30th Annual VJLA Death Valley Ride!
Saturday through Monday, March 25-27, 2023
Vintage Japanese Los Angeles motorcycle presents the 30th annual Death Valley Rally! If you’ve never been on this ride, it is a must attend event for anyone interested in riding across vast desert landscapes and visiting near-ghost towns. We will ride from Lancaster, California to Amargosa Hotel, CA, by scenic and sometimes unimproved back roads. Amargosa Hotel will be our base both Saturday and Sunday nights (https://www.amargosaoperahouse.org/). Rooms are available using Expedia There are no services
there, unless the café reopens. There is dining and additional lodging at the nearby Longstreet Casino (https://www.longstreetcasino.com/) though. Riders are responsible for making their own motel or camping reservations.
This trip will be open to all bikes and scooters. Since many of us brought big bikes last year I will ride my Honda Trail 125 this time. I think there are a few ST90s and such that could use some exercise too.
We depart from Crazy Otto’s Diner in Lancaster 9:00 AM on Saturday March 25, 2023. Crazy Otto’s is located at 1228 W. Ave. I in Lancaster, east of the 14 freeway. There is safe parking for your truck in the dirt parking lot across from Antelope Valley Harley Davidson, 1759 W. Ave. J-12. After riding about 750 miles in total we will return to Crazy Otto’s Monday in time for dinner.
Route maps will be provided at Crazy Otto’s. From there we will ride north through Mojave and California City to Randsburg. Unfortunately, the General Store is closed but the owners are now at The Vault. After a snack break we ride on to Trona, across Panamint Valley, up Wildrose Canyon and over Towne Pass. From there we descend into Death Valley and continue onwards past Furnace Creek to Amargosa. Our route may change though depending on road closures. For those interested on Sunday I’ll lead a ride to the nearby Ash Meadows Nature Preserve (home of Devil’s Hole and the famous pupfish,
https://www.americansouthwest.net/nevada/ash_meadows/wildlife_refuge.html) and to Amargosa Valley. Meanwhile, maybe Yaz will also do one of his famous off-road excursions on Sunday. Monday morning we ride back to Lancaster the way we came, but making sure to stop at the Trail’s
Inn diner in Trona for lunch (http://www.trailsdrivein.com/).
A modest $50 entry fee will include route maps, our chase truck, and a souvenir t-shirt. This is a smokin’ deal for three days of fun and camaraderie!
Cheers,
Brendan
Vintage Japanese Los Angeles 708 Charter Oak Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
30th Annual Death Valley Rally Registration
The 2023 VJLA Death Valley rally will be held Saturday March 25 through Monday the 27th.
Please fill out this form and send it with your check payable to Brendan Durrett for $50 to me at
708 Charter Oak Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Riders can also pay using PayPal to
[email protected].
One t-shirt per rider is included in your entry.
Rider Name ($50):
Rider Address:
Rider Cell phone: Rider Email:
Motorcycle: Year: Manufacturer: Model:
Notify in case of emergency:
Rider t-shirt size:
Where will you be staying in Death Valley?
Additional t-shirt pre-order: $15 for each additional shirt: Size(s):
If you have any questions please contact me at (626) 755-6825 or e mail
at [email protected].
PS – To hear Marta Becket’s amazing story in her own words take a view of Dust Devil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU30caPpjUw). I’ll never forget seeing her dance when I was a kid travelling with my parents.
Here is our updated roster:
Dane Berens. Undecided. XL men’s & M women’s shirts (paid)
- & Beth Braun. 1997 Honda XRV750 & Honda NX250 or Grom. Men’s S & M shirts, Women’s S, M, & L shirts. (paid)
Bob Brown. Yamaha XT250. Men’s large shirt. (paid)
Larry Coolidge. 1966 Honda CL160. Men’s M shirt. (paid)
Steve Doo. 2012 Suzuki V-Strom. Men’s M shirts (2). (paid)
Brendan Durrett. 1970 Honda CL175. Men’s XL shirt.
Todd Evans. 2017 Honda CB1100. Men’s XL shirt. (paid)
Art Garcia. 1987 Honda NX250. 2XL men’s shirt. (paid)
Tom Hall. Big Orange chase truck. Men’s XL-tall shirts (2)
Clifford Harada. 2022 Honda CRF300 Rally. L men’s shirt. (paid)
Brandon Jansen. 1968 Honda CD175. Men’s L shirt. (paid)
Bob Leonard. 2008 kawasaki KLR650. Men’s XL shirt. (paid)
Leland Lowe. 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700. Men’s L shirt. (paid)
Martin Lowe. 2018 Suzuki V.Stro, 650 XT. Men’s L shirt. (paid)
Priscilla Lowe. 2022 KTM 390 Adventure. Men’s M shirt. (paid)
Marty Mendibles. 1993 Yamayha XT350. Men’s long sleeve XXL shirt. (paid)
Elijah Olea & Allyson Guentert. 2003 BMW R1150 RT. Men’s L & M shirts. (paid)
Colin Packer. 1975 Honda XL250. XL men’s long sleeve shirt. (paid)
Steve Ruggeri. Honda SL350. Men’s M shirt.
Richard Rutenbeck. 2006 Yamaha XT225. M men’s shirt. (paid)
Allen Siekman. 1969 Honda CD175. XL short & XL long sleeve shirt. (paid)
Barry Singer. 1994 Yamaha TW200. Men’s XL long sleeve & Men’s XL short sleeve shirts. (paid)
Jack Stein. ____________. Men’s XXL shirt.
Jim Williams. 1965 Honda CB160. L men’s shirt. (paid)
Yaz Yanazzo. 1989 Yamaha XT600. Men’s L shirt. (paid)
Dan Zen. 2019 Honda Monkey 125. Men’s L shirt. (paid)