Orange County... Route 74, Hells Kitchen, Cook's Corner

Route 74 or the Ortega Hwy winds from San Juan Capistrano through the Santiago Hills to Lake Elsinore, and is one of the favorite routes in Orange County.

Join us for an early start at Starbucks in Carson, as we head down the I-110 to Long Beach and pick up the PCH to Dana Point, then San Juan Capistrano, and on the the famous Ortega Hwy to Lake Elsinore.

We will stop for a refreshment break at Hells Kitchen, the infamous biker bar near Lake Elsinore.

About Hells Kitchen...
We opened our doors and tapped our kegs on January 31st 2004. The restaurant features indoor/outdoor dining, a full bar, big screen tv (to watch the races on), a coffin condiment bar, pool tables, starbucks coffee, hellish decor and Americana style food. The restaurant is owned and run by a Willow Springs racer. Where'd the name come from? Hells Kitchen is a borough in New York, famous for it's melting pot of various cultures all in one area. It's known as a rough and tumble part of town. Most importantly, it's now known as the area which experienced the greatest loss of life to their firemen in the 9/11 tragedy which rocked our great country. It is the vision of Hells Kitchen that if we bring you the ideal hangout, a place we can call our own, we will bring togther our own melting pot of people who share the same love of motorsports.

From there we will wind back along Rte 74 where we will turn north to join the Trabuca Canyon/Live Oak Canyon Road heading to the famous Cook's Corner for lunch.

About Cook's Corner...

Cook's Corner is considered to be one of the most famous biker bars in Southern California. It is located at the juncture of Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon roads. Cook's Corner was named after Andrew Jackson Cook, who got about 190 acres of Aliso Canyon in a land trade in 1884. In 1926, his son, Earl Jack "E.J." Cook converted a cabin into a restaurant for miners and local ranchers. After Prohibition ended in 1933, alcohol begain being sold, and Cook's Corner became a full-fledged bar. In 1946, Cook bought an old mess hall from the Santa Ana Army Air Base and the tavern was born. In 1970, a Santa Ana motorcycle accessories owner purchased it and Cooks Corner was molded into what it represents today…an old-fashioned roadhouse. Cook's (as it is normally referred) is still as rugged-looking as a World War II-era-mess-hall-turned-biker-bar should look.

From Cook's Corner we will take Santiago Canyon Rd then head south to pick up the I-405 to head home.

Route map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com?r=6001590

All up, this ride will cover around 190 miles, with a mix of Freeway, coastal roads, canyons and surface roads, and will be pretty much a full day ride. We will maintain a pace that accommodates all riders, and may split into two groups during the canyon sections, however this is a group ride and no one will be left behind.

(Combined with the SBR group.)