Live Oak Campground, Santa Ynez, Ca. Your 2020 Summer Vibe Starts Here
The happy group from the 2019 Lake Cachuma Vintage British M/C Rally
There is nothing better than planning a long weekend campout to kick off the new decade’s summer season opener. Except if it includes British Iron, others who share in the passion of the good old days of everything vintage motorcycle and the freedom to relax and get spoiled by it all. That is what the Lake Cachuma Vintage British M/C Rally is all about.
When you escape to your own private 40-acre campground, nestled in the mountains above picturesque Santa Barbara, the freedom to relax and unwind amid hundreds of old Oak trees envelopes you. Hot showers and three meals a day take away all responsibilities except to have fun, ride, participate, and mingle amongst your peers. Some of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate Vintage British and just plain motorcycle enthusiasts are there. Racers, tuners, business owners, sponsors, and experts bring their stories and share the knowledge that goes very deep. It’s almost magical. Sharing meals and stories, chatting around the campfire, Awards ceremonies, giveaways, and our audio/video guru, Geoff Patrick’s evening entertainment highlight the atmosphere. Take off with one of Cozmic Joe’s “Ride Central” maps and cruise the backroads, historic locales and look for hidden flags to find and trade-in for a prize! Try out a new demo courtesy of Triumph Motorcycles America and compare a new Triumph to your old British ride.
Eye candy from the Classic Motorcycle Show
The caliper of motorcycles that arrive at camp has continuously risen because the Classic Bike Show is one beautiful array of stock, restored, rare, rusty, collectible, and otherwise loved British Motorcycles on display! Over 50 machines are entered Saturday, in hopes of taking home a coveted trophy. Cozmic Joe’s custom creations created especially for the rally every year are awarded to the highest winners; People’s Choice and Best of Show. The buzz of the rally is the project bikes being built for the next year’s contest! Bike Show entry is included in the price of admission.
Sunday is the chance to compete in fun-filled games on your bike in the Field Meet organized by Steve Ortiz. Ride one or two up and test your skills on the slalom course, beanbag toss, ring toss, hang clothespins, ride the plank, put balls on cones, and the best event of all, the Slow Race!!! Most points collected wins. Top 6 awarded medals! There is also a kids field meet exclusively for kids under 16, so bring the family! Many children have learned how to ride in camp over the years on the wide-open field and supportive environment. Many are now bringing their children! The rally carries a long legacy of motorcycling enthusiasts and the freedom to have fun! Bicycles are welcome in the kid’s field meet, too!
Eddie and Jodi Mulder are hosting the rally for the sixth year after an eight-year hiatus. Prior to that, John and Susan Healy of Coventry Spares, then John and Donna Mulrean were the hosts. Beginning in 1989 the legacy of the Lake Cachuma Vintage British M/C Rally is long and well-loved. Families, friends, and enthusiasts have been spreading the word that brings the best people and machines to the rally for decades. Be part of the excitement! Bring your favorite beverages, bikes, and buddies and explore the picturesque landscapes. Let us take care of the food and activities, you come and have fun. All bikes welcome, Vintage British preferred 😉
Randy Zimmerman accepts his sponsors “Thank You” on behalf of Specialty Fabrications, Inc from Eddie and Jodi Mulder while Cozmic Joe Filardi stands by.
Cost:
$225 per person (includes free rally T-shirt)
Children 14 and under: $65 each
Children under 5 free
Pre-Registration: Closes May 31, 2020, or cap of 150 entries reached.
September 20-23, 2019, Live Oak Campground, Santa Ynez, CA
Getting out of the Rat Race with your favorite British Iron? Hiding out high in the hills above the sparkling Pacific Ocean north of Santa Barbara is where to go. A private place for communing with great minds in the industry, swooning over rare machines, exploring back roads and historic destinations, friendly competition and relishing tradition, all while being spoiled with food and fun is what the Lake Cachuma Rally accomplishes. Our hosts, Eddie and Jodi Mulder and their team were, once again, committed to bringing a fabulous group of motorcycle enthusiasts of all ages together for the 5th Annual Eddie Mulder West Coast Dirt Track Series’ Lake Cachuma Vintage British Motorcycle Rally.
Friday afternoon, at Live Oak Campground in the Cachuma Lake Recreation area, we came upon a large, lively group of attendees. Folks in tents, motor homes, travel trailers and backs of trucks were buzzing among the 40 acres of huge oak trees setting up camps, and parked around each campsite were British motorcycles! Lots of them!! There were modern and vintage ones, some restored and shiny, some rusty and old. Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs and Ariels. It was a welcoming site! Looking around, you see headquartered in a corner of the pavilion, Cozmic Joe’s giant display of mapped out routes called Ride Central. Explore every route, by yourself or take a group, keeping lookout for specially hidden flags to capture and trade in for one of Cozmic’s custom made, random, prizes! Cozmic also proudly displays his collection of every Lake Cachuma British Rally T-Shirt, going back to the very first Rally hosted by John and Donna Mulrean in 1989. Geoff Patrick takes over the stage area draping a curtain for screening old motorcycle films and live dirt track racing for evening’s entertainment. The counters lining the front are bulging with Sponsor donations to be chosen by lucky winners at the giveaway Saturday night. Full kitchen and BBQ area and Jodi’s registration table, which is our first stop to check in and get the lowdown on the weekend. It is a fun place to be and look forward to enjoying the weekend.
After settling in and congregating under the pavilion, we shared the first of many satisfying meals by the crew of Wild and Twisted Catering. After dinner, we got all caught up with the bench racing, eventually moving the party to the hay bales around the campfire or wherever. The weather was perfect for unwinding, reconnecting and appreciating these last few days of summer.
Saturday morning brought a little chill to the air as we gathered for breakfast. For the official start of the rally, the sun shone brightly as Eddie slowly raised the American flag while Kimmie Gould sang the National Anthem. Triumph of America provided us a new 1200 Scrambler demo bike to try so soon it and the adventurous riders of the group were seen heading out for a ride.
By the end of the weekend the bike had been enjoyed and ridden over 2200 miles by many different folks. Those that stayed behind were getting their bikes ready for the Classic Motorcycle Show and Competition that would take place after lunch. Around the campground beautiful machines were being wheeled under the roof of the pavilion that would serve as the viewing area for the show. Among the 53 machines on display was an old red and black Steib side hack originally from Germany. The story about the side hack being at the rally began at another show where Cozmic Joe met its current owner, Dan Joseph and invited him to bring it to Lake Cachuma some months ago. Cozmic never heard from Dan again until he showed up at Live Oak Campground! Karl Krohn, the well-known British engine builder/tuner recognized the side hack. Karl had been the monkey racing it with Tony Massala as his pilot all over California! He learned how to ride it in his first race, the Thousand Oaks Grand Prix. The side hack was built in the 50’s by Jerry Pierson and was raced from the 50’s into the 70’s. It was on a 58 or 59 Triumph and then in 1967 on a Triumph 650 TR6C which is how it stands today. It was recently raced in a vintage scrambles at Glen Helen by Dan. The side hack was also in a movie called The SideHackers that is available on U-Tube today. Seeing the red side hack again was the highlight of the weekend for Karl.
The bike show was as fabulous as always filled with some beautifully restored British Motorcycles. Scott and Alexia Dunlavey won both the Triumph class and the Best of Show award with their 1970 TR6R. Geoff Patrick was the winner of the People’s Choice with a beautifully restored Triumph T100. The winning BSA was a BSA Spitfire owned by Dan Gehrs. The Off-road award went to John Sides with a polished Rickman that includes a great father and son story that John tells. Karl Krohn took the desert class showing a 58 Triumph TR6. All were presented with plaques at the celebratory award presentation Saturday night. This ceremony was special in many ways including Jodi being crowned “The Queen of Cachuma” and Grand Marshall, Steve Ortiz, receiving a special custom jacket by Sandra Esposito and brilliant piece of metal art created by Cozmic. Everyone involved were acknowledged for their contributions and support, especially Johnny Brown who is responsible for getting the Mulders to bring the Rally back. The usual “give away” of goodies from sponsors Coventry Spares, JRC Engineering, Triumph of America, Motion Pro, Barnett Clutches and Cables, and Classic British Spares is overwhelming! Other supporters include Specialty Fabrications, Inc., Rod Lake, Maxima Racing Oils, Rabers Parts Mart, the British Iron Association San Diego and Perros Viejos Motorcycle Club.
Sunday morning, Steve O. and his crew were out early, enthusiastically laying out the course for the Field Meet. Traditionally, the field meet is very competitive. It is games of skill riding a motorcycle and whoever has a score with the most points, wins. Toss rings over cones, clip five clothespins on a line, balance a tennis ball on a cone – five times, toss bean bags while circling – into a tire, slalom through cans and the best of all; the slow race! All without putting a foot down. Philip Smith on a Triumph TR6 acquiesced his overall victory cuz he was just in it for fun, making Dominique and Colie Froesch “Team JRC” the winners, John Sides took second place and Dave Miller was third on a Montessa. Monday morning it was time to pack up and head back. Breakfast bids farewell and appreciation to another fulfilling rally. Many good memories made plus Jodi got her first trip out to Knapps Castle and everyone got to watch the AFT Minnesota Mile live Saturday afternoon. All in all the weekend was a wonderful adventure with several new people in attendance and only a few regulars missing.
Notes of significance: Rally originator, John Healy and his wife Susan of Coventry Spares in Massachusets were able to attend, longtime friend, Bob Bellino was there too, as was a huge supporter of the West Coast Dirt Track Series and the Lake Cachuma Rally, Specialty Fabrications Randy Zimmerman and family. Look for the 2020
Lake Cachuma Rally to be held tentatively May 29,30,31 June 1, 2020 on our
Facebook page, Lake Cachuma Vintage British Motorcycle Rally, or on the Eddie
Mulder West Coast Dirt track series website.
The Lake
Cachuma British Motorcycle Rally is proud to announce Steve Ortiz as the 2019
Grand Marshal. Steve is a hard-core
British motorcycle enthusiast who has been involved with the rally since 2002.
Among his 2-wheel accomplishments, Steve has been past president and is current
Secretary of the BSA Owners Club of Southern California, which he has been an
active member for over 30 years. Steve rides street and dirt and has traveled
the USA, UK, and Isle of Man on British Motorcycles, somewhat making him an
“Adventure Rider.” As a young boy growing up in Culver City, Steve started his
two-wheel career riding the Baldwin Hills on a Flexo minibike as he was not
allowed to have motorcycle till the age of 18. While waiting for this birthday,
he figured his folks said nothing about “building a motorcycle,” so at the age
of 16 he started assembling a Honda CB 160 Road Racer in his bedroom. Clip-Ons,
rear-sets, bread-loaf tank and K81 tires laced to Akront rims, he was hooked
and going to be a racer. Steve’s was 15 ½ and his first job was working
part-time for a neighbor in the pneumatic tool business and went from sweeping
the floors to assembling and rebuilding equipment and gradually became a
specialist in aerospace drilling and fabrication tools. As he was making lots
of money from working (and while still in High School), he purchased a
neighbor’s 1968 Triumph TR6C and was the
envy of many High School kids. Most of them never knew that Steve was a bit
intimidated by the size of his new 650 Triumph, pushing it home, till he grew
confident enough to ride it.
After graduation, Steve continued to work in
the aerospace tool industry and left it for a few years to open a moped shop in
Garden Grove during the late 70s. After two years, Steve sold the business and
returned to the aerospace tool sector, and a few years later married Anita (the
girl next door) and secured an engineering position at Northrop Aircraft, where
Steve put his skills to good use and co-designed the precision drilling system
that was used on the top-secret B-2 stealth bomber and later implemented on the
F/A 18 Hornet and our nation’s latest fighter, the F 35 Lightning.
While still
working, Steve continued to be heavily involved with motorcycles, and finally
retired from Northrop-Grumman after 31
years of service. As an Officer in the BSA Owners Club, he’s still very active
in promoting numerous British motorcycle events and has been the Field Events
Manager for our Cachuma Rally for the past few years. Steve and Anita reside in
Lake Elsinore California, and when not busy helping run the BSA Owners Club, or
tinkering with his 6 bikes, enjoys riding and spending time with Anita, their 2
daughters, and 2 grandchildren. Steve was very reluctant to accept the position
as Grand Marshal, as he felt there were many others more deserving, but Eddie
convinced Steve that his continuing involvement with the Cachuma Rally has
earned him this title.
May 5, 2019 Willow Springs International Raceway, Rosamond, CA
Gary Ritchie was back on the tractor on the track early
Sunday morning to create the absolute best race track possible for the Digger
Helm Memorial Day at Willow Springs, the second day of racing with the Eddie
Mulder West Coast Dirt Track Series. The
pits were full, with riders anxious to race for the second day of this special
weekend. Good news had been received
about Ron Wood, the Grand Marshall of the event who was not able to
attend. He was doing well and would be
going home soon after a stint in the hospital.
Eddie announced how the day’s events would take place during the rider’s
meeting and the weather was a bit more pleasant than Saturday although the wind
was blowing as it does in the Spring at Willow Springs.
Before practice began Eddie headed up the riders for a
reverse lap for Digger Helm. Digger had
been a friend to Eddie since his youngest racing days and the main supporter of
the WCDTS events as well as supporting up and coming pro riders through the
years. Digger was always on hand with a
story or some sarcastic remark that made you laugh and he loved racing cars and
motorcycles alike! On hand for the day
were some of Digger’s family here to celebrate Digger’s life with the racers he
so loved as well as some of his many motorcycles. It would be an emotional day for many of us
that knew Digger through the years.
Many of the same riders were on hand Sunday that rode
Saturday with a sprinkling of new faces too.
Practice got under way and as always the program moved along like
clockwork. After practice Eddie again
rounded up the riders for a salute lap to Digger. A group of riders rode behind Eddie each with
a #57 number plate that also had a picture of Digger in it. Jared Mees, one of Digger’s favorites, rode
with a #1 plate the same style as the others.
The other riders and fans gathered on the infield to give a hats off salute
to Digger with the checkered flag as the group crossed the finish line.
Heat races took place in the same manner as Saturday
followed by a break in the program and then the Specialty Fabrications, Inc/Rod
Lake Racing Dash for Cash. This day’s
Dash paid $7,000 and the competitors were Jared “Cha Ching” Mees,
“The Wizard” Jeffrey Carver, “Slammin'” Sammy Halbert and
Mikey Rush. Carver got the drive off
turn two and just kept going. A couple
of bike lengths behind him Sammy was on throttle followed by Mees and
Rush. A five lap shoot out ended with
Carver in front, Halbert, Mees and Rush following. What a treat this win was for Ron Wood’s son
who was on the track, representing his dad for the winners victory lap. The Pro
semi followed with Kayl Kolkman and Nick Armstrong earning a place in main. Jim Ottelle, Don Galloway and Mitch Rowland
rode the Sr. Vintage class in that order to the checkers. Twelve riders found
their places on the Vet grid. Jim Rosa
got the hole shot with Craig Peyron and Donnie Howard in close competition. Jason Stopher gave Howard a run for his money
trading places with Howard in laps one and three. Rosa crossed the checkers in front of Peyron
and Howard. The Super Sr./Sr. Novice
class included twelve riders. These Super Seniors are no slouches on the track
considering they are over 60 years old.
Repeating his Saturday ride, Rod Lake took the win after battling with
Rick Reed the first 5 laps of the race.
Don Galloway rounded out the podium.
Emmett Brown took the win in the 60 youth class on Saturday in front of
Kage Tadman. This day, Kage pushed just
a little harder and took the win in front of Brown. Kage was back to take the 80cc class home
followed by Saturday’s victor Colin Petton and Alex Martin. Martin’s brother Sterling finished fourth,
Sierra Hickerson fifth. Fred and Jeremy
Berger, father and son, competed with one another in the Classic 250
class. Jeremy was a little bit faster
beating his dad and Thomas Asperger to the finish. Craig Peyron enjoyed a pole start in the
brakeless Classic 500 and went on to reel in Tom Horton and Chris Rudy in the
first lap and then on to a first place finish.
Horton and Rudy rounded out the podium.
David Brown, Jimmy Lundgren and Don Galloway rode 1,2,3 to the checkered
flag with Sten Kelley 4th in the Modern 500 class after Dave Ehrhart won the
Modern 250 class.
Every now and then some younger legends show up at the
races. This day both former national
number riders, #3 Joe Kopp and #20
Johnny Murphree were on hand and put on a show of their own in the Modern 750
class. Kopp, on a Harold MacDonald tuned
Johnson Cams Triumph, got out in front at the start and Murphree, piloting an
Eddie Mulder Replica Triumph owned by D-Dan Racing was riding in third behind
Paul Herman but four laps later it was Murphree in the front with Kopp riding
close behind and Herman running behind them both. At the finish there was less
than a bike length between Murphree and Kopp, Herman followed and Don Galloway
crossed the finish in the fourth place.
The 250 Open class included nine riders. Joe Kopp’s son Kody led that
contest all six laps with the same riding style as his dad. Long time WCDTS class 500 Support rider
“Speedy” Jeff Gonzales was first off the start line and just kept going without
looking back. After popping a wheelie on the start, it didn’t take Danny
Ritchie long to get by Bryan Berna and two laps later Jason Craven also got by
Berna to take the third position. The
fastest kids on the track this day, Grant Holmes, Travis Petton, Kody Kopp,
Tarren Santero and Dominic Dias were among the twelve riders taking their
places in the Open Amateur A Main. The
pack stretched out quickly. Holmes took
the lead, Kopp followed and Petton rounded out the podium. Santero followed in the fourth position. The Open Amateur B Main included nine riders.
Austin Williams held the lead flag to flag.
Behind him Bradon Gross and Brandon Engebretsen worked the track and
each other for the second spot. Gross
Earned that spot in lap five and Engebretsen finished third. Jim Rosa came out of the second turn with a
couple of bike lengths between himself and Donnie Howard in the Senior Open
A. Howard remained in second place
through lap 4 when Jim Ottele got by him.
The finish was Rosa, Ottele and Howard.
The senior Open B podium included John Rudder, Travis Ward and Mark
Norman.
Thirteen riders lined up for the Digger Pro Main.
Competition all weekend had been stiff.
Mees, Halbert and Carver had each proven their talent equivalent to one
another and Mikey Rush was hanging tough on his 450 Honda. To recap, Saturday’s dash for cash winner was
Halbert, the main event went to Mees and the Dash for Cash earlier this day
went to Carver. The main event was to be
very exciting and competitive because the purse was even more than on Saturday!
Carver had pole position with Halbert lined up next to him. Carver quickly
pulled out in front with Halbert second and Rush and Mees following. Carver and
Halbert rode side by side with Halbert holding the lead by less than a bike
length then putting space between himself and Carver. Halbert maintained that
lead through sixteen. Behind them, Mees was doing what he could to try to gain
ground without much luck. In lap
seventeen, Carver got under Halbert coming out of four, twisted the throttle of
the Wood Rotax he was riding and rode flawlessly to the finish. Halbert and Mees followed. Before he was off his bike in front of the
crowd Carver was texting Ron Wood in the hospital to tell him they won!
The weekend was perfect. A grand way to say “see you later”
to National #57 Digger Helm. With the
support of Mark and Randy Zimmerman/Speciality Fabrications, Rod Lake Racing,
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, Steve DeLorenzi/SDI Racing, Triumph of
America, Motion Pro, Barnett Clutches and Cables, Maxima Racing Oils and the
WCDTS crew, it could not have been any better!
Eddie and Jodi will clean up their stuff from Willow and get busy putting together the
always fun Lake Cachuma British Motorcycle Rally scheduled for September 20-23,
2019. For information and pre
registration go to EddieMuldersWCVDTS.com.
Sunday Results
Sr. Vintage
1. Jim Ottelle; 2. Don Galloway; 3. Mitch Rowland
Vet
1. Jim Rosa; 2. Craig Peyron; 3. Donnie Howard; 4. Jason Stopher; 5. Rob Bush; 6.
Bryan Berna; 7. James Davis; 8. Jack Roberts; 9. John Lundgren; 10. Shawn
Chamlee; 11. Robbie Crean; 12. Mark LeDue
Sr. Novice/Super Sr.
1. Rod Lake; 2. Rick Reed; 3. Don Galloway; 4. Mitch
Rowland; 5. John Lundgren; 6. Jay Gardner; 7. Brian Cassara; 8. John Rudder; 9.
D Dan McDougal; 10. Charlie Caspary; 11. Maury Austin; 12. Mike Boal
Youth 60
1. Kage Tadman; 2. Emmett Brown
Youth 80
1. Kage Tadman; 2. Colton Petton; 3. Alex Martin; 4.
Sterling Martin; 5. Sierra Hickerson
Classic 250
1. Jeremy Berger; 2. Fred Berger; 3. Thomas Asperger
Classic 500
1. Craig Peyron; 2. Tom Horton; 3. Chris Rudy; 4. Lenny
Rodriguez; 5. Joe Pape; 6. Ryan Colvin
Dino
1. Jim Ottelle; 2. Fred Berger; 3. Marcus Harner; 4. Robert
Koch
Modern 250
1. David Ehrhart; 2. Tom Horton
Modern 500
1. David Brown; 2. Jimmy Lundgren; 3. Don Galloway; 4. Sten
Kelley
Modern 750
1. Johnny Murphree; 2. Joe Kopp; 3. Paul Herman; 4. Don
Galloway; 5. Ross 6. Scott; 7. Charlie
Caspary
1. Jeff Gonzales; 2. Danny Ritchie; 3. Jason Craven; 4. Jack
Jones; 5. Bryan Berna; 6. Jimmy Lundgren; 7. Jay Gardner
Open Amateur A Main
1. Grant Holmes; 2. Kody Kopp; 3. Travis Petton; 4. Tarren
Santero; 5. Dominic Diaz; 6. James Ott; 7. Julia Hess; 8. Blake Ash; 9. Matthew
Ott; 10. Rob Bush; 11. Jonathan Schaefer; 12. Conner Hickerson
Open Am B Main
1. Austin Williams; 2. Brandon Gross; 3. Bradon Engebretsen;
4. Chad Caldwell; 5. Nickolas Henry; 6. Cole Norman; 7. Robbie Crean; 8. Hadley
Melton; 9. Andy Davis
Senior Open A
1. Jim Rosa; 2. Jim Ottelle; 3. Donnie Howard; 4. James Davis; 5. Ray Lopez; 6. Larry
Ehrhart; 7. Don Galloway; 8. Jack Roberts; 9. David Ehrhart; 10. Greg Powell
Senior Open B
1. John Rudder; 2. Travis Ward; 3. Mark Norman; 4. Dan
Dowding; 5. Luis Orozco
Digger Pro Main
1. Jeffrey Carver; 2. Sammy Halbert; 3. Jared Mees; 4. Dan
Bromley; 5. Mikey Rush; 6. Dalton Gauthier; 7. Max Whale; 8. Kayl Kolkman; 9.
Kayden Downing; 10. Oliver Brindley; 11. Nick Armstrong; 12. Andrew Luker; 13.
Clayton Williams; 14. Jay Maloney
Dach for Cash
1. Jeffrey Carver; 2. Sam Halbert; 3. Jared Mees; 4. Mikey
Rush
Honoring Digger Helm at Willow Springs May 5, 2019
