Tattoo John Gets it On!

Pretty much the coolest video ever. Submitted by East Coast Jimmy.

BMW Bill

This year's Huevos Grande award went to a dude named Bill from Austin, Texas. His I-beam framed BMW was quite a site. I have to admit on first glance I thought it was kind of a pile. I stuffed that thought once I heard he rode it to Baja from Austin. Note the hard bag made from an old first aid kit, a tool kit made from an old cast potato cooker. The integrated and plumbed extra fuel on the back... It just gets better. Add to that the fact that some of his gear got caught in the rear wheel and he got spit out into the desert, and the legend grows. Rider and bike survived with just a little hard-earned patina and Bill proudly accepted the custom made seat/trophy crafted by sponsor Rich Phillips, handed out by McGoo in Ensenada. When I pulled up in Temecula, Bill had it in pieces in our parking lot, fitting the new seat! He was continuing on to San Francisco with plans to meet his wife and then start the long ride home. Wow. Pure soul and grace, thanks for coming Bill!


Probably the only time in history a Policia offered to give money TO a gringo...

Almost Home...

Our good friend Walt from Kickstart Cycle in New Jersey is the kind soul who organized the whole EDR East Coast Invasion this year is still on the road. While most the other east coast guys had to load bikes in trailers and haul ass home, Walt hopped on his freshly broken in shovel and started out east with his buddy Chris. Lucky bastards! The latest pic to come from him is from Virginia, so he's getting ever closer to the goal. Good for you, Walt!

Sitckers?

I found a small batch of this year's stickers, so any of you guys that didn't get one on the run can send me a SASE and I'll shoot you a couple back. When they are gone, they're gone, but I probably have close to a hundred so everyone should get one. Send your self addressed stamped envelope to the same place you can send any photos or videos:

EDR PROPAGANDA
27570 Commerce Center Drive #129
Temecula, CA 92590

Sonora Knows How to Party

This photo nails it. John Ponts, pro skater, pilot from San Diego tearassing on the impromptu track.

I wish I knew these guys when my parents lived outside Sonora in a little meth-capitol called Greely Hill. Anyway, these guys know how to party. And ride! Holy shit. If one photo describes this year's event, it's this pic of Wolf (I think?) tearing it up on the Circle of Death track. Note key components; blood trickle, check. Screwdriver brake lever pivot, check. Canadian-style Maiden shirt, check. Rebar bars, check. Look of determination, check! Not everyone was into the early morning artillery barrage, but everyone enjoyed watching the antics on the track of death. Jake from this crew of dirty misfits called the Deathtraps MC owned the track for the sole four-laps, no crap race. Our bud Third Reich Eric got second, check the shoes... And after stories from Trumpnut Nick about Todd getting pegged down the 99 for miles on end, DTMC member Todd went home with the La Cucaracha award, ironically hammered out by Nick's wife Breeanne one the EDR sponsors, Cycle Cosmetics. Enjoy the photos I poached below from Holly and others, check out more of her shots here. Thanks!


Respect the roach!


Jake earned it.


Long Beach, not Sonora, but Eric put up a good fight and at least he had Iron Maiden high tops. Hey, at least you stayed out of jail this year, TRE, thanks to your special friend...

If you have any pics or videos you'd like to submit to the pool, please send them on disc to:
EDR PICS
27570 Commerce Center Drive #129
Temecula, CA 92590

Thanks!

LOST & FOUND?

When this photo got taken a dude ended up with an extra camera that wasn't his and would like to return it to the original owner. If that's you, contact Damon from the Sonora crew and figure out how to get it back at dqch @ sbcglobal.net

Wow.

This year's EDR is impossible for me to describe in words. I wrote a journal style entry on the Biltwell site about the Long Way, and posted a few photos. I'm going to do a giant photo and video pool again this year on Flickr, so if you've got any images you'd like to share with the world, PLEASE send them to me on disc. You can send them here, but realize they will be shared with the world, so there may be some you want to edit out...

Billdozer@Biltwell
27570 Commerce Center Drive #129
Temecula, CA 92590

T H A N K S !

A Plea from a fallen brother...

Ken Conte at Sucker Punch Sally is in dire need of some assistance from anyone in or around the Phoenix area. Specifically, he's looking for someone who might be towing bikes from PHX to Temecula this Wednesday. A bike he was supposed to haul to T-town for a fellow biker can't make it out of SBS HQ for various reasons, and he needs help getting it here so the dude will have a bike waiting for him when he arrives. I told Ken there isn't anything we can do for him the Monday before the EDR, but that I would post his inquiry in our blog and include his email address for anyone who can lend a hand. If you can help, please email Ken at kenconte@gmail.com

EDR Pre Party

If you happen to be in Temecula on Wednesday and either want to go on the EDR or see more of what its all about stop by Biltwell between 4-midnight for a pre party and some

Long Way Around

I heard from Bill and Joel this morning as they had been on the ferry all night. They were pulling into La Paz and riding up to Mulege today. Bill said he was in love with the area and might stay. Joel already looked like he was carring enough stuff to defect so if we never see them again I got dibs on Bills 45 and Joel's 48 Pan. You guys can fend for the rest. See ya in San Felipe!

Operation Long Way

Joel looks like he's escaping from boot camp with that big ass sea bag on the back. Pure class!


Should have called it Operation Yard Sale...

OK, just a wake up and it's on. By the look of our bikes I'm not sure if we are invading Mexico or just riding through it for a few days! We're meeting Brooks on the Guzzi along the way and AZ Nick at the Counes Compound. Thanks George and Wendy for letting us crash your pad, we're looking forward to seeing you guys.

I've never been much of a video guy, but I picked up a little cheap one tonight and I'm going to give it a try along the way. Hopefully out of ten days traveling I can nab a few decent minutes and throw them up on here after we make it back.

Thanks to everyone who is making this possible, my patient and understanding wife, all you crazy riders, friends, volunteers, sponsors and our amigos down south. Hopefully we'll see you all in San Felipe. Ride safe. Or at least ride...

-Bill

New Seat for the run!

I had a seat I got from Fredo last year that I really liked but the cover was rippin and so I sent it to Rich Phillips EDR 2 runner and one of this years sponsors. I sent a drawing for a p pad idea I had to work with the ribbed rear fender. I got it yesterday and put it on last night and man am I stoked its Rad!!! Thanks Rich for the super work. Now if I can just fill that big open area in the bike with the part that makes it go vroooom! Pray to any god that will listen for me and see ya on the Run!

Oh yeah How you doin with yours Will?!

OG EDR

San Felipe 2002

I found some pics buried on my computer today. Back in '01 I had a super cherry Honda CB550F. I paid $1400 for that bike and it had under 3,000 miles on the clock. I couldn't bear to chop it, so I just added a rack on the back and rode the shit out of it. I hated Harleys at the time because of all the fake tough-guy bullshit that went along with the whole scene, so this humble little unit was great. While searching the interwebs I stumbled onto the CB750 Mutilation Society website. Holy crap, these guys were riding old Hondas to Ruben's in San Felipe. Hell, I loved that place but never even thought of riding there, it was just somewhere we stopped at while racing or prerunning in Baja for as long as I've been going to San Felipe. I was thinking about buying a second Honda as a donor and building a chopper but no one I knew gave two shits about a street bike back then. It was all dirt bikes and nothing on the road. I figured it'd be cool to look at these dude's bikes and check out their scene and so forth. So, I emailed John, their fearless leader and he said it was cool if I showed up, their vibe was real low key and they didn't care if a straggler from CA came along. They rode in from Vegas and were settled in at a taco shop already when I pushed my out of gas CB into town like a scooter. I died right at the arches at the entrance and only had 50 yards or so to push to the Pemex. I found them at the taco shop and shacked up with a guy named "Dirty" or "Filthy" or something in his palapa at Rubens. Well a day or two went by and I was bored with San Felipe, so I figured I'd hit the road the next day and go over to Ensenada. A couple of these guys and one in a truck wanted to roll too. The Honda was running real rich and getting less than 100 miles to a tank, and this was before the two stations between SF and Ensenada had been built. Luckily I threw some milk jugs full of Pemex in the dude's truck, and he would just find me every so often sitting on the side of the road and give me a gallon or two, and I'd take off again. The Vegas crew had never been to Ensenada and had a great time there. This ride was carved into my head ever since and was the inspiration behind what became known as the EDR. Not long after that trip I sold that CB for a profit, and my dirt bike, and bought a Sportster...


Ready to rock!


John's classy purple people eater


It was a little quieter that year than at the first EDR in 2006

Baja Bound?

I just got my Mexican Auto Insurance. I've never had to use it, but I have spent a little time in jail down there and it wasn't all that cool. We use BajaBound for all the EDR crew vehicles. It takes about 10 minutes to do it all online and I got 10 days worth of coverage on a $6k bike for $122.00. Not too bad for a little peace of mind.

Please don't ride a Big Bear Chopper on the EDR

Just proof that you can put as many flaming swords on your bike as you want, but at the end of the day it should be "welded" together, not "painted" together...

Official recall notice.





The rest of this dude's album is here

Directions

Here's some written directions for the Temecula to San Felipe route. It's all easy after day one. I made a little PDF with a condensed version if you want something small to tape the tank or stuff in a pocket. You can download that here.

Random Stoke

How's the weather?

I can't help but start sweating the weather before the EDR. That first year when it dumped buckets of rain ten minutes after we all rolled into Ensenada was amazing luck. That's why we ended up moving it out a month last year and stuck to that schedule this year.

The best weather service I've been able to find is Accuweather. They have more international locations and longer views than the other ones I've tried. Here are a couple of recent links. BTW, it looks good so far, but keep your fingers crossed...

Temecula

San Felipe

Ensenada

Newark, New Jersey (I'm just sayin...)

Getting Close...

Okay fellas (and a few brave ladies), the last minute questions are pouring in by phone, email and PM's. A lot have been answered on the questions page. Please read through that long-winded attempt to spread the baja gospel. If it's your first time in Mexico on two wheels, it should answer many of your questions and paint a decent picture of what to expect. None of this stuff should be rocket science, just having a good attitude, a decent set of man-skills and some common sense will be enough. Do yourself a favor and print out a map of the route, google the weather or anything else that can be found on the interwebs and show up prepared. Here's a few recent (real) questions and the best answers I can dream up.

What about Banditos?
I've never had a problem, but recent reports tell of some activity on the lone stretches of the highway between San Felipe and Ensenada. I think we generally represent a pretty hard target and any dumbass bandito that picks some of this crew to try and hold up is going to pretty suprised. Chase trucks, don't stop to help locals on the side of the road unless you have a decent crew with you and feel like pushing your luck. The Tijuana area is not worth stopping in. You are guaranteed trouble unless you are lucky, smart or both.

What's the weather like?
You have the same google I do, figure it out. The worst weather San Felipe gets is usually wind. The weather will change from coast to coast and is generally warm in the low spots and colder in the mountains. weatherunderground is a good resource.

What should I wear?
A bunny suit would cool. Actually from the east coast guys, this is not that odd of a question since from the photos you would think it is all flip flops and surf trunks. That's not always the case. On the ride you most likely will need a leather jacket in the high spots. We go through mountains as high as 4000 ft and briefly it gets cold by wussy California standards. Amazingly the desert is warm, if not downright hot. Often windy. The pacific side can get foggy and chilly but is generally the same as weather for San Diego, which is to say nice. It did dump rain on us the first year, but that was in March, not April.

What about prescription drugs?
I would bring some sort of proof of a legal prescription. I have no real experience with this. Generally the feds are looking for bricks of hash or coke and aren't too worried about your asthma inhaler. But, if you go out raising hell and piss off a cop I suppose he could fuck with you for it if he wanted. If it's a life or death deal for you, find someone on the run that speaks Spanish and buy his drinks so he'll help translate if you get your tit in a ringer. Other drugs? It's a big risk when there are lots of other ways to enjoy yourself and not risk a Mexican prison!

What are the laws about blinkers and lane splitting in CA?
Good question now that we have so many coming from out of state. Here's a list. It can also be found by searching ABATE websites.

Can I buy EDR shirts on the run?
Yep, we'll have some of the official EDR shirts plus sponsors shirts in one place both in San Felipe and Ensenada. This is the only vending allowed and the staff is all volunteer so they appreciate tips in either cold cash or cold beer. When you meet someone who is a sponsor of the EDR, please realize that they have to have done the run at least once to be a sponsor and had to ask if they could sponsor it. We never solicit sponsorship and these are people who are into it for the ride, not the hype, and deserve your support.

Are the college girls coming back?
Man, I hope so. Last year was nuttier than squirrel shit. I kind of doubt that it will ever be reproduced like that, but it is spring break, so even if they are not in camp with us, there should be a few out in town if that is what you are after. No promises though.

What's the deal with chase trucks?
We've covered it over and over, but please don't depend on us to chase this many bikes. It's just not possible. That being said, look for Matt Frick driving the big white Biltwell van with a black flatbed behind it. Matt is no biker but he's my best friend since high school and knows baja better than me. He is going to do his best to stay in the very rear of the column and help out stragglers. If you get stuck with a broken bike and he's still got room on the flatbed, he'll give you about ten minutes to trouble shoot your pile and then load it up or you are on your own. He'll have plenty of gas if that is what you need. If you are just stopped taking a piss or having a smoke, wave him on so he knows you are OK, otherwise if you stop he'll be trying to help. Have a plan in the back of your head for what to do if your bike shits the bed. Have tie-downs with you. Buy Matt a beer at the preparty and get his cell phone number. (Call your cell company and turn on international calling before you leave). Don't get off the highway with any problems, how can we find you then? If you want someone to drag your gear down there, pick someone else to bribe. Matt's van is going to be full of shit and it may be midnight before he rolls in depending on who he's helping, etc. Most of all, and this should go without saying, if someone is broke on the side of the road, STOP and see if you can help them out. Unless they are waving you on, you need to stop and lend a hand, tool or spare part. This goes for you guys driving trucks in support of someone else. At least stop and make sure the dude has something to drink and offer whatever you've got to help. This has worked great the last two years, and no one has been left for dead that I know of, so keep the vibe straight and help a brother out, it really is what it's all about.

Where do I put my clothes?
Are you fucking kidding me? Soak them in race gas, roll them up and shove them up your ass. If you are asking this sort of question, please don't come. Seriously it takes a little more self reliance than that and everyone is tired of hearing it from me. Also, please don't ask McGoo anything. You are not going to get the answer you want, he will flame on you. Figure it out some other way. I'm kind of screwing him and Chris and everyone else who "organizes" this thing by leaving a week ahead of time and going the long way to get there, so McGoo will have his hands full with lots of other tasks and won't be a good one to ask for sunscreen. Just a word to the wise...

What's with this East Coast Invasion?
Man, our bud Walter put together a crazy crew of dudes coming from the East. Jersey, NY, Mass, Virginia, you name it, he's got a giant trailer bringing out 20 or so die-hard rider's bikes, and they are stoked to be riding this thing. I can't imagine that many guys spending that much hard-earned cash and vacation days just to go on our silly run! It's the biggest compliment we could be paid. We met most of these guys on the Gypsy Run last year and to a man, they are stand up guys that I'm proud to have on our coast. Please, if you see a guy bellied up at the cantina with a Jersey accent, buy that fucker a beer because he worked harder than any of us So Cal miscreants to get here and deserves some props. We've got way more riders coming from the midwest, Canada, the Pacific North West and even overseas, so treat these guys right and flow the baja spirit of relaxed good times, good friends and good bikes.


This is Matt. He likes cigars and cold beer. He'll be driving the Biltwell short bus (big, white, E350 van) and trailer. He is a 25-year Baja vet who came on last year's EDR and was hooked. Now we just gotta get him on two wheels... Thanks Matt!


A quick word about riding in packs.
Boy, nothing spells cluster fuck like a hundred dudes hopped up and ready to ride the wild thunder. This is compounded by no one knowing each other or the route, bikes not shaken down yet, first time in a pack, new people, etc. Do yourself a BIG favor - pick a few guys that have bikes that are about your speed and vow to stick together. Military convoy rules apply here: EVERYONE KNOWS THE ROUTE. Bring a map, study it, write it in sharpie on your tank, follow someone who knows it, whatever it takes. It's easy after we cross the border and make it through town, there is only one road south. We don't have road captains and all that stuff that makes riding in a pack easier. It's a total disaster and you should know that before it starts so you don't get frustrated. It's funny how the first day starts like a crack-fueled hare scramble and the next four days go like clockwork. Once you settle into a groove over the border and get out onto the wonderful Mexican highway system, open your interval between bikes and ride single file unless you are with guys you trust and have experience with. When someone dies on this ride it's going to be from riding too close to unfamiliar riders and something either coming off a bike, or a rider running out of talent in front of someone else. This ain't the highway back home, and we are in NO hurry, so slow down and spread out.

Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to go on this run, it's not easy on anyone and that's kind of the point. We appreciate your involvement and I personally look forward to seeing you ugly bastards in San Felipe!

-Billdozer

Jr. & Willy

It'll be good to hang with these bastards again...