Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenton Bairhalter
Hi Brenton, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
We started out as a few friends who shared common enthusiasm for all generations of Ford Broncos and going off-roading together. We formalized and have been doing monthly meetups (social gatherings) and started extending the invites via social media. As folks got connected and the word spread, we become more and more established but stick to our core principals of being open to all, never for profit, welcoming and positive, sharing a love for teaching, coaching and helping each other grow and progress wether it be building out their rigs, desert running or rock crawling. We are a community built wild on passion for Ford Broncos, appreciation for one another and love of off-roading!
I am actually quite new to the off-road community but when I started tinkering on my new Ford Bronco, I took to the internet to gather information, see what was on the market and especially how to install parts or make modifications. I have a background in construction and automotive mechanics and professionally in software engineering and marketing so the tools to grow the group and spread the word were at my fingertips.
So, as I would spend some of my free time scouring the internet and social media for Bronco information, I came across the original group. This was back in early 2023 when the new 6th generation Bronco was relatively scarce in the area and we really connected over sharing information, knowledge, experiences and stories. We started planning events, social get togethers and especially off-roading adventures.
The group started to grow at this point, more and more Broncos were making their way to SoCal and we continued to formalize and grow the group. The original creator of the inception of our group “SD Bronco Club”, Daniel Allison, decided to leave beautiful San Diego for the blustery cold of Colorado, handing over the keys to the group. Myself, Edgar Godinez and Kent Lunak became, and I use this term very loosely, administrators, of the group.
We all had different backgrounds and careers but turned out to be a great mix of knowledge and personalities to make San Diego Broncos what it is today. Kent has decades of experience and spearheaded all of the actual off-road activities, education and most importantly, safety. Edgar also an experienced off-roader and business owner rounded out the execution bringing ideas and plans to life. Then I was the one in charge of the branding and promotion, if you will.
There are quite a few aspects and variations of the off-road lifestyle and as a collective group of admins, we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. Based on this and by virtue of getting a fresh start with our SDB community, we were able to take the parts we really like and enjoy to build our group upon and also understand the pitfalls and drama that many off-road and car enthusiast groups succumb to that we want to avoid. With these, we arrived with a mission for SD Broncos to be a welcoming community and fun place for all Bronco enthusiasts. We see ourselves as a group of friends rather than a club. We know that chasing profit and sponsors takes the fun out of it and in the most formative times we have the advantage of checks and balances not only between the 3 of us as admins but the collective group who is truly autonomous.
We continue to operate on our core principles and the group is growing, expanding horizons, collaborating with other local organizations and most importantly getting out, chasing adventure and making the most of the natural blessings the region around San Diego has to offer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We hunt the challenging paths off of the smooth roads!
I would say it has been relatively smooth though. Having the benefit of 3 leaders keeps things in check and we have massive respect for one another. Plus, being a hobby, we intentionally take on a lot of the stressors and responsibilities that raise most challenges as a group. I’m sure it could be misconstrued as lazy, but the reality is that there is a very fine line in this sort of leadership role between maintaining a fun, enjoyable hobby or making it tedious work.
I believe that sticking to our principles and having members that will absolutely pitch in is what makes this most enjoyable. Wholeheartedly, our group has some of the most caring and helpful folks you will ever meet and we are blessed to not only know them as friends but revel in pride and support curating a genuine shared appreciation for one another.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are just a group of friends that share a passion for Ford Broncos and adventure.
I am most proud of the level of respect we have fostered. There are a lot of big personalities and ideas in our group and I am constantly amazed how cohesive it is. Especially if there is a task at hand or problem to solve. It is so cool to know new folks will be embraced and truly lives up to our motto of being a welcoming community.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Come out!
It all starts with showing up. I understand and have experienced how intimidating it can be to join up with a seemingly established group. What is often overlooked is that each new person that shows up is a new facet, new stories, additional experiences, more knowledge and diversity. As an organizer, know that new folks joining is extremely appreciated and valuable for the community we are building.
Ask for help!
Our members are eager to help. It can be overwhelming to raise questions or show uncertainty, especially in a hobby that takes straight up experience to truly progress. Rely on the experience of others, trust your spotters, remember if you are questioning something there are probably a few others in the same boat who will benefit from the answers. This also means be a good listener and respect the energy that the folks answering expend to answer, explain and teach.
Pass it on!
It takes a lot of time, patience and skill to show someone how to do something, navigate an obstacle and use the tools at their disposal. Just like we embrace new members, part of the responsibility falls upon us who have learned from others to share the knowledge we have gained.
Pricing:
- We are not for profit
- Gear and Merchandise is always at cost
- Some trails and parks have entrance fees, individuals are responsible for themselves
- Meetups are also individuals responsibility
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdbroncos/profilecard/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/groups/719600606585390/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sdbroncos
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sdbroncos
