El Diablo Run DVD

We've been working on this since May with our friends Tyler & Wes along with their super pro film and editing crew (used in their bitchin' how-to videos). The master is finally done and the DVD be up HERE in the Lowbrow Customs online store within a week or so. In the video we interview riders from Arizona, Alaska, England, California, Canada and more, and of course check out their bikes. From Kit's Triumph to Dan's knuckle, if you like neat old bikes there is something for everyone. Great riding footage through the mountains and deserts of So Cal and Baja. It's really neat to see our friends and their hand-built contraptions in full HD, hauling ass and raising hell. In the age of YouTube, we figured this DVD better be bad ass so we've included a couple bonuses like a 24-page photo book and a separate CD with the full soundtrack which includes: Bricktop, Archons, Lucero, JD King, Dave Angstrom, Inverted Nines, Spitfire Tumbleweeds, Speed Twin and the New York Ninjas. Huge thanks to all of our friends who've helped out on this project!

The first screening for the film will be in Cleveland, Ohio. Here's the flier and a microsite with all the details.

EDR FILM

After much thought, we're not going to do a 2012 El Diablo Run. We had a great time this year, and really want to thank everyone who came and made it happen. It's not the kind of event that is ever going to be something you can count on year in and year out. We do it because it's fun, and when it starts to feel like work, we'll back off and take a break. We will most likely do another one down the road sometime, but for now it's going into hibernation. This helps keep it special and not something to take for granted.

Anyone who went on this year's run probably noticed the film guys running around. This wasn't some big TV production, just something we thought would be neat. Our friends Tyler from Lowbrow and Wes from Four Aces Cycle have been doing some cool DVD's lately, from the inspirational Salt Ghost flick to a slew of tune and service and welding How-To's. We teamed up with them and their production crew to produce a roughly hour long film about the whole EDR experience. This DVD will feature a ton of riding footage, interviews with a riders and a wide range of bike features. If you like down and dirty, home-built motorcycles that get ridden hard instead of self-appointed master builders, unrideable show bikes and inflated egos, you will like this film. At least we hope so.

Our goal is to premier it Friday night at Slab City this year, but that is going to be a serious crunch and I wouldn't doubt it if we just have a preview. Whether we make that deadline or not, we'll have it available through the Lowbrow Customs website in plenty of time for the holidays and there is already a screening scheduled Dec. 17th in Cleveland, Ohio. We'll follow up with one in So Cal and several others, so stay tuned!

It's Over

We got home yesterday afternoon. Some folks are still making it back home. Some are still nursing hangovers and some nursing a broken bone or emptied wallet. What a great showing from the East Coast. Several hardy riders came from Canada on kick ass bikes. I take back half the shit I ever said about that country! Seriously met some stand up guys from the great white north. Always good to hang with some old friends I rarely see. It was a diverse collection of bikes, some old, some newer. About 200 total riders. Here's to low standards and high times. Thanks to everyone who made the trip, there are some photos already getting posted over on Chop Cult here.

Dirt Don't Hurt

OK, just got a road condition report from our intrepid advance unit, Arousing Rob and the Bolts. There is some construction on the road south to San Felipe. At around mile (not kilometer) 38, 46 and 50 there are two-mile detours that parallel the highway. These are basically hard packed dirt with a small gravel shoulder (just like this photo). They are no big deal, unless we hit them right after the water truck goes through. Then they can be a little slippery. Thanks Rob, Shompers, Baby!

Last Minute Updates

It's on! Riders are already rolling into town. We'll see the rest of you soon.

We only plan a few tight "go" times on this run. It's mostly up to you to do what you want and entertain yourself. Here are a few times and places you may want to be aware of:


Wednesday, May 4
3:00 pm–6:00 pm: Biltwell Open House (free beer and tacos while supplies last)
25839 Jefferson Ave. Murrieta, CA 92562
7:00 pm–whenever: booze and grub at with the Molochs MC at Hard Hats Bar
27713 Jefferson Ave, Temecula, CA 92590
Best Western Country Inn is a good place to crash, right across the street from Hard Hats.
27706 Jefferson Ave, Temecula, CA 92590-2638 • (951) 676-7378

Thursday, May 5
8:00 am: kickstands up, throttles pinned from Denny's at Jefferson and Rancho California, Temecula. Penfold's Cafe is across the street, good breakfast there too. Gas station on the corner.


This does not mean "meet us for breakfast at eight," it means "gassed up and running." We will try to take it easy, but if you are slow, get in the back. We'll stop for gas and slow down for major turn-offs but you should go at your own pace and know the route. Link to map at the bottom of this post.

12:00-1:00-ish: Lunch at Pizza Hut on Imperial in Calexico, right side of street, just before the border. No more than one hour here, then we go for it.

4:00 pm: Cash bar and taco stand opens at Ruben's Campo in San Felipe. Grub and booze will flow most of the night immediately upon our arrival at this San Felipe base camp. First $300 worth of beer is courtesy of Mike from 47 Industries and first $300 worth of tacos from James of 831 Enterprises. Be sure to thank these dudes!

Friday, May 6
8:00 am to 10'ish: cash stand for breakfast burritos and coffee at Ruben's Campo
4:00 pm–5:00 pm: Circulo de la Muerte at dirt track across the street from Ruben's Campo
6:00 pm–whenever: cash bar and taco stand at Ruben's Campo


Saturday, May 7
6:00 am–9:00 am: Breakfast burritos and coffee at Ruben's. There's no official departure time for Ensenada on Saturday morning, leave whenever you feel like but you should be on the road by 11:00 am just to be safe.

2:00 pm–whenever: cash bar and taco stand by the swimming pool at Villa Marina Hotel, Ensenada

Sunday, May 8
Noon to whenever: cash bar and taco stand at Villa Marina Hotel

3:00–4:00 pm: Bike show judging in the Marina Hotel parking lot. If you want your bike to be considered for the show, it must be in the parking lot between these hours.

4:30 pm: Bike show trophy presentation at the poolside taco stand and cash bar at the Marina Hotel

Monday, May 9
Head north at your own pace, every man for himself!

Detailed map of day one here.

Remember: No guns / No drugs / Ride the Wild Thunder!

The Eagles Have Landed

Hey East Coast dudes that shipped bikes, they are secure. Nice work, James and Rick. Last I heard, Walt and crew were fixing a Dyna in Mexico, MO. Seems some sprocket bolts decided to shear off. Ironic town to end up in on the way to the EDR...

Taco Wednesday, Biltwell Style

Caribbean Taco will be slinging chips, salsa and tacos 3-6 pm at the EDR IV pre-party May 4. After the food and fun runs out at Biltwell HQ, thirsty Diablo Runners will be hitting Joannie's in old town Murrieta, or any number of watering holes in Temecula. Thanks to Ron at Caribbean Taco for bring the grub to our Mexican soiree.

Lowbrow Getting it Done

I spy a dual-amal Panhead that looks almost ready to ride. Malinky-power, activate! In the mean time Lowbrow has printed some custom shop rags just for you. Only available south of the border...

Camera Car Wanted

We're looking for someone going on the EDR with a car/truck and no trailer to work as a camera car for some video stuff. Hit up Wes White at fouracescycle@aol.com if you are interested.

Coming Soon...

Curva Peligrosa

For you gringos who haven't been to Baja yet, watch for highway signs that say "Curva Peligrosa". Loosely translated this means either "Kinda twisty through here" or "Holy shit, you should have slowed down a lot more!"

When you see Peligroso on a tequila bottle, that translates to free go-juice from the San Clemente crew who just hooked up EDR riders with three cases of the good stuff and three bottles of the super good stuff - the Anejo, plus a bunch of hats, shirts and bandanas. The tough guy dog is Willis doing his best bandito impersonation. He's not going. Anyway, muchas gracias, Peligroso!

NORRA Mexican 1000

Here is a random stroke of luck. The NORRA Mexican 1000 is a vintage-oriented, three day off and on-road race from Mexicali to La Paz, and it starts the same day we are riding to San Felipe, May 5th. If you want to take off early and watch the start, it appears the first cars/bikes start at the northern end of the dry lake, just west of Mexicali. If you are riding with us from Temecula, there is a chance we will see some straggling race traffic. How cool would it be to ride down the highway next to the James Garner Olds? ¡Good luck, racers, Viva La Baja!

Denny's Jump Off Point Temecula

Here's the details for Thursday morning's departure: 

Denny's 28915 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92590. 

There is another good breakfast place across the street called Penfolds. 

We will roll out right at 8:00 AM. So if you want breakfast, get there earlier. 

There is a gas station right next door so you can top off before we split. 

This is only a couple miles down the street from the Moloch's MC party and Biltwell Open House/Pre Party, on Wed so it's really easy to find. See you there!

EDR Checklist: Light Packer/Fast Thinker Edition

By the time May 5 rolls around, Billdozer and I will have fielded literally hundreds of questions about the EDR, everything from the sublime ("How can I help?") to the ridiculous ("Who can I count on to tow my pop-up tent trailer?")

If you're a light packer and a fast thinker, this is really all you need. My list in in addition to the motorcycle between your legs and the clothes on your back, which should include a jacket or vest, t-shirt, flannel, boots, socks, belt, ball cap and jeans:

• $500 cash in small bills (No hundies—Mexicans won't be able to make change)
• Credit card and/or ATM card
• Passport
• Pocket knife
• Tool kit with spares you're confident your hand-built death trap might need (points, plugs, etc.)
• Alloy bottle(s) with a couple extra quarts of gas
• 3 pair of socks
• 2 pair of underwear
• 1 pair of jeans
• Swim trunks or shorts
• Toothbrush and tooth paste
•Sunglasses (If you wear contacts, don't. Instead, bring a pair of prescription glasses. Easier to service/maintain on the fly than eyeballs)
• Flip-flops (for showering, beachcombing, camp lounging, etc.)

Pretty simple, huh? Here's what you're going to buy when you arrive in San Felipe Thursday afternoon:

• $10 hammock
• $5 Mexican blanket
• $5 bottle of tequila
• $50 sack of weed

 With these things in your arsenal, you'll be better equipped to offer a girl basic sustenance and companionship. Most chicks who go on the EDR smoke the devil's lawn, and all of them drink. Use these tools to land a spot in some lady's tent or hotel room and you can sell your hammock and blanket to a drunk friend. If you don't score a ladyfriend with your pharmaceuticals, tie that hammock between two uprights and bed down inside your blanket. To stay warm, simply swill more tequila. Your hammock and blanket and the belt I told you to wear in part 1 of this primer will serve as strap-on luggage for the remainder of your adventure. You will probably buy souvenirs in San Felipe, and your makeshift bedding will make an even better spiderweb net for hauling your shit.

Before the ride to Ensenada on day three, throw away one pair of used underwear and two pair of used socks. When you arrive in Ensenada on Saturday, buy the following:

• Rubbers (don't trust the hookers at Anthony's Disco Bar to provide one for you. I hear they recycle)
• Shampoo (your hair will look and smell like shit after boning a strange girl in a dirty hotel room for two nights)
• A Senior Lopez Mexican hoodie (ask a local)
• A Hussong's T-shirt (to replace the t-shirt you tore when you went down in turn three in the Circulo de la Muerte)

After you take a shower in Ensenada, put on the fresh drawers, jeans and socks you brought day one and top them off with the Hussong's t-shirt and Sr. Lopez hoodie. Now you're ready to go out on the town. If a cruise ship docks on Saturday night, you need to look presentable for all the cougars that will climb off the boat looking for strange biker ding dong. If you don't vomit on your duds by sunrise Sunday, this will be the gear you ride hom in Monday morning.

When you pack your shit Monday, leave the blanket, hammock and all old socks, underwear and t-shirts behind. All will be filthy and some will be splattered with blood, so they'll be useless to you in the US of A.

That's it. All this backpack and saddlebag bullshit is overrated in my opinion. I learned the program described above from 3-time EDR vet Caleb Owens, so I know it works. That being said, all my shit's going to be in my chase truck. I don't trust my friend Sweet Lou's XS650 to make the entire trip, and I promised my man from the Buckeye State I'd have a place for his busted wheels. I won't be hauling your shit, however, so please don't ask. See you in Temecula May 4!

-- McGoo

San Felipe 250

Just fast forward to about the 1:30 mark...

Rockers

These little babies just showed up. There is a limited supply and they will only be available in Ensenada. Big thanks to Jason at Iron Thread for hooking up the fine embroidery work.