On the first El Diablo Run in 2006, the four dozen or so motorcycles that made the southern sojourn ran the mechanical gamut. There were two chopped Ducatis, a gaggle of baggers, a couple panheads, some Trumpets, shovels and Sportsters, and at least one XS650 held together with spit and prayer. When the number of participants on EDR II increased, so too did the quality of hand-built iron.

To capture all that rich patina on EDR II for posterity, pro shooters Stew and Sheldon Ivester from VPD in Murrieta, CA, set up their equipment in a makeshift studio at the San Isabel Hotel. A rustic ballroom in Ensenada provided the space the brothers Ivester needed to make these images, and El Diablo Runners from practically ever corner of the globe pushed their greasy machines before Sheldon's medium-format camera to complete the surreal scene.

These images captured perfectly the El Diablo Run's mechanical aesthetic, and helped spread the word about this no-frills hell ride like few bike photos before them. Well over 200 men and women descended on Baja for EDR III, and the machines that carried them were some of the fastest, crustiest, most creative custom bikes many chopper freaks had ever seen.

Thanks to VPD for creating these great images, and thanks to the men listed here for showcasing their talents.