About the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club

The Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club is an American Motorcyclist Association and AMA District 36 chartered club (AMA Charter #339) based in Salinas, California.  According to the club constitution, "The purpose of this club shall be: to promote the cause of private motorcycling through greater public acceptance and understanding, and to enjoy all the rewards of 

gentlemanly comradeship." 

The Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club was founded in 1934 by Larry Ketzel, a factory sponsored hill climber and owner of the Harley Davidson dealership in Salinas.  Over the years, the club has promoted a variety of motorcycle activities, including Gypsy Tours, hill climbs, dirt track, scrambles and  motocross races and enduro competition.  In 1968, 1969 and 1971, the Club was recognized as the "Top Club in the Nation" by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

The Salinas Ramblers began promoting the Quicksilver Enduro in 1976, taking over from the Salinas Dirt Riders who had run the enduro from 1973 to 1975.    In 1984, the Club was awarded their first AMA National Enduro sanction and since then have developed the Quicksilver into one of the most challenging off-road events held in the United States.

The Club is a family oriented organization with a roster of 60 active members and about 20 life members.  The Club owns 320 acres of property in southern San Benito County, adjacent to the Bureau of Land Management's Clear Creek OHV recreation management area, which is used as a campground and where the Picacho Creek  Challenge National Hare Scrambles is staged.

Club Meetings:  Club meetings are held weekly on Thursday evening, starting at 7:00 PM, in the Native Son's of the Golden West barbeque building located behind 76 W. Alisal Street in downtown Salinas.  The BBQ hall is entered from Howard Street and is across from the old National Guard armory.   The Club does not meet on the fifth Thursday of a month or on Thanksgiving and other holidays that fall on Thursday.

How to Join: The Salinas Ramblers are a very close knit group, primarily from the Salinas, CA and the Monterey Bay Area  with a couple families spanning three generations.  We welcome new members and have a process for joining.  Since the club's By-Laws allow only 60 active members, openings occur when an active member turns life member or when an active member leaves the club.  We maintain a waiting list of perspective members.  Perspective members must have two existing members sponsor them for membership and then must earn points by participating in club activities and work days.  When an opening occurs, the perspective member with the most points is the first to be voted on.

The first step is to get two existing members (active or life) to sponsor you for membership.  For someone local with friends in the SRMC this should be no problem.  For someone who does not have any friends in the club it is recommended that you come to a meeting, introduce yourself and get to know some of the members.  There are plenty of activities throughout the year to participate in and finding two members to sponsor you is usually not difficult.