Fyi...someone might want to scout/drive that road prior to the start...chances are the Poomacha fire won't be 100% out by then, and South Grade is one of the main thoroughfares for the fire crews from Escondido. Two problems will be: they won't clean the roads until after the fire crews are done using them...meaning all the burnt jetsam will be on the shoulders. Also, quite a few homes have been burnt, so you might be dealing with demo crews as well.

I'd almost rather deal with insane motorcycles than slow moving fire trucks.

Also, air quality might suck, big time. I don't know if the General Store at the top survived, so water might be scarce at the top.

I nominate Matt and Mel to drive down and check it out for us.