Caleb's buddy JD bagged the best in show this year in Ensenada. There is much to like about this bike, and I want to do a more indepth profile on it soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this pic taken by Tattoo John somewhere between Mexicali and San Felipe.
VW Power, baby!
What does this have to do with outlaw choppers? Nothing, but I think it is cool. Back in the 80's I was a total gearhead kid. Enough to volunteer to work in my buddy's uncle's VW shop in Gardena, CA for free. The shop used to be a biker hangout where they machined parts to convert civilian AR-15's to full auto among other things and used to test fire them out of a hole in the wall into the 110 Fwy embankment. Damn! I just missed it. Anyway, next door to our shop was the ultimate privateer off road race crew, Ron Brant and Ron Graham (RIP). We begged to help out of course, and the Rons would let us wash parts or scrape skid plates and hang around and steal beers. Once we were old enough to have licenses we went on a few pre runs and to a few races. This was how me and Matt (your EDR chase driver in the Biltwell van, 2007-2008) got into desert racing. Matt and I were a pretty good chase/pit team and Brant even let us pit for him for the entire pacific side of the Baja 1000 in 1984 or 85 at age 16. We even had a newspaper guy with us for part of the way. I'll try to dig up that article some day but I remember that dude calling us "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" in print. He had no idea...
Fast forward to more contemporary times, and Matt and I have run our own budget race programs, from Class 11 (stock VW) back in the 90's to most recently in one of Ron's old cars as a Class 13 and 12. Last year Matt had to sell the car and we were without a ride. Last week, Señor Brant called and needed some reliable knuckleheads to pre run for this year's Baja 500. As luck would have it our old friend Paul Bailey who owned the VW shop was in town and we drug him down to Baja for a couple days of getting beat up and hanging out.
Recent reports of banditos and kidnappings have got some Baja racers in a tizzy, but not the venerable Ron Brant, and surely not me and Matt. Jesse James, who has been racing the last few years down south summed it up on a recent post on a desert racing forum when he called the international border a "Pussy Filter". While his comment ruffled some feathers, I applauded it. Mexico is rough, and it ain't for everyone. But, for those who love it, you can't quit going just because the threat level increased. Just make sure your shit is wired tight and enjoy it without so many stupid people now as a bonus!
Paul. Master mechanic and all-around nice guy getting his prerun on for the first time in a LONG time! Thanks for coming down PB!
It was a pleasure riding with Ron. Sitting shotgun, even at prerun-pace has been the best off-road driving education I could dream of. At 62 years old, he has forgotten more than I can hope to learn and turned me onto all of my favorite spots in Baja, including Ruben's in San Felipe and many spots in Ensenada. Likewise it was awesome to hang with Paul, the guy who taught me much about spinning wrenches, running a business and other life lessons. Thanks, guys, and Ron -- Good luck next weekend!
Ron Brant at the Summit. 62 years of kicking ass!
Our friend Justin Kosman shot some stunning photos this year. One of my favorites is this montage of Brooks Manbeck who ironically is a BMX'er and photographer himself, as well as a total iron-ass Guzzi rider who's been on all three EDRs to date. Sweet work, JK.
Tattoo John, who some might know as the dude who wheelied in Old Rusty to a break dance entrance in San Felipe is not just a bad ass rider, hell raiser and ink slinger, he's also a damn fine photographer. He shoots a lot from the saddle so there are a bunch of classic self-portraits as well as good stuff of the guys he's riding with.
More than a thousand photos of this year can be seen on the EDR flickr page.
So we are promoting our first real event in the states and we hope you'll check it out. We're tired of lame events and wanted to do something positive for our local scene. Rather than complain about silly bike nights and boring big-ticket shows, we thought we'd add up all the things we enjoy in one place and invite the world to check it out. If you are into the EDR, you should be into the Chop Meet.
The key ingredients are; Fun to ride to, lots of good food and drinks, swap meet, good vendors, live music from real, high-quality bands that a relevant in THIS century and of course lots of crusty, ridden, custom motorcycles.
It's open to anyone on any bike but we think we'll mostly have "our" kind of people. The bike show is open to anyone who rides in and no trailer queens are accepted. Lots of cool vendors from Lucky 13 to Hoven and many of the EDR sponsors will be showing their stuff. It's in Wrightwood at the Mtn High Resort which is one of our favorite So Cal snowboard spots. Camping is plentiful and there are a couple good hotels on the mountain and even more down the hill in Phelan and surrounding areas. To make it even better there are races at El Mirage just down the hill the following day.
So, get your bike running and make plans for July 19th. Vendor space and discount admission tickets are available online already. Thanks!
-Bill
You know what I like? I like when you notice a dude in Mexico with a flat tire so you give him a tube you happen to be carrying that is the right size with no regard for getting one back. I like it even more when that fella shows up at the shop a month later with not one, but two new tubes and a case of PBR. Now that's compound interest I can understand! Thanks man...
Dozens of El Diablo Runners have sent us their photos from last month's ride. To everyone who has contributed to our Flickr file, thanks for your support. Chris Callen at Cycle Source mag has asked me to write a story about the EDR Circulo de la Muerte for an upcoming issue of his great book, so I may dip into our supply to illustrate my article. If this happens, I'll make a brave attempt to ID the shooter so your name can be entered into the annals of chopper history. You'll be paid the same thing I am for your contribution: absolutely nothing. Hey--we don't do this shit for the money, we do it for the glory! Thanks again for all your help.
Thanks to everyone who has been sending in their photos, we've got almost a thousand images up on my FLICKR account. Keep sending them, and we'll keep adding them. The videos are stacking up too. The Death Traps MC are nuttier than squirrel turds, check the video below for proof! Love the slow-motion sound...
