TLCA 2019 Rubithon Wagon Run (1 Viewer)

[Firemedic831]

Correct I somehow Lost 1 bolt that bolts the lower ball joint to the spindle . Nothing was broke . Marlin was able to just weld it and away we went . Great trip . Great people . I was also parked there to help with the Exit on Cadillac hill

 

[MountNGoat]

Correct I somehow Lost 1 bolt that bolts the lower ball joint to the spindle . Nothing was broke . Marlin was able to just weld it and away we went . Great trip . Great people . I was also parked there to help with the Exit on Cadillac hill

Awesome, and help you did!!

 

[brooksfj60]

 

[tplane2]

Just wanted to say thank you to all the trip leads that made the Wagon Run possible: @MountNGoat @Fireman @Bossman @CandyPants . First timer at the Rubicon and y'all made it awesome. Definitely bummed we had to head out early, but still had a great time. Hopefully see you all next year for the full trip!

 

[tplane2]

MOAR

 

[MountNGoat]

Awesome pics, Thomas, thanks!

 

[tplane2]

Also, big thanks to Georg @orangefj45 at Valley Hybrids for fitting me in the Monday before the trip for a LRA install.

Fits up nice and snug so barely a scratch after the trail. Super nice to have on the trip back to SD.

 

[brooksfj60]

Just wanted to say thank you to all the trip leads that made the Wagon Run possible: @MountNGoat @Fireman @Bossman @CandyPants . First timer at the Rubicon and y'all made it awesome. Definitely bummed we had to head out early, but still had a great time. Hopefully see you all next year for the full trip!

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Great pictures @tplane2, great meeting you guys. Glad you guys made it out ok, and sweet rig. Thank you guys for what you do, stay safe!!!

 

[orangefj45]

Love seeing the pics, keep them coming!!!!!

Georg

 

[reddingcruiser]

Another Rubithon has come and gone, despite being impacted by a persistent winter weather, plenty of snow and limited choices for alternate dates. In the end we couldn’t have asked for better weather! Cloudless skies, nearly perfect temperatures, a full moon and warm water (relatively) for swimming was there for all that attended the 31st Annual Rubithon.

As always, each Rubithon happens because lots of folks believe in the event and are willing to take on the different roles necessary for success. Everyone that helps put together the Rubithon is a volunteer, and they work hard to ensure each person that attends has the best possible experience. The planning necessary for success begins months in advance and takes time away from friends and families, and is typically on top of what they do to make a living. When we had to change the dates for the event we had just two real choices: the week of the 4th of July, and the date I picked. With kids long ago already out of school it didn’t dawn on me I had picked the first week of school for a lot of folks with children, oops. After that, almost every Committee had to do their ‘jobs’ with less help than in previous years.

I thanked a lot of folks before the raffle Saturday night, but in case I missed anyone I wanted to do it again in a broader forum.

So, with that in mind I want to thank:

All of this year’s Rubithon Trail Leaders (Steve Pryor, Doug Huft, Bob Brown, Jeff Greenwood, Gary Kardum (Mudrak) and Marlin Czajkowski), their Trail Committee members, as well as every other ‘regular’, that guided folks through the trail, stacked rocks to ease the way, soothed bruised egos when there was carnage, helped repair trail damaged vehicles, dealt with their own trail damage while helping others and ensured everyone made it into Rubicon Springs for the festivities, and got out to go home. It’s often hard enough to get yourself and your own rig over through the trail and these folks gladly do it over and over again.

Dion Mattei and entire Cook Crew for preparing the food that feed everyone on Saturday night. While I’m not allowed near the grill at our house (unless you like it WELL done), I absolutely appreciate the logistics necessary for everything to come together at one time to feed a large group of people. Putting all this together required several long ‘road trips’ prior to the event to ensure all the cooking equipment is accounted for, and it took multiple trips to the store to get all the food and supplies that had to be brought in. And everything had to be packaged and set aside so it could dropped off for the Mog Crew to haul it in.

All the PMC folks that staffed the Marauder bar and provided the adult beverages on Friday night. What could be better than a bar in the middle of the forest?

Brian Flynn and the folks who provided activities for the younger four wheelers, coordinated the RC car competition on Saturday and kept the kids occupied while the adults are busy swapping trail stories at the Marauder Bar on Friday night. Also, thanks to John Evans whose generous contribution made the kid’s raffle much more enjoyable for the under-13 kids.

Brian Kaiser and the Camp Crew who helped set up and take down the facilities, signs, and equipment at Rubithon. From mowing the lawn to making sure there was enough firewood for the kitchen and the group fire on Friday night, to setting up for the raffle on Saturday night. Much of this work happens before most people arrive, and after most people have left the Springs. This year we were fortunate that some items we typically are first to put up, such as the roof tarps, were done by folks that used the Springs ahead of us. That being said, it was a welcome reprieve from years past, and not likely to be the case next spring.

Jeff Michalak and Mog Crew, who haul the bulk of the food and raffle prizes to Rubicon Springs. Everything you saw piled up on the stage for the raffle, and the majority of the food and drinks that were served on Saturday night, were brought in by the Mog crew. Jeff is also the guy that did the last minute shopping for the perishable items that have to be purchased at the last minute in order to be fresh for dinner. It still amazes me that the Unimog makes it into Rubicon Springs, and without the Mog crew it would be much more difficult to provide material support for the event.

The Medics for the Rubithon, including Eric Agee, Ken Hanna, Bryan Flynn and Mark Dunne. While we didn’t fly anyone out on the helicopter this year, Mark was the right guy at the right place at the right time on Friday night to provide help for someone in need and kept things under control. Having trained First Responders available that know what they are doing should make everyone on the Rubithon feel better about being out in the boonies.

Ben White, this year’s Rubithon mechanic, who had to get his own rig hauled out, went home and put in a new engine, then came back to the Rubithon to finish the job. While there are plenty of mechanically inclined folks at the Rubithon and no one is left behind, the Rubicon ‘mechanic’ is tasked with making sure first-timers and those without the tools or technical/mechanical abilities are able to get fixed up and make it out.

Mark and Maria Barnes who maintain the facilities at Rubicon Springs, continue to improve the venue and provide a top-notch facility in the middle of nowhere! All the new structures you saw at the Rubicon Springs were constructed with lumber milled on site. Mark and Maria are the most gracious hosts you could ever hope to work with.

Eric Agee for taking on the duties of Raffle Chairman this year, who made lots and lots of phone calls and writing dozens of emails to get a great collection of raffle prizes for the Rubithon.

Joel Moranton and Michael Dremann for getting everything in order for the raffle on Saturday night, and Indie for graciously volunteering to pull raffle tickets and keep everyone honest.

ALL the fantastic vendors and suppliers whose donations help support the event and the raffle, and make it possible for the Rubithon to continue year after year. Without their generous donations it would be an entirely different event!

Eric Agee (again), who for some reason, thought I was the right person to take over as Rubithon Chairman?? Trust me, it’s a pile of work to pull off a Rubithon and more than once I wondered what I had gotten myself into, but in the end I learned a lot and I am already pondering things for next year’s Rubithon.

Tony Twiddy for his insights and constructive comments as a past Rubithon Chairman, and for pulling together the ever-popular horseshoe tournament.

Ross Woody for his support as TLCA President.

All those who encouraged me along the way, and provided inspiration and comments before, during and after the event.

My wife Kathleen, who gave me the time and encouragement to do what I needed to do pull everything together, especially when I already had too many irons in the fire, and for her help at Rubithon.
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If I missed anyone, I offer my apologies and I want you to know that everyone that helped me pull everything together this year is sincerely appreciated!

Finally, to everyone who attended, thank you for supporting the Rubithon. See you next year.

 

[brooksfj60]

Great job Dick and all involved, thank you to all the vendors! A special thanks for the kids raffle!!!

 

[reddingcruiser]

Show me your Rubithon trail pictures!!!!

It's time to start putting together the Toyota Trails article, so I am looking for good quality pictures of your trip into and out of the Rubithon, and the festivities at Rubicon Springs. I need some information with each picture:

• The name of the person that took the picture (they get credit!)
• The names of those in the picture, or the person that owns the rig or is driving.
• The location of the picture (Big Sluice, Little Sluice, etc.)
• Day
• Which Run they are on.
• Any other tidbits you want to include

Feel free to post up here, or you can send them to: chairman@Rubithon.com
Thanks!!

 

[workingdog]

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[MountNGoat]

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Dog - I don't remember seeing that anywhere on the Wagon Run!!!

 

[workingdog]

Oops, thought I was in the other thread.

 

[brooksfj60]

Does anyone know the guy's name that was in the White and Grey 80's series that was the Army / wildland firefighter? My son is wanting to chat with him if anyone has his Mud name or contact info.

Thanks!

 

[Firemedic831]

Are you talking about the 3 guys that had to leave to get back ? in the white 80

 

[tplane2]

Nah, that was us 3 idiots in the moonglow 80 heading back to SD, and the other 2 who went back to LA in the white Egg.

I’ll see if I can find the dude from WV. I think I have a message or two.

 

[brooksfj60]

I think his name was Jeff, out of North Carolina

 

[brooksfj60]

In post #64 his rig is the 3rd picture