legend's family.

Williams Harley-Davidson hosted top motorcycle designers and builders for an autograph signing before the first Darren Alexander Winston Memorial Charity Ride & Luncheon to raise money for the Winston Family Trust in honor of the deceased baseball star.

"It's early morning and it's just starting to rain," said Williams owner Bobby DiFazio. "No matter, it will be a big success because we're doing something good for a member of the community and his family."

The Williams showroom was loaded as usual with a large, shiny collection of the latest Harley Davidson motorcycles, but yesterday those stock bikes were joined by a spectacular array of custom bikes designed by the country's top builders, many made famous on the Discovery Channel's "Biker Build-off".

"We're hoping to raise about $15,000," DiFazio said. "We have to thank Frank Cotroneo, owner of Equus Restaurant in Bernardsville for having this luncheon, and all the Discovery Channel builders who will be leading the ride."

Billy Lane of "Choppers, Inc.," Dave Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrication in Bridgewater, Mass., Paul Cox of Indian Larry Legacy, Keino Sasaki of Keino Cycles, Bill Dodge of Bling's Cycles and sculptor Jeff Decker were scheduled to appear.

"I built Frank a bunch of bikes," said Perewitz. "He asked me to come down and I'm more than happy to help out."

Riders are paying $150 each to take part and honor the Winston name while helping out the sports star's wife and six kids.

Winston was a Woodbridge native who spent the last years of his life living in Millstone. He was a Rutgers baseball hall of famer and four-year letter winner, spending two seasons playing in the major leagues for the Philadelphia Philles and finishing his career with the Somerset Patriots. Winston also coached for Millstone Little League.

"Winston gave my son pitching lessons on an individual basis for seven years," Cotroneo said. "He always remembered to call when my son had a game to ask how it went. He was a great coach and a terrific guy."

Winston got sick this summer and was originally diagnosed as lymphoma, but within weeks had ruptured his spleen in a hospital in Freehold Township. He died on Aug. 15.

The builders and the rest of the riders were expected to finish the autograph session around 11:30 a.m. and ride through the hills of Hunterdon and Somerset counties on their way to a 3 p.m. luncheon with the Winston family at Equus Restaurant in Bernardsville for another meet and greet with fans.

Maureen Rapp of Lebanon Twp. takes a cell phone photo of a bike designed by Dave Perewitz during an autograph signing event and Charity Memorial Ride for Bernardsville/Rutgers athlete Darren A. Winston at Williams Harley-Davidson in Clinton Twp.

An autograph signing event and Charity Memorial Ride for Bernardsville/Rutgers athlete Darren A. Winston was held at Williams Harley-Davidson in Clinton Twp.

Celebrity bike builder Dave Perewitz signs a poster for Jillian Winston, 5, and her brother Jordan Winston, 9, of Millstone during an autograph signing event and Charity Memorial Ride for Bernardsville/Rutgers athlete Darren A. Winston at Williams Harley-Davidson in Clinton Twp. on 10/04/2008.