All-4-Fun Week

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

This year will be my 5th A4F Week and their 46th event. Of all the events I go to this one is the best. Despite the sponsoring clubs name it is not all Jeep. They are in the majority but there are plenty of other brands too. It may be too late to register but if not I highly recommend our clubs participation. Event dates are July 28 to August 4. There is a link at milehijeep or just google all-4-fun.

This is a great family event too with lots of activities for wives and kids. They do fun stuff like kareoke, ice cream socials, meals provided (not all), and they have a great band and dance Friday. They do a drawing where EVERYONE wins something then a raffle for the big stuff, like winches, sets of tires and much, much more. Big vendor show with the likes of Warn and Goodyear in attendance. Trails range from easy/scenic to real hard core and they offer many choices. This year it's in Empire, Co (near Georgetown). Different location each year.

Go once and you will keep returning just like I have.

Ace

 

[jonharis]

A-4-FUN HomePage

Fits in perfectly between the FJ Summit and our Ouray Weekend. Added it to the 2012 calendar. Question for you Ace. I will likely never be able to realistically get the whole week off. Is there still good value in coming up for the first weekend? The Fee of $275 is what has steered me away from coming down for just 2-3 days.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

I'd have to say no as Saturday is for check in and introduction that evening. First trail runs go out Sunday am. It is a big cost and you would only get full value if you did the whole week. Most folks that come plan their vacation around it or are retired, like me. ; )

Ace

 

[jonharis]

Thanks Ace. I plan on going sometime in the next 2 years. That and CM or BHCC will take all of my vacation time, that said I get an extra week off next year if I continue on with my current employer giving me 5 total weeks of payed time off, so these longer trips will be easier to make happen.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Repeating myself here: of all the events I go to (a lot!) this one is the best. I have made a few friends here so its kind of a family reunion, especially so for those long time attendees. But that is most of them because once you go you will keep returning year after year. I like seeing these old timers with annual patches sewn all up and down their jackets. They have donated tens of thousands of dollars to charities and do special auctions that bring out cheers from the audience and plenty of teary eyes. Free beer each evening though donations welcome. Wednesday is vendor day and it is huge with just about everything in wheeling stuff on sale and all the big companies are there. Serious door prizes like sets of tires, winches, bumpers, lights and everyone wins at least once. They have a professional band from Denver each year and set up a dance on Friday night. Did I mention karaoke and ice cream socials?

Trails are varied easy to hard and you don't have to choose blindly in advance. They have a sign up system where you have all day to choose the next days run, then at 6 pm you sign up for your choice. This allows plenty of time to read trail descriptions but better, you get to talk to others who have first hand knowledge.

Camping is primitive onsite and varies due to different locations each year. So far I have attended in Leadville, Empire, Silverton, Salida and back to Empire this year. This change of venue means you get to try dozens of trails all over Colorado.

Ace

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Arrived at A4F this morning in bright sunshine and 75 degrees but now it's raining and cool. Started around 2 and on/off since.

Camping area is beginning to fill.

Ace

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Why I like A4F better than most of the other events I go to:

FREE beer tent.

 

[jonharis]

Why I like A4F better than most of the other events I go to:

FREE beer tent.

Finally the truth comes out!

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND simple trip sign-up process. No guessing in advance.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND simple trail staging area. No hunting around town like another certain event.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND lots of room for parking.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND free ice cream social.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND karaoke contest (much more fun than you might think).

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND amazing trails rated from a 3 to 8.

 

[jonharis]

^ Looking Excellent!

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

AND huge vendor show and sale.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

And a real live band. These guys and gal are real good. They have played at A4F for 13 years and are almost family.

Warn sponsors the band and dance. The photo is of the pile of loot they gave away. A total of FIVE winches was passed out.

Ace

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

I have been promoting All-4-Fun for quite some time now and I hope I have convinced several of our club members to attend next year. It's supposed to be in Leadville which means some classic hard core trails will be available. Holy Cross and Chinaman's Gulch are two but if you really want to re-arrange some sheet metal there is Carnage Canyon. Of course they will offer all levels of trails too. Typically they have about 15 trails to choose from.

So next year I'd like to show up with a fleet of Toyotas, camp together under our BCC banner, run trails together and just have a week long party! Sounds good, huh?

Ace

 

[DAGORED]

I have been promoting All-4-Fun for quite some time now and I hope I have convinced several of our club members to attend next year. It's supposed to be in Leadville which means some classic hard core trails will be available. Holy Cross and Chinaman's Gulch are two but if you really want to re-arrange some sheet metal there is Carnage Canyon. Of course they will offer all levels of trails too. Typically they have about 15 trails to choose from.

So next year I'd like to show up with a fleet of Toyotas, camp together under our BCC banner, run trails together and just have a week long party! Sounds good, huh?

Ace

I would like to do it next year, but it's way to early to be able to commit. We should put it on the club calender next year for sure.

Doug

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

I just learned that they will offer a reduced price package next year with attendance for the second half of the week for those who can't get time off or find the full price too steep.

Still I recommend the full deal as it makes this event unique. You come in on Saturday, set up camp, wander around meeting neighbors, look at rigs, read up on trails offered and select one, then welcome dinner that night and intros. Sunday to Friday trail runs go out each morning with the exception of Wednesday which is the big vendor show. The full package is expensive at $275 but you get so very much included it is a great deal.

It truly is All-4-FUN.

Registration usually opens in January so lots of time to plan and it is always the first week of August. I have been able to go to the Summit and A4F with a week in between to travel and relax so the timing has been perfect for me.

Ace