Cinco de Mayo event created by a Pueblo Eastsider
By ROBERT CORDOVA
Denver’s Chicano Pride Ride (CPR) starts at the Sun Harley-Davison in Thorton, CO, but it’s roots extend to Pueblo’s Lower Eastside.
Every Cinco De Mayo since 2010, Chicano motorcyclists from all over the country have traveled to the Mile High City for this one-day event. In recent years, the CPR has drawn over 3,000 motorcycles and raised an estimated half million dollars for our Chicano youth to follow their dreams through education. This is a cultural event showcasing Chicano life, style, pride, music, food, lowriders and customized motorcycles, This event is filled with Chicano Pride showcasing what it is to be CHICANO.
For the run, streets around Sun Harley-Davidson, 8858 Pearl St, Denver, CO, are blocked off. Thousands of motorcycles are staged until the start of the procession through several counties in and around Denver. Sounds of roaring motorcycles and Mexican music fill the air.
The roots of the Denver CPR go back to Pueblo. It started in the 1970’s on the 1300 block of River Street, East Side. Manual “Manny” Arellano was one of eleven children raised in a two-bedroom home by his wonderful mother. He was like any child growing up being a travieso like we all were at one time or another attending schools on the Eastside.
To stay out of trouble, he joined La Gente Boxing Team to keep his mind occupied. He felt much pride representing Pueblo’s Eastside. He was like any youngster enjoying sports, fishing and swimming at Runyon Lake. At a young age, he didn’t know his father so he was influenced by childhood hermano Mike Madrid’s jefito.
Manny recalls Mike’s Jefito Charlie Madrid speaking about La Causa and Chicano pride. When he visited, Charlie had pictures of Che Guevara and the La Gente Fist. Charlie had a big influence on Manny’s Chicano pride. He remembers his older brother telling him about attending East High School where the girls and the boys wore brown head bandanas or tucked one in their pockets showing their brown pride.
Manny remembers Pueblo’s Cinco de Mayo Celebrations — one of the oldest in Colorado. He was proud to see all the lowriders, motorcycles, lowrider bikes, food, live bands, and Chicano rights activists speaking about injustices.
”Seeing my community displaying its cultural pride and unity was inspiring,” he said. “The city and state didn’t recognize our culture values celebrating Cinco De Mayo as a holiday. All my friends knew it was a mandatory ditch day from school.”
Fiesta Day at the Colorado State Fair was another highlight of growing up in Pueblo.
“It was a fun time listening to bands like Tierra, War, and El Chicano perform live at the grandstand,” he remembered. “So much of our culture, food, and music with fireworks to end the evening.”
At the age of 17, Manny moved 100 miles north to pursue bigger challenges. He began working and enjoying the area, but he missed the old school estilo (style) bars or nightclubs like the Golden Oldies or TCD’s Library in the Steel City.
In 2007, his long time hermano, John Herrera, decided to purchase a bar with the Pueblo estilo for Chicanos created by Chicanos. After much preparation, they purchased a bar called Primetime in Denver. They both agreed to kick this off, they needed to hire a mas firme DJ to play our old school music like Tierra, War, El Chicano, Al Hurricane, Ramon Ayala, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Kid Frost, and Lil Rob. They asked around and hired DJ Staxx (Juan Rangel) and the rest is history. Every weekend, Primetime filled to capacity with the flavor only a Chicano could enjoy and understand. He recalls throughout the night, DJ Staxx yelling for Chicanos to “Make some noise!” The bar would erupt con los gritos! As the years went by, he remembered the large Cinco De Mayo celebrations in Pueblo and wanted to create something big for all Chicanos in Colorado.
He thought about the many Colorado Chicanos who would travel hundreds of miles to attend the Red River Motorcycle Memorial Rally in New Mexico. At those rallies, he wondered why there weren’t Mexican foods or bands performing —especially since New Mexico has a wealth of internationally known musical talent.
Because of this disappointment, in 2010 Manny and others decided to create the Chicano Pride Ride (CPR) to give back to the community. They would meet at Primetime for this poker run ride throughout the Denver area raising money for a nonprofit.
For several years it was difficult to find a nonprofit charity until the commitment from Jim Chavez, executive director of the Latin America Educational Foundation, one of the oldest Latino nonprofits in Denver. Chavez was a longtime motorcycle rider and even organized events at one time.
Manny, John, and others knew they had something special as the event grew tremendously. In 2015, the Primetime closed, and the CPR went looking for a new starting point. Manny had a meeting with Avalanche Harley-Davidson and they agreed to be the start. They realized the Chicano motorcycle scene was huge in the Denver area showcasing Chicano pride.
In the beginning until now, the local Police Departments in Denver, Thorton, Westminster, Northglenn, and Adams County Sheriff’s Department have been a huge assistance in providing traffic control from their first to second stops during the CPR Event.
A few years later, the Avalanche HD moved to Golden into a bigger Harley-Davidson dealership. Manny was concerned that Chicanos wouldn’t want to meet up that far west. To his amazement, it became even bigger with thousands in attendance.
The Compas Car Club would lead the mile-long procession of Chicano riders to the first stop and eventually La Raza Park. Since the beginning of the CPR, it was agreed that La Raza Park would be a mandatory stop where a group picture was taken.
In 2020, Denver City Council unanimously voted to change the name from Columbus Park to La Raza Park, thanks to the hard work and dedication from Councilwomen Amanda Sandoval. She grew up on the Northside and recalls hearing family stories about Chicano Civil Rights Activist Rudolfo “Corky” Gonzales speaking about injustices involving Chicanos in the 1960’s and 70’s. She recalls the 1981 riot at the park with the Police spraying tear gas and utilizing batons on neighborhood Chicanos celebrating the opening of the park for the summer.
According to Denver City Council District 1, Amanda Sandoval, the park’s land was purchased in the 1900’s and in 2023, it was voted unanimously the third historical cultural district.
In 2020 and 2021, the Chicano Pride Ride was canceled due to the Covid pandemic. It was a difficult decision to cancel, but the responsible one for all Chicanos during this horrible time in the world.
During this time, Sun Harley-Davidson in Thorton kept in contact with Manny and asked him how they could host the CPR Event. Manny requested if they would serve beer and give away a Harley-Davidson they would move to Sun Harley-Davidson. They agreed and in 2022, Sun Harley-Davidson hosted the event with an estimated over 2,000 Chicano riders in attendance raising and estimated $80,000 for the Latin American Education Foundation (LAEF). They had vendors, food, and the World Famous Tierra Band performing live. They gave away a custom Harley-Davidson custom painted by the late great Larry Ortiz of Ortiz Customs in Lakewood. Larry was a good friend to Manny and passed away due to Covid complications in 2020.
“He was a big part of this ride, and we want to pay him respect and love,” said Manny.
In 2023, the Chicano Pride Ride is estimated to have had 2,500 riders in attendance raising over an estimated $100,000 for LAEF. They had vendors, food, and the World-famous Malo band performing live and Sun Harley-Davidson, they gave away a custom Harley-Davidson. They had vendors from California, Texas, Arizona and Colorado. They had podcasters from California as well as live news channels covering the event.
This year, if you can imagine, the 12th Annual CPR was even bigger with an estimated 3,700 Riders in attendance raising an estimated $92,000 for scholarship monies. According to Manny, this is the largest Chicano Motorcycle event in the United States. Participants in the CPR feels enormous pride in our culture celebrating the Cinco De Mayo. Again, Sun Harley-Davidson hosted the event with vendors, food, a Harley-Davidson giveaway, and the Arizona Latin group Las Calakas live.
Inspire is the nonprofit involved in this year’s run. Executive Director and Founder Jesse Ramirez, who has roots in the Salt Creek neighborhood in Pueblo, and is a native of Denver. Jesse created an amazing nonprofit for high school seniors in Denver, Arapahoe, and Adams Counties. Due to the Chicano Pride Ride raising $90,000, the educational scholarships ranged from $4,000 to $6,000 for senior students pursuing college. According to Jesse, Inspire offers in-depth face-to-face college-prep assistance to each student. Jesse is extremely grateful to everyone who participated in the CPR event and gives much love and respect to Manny and his wife Sherrie.
Since the beginning of the CPR, all proceeds go towards a nonprofit organization. Registration fees, poker run profits, and vendor registrations all go towards scholarships. At times, Manny has heard disappointing rumors that the money collected is kept by CPR staff which is false. All funds are funneled to the nonprofit — CPR does not handle any money; it is collected online and in person on the day of the event by the nonprofit.
Due to the success in the Mile High City, CPR has expanded to Arizona in 2021. After meeting Chicana Deb Ortega during Arizona Bike Week, they became in close contact and agreed to create a Chicano Pride Ride in Arizona. They have successfully raised thousands of dollars with an estimated 1,000 motorcycles in attendance.
Manny is appreciative of all who has made CPR a huge success. He personally wants to thank hermano John Herrera who has been there since the creation of the event. He wants to thank his beautiful wife Sherrie for putting up with him and doing a lot to make this event successful. He wants to thank Sun Harley General Manager Mark, former owner Ron, and the new owners who continue to work with CPR creating this mas firme Chicano Cultural Event in the Mile High City. And, of course, he is grateful for all the sponsors, past and present, who have stepped up to support CPR.
“This couldn’t be possible if Chicanos don’t show up to this event so big shout out to everyone who registers and participates providing a pathway to our future leaders, not followers!” Manny said
