October in the upper Midwest can be tricky, weatherwise anyway; it is the month of Halloween, after all. It is also when Oktoberfest is celebrated in many ways and in many locations. For motorcyclists, it is time for the fall running of the Slimey Crud Motorcycle Gang’s Slimey Crud Café Racer Run, aka the Slimey Crud Run, Crud Run, or SCR.

The Crud Run happens twice a year, on the first Sunday in May and the first Sunday in October. The fall 2026 weather smiled on the huge turnout of riders who showed up in the Dane County, Wisconsin, hamlet of Pine Bluff, where the Crud Run launched on Oct. 4.

Cool, dry, and sunny in the morning mellowed to warm and sunny for the afternoon, when the Crud Run ends in Leland, a tiny two-bar town in Sauk County. Indeed, the towns at each end of the Crud Run have fewer than 300 residents, though they grow to much more than that in but a couple of hours when riders from all over show up.

That all happens despite (or because of) the lack of any corporate sponsorship, big-budget advertising, saturation coverage in the media, any formal organizing committee or supporting entity, or any of the usual trappings of a big motorsports event. There is no prescribed route map, and there are no road captains, tail gunners, registration, fees, or schedule for arrival or departure. The only real rule appears to be to relax, kick back, and have a fun, safe ride.

It is an organic, self-actuating event that has grown year over year thanks to word-of-mouth praise and the enthusiasm of its participants and fans. It was born from a tiny nucleus of riding buddies who were students at the University of Wisconsin in Madison back in the 1970s. Initially, the event drew limited participation. But, as with all good things, it took time. Now, it has become one of the most popular ride events in Wisconsin.

The Fall 2026 Slimey Crud Café Racer Run was accompanied by even more scenic splendor than usual. Points along the various country roads riders took from Pine Bluff to Leland were already showing some bright fall colors, perhaps a little early this year due to a relatively hot, dry summer across the region.

As is often the case, the mix of riders and their rides was eclectic, eccentric, and extremely varied. The Slimey Crud Café Racer Run is not truly a café-racer-only event, despite the name. Nearly everything on two, three, and in some cases four wheels shows up. There were adventure bikes, sportbikes, enduros, flat-trackers, vintage motorcycles, bobbers, choppers, rat bikes, and exotic customs. You name it, and it probably was there somewhere.

The next Slimey Crud Café Racer Run will be held on Sunday, May 2, 2027. Mark your calendar and be there!