The Enduros

As far back as the early 1900s the San Francisco Motorcycle Club ran Enduros – motorcycle endurance races.

In 1916, two of the participating riders were arrested for speeding on the Santa Cruz –Watsonville road during the run. They were each fined $5.

In 1919, the run was to be “the greatest motorcycle endurance run ever put on in California.” The run was to be the big sporting feature of Washington’s birthday. The motorcyclists were to make two round trips on the Saturday and two on the Sunday over a course from San Francisco, down the narrow, treacherous wagon road along the coast to Santa Cruz, then over the mountains to Los Gatos, and back up the peninsula. Twenty-seven riders took part and Lores Alzina, cousin of Santa Cruz Deputy Sheriff Enoch Alzina, won first place with a perfect score. It took three hours and forty minutes for him to drive down the coast. The road between Pescadero and Santa Cruz was described as “very heavy” and the going “very sloppy.”

By the 1950s, there were four Enduros being run in the Santa Cruz Mountains: 1) Frisco Enduro 2) Tin Hat Derby San Jose 3) Palo Alto Yellow Jackets 4) Santa Cruz Stunt Jumpers (Stumpers).

As many as 40 to 50 riders would compete in the 120-150 mile events starting from their clubhouse and riding up into the mountains and out to Pescadero on a maze of fire roads, old wagon roads and trails that wound around the Big Basin State Park area. These events were always run in the winter months. The more rain – the better.

The noon checkpoint was always Boulder Creek, a one hour stop for gas, food, and rest before going back out to finish the event.  

Image: Pictured in Boulder Creek outside Boulder Burger is Stumper Keith Cornick on his BSA Gold Star Motorcycle. Keith was the winner of the 1958 Yellow Jackets Enduro. San Lorenzo Valley Museum Collection.

From 1955–60 Keith competed in most of the Enduros, but by the early 60s the roads and trails were being gated by State Parks and private property owners and the Enduros stopped being held here in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

In 2017, Keith Cornick participated in the Home Town Teams exhibition at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum, and shared the Enduro story. At the time he still lived in Santa Cruz and at the age of 85 still rode an off-road motorcycle. He passed away in 2019.