THE BORREGO SPRINGS WINTER ROAD RUN

The Beginnings: 1990-1991-1992

By Chuck Vernon and Gary & Heidi Breylinger

In May of 1989 Gary and Barbe Breylinger bought a vacation home in the Roadrunner Mobile Home Park in Borrego Springs. The following fall, Gary realized that the combination of climate, scenery, good accommodations, and superb traffic free roads would provide an excellent venue for antique motorcycle friends to shake off the winter blues. The last weekend in February was chosen as the average weather was usually good then. Secondly, the date would still allow travel time for those going to Florida for the AMCA National Winter Meet and Daytona race week in early March.

Gary and Barbe invited a group of about fifteen friends to come down to the desert for a little ride, starting off with a simple chili and sangria buffet supper at their Roadrunner home on the Friday evening before the ride. The next morning everyone met at what became the “regular place” on a spacious unpaved area off Christmas Circle in beautiful downtown Borrego Springs. After a short rider’s meeting the gang blasted off for a fun filled weekend.

Prior to that first Run Gary had stopped in the local Sheriff’s two-Deputy office to explain what was planned. He mentioned that the group would be composed of a bunch of old geezers riding even older motorcycles, and that they would be lucky to even get them started, let alone rip up the town Saturday night. The Deputies seemed a bit skeptical, but gave a grudging agreement not to look too closely at certain minor equipment nfractions such as missing mufflers, lights, mirrors, license plates, brakes, fenders, and good sense. They were as good as their word by making sure they went the opposite way from our routes each day.

Gary had also alerted his old high school chum, Glenn Odam, the resident California Highway Patrolman. It turned out that Glenn also had a word with the deputies. On the 1990 and 1991 Runs, Glenn led us out of town and accompanied us, riding his Honda Gold Wing.

On that first Run the town of Borrego Springs was having its annual Grapefruit Festival with activities centered around Christmas Circle. Our gathering and departure were well received by the public there. That evening we had a catered dinner at the Roadrunner Clubhouse, and on the Sunday we had another ride, ending in time for people to get home if they choose.

Everyone had such a good time on the first Run that the Breylinger’s were encouraged to host another run the next year. The 1991 run was held on Feb., 22 and 23. The list of bikes rose to about 30-apparently a lot more geezers had cabin fever that winter! The Friday evening chili buffet was held at the Breylingers’, but for the last time as it got a little hard to serve the increasing number of friends.

Our wonderful and long suffering Club member, Pat Stevens, had volunteered to carry the box lunches in her car to the lunch stop at the Park on the way to Ocotillo Wells on Saturday. The hungry gang was all seated under the shade, chatting happily, when Pat, who was following two riders, blithely drove right past the Park entrance and most of the way to Interstate 80. Her scenic side trip took the better part of an hour. Needless to say, appetites were keen when she finally returned.

Another catered dinner was held in the Roadrunner Clubhouse. The dinner was preceded by Rotten Richard giving a demonstration on how a newly restored Henderson 4 could cut a wake through a flooded street dip near the Roadrunner. He ended up pushing the Henderson out of the water. It was some time before the drenched magneto was restored to action. The Sunday ride was a circle trip through the San Ysidro Mountains.

The 1992 Run riders list rose to 45, with friends coming from several states. The Run followed some heavy rains which flooded the roads out of Borrego Springs to the south. The route was quickly modified to change the destination from Julian to the Salton Sea. A photo of the group sweeping down Palm Canyon Drive appeared in the “Borrego Sun” in the issue following the run.

The Sunday ride was planned a s trip up to the top of Palomar Mountain. About half way up the grade to the pass towards Warner Hot Springs it started to sleet. John Eagles, who was leading the pack, pulled off the road and announced that he really wasn’t having a lot of fun riding in sub-freezing temperatures, and strongly suggested that the group return to Borrego Springs. There was no argument. The banquet that year was held at the Palm Canyon Resort.

The 1992 Run was the last hosted by the Breylingers. That fall they sold their desert home and moved to Bigfork, Montana, where they still reside. The Southern California Chapter of the AMCA assumed the role of host for the Run the next year, and it has continued as a very popular event.

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