The Colorado 500

Thirty some years ago, Wally Dallenbach, an Indy 500 driver, and Sherm Cooper, a New Jersey Honda dealer, took a little ride through the mountains of Western Colorado.  They rode street bikes but took them over some pretty harrowing jeep roads.  They had so much fun that the next year they invited a few friends.  Thus began what has become the premier off-highway motorcycle event in the US.  It grew from about 6 riders on the inaugural ride to over 300 now.  Riders come from all walks of life, from movie stars (Kirk Russell) and motorsport legends (Roger Penske and Rick Mears began their winning relationship on the Colorado 500 in 1980) to doctors, dentists, cops and perhaps even robbers!  My interest in the event began in 1980 when I was working as a city police officer for Gunnison, Colorado.  I was on patrol one day when I spotted an unusual sight:  a grizzled old guy with a leather motorcycle jacket on a Honda dirt bike with New Jersey plates.  I couldn't resist the urge to find out more so I stopped him because I couldn't see his mirror (he had one.)  It turned out to be Sherm Cooper.  He and Wally Dallenbach, Jr. had ridden over from Basalt (where Wally Sr. has a resort on the Fryingpan River) to do a little pre-riding for the 500.  In talking with Sherm, (Wally Jr. saw me and hid out because he didn't have a license) I learned that he was seeking a route around Gunnison that would eliminate some pavement.  Since I'd been hunting and 4 wheeling in the Gunnsion area for years, I knew just the route.  I'd just traded my XT500 Yamaha for a KZ1000LTD but borrowed it back from the dealer the next weekend and showed Sherm what has come to be a favorite of many of the riders, the Lands End/Beaver Creek area to the north west of Gunnison.  For the next five years, I would meet Sherm each spring when the Colorado 500 came through and either do some pre-riding with him (he furnished me a bike) or just get together for dinner.  It was at dinner one night in Crested Butte, Fall of 1985, when one of the other riders at our table asked if I was on the ride.  I told him no, hadn't been invited (the 500 is an invitation only event.)  At that point, Sherm asked if I'd like to come on the ride in '86.  I told him I would kill for the chance!  The next spring I purchased a left-over '85 Honda XR350 and rode my first Colorado 500 that fall.  These pics are from the 2006 ride.  This year I drove a chase truck so the pictures are from a different perspecive.  It was fun, lots of work too, and I'll be back in 2007 if they will have me!

Jeff Jones, a fireman/medic from Red, White and Blue Fire in Breckenridge, CO, was my partner and winner of the Chase Truck Driver of the Year.

This 2006 Toyota Tundra was my ride for the entire 500 this year.  Great trucks!

The Kawasaki support semi-trailer (they had a box trailer as well) to support any color bike.  Only 12 kaws on the ride!

The entire Team Awful contingent: JB, JR and feerless founder himself

Black Bear as seen from Imogene Pass road.

This killer mudhole on Italian Mt road damaged one of our chase trucks when they hit it wrong.  The correct line was to the driver's right.

My rookie, Sander Avant from Castroville, undergoing tech inspection.  It's tougher now but the KLR passed with flying colors (as did mine last year.)

The odd couple (at a motel in Carbondale) that Sander and I rode from San Antonio to Basalt.

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