Member Story: Sheldon Barroquillo

H.O.G. member Sheldon Barroquillo has clocked an incredible 1 million miles – and the journey is far from over

When Greta Barroquillo saw an advertisement for the newly formed Harley Owners Group in 1983, she took immediate action. “She signed me up right away for a lifetime membership,” her husband, Sheldon, recalled. “It was my 50th birthday, and that was my birthday present.”

The number on his brand-new H.O.G. membership card read 1013, which actually meant he was the 13th person to join – a charter member. “We started membership numbers at 1,000,” confirmed Steve Piehl, the first manager of Harley Owners Group. “We did assign some earlier numbers to special folks, like the 13 people who owned the company at the time.”

In 2022, Sheldon celebrated his 89th birthday by completing his millionth mile on his 2019 Harley-Davidson Road Glide. “I bought my first Road Glidein ’81, and I’ve owned 10 altogether,” he recalled. “My first new Harley was a ’77 Electra Glide, but when they came out with Road Glides and we started touring, we’ve been with Road Glides ever since.” He also owns a 1954 H-D Servi-Car, “that I use for running around the farm with,” he said.

Sheldon and Greta have been married for an incredible 69 years, and until just a couple years ago she accompanied him on all his travels. “We rode all the states, all the provinces of Canada, including Labrador and Newfoundland, and a trip down through Mexico and Central America.”

Sheldon’s preferred state for riding is Colorado. “We went across every pass there is up there,” he recalled. “My favorite is Durango [Silverton] to Ouray, the Million Dollar Highway.”

The first time Greta got on the back of Sheldon’s new Electra Glide in 1977, no one could have imagined she’d ride almost a million miles with him over the next several decades. “The kids had our other vehicles, and we wanted to go somewhere, so it was either get on the motorcycle or stay home. So, I first rode with my eyes closed, then I began to peek. And I decided I like it!” she laughed.

Sheldon began his riding career at age 16 in 1949 aboard a 1937 Indian Chief. In later years, his nickname was “Barrokillowatt” after he outfitted his 1988 Tour Glide with a series of computer-controlled moving lights, entering it in motorcycle light competitions all over the country. “We won first place for lights at the 50th anniversary Sturgis rally, the 50th Daytona rally and many others,” he recalled.

Although Greta no longer accompanies him on the motorcycle, Sheldon says he still averages 15,000 to 20,000 miles a year, mostly local riding with his two chapters: Michiana-Elkhart H.O.G. in Elkhart, Indiana, and Rockstar H.O.G. in Fort Myers, Florida, where the couple spends their winters.

Sheldon keeps impeccable records of his travels and has filled 10 logbooks since he started record keeping in 1982. “The first thing I write down is the date. The next thing is the mileage on the motorcycle. Next would be the gallons [of gasoline]. Next is how much I spent for the gas, and next is the location where I gassed up.” After he crunched all the numbers last year, Sheldon determined he has used 22,000 gallons of gasoline, with a total cost of $45,000 since he began keeping records.

Riding a million miles is something few motorcyclists accomplish in their riding careers. “It was kind of a relief,” Sheldon chuckled. “I was really pushing to get it done on my [89th] birthday. I’m taking it easy now!”

Now 90 years old and with a million miles under his belt, Sheldon has no plans to slow down anytime soon. “As long as the Lord lets me ride, I’ll be there,” he said. Here’s to many more happy and healthy miles, Sheldon!

Words by Glen Abbott
Photos courtesy of Sheldon Barroquillo and Fred Lamphear

First published in Vol. 106 Issue 04 of The Enthusiast^®.