If you are smart, you'll get Mexican Insurance. If you are really smart you'll get it ahead of time so we're not all screwing around at the border waiting on you to get your act together. Our favorite is bajabound These guys know Mexico, and you can get your package put together over the phone, or over the internet.
Mike Castillo "Big Island" will be tattooing on the EDR and if
you would like to make sure you can get work done please contact him
and work out the details here:
tat2big@hotmail.com
He currently works at Wondo's South Pacific Tattoo Co. in Waikiki, HI.
http://www.tattoowaikiki.com
and came up under Mark Mahoney at Shamrock Social Club on W. Sunset Blvd. in
Hollywood, CA.
http://www.shamrocktattoo.com
Mike will not have a copy machine on the trip so you should send any artwork
or ideas to him now so he can do any prep work needed. He enjoys doing
black and gray, fineline, and portraits, but does all types. Here is some
pics of his work.
BIKE WORKS EDITOR STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP-- The editor of Bike Works recently had a stroke and can no longer work. Primedia hired him to produce truck magazines and he recently left the headquarters. When the current editor of Bike Works left they asked Courtney if he would produce Bike Works on a freelance basis, as a test, before taking him on full time. Courtney is a veteran rider, has a long history with motorcycle magazines and is well respected in the industry. Suddenly he was cut down with a stroke and could no longer work. Freelance stature didn't afford him company health benefits and his Cobra health plan was out of wack.
The auction itmes for Courtney "Tito" Halowell are up on ebay. There are several items donated by several companys across the US. Go and bid on the items and help a fellow biker out!
If you would like to donate items please email a photo of the item and description to:
Donations For Tito
Click the image below to view auction items!
Hola, El Diablo Runners,
Less than a month to go. I can't wait! None of our personal bikes are completely ready to go yet. Chris still has carb issues with the Pan, McGoo is still waiting on his freshly painted tins before he can ride the Smokin' Gun and I'm slowly working through the last few issues with my Triumph. I'm sure many of you are still thrashing away as well. Two sponsors that I know of, Trent from Atomic and Wes at Four Aces haven't really even started on their bikes yet. Now that is talent, optimism or confidence, I'm not sure which. All of the above, I guess.
There has been a slight change in the route if you are riding with us from Temecula. Highway 78 is closed for a couple months, right in the middle of our route. Thanks, CalTrans! It doesn't matter much, there's an easy way around it that still has some great scenery and a perfectly paved, twisty downhill that will make for great photo-ops for you photogs out there. The route is completely described below. Please know the route so I don't have to answer "How far to the next gas?" every time we stop. Also, in case you want to ride faster than some of us guys on old bikes, you will know where the hell you're going. We don't have an official "road captain" on this deal, it's every rider for himself. We plan on pulling out of Temecula Denny's at about 8:00AM, and if you want to ride with our pack, cool. If you want to lag behind or run ahead, cool. Whatever, just know that we are leaving at 8:00 come hell or high water. We'll probably stop at each gas stop along the way for idiots like me and Chris with peanut tanks. You guys with better capacity can haul ass by of course.
We'll stop at the Pizza Hut in Calexico (the US border town) and eat, gas up and get everyone Mexican Insurance. We don't want to screw around here too long and roll in after dark like last year. We'll spend about an hour and a half here, and then we're hitting the road south. 400 free beers await us at Ruben's and I for one KNOW I'll be thirsty.
I've included the route instructions on here, as well as the revised map. You can also download .pdf versions on the site at 
PLEASE NOTE THIS DISCLAIMER:
Be self-contained. Know the route. Take care of your own shit. Stop to help someone if they need it, you might be the next guy on the side of the road. Provide your own chase if at all possible. We're here to help with anything, but are not babysitters. Any douchebags will be treated as such. Enjoy.
Temecula to San Felipe Route
Temecula to Warner Springs (GAS) 40 miles
Start: Denny's
28915 Rancho California R, Temecula, CA
Tel: (951) 676-5886
We'll pull out going south on Old Town Front Street through old town Temecula.
At the end of town, turn left on the 79 South. The 79 goes through a few miles of town and then turns into country two-lane road. There is gas at Warner Springs.
Warner Springs to Borrego Springs (GAS) 21 miles
Continue on 79 South for about 3 miles to San Felipe Road (S2) turn Left.
Continue on S2 for 4.6 miles, turn Left on Montezuma Valley Road (S22) for 18 miles.
Follow detour signs into town, Turn Right onto Palm Canyon Drive (S22)
Borrego Springs to Ocotillo Wells (GAS) 24 miles
Head south on Palm Canyon Drive to traffic circle, take first right off of circle towards Ocotillo Wells (S3).
Continue on S3 for 11 miles.
Turn Left at the Highway 78 Junction. Approx. 13 miles, on the right side is the "Blew Inn" gas stop.
Ocotillo Wells to Westmoreland (GAS) 27 miles
Continue East on 78, turn right (south) on highway 86 into Westmoreland.
Westmoreland to Calexico (GAS) 30 miles
Continue on highway 86, which becomes Imperial Ave. Stay on Imperial Ave. to Highway 8.
Go East on Highway 8 for 5 miles, exit at the 111 South.
Stay on 111 South for about 6.5 miles.
On the right side of the road, just before the Border Crossing there is a Pizza Hut. We'll stop here for lunch, Mexican Insurance and to top off with gas before crossing the border. We will leave this Pizza Hut no later than 1.5 hours after arriving.
Calexico to San Felipe
When you cross the border into Mexicali, do not take the sharp right. Instead, go straight into downtown. About 2 miles into town there is a fork in the road: veer right and follow the signs to San Felipe on Mex Highway 5. If you get screwed up, just keep heading South on any bumpy old street you find. At the end of town there really is only one way out, and that's on Highway 5.
The last gas before San Felipe is a Pemex station on the right, about 28 miles south of the border. You still have about another 100 miles to go before the next gas station in San Felipe. There is a military checkpoint and a border crossing on this leg of the journey, so don’t carry anything stupid. Just on the south side of the Federales check point is an old shack called Three Poles where we can stop, grab a drink and top off gas from chase trucks if you need it.
Note: During this leg of the trip it would be advisable for riders to go single file on the highway. There are some BIG potholes and riding in a tight staggered formation makes it hard to avoid hitting these monsters.
When we pull into San Felipe there is a Pemex station immediately on the right. Then continue down the main road through many Alto signs. Turn left when you hit the beach and follow the little beachfront bar/strand area to the end. Turn right at the stop sign. Go right again at the next stop sign, towards the lighthouse. Turn left at the last street at the top of the hill. Follow this street almost to the end, where you will see Ruben's and Kiki's campos on the right.
Happy Hair of The Dog Day, Diablo Runners... I hope your post-St. Patty's Day hangovers weren't life-threatening. It's March 18--one month before the start of EDR II. Faithful EDR advocate, sponsor and all-around badass Trent Schara from Atomic Customs asked me about this months ago, but I haven't bothered to do this post. Trent's question was a good one:
What's the format for judging at this year's EDR bike show?
The rules are pretty simple:
1) Only bikes RIDDEN (not trailered) on the EDR will be elligble for judging on Sunday morning, April 22 in Ensenada. If your bike doesn't start or move under its own power on Sunday morning, it doesn't make the cut. One exception to this rule: if your bike blows up during the ride between San Felipe and Ensenada on day three, you're still in. Hey--shit happens. This rule applies to Best Of Show and Heuvos Grande categories only. If your bike is a candidate for our La Cucuracha award, chances are it won't even make it to San Felipe on day one. If this is the case, just park your broke down bucket of bolts on the tarmac at the host hotel 9:30am Sunday morning and see what the judges think.
2) Judging: Bill, Chris Collins and I will ask any full-time magazine photographers and journalists in attendance to volunteer for judging duty when we arrive in San Felipe on Thursday. If you are a magazine staffer and you want to be a judge, we'll pay for your breakfast on Sunday morning and give you a clipboard so things look official. We will determine who the judges are on day one in San Felipe so everyone knows, and so that the judges can look at all the bikes at their leisure throughout the event.
3) Classes: there are three:
BEST IN SHOW (1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes available in this category)
HUEVOS GRANDE (longest ride on sketchiest equipment--only one can win. This category requires that riders introduce themselves to the judges. A great way to break the ice might be to say, "Hey dude--check out my license plate. I came from Canada, eh!"
LA CUCURACHA (The cockroach. All rusty, broke down, rattle trap pieces of shit are encouraged to enter, but only one can win.)
4) Prizes:
BEST IN SHOW:
1st: $300, a commemorative trophy provided by bike show sponsor DicE magazine, and a gift bag
2nd: $200 and a gift bag with goodies from our generous sponsors
3rd: $100 and a gift bag
LA CUCURACHA: a commemorative trophy from DicE magazine and a sponsor's gift bag
HUEVOS GRANDE: a commemorative trophy from DicE magazine and a sponsor's gift bag
5) Post-show photos; Our friends Stew and Sheldon from VPD photography will have a studio set-up at the hotel. If your bike wins, we want to shoot some bitchin' photos to commemorate the achievement. This will mean 3 dudes may have to stick around an extra couple of hours while we move cameras and lights. If this is a major ball-up, let us know and we'll try to move fast so you can haul ass...
If you're a magazine shooter that's looking for interresting photo backdrops, Bill knows a million of 'em between San Felipe and Ensenada. Ask us and we'll show you.
That's all for now. Come back to the EDR blog in a couple weeks and we'll have more info on the pre-party at Biltwell HQ on Wednesday, April 18. See you in 30 days...
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Proof that no matter how tough you are and no matter how hot your wife is or how much money you have, Baja just doesn't care... Too bad for JJ. He DNF'd at the most recent Baja 250 race. I'm stoked he's as in love with Baja and off road racing as we are, but he's learning the hard way that it just ain't easy. Actually, I think he knows it already since this humble quote is what he had to say on the Race-Dezert forum.
I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF.....I KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME PRE-RUNNING I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO SLOW DOWN THROUGH THAT SECTION....ANDY M. PRE-RAN THE COARSE LIKE 6 TIMES....I BARELY DID THE WHOLE THING ONCE......I JUST NEED TO PUT THE WORK IN BEFORE JUNE ....PRE-RUN AND PRACTICE....AND TEST!
What does this have to do with the EDR or motorcycles? Dunno, but I know the action shot is insane and had to be shared. Let's hope we don't have any carnage of this scale on our trip in about 30 days. Much respect for Jesse and crew, they'll get it together and finish one of these days.
Read the whole thread and see more photos:
Race-Dezert
Our friend and sponsor of the EDR, Wes White has a new video out. Four hours about rebuilding your unit 650 trumpet engine. I have to admit I haven't watched the whole thing, but I plan on it!
You can buy it here: http://www.fastermeaner.com/Store.html
!
Anyone who rode last year, knows that stretch of about 130 miles from Mexicali to San Felipe was riddled with potholes and was a bitch, especially on rigids. Here's a little update that we poached this off of the official San Felipe site:
Mexicali to San Felipe via Highway 5
2/10/07 Update -Large stretches of the pavement south of La Ventana have been renovated with an asphalt top layer and this has considerably eased the pothole problem north of the Ensenada road. Pavement edge and centerline markings are yet to be added so be very careful - especially if you drive at night.
General conditions:
Highway 5 from Mexicali to San Felipe is in mostly good condition. However, there are frequently numerous potholes, particularly between the south end of the Laguna Salada and the Ensenada road so be very careful, especially at night. Allow 2.5 hours from the border to the Arches in San Felipe. Speeds of 70-80 mph are possible, radar and highway patrol permitting. (Remember the maximum speed limit is 50 mph or 80 kph). There is currently only the 'permanent' military checkpoint at the junction with the Ensenada Road where checks for drugs and guns are always made, particularly on the trip north. On busy weekends, the traffic north can be significantly delayed at this checkpoint. Worst delay times are Sunday afternoons where delays of 30 minutes to 2 hours are possible. Remember there is no gasoline or diesel fuel available in the 130 mile stretch from Mexicali to San Felipe.
The government is planning to upgrade the entire road to a four lane divided highway at some future date. The first 20 km of this work, south from Mexicali, has been completed. Note that the government is also building an extension of the east-west "interstate from Tijuana/Tecate to head over to San Luis and connect to the mainland arterial road system. The most obvious sign of this is the new bridge (below) that has been built over the San Felipe road around km 13 south of Mexicali. This road is now open (see below).
Upgrade work on the San Felipe end of the road has been in progress for the past year and we have a wider two-lane highway from town up to El Dorado. Now we critically need the additional two lanes to be put in. This stretch of the highway is, without a doubt, the most hazardous part of the entire journey to San Felipe. With the tremendous building boom in the El Dorado corridor (km 150-190 on the road) construction vehicles and tradesmans vans are everywhere. These vehicles, generally loaded to capacity, trundle up and down the road from early morning to the evening and are a major problem for the fast vehicles of visitors and residents alike. We urge you to be extremely careful on this stretch of road as there are frequent bad accidents. A particular problem is that slow vehicles pull out onto the main highway from side roads to merge with traffic going at 50-60 mph. During the busy weeks around easter there were reports of visitors stuck on the side roads for 45 minutes waiting for a safe gap in traffic to pull onto the highway.