This years Borrego Springs Road
Run was another smashing success!.. And luckily the weather cooperated for
once.
Upon arriving Thursday night a
lucky group of us were treated to a smattering of old biker flicks including
rare board track racing! Ah yes, combined with high octane drinks life doesn’t
get any better than this! The next
morning Tim gives his usual speech safety....passing.......double yellow...etc
etc etc.. What a sight, on the twisty down hill just before the Tamarack grove
,comes Max Bubeck barreling down the hill passing bikes ignoring all traffic
rules, complete with a cane sticking out of his saddle bag...so much for Tim’s
pep talk! Max may not be as steady on
his feet as he used to be but I assure you he hasn’t forgotten how to
ride...!
After a lunch stop in Julian a
trusting group of us followed Tom Hart
up to the hideaway...This was a mistake to entrust Mr. Hart with our safety and
well being. After the first bend in the road a Turkey vulture standing 5 feet
tall almost attacked our beloved member Hoken....Another mile down the pike and
was a 800 pound steer is mad standing in the middle of the road giving a mean
stare to Mr. Hart... Again Mr. Hart leading an unsuspecting flock to danger....
After a relaxing stop at the closed Hideout off we went.... only problem the
pack made a left instead of a right... I had a hunch we were on the wrong track
but I figured a steely eyed lawman like Mr. Hart would be incapable of
misleading our group...Right?....Wrong ! Mile after mile I thought no Toms been
on the Borrego ride 15 times he knows where he’s going.!....Palomar ... Oceanside 15 miles. Tom
takes the prestigious Magellan award away from Phil Shore who a few years ago
got us so lost a simple 3 hour drive to Borrego turned into a 8 hour nightmare
complete with a tour of Temecula Anza Cabazon Palm springs....Indio and Salton
sea! Don’t get me wrong our club is the finest but I must admit this is the
only group who could get lost in a town without a stoplight...I could sight
stories of getting lost riding with this group for the past 14 years but I
don’t have all night...!
The next day brought nice weather
back again down to Ocotillo...The banquet was good as usual the prime rib huge
portions and delicious.... Sunday morning found a few of us down to the Salton sea for a Bloody Mary run....only problem the
restaurant doesn’t serve Bloody Mary’s!
By Mike (Kiwi) Tomas
The Borrego
Springs Road Run had spectacular weather this year. We never know how it's
going to work out, but it was about as perfect as one could have wished for,
allowing us to ride up, on, and over the mountain tops around Julian, Lake Henshaw
and Warner Springs.
To see so many fine antiques, all in one parking lot, before and after
each days ride, and then out and about riding the highways, is fabulous! I
think the final tally of participants was 112, which is a great turnout for a
local chapter run.
It was good
riding with the 2001 Century Ride Home riders Greg Johnson and Bob Clift. Needless to say, it was all fun for anyone
who decided to hang out with this rowdy bunch, and it brought back fond memories
of the cross country ride.
It was also
nice to see Bob Stark riding his Kawasaki Drifter, and for the first time at a
road run, Gary Stark. Bob is no spring chicken, and it's always nice to see the
old timers come out. A guy I always get a kick out of talking to is Hutch, from
Hutchinson's Harley in Yucca Valley, CA.
He's an old time Harley dealer. I
spotted him at a rest stop kicking back, and I just had to do a U turn to go
back and harass him for some of his good, old time factory stories. He wanted
to take a picture of us together, along side his 1930 Harley.
He and his dad
bought this bike back in 1935. It had been laying around in pieces for 70
years, and he had finished restoring it just days before the road run. I said,
"Well, in all fairness, you can get one picture of me alongside your
Harley, but it'll cost you two pictures of you, standing next to my Kiwi Indian
“Crazy Horse!" With a big laugh he agreed,
and said, "You Indian guys just never give up, do you?" Riding “Crazy Horse” is pure fun. This bike
was built upon our Kiwi rigid frame, leaf spring forks, and an 84"
engine. There is something very magical
about this combination, as it is a super nice riding and comfortable bike. It has
the agility to run through the mountain curves, with plenty of torque to get it
up the hills. The solid copper tank and rear fender really make this bike
unusual. I look forward to going to the
Texas Road Run later this month. I'm contemplating throwing saddle bags and a
luggage carrier on my bobber, and heading out across the country.
The SoCal
Chapter puts much effort into this ride each year. Congratulations to everyone who made the
SoCal Chapter Road Run such a hi-class ride.
Click Here To View Photos Of This Years Road Run