Laidlaw's Sales Team Back Road Ramble

by Steve Cordell
September 20, 2009

For months the Laidlaw Sales team had planned a Sunday ride to the Riverside and Temecula area. The date was set with the meeting time of 8AM sharp at a gas station on Foothill in La Verne. My name is Steve Cordell, Business Manager, and was the instigator and “road captain” and had planned a back road 300 mile run through 4 counties. However, the expected heat wave forecast of 100 degrees and 3 of the 5 bikes brand new and just broken in, the ride was shortened a bit. The night before the ride, Matt Laidlaw, Sales and F&I, asked me the estimated miles of the trip. Without thinking, I threw out a response of “180 miles”. Matt then asked what time we would be back. I then told Matt we would be back two days later. Matt didn’t ask any more questions.

Sunday 8:00 AM

I arrived first, Chris Tolman, Sales Manager, and Matt Laidlaw arrived right behind me. The three of us were gassed and ready to go at 8 AM. Salesmen Don Abundis and Phil Locke were AWOL. Salesman Tom Armijo had already had an excuse because his wife made him go with her out of town.

The group waited in the station lot for about a minute when we heard a loud bang from the other side of the station. A Mercedes had just pulled away from the gas pump with the gas hose still in the gas tank and dragging behind the car. The pump handle broke away from the top of the gas pump. The three of us started laughing uncontrollably at the driver until we saw this huge guy get out of the car and give us a dirty look. We still kept laughing, but not as loud and obnoxious.

The “technology” boys got out their cell phones and started texting the AWOL boys. Phil had just got out of bed and Don was on his way. I gave them the 15 minute rule, at 8:15 we leave for breakfast. Chris text the directions to the diner and of we departed at 15 past the hour.

First stop was Corky’s Kitchen diner in Rancho at the 210 Freeway and Haven off ramp. Don had caught up to us at the Freeway and Phil was still 40 minutes behind us somewhere. We ordered a great breakfast and over ate the way bikers are supposed to do. Phil arrived right on time as we received the bill to pay and leave. Phil did have time to pick off some toast and sausage left on our plates. We were good to go now.

Second stop was Skip’s Harley-Davidson in Riverside. A little freeway jaunt for 35 minutes and we arrived at 10 AM. Not that we were going to “rub it in” on their sales staff on a Sunday morning that our team was out riding and their team had to work, but that’s exactly what we did. We took a group picture from the middle of the sales floor and received a tour from Rick their Floor Manager. We had a good time, thanks Rick!

We left Skip’s and headed south toward Perris Valley’s back roads. I promised two stream crossings but both were dry creeks this day. Next stop was an hour and half later in Lake Elsinore. We parked in the shade under the pumps at a Chevron Station when a male in his 40’s driving a 911 Porsche came in looking at our Harley-Davidson machines we had on display. Chris had him sold on a new Street Glide within 2 minutes. The guy was then swamped with 5 business cards from our team.

Next stop, Hell’s Kitchen at the top of the grade on Ortega Highway. I had told the guys were going to ride to some real biker joints. We then left there heading for Ortega Highway Route 74.

We looped around the edge of Lake Elsinore and then straight up the Elsinore grade to Hell’s Kitchen bar and restaurant. The scene was crowded with bikes and riders. It was about 90% Harley-Davidson today. After a quick iced tea and a seat in the shade with a nice mister spray, we had time to take some more pictures. Matt and Chris positioned their two bikes side-by-side which drew a crowd to look at their rides. If you haven’t seen them yet, they are both poster children for Harley-Davidson’s Dark Custom look.

Off we went due west toward Orange County. Next stop, Cook’s Corner in Santiago Canyon, the real Orange County biker hang out. Once we reached the bottom of Ortega Highway, the temperature dropped about 20 degrees. I took the back way to Cook’s and we arrived within an hour. The place was really rocking out today. We found a table in the shade and Chris and Matt had some lunch and munched on some great burgers. Don and I were still digesting breakfast. Phil being single, was too busy checking out all the fine looking Orange County biker babes in the patio and missed out on the second chance for a meal.

The time was approaching 3 PM and Chris already had 12 text messages from his wife on his cell phone. Phil was getting cranking from the lack of food. Matt wanted to head home so he would not miss dinner. Don and I wanted to get back anyway to watch a football game. Yea, it was time to go. We jetted out on Santiago Highway and about hour later I pulled into my garage in San Dimas. My wife heard me arrive and walked outside to see me laughing. I had noticed my mileage for the day at 178.0 miles. I knew that Matt lived 2 miles north of me in Glendora and wondered if he would notice his mileage. I had no clue that we would be going only 180 miles today!

-Steve Cordell