MOTO SANTA SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER
Bill Clift, dressed as Santa, cruises around on decorated motorcycle
Warren resident Bill Clift is feeling a little like Ebenezer Scrooge after he was visited by the three Christmas spirits. Stuck in bah humbug mode for several years, Clift has taken on the persona of “Moto Santa” this season and is spreading joy to children in his neighborhood and beyond.
“For five or six years, I just haven’t been in the spirit of the holiday,” said Clift. “I think being caught up in the rat race and all of the hours I was expending on my job at the time contributed to it.”
An avid motorcyclist, Clift got creative this year and decided to decorate his bike with Christmas lights, garland, jingle bells and other holiday trimmings. He threw on a Santa hat and took a quick ride down Ryan Road to fill his gas tank and got a very unexpected reaction.
“A car came up behind me at 10 Mile and Ryan and the windows of the car were down and I heard a kid say ‘Look! There’s Santa Claus on the motorcycle!’ That is the instant where I put this idea together. I thought if I just had the whole Santa getup, I could really make someone’s day.”
Clift decided to purchase a Santa Claus costume. His original plan was just to ride around town waving at kids and adding a special spark to their day.
“I put that idea into play one Saturday and the response was overwhelming,” said Clift. “People were waving, smiling and laughing — even the adults! It was an outpouring of positivity for which I became the catalyst. I decided to develop a Moto Santa Facebook page and announce that I would be at this place or that place to give kids a chance to meet Santa.”
With lights flashing, Christmas music blaring and decked
out like he just came from the North Pole, Clift met kids at Halmich Park where he gave out candy and accepted letters from some of his young fans. Some came because they saw his Moto Santa Facebook post announcing he would be at Halmich, but others spotted Old St. Nick when they were driving on 13 Mile and just decided to stop.
One afternoon, Moto Santa was cruising in the area of Hoover and 11 Mile when a car passed him, then did a U-turn and circled back to talk to him. The woman behind the wheel told Clift her granddaughter, who lived close by, would love to see him and his sparkling motorcycle.
“I said ‘Let’s go! You lead the way!’ and I followed her,” said Clift. “She must have called to let them know I was coming because when I came around the corner, everyone was outside. That is how the idea of doing home visits got started. If you want a visit, we can arrange that.”
On a typical night, Clift will visit multiple homes and spend time talking pictures with families, talking to children and bearing lollipops and candy canes. The adults seem to get as big of a kick out of it as the little ones. Clift lets out a booming “ho ho ho” as he assures the children he will be back around on Christmas Eve.
“If I can make people smile and feel good and put some of the spirit back into the season, then it is a good thing,” said Clift. “And I am having a blast doing it. Everyone
is drained with all that we have been going through all year so this offers an opportunity to momentarily put everything off to the side and feel normal and happy again.”
Clift only asks for a small donation for home visits to curtail last-minute cancellations. Clift took his Moto Santa act to St. Clair Shores last weekend for its holiday lights parade and on Dec. 22 will be a part of the Warren and Center Line Holiday Lights Parade, which he and his friends, Garvin Cooper and Garry Watts, organized. The event begins at Macomb Community College in Lot 2 and winds through the entire city before ending at 9 Mile and Ryan. Moto Santa will be on hand starting at 5 p.m. and Clift encourages spectators to come out as well as parade participants. Information about the event and a map of the route can be found on the Moto Santa Facebook page. For those who would like to decorate their vehicles and get into the parade, Clift has posted a “how to” YouTube video with information on adding holiday lights to your vehicle.
“This pays for itself with all of the smiles and the interaction with people,” said Clift. “They say you have three stages in life: you believe in Santa, you don’t believe in Santa and you wish you were Santa. I guess I’m there!”
To contact Moto Santa visit his Facebook page or email motosantawarren@gmail.com