Here's my perspective of the 2008 event- a great time, perfect weather, and a lot of good people wheeling their toys......those who missed it missed a great event.
We had five in our group Thursday and did greens and blues. Tom Humphries in his resurrected 40, Chris Breton in his SOA 88 truck, and my piggy, Bill in his yellow FJ Cruiser, and a few others. Added more guys and trucks on Friday and had ten (twelve at one time after helping some broken trucks). Saturday we were the first group out and had five trucks. Angelo brought his 62 from jersey, Joe Mylie in his 55, Brian OLaughlin in the BJ46, a couple of forties, Don in his 80, a really clean blue 60 (I forget his neat license plate). We hit a lot of rocks,. lots of hills, and lots of mud. In the trees with the breeze blowing regularly the temperature was perfect. Couldn't get any better what with a clear blue sky and all.
Saturday brought me a little trouble. Going through a rock garden on the west property I heard (and felt) a loud crack. Turned out to be my driver side axle twisted off. We rented a tool at the office that allowed us to shove the axle and tire back in and this device held the tire in so I could (slowly) drive out to the staging area. Called my rollback guy and he came and trucked the old girl home.
We had some lunch in the staging area and then headed back into the park. Did a new to me trail ("O") and had some fun when Joe Mylie called to say Dave Crum was dead in the rocks with a broken tie rod in his 40. We headed down there, talked over the situation with Dave and his fellow wheelers, and Bill Smith ended up driving me out the emergency exit onto 209 and home (in air conditioned comfort) to get a tie rod for Dave. This worked out well- in two hours Dave was all back together and driving off the rocks.
The only other carnage I heard of was someone with a blown head gasket, don't know who or what kind of truck.
The BBQ was, as usual, excellent. The raffle was very good- lots of good stuff both small items and valuable stuff. Tom the Polak won the drivers prize, a bumper from Iron Pig. Our buddy (lucky) Chris won a load of items. It worked out quite well, lots of good camaraderie and beer drinking.
We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Pine Grove and I give it four stars. Clean place, free breakfast, all for a $59.50 nightly discounted (for the event) rate. Joe Mylie, Brian OLaughlin and Don, among others, stayed at the Camp-Awhile off exit 112 and liked it. Lots of complaints again this year about the camp owner (camp Nazi) and I doubt if the event will be stationed at Echo Valley next year. She seemingly could have a gold mine at Echo Valley but her personality and tendency to rip people off is one big turn-off.
I would be remiss in not thanking all the Gotham City guys for a great event. This was year nine for the event (right???)and it's been a great time for me every year. Dave Crum's patience was amazing and I thank him personally for dealing with the camp owner and making the best off what was a potentially bad sitauation. Thanks guys and thanks Dave!!!!!
Did anyone do the new J1 trail? I planned to hit it Saturday but the broken axle prevented me from getting over there.
Got the piggy all ripped apart and was happy to find that I only need to replace the axle bearing and seal along with installing a new axle. I should have all the smaller items Tuesday but am in need of a long (driver side) axle shaft from any year 60 or 62. Anyone have something?
All in all a great event, can't wait till next year. And don't forget the pig run August 8 and 9 at Rausch Creek- I believe most people will be staying at the Camp-Awhile. The ALCA is going to have a small informal cookout Saturday after the days' wheeling is done. Gary S
We had five in our group Thursday and did greens and blues. Tom Humphries in his resurrected 40, Chris Breton in his SOA 88 truck, and my piggy, Bill in his yellow FJ Cruiser, and a few others. Added more guys and trucks on Friday and had ten (twelve at one time after helping some broken trucks). Saturday we were the first group out and had five trucks. Angelo brought his 62 from jersey, Joe Mylie in his 55, Brian OLaughlin in the BJ46, a couple of forties, Don in his 80, a really clean blue 60 (I forget his neat license plate). We hit a lot of rocks,. lots of hills, and lots of mud. In the trees with the breeze blowing regularly the temperature was perfect. Couldn't get any better what with a clear blue sky and all.
Saturday brought me a little trouble. Going through a rock garden on the west property I heard (and felt) a loud crack. Turned out to be my driver side axle twisted off. We rented a tool at the office that allowed us to shove the axle and tire back in and this device held the tire in so I could (slowly) drive out to the staging area. Called my rollback guy and he came and trucked the old girl home.
We had some lunch in the staging area and then headed back into the park. Did a new to me trail ("O") and had some fun when Joe Mylie called to say Dave Crum was dead in the rocks with a broken tie rod in his 40. We headed down there, talked over the situation with Dave and his fellow wheelers, and Bill Smith ended up driving me out the emergency exit onto 209 and home (in air conditioned comfort) to get a tie rod for Dave. This worked out well- in two hours Dave was all back together and driving off the rocks.
The only other carnage I heard of was someone with a blown head gasket, don't know who or what kind of truck.
The BBQ was, as usual, excellent. The raffle was very good- lots of good stuff both small items and valuable stuff. Tom the Polak won the drivers prize, a bumper from Iron Pig. Our buddy (lucky) Chris won a load of items. It worked out quite well, lots of good camaraderie and beer drinking.
We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Pine Grove and I give it four stars. Clean place, free breakfast, all for a $59.50 nightly discounted (for the event) rate. Joe Mylie, Brian OLaughlin and Don, among others, stayed at the Camp-Awhile off exit 112 and liked it. Lots of complaints again this year about the camp owner (camp Nazi) and I doubt if the event will be stationed at Echo Valley next year. She seemingly could have a gold mine at Echo Valley but her personality and tendency to rip people off is one big turn-off.
I would be remiss in not thanking all the Gotham City guys for a great event. This was year nine for the event (right???)and it's been a great time for me every year. Dave Crum's patience was amazing and I thank him personally for dealing with the camp owner and making the best off what was a potentially bad sitauation. Thanks guys and thanks Dave!!!!!
Did anyone do the new J1 trail? I planned to hit it Saturday but the broken axle prevented me from getting over there.
Got the piggy all ripped apart and was happy to find that I only need to replace the axle bearing and seal along with installing a new axle. I should have all the smaller items Tuesday but am in need of a long (driver side) axle shaft from any year 60 or 62. Anyone have something?
All in all a great event, can't wait till next year. And don't forget the pig run August 8 and 9 at Rausch Creek- I believe most people will be staying at the Camp-Awhile. The ALCA is going to have a small informal cookout Saturday after the days' wheeling is done. Gary S
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