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Archived Newsletter |
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September 2000
SCHEDULED EVENTS
For more trip information, see TRIPS. |
CONTENTS |
THE BAYS DO RUBICON
by Jim "Lucky" Bays
Betty and I left home at 2 am to try and beat the L.A. traffic and San Joaquin Valley heat.
We had breakfast in Delano and threw a fan belt in Modesto. I pulled off the freeway and into a shopping mall parking lot, and before I could get hood up a man named Tom Clark came over and really took our welfare to heart. He told us where we could find parts and mechanics, and really eliminated the helpless feeling. Thanks Tom!!
After I got the new serpentine belt on we were off for Loon Lake, arriving about 3 pm. While we were setting up our tent we had a visit from a German man who has 6 Jeeps and brings Germans over to do the Rubicon. His accent was a delight to hear.
Betty can't get near a stream or lake without getting her feet wet, so after an hour of her soaking her feet in the cold water we had dinner and hit the sack..
After breakfast we joined a whole bunch of Jeeps and other OHV's of every kind and description below the 2nd dam in the staging area. Soon we heard the familiar chatter of Susy and Carol on channel 3, and watched as they crossed over the dam. We collected our lunches and hit the trail about 9 am.
We had only gone about a mile when we encountered our first casualty. A drive shaft twisted off. We passed many vehicles on the side of the trail, but most were observers. I saw more trailers on this trip than ever before..two of which were tipped over.
We had heard that the trail was a little rougher this year and the rumors were correct. Because some people had difficulty making good time, the Little Sluice was bypassed in order to get to camp before dark.
The FITS group camped at the gate to the Smith Cabin and next to the Rubicon River. The mosquitos were almost non-existent, that was nice!
The Rices weren't kidding when they said now nice the Divide 4 Wheelers are. I saw nothing but good manners, comradely, concern, and co-operation. The 5 volunteer spotters, 20-24 years old worked their tails off helping those that needed help. They would actually run on the trail to keep up with those that needed help the most (wow!) You had to see them to believe it.
Friday night we had a very good dinner and a big camp fire and great music flooding the whole area, and no neighbors to complain! Saturday started with a great breakfast, and a whole day to do whatever you wished. Sleep, fish, swim, fix the Jeep, or get out and do more Jeepin'. That night we had a great dinner, steak this time, with all the trimmings. The main entertainment was the raffle. A pair of red satin shorts on a "live" model was auctioned off for $115. A ringer in the crowd upped the biding from $25 to $100. I won't tell you his name, but his initials are J Rice.
Divide 4 Wheelers past President, Paul Guzman, was wearing a really funny costume, but had to get rid of his sombrero, long black wig, and over sized serape, as he was scaring the little kids.
A good night sleep, another great breakfast and we were on our way to Cadillac Hill and home. The spotters were there, all five of them, proudly sporting FITS t-shirts donated by the Rices. A pleasant good bye and "Hope to see you next year" and we were on our way home, well at least to a motel in S. Lake Tahoe.
After a HOT shower (man oh man!), Betty and I met the Rices, Kellys, Schaffers, Elaine Sullivan and Andy Vique and the man who gets a big compliment for bringing his Grand Cherokee through with minimal damage, Jay Jiminez and his wife Ellen for a fabulous steak dinner with all (and I mean all) the trimmings. We went home via Hwy 89 and 395 with a little stop in Bishop and Independence where we stopped at a nice park next to a stream of very cool mountain water. Yes, Betty had to soak her feet for a while.
Now that I'm home it's time to make several adjustments and repairs. Well, at least there are fewer than last year!
JOAN SULLIVAN 1945 - 2000
On August 1st Joan Sullivan, wife of Dennis, died after a fight with Cancer. She was born in Washington D.C. and lived for a period of time in the town of Trona. On one of our trips, she took several people around on a tour of the town. She and Dennis were married for 35 years, having met on a blind date. She enjoyed camping and off-roading, her daughter Elaine and son James are often guests on runs. Joan was a great lady, and we will dearly miss her.
ADVENTURE PASS UPDATE
You have probably wondered what would happen if you were parked up at Big Bear without an Adventure Pass and got caught.
Well, I recently found out. I was at the Pinnacles OHV staging area dirt bike riding (and checking out trails for Jeepin'). I thought I'd read, heard, (dreamed?) that if you were parked at an OHV you didn't need an Adventure Pass. Well, you do! The sad part is that I had a pass in my glove box.
The fine has to a couple of options for payment. The first is just send them $5.00, the cost of a day use pass, or send them a pass that you bought, or if you have an annual pass, give them the number. I choose to send them the $5.00 and save the pass for another day.
So, if you get caught without a pass, it's not that big of a deal!
TECH TIP
by Dennis Sullivan
With oversize tires, and a lift, there is a lot of extra stress put on your brakes.
Some solve the problem with converting the rear drum brakes to disc. This is pretty expensive (around $700+). I tried using cross drilled front rotors and Raybestos pads on my '94 Wrangler. The rotors and pads ran around $250. The shortened stopping distance and lighter pedal pressure is amazing! Dave Felando is very picky about his Jeep and after doing the same to his Jeep, was also amazed at the difference.
The auto parts shop near my house did this to all 5 of his delivery trucks and claims that the pad life has nearly doubled because of the decrease in heat build up.
If you would like more information on part numbers and sources, please give me a call at (714) 963-8593.
POSSIBLE NEW MEETING LOCATION
We are looking for a new meeting location. The Elk's Lodge in Lakewood is one possibility that we are looking into, at least on a temporary bases.
We finally got a quote and will be taking orders for T-shirts and sweatshirts. (Members only. See hardcopy newsletter for prices.)
It's official, the annual picnic will once again be held at the Slash X on October 7th, with a run in the morning and dinner around 4:30-5:00 o'clock.
Our first picnic meeting in the park was a rousing success. Dave Felando BBQ'd hot dogs and most everyone brought something to eat. We had a short meeting and a long BS session.
RAFFLE JEEP DONATION
Wayne Begg picked up a double sleeping bag that the club donated to the CA4WDC raffle Jeep. Thanks for picking it up, Wayne!
While out on a exploratory trip a while back a well known Jeeper drove through this quaint wide spot in the road and saw this horse standing there. "Man, I have to ride that horse", he said to himself.
He climbed aboard, and the horse took off at a good gallop but starts to pick up speed, and our well known Jeeper starts to slide off the side. The horse just keeps on going, and soon he falls off with his foot caught in the stirrup and his head is banging on the ground. He's near panic stricken and was thinking "Man, I should haven't gotten on to that horse!!" . Just when he thought he was going to die, the store manager came out and pulled the plug!
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