Events/Trails Fifth Annual 70 Series Meet and Greet, September 26th - 29th, 2019 Windrock Park

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AndrewHadji said:
either way both of you should know better, its a toyota mag!
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There are several factors at play here that may be worth mentioning:
1) I'm a product of a rural education.
2) Based on my latest eye exam, my eyesight ain't what it used to be.
3) According to my wife I can no longer hear although that probably has little to do with the error in the article.
4) If I remember correctly it was a toss-up between proof reading the article and taking my afternoon nap.
(at this point I guess it's clear which one won out)
 
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steve729 said:
This is all really interesting to me since Windrock and nemo tunnel are my old stomping grounds. Back in those times (1973-early 80's) strip mining was still BIG business in East Tn. and there were active mines all over the area now called Windrock park. During daylight hours back then there was a steady stream of tandem and tractor trailer trucks going up the mountain empty and coming down loaded with coal. Don't know what the road is like now but back then it was a single lane with an occasional wide spot to escape the loaded rigs coming down. Not for the faint of heart I can assure you!! In "73" I went to work for the Feds as a mine reclamation inspector and although now I hate to even admit I ever worked for the pricks, at that time I felt it was important to keep the mining industry from ruining the mountains. Anyhow at that time there were only six of us to cover Ky. Tn. Va. Al. and Ga. and beleive me we were'nt very welcome when we showed up!! our vehicles were a mix of 1'st gen Broncos, Blazers and chevy pickups all fitted out with 20 " tires and winches. Yeah you read that right, "20 inch tires". If you really want to test your rig and driving skills just try to follow a dozer around the side of the mountain during a nice WET Tn. winter . I would love to see that country again to see if all our efforts were in vain or whether the mountains finally healed themselves. Back then East Tn. seemed like a paradise to me.......most of the country then was timber Co., State owned, and mineral Co.'s. There were old R.R.grades, logging roads and mining roads EVERYWHERE and it was very seldom that you saw a gate or posted sign . There was an old mining camp at a place called Zenith on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland river near Oneida, Tn. We used to go in there to smallmouth fish and hawg hunt. It was a Hell of a rough place to get into and out. You didn't even attempt it without a winch and a jar of whisky. Courage in a jar. At that time there were several local sources. Alas thats all locked up and off-limits unless you're a greeny weenie on a bycycle thanks to the Nat. Park Service. Same for all the old trails that used to go in on Daddys Creek and the Obed River. Great smallmouth fishing By the way....or at least it was back then. At that time the whole area of the Cumberland Mts. which stretch from the Ky. border in the North to the Al. border to the south was still a pretty wild and sometimes dangerous place.......and it had it's share of genuine "characters" the likes of which most folks today will never have the privlidge of meeting or knowing. Now most of those "old-timers are dead and gone and there are retirement villages and condos everywhere that used to have stills and huntin' camps.
When we left there I had a 1987 BJ70 and it was one of only two 70 series in the States. The other one, also a BJ70 was in Arizona.By the way neither one was 25 years old and furthemore we didn't give a s*** either . Back then folks applauded you for out-foxing the buerocrats........now they want to bad mouth you cause you have something they can't get!! Anyhow it makes me feel good to know there are so many 70's in the Southeast now. Hard to imagine all those rigs up on Winrock Mtn. Nemo tunnel was only a few miles from our house . At that time there was also a newer tunnel that was still in use by the R.R. and had a narrow road alongside the tracks. When on that road and a train came thru it was sure-enough pucker time. Course there was a gate on the road at each end of the tunnel but the local ner-do-wells kept the locks torn off most of the time. It was the only access to the junction of Obed River and Daddys Creek. Probably all locked up now by Nat. Park Service. All good things come to an end I reckon but at that place and time, if you had a good rig and were brave enough, "or crazy enough " a feller' could hunt, fish and explore the old trails every day and never go to the same place twice. Boys, enjoy yourselves cause before you can blink you're gonna be an old fart like me. By the way now I have three 70's all of which are legal.....I think. Now I live someplace else thats as wild as East Tn. used to be...........although a lot colder, but my heart is still in East Tn. Hope I haven't bored Ya'll to tears.
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Great read!
 
jmlockwood said:
Great article and nice exposure. FYI I drove a LOT further than 20 hours to make the event. Ha.
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I can't help it that you averaged 25mph along your route. :lol:
 
Hopefully we can grow the event to the point where we can knock this quasi-Cruiser from the front cover.
image.webp
 
maybe 2020
 
I've received several inquiries already this year concerning the dates for the 6th Annual Meet & Greet so people can book cabins early and make arrangements at work. This year's dates are 9/17-20 with the 17th and 20th considered travel dates. ** Video courtesy of @4runnermods

 
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Sometime in the May / June period much more information will be forthcoming.
 
@steve729 cool old stories man! Never been there myself but I do enjoy the old stories. I am only 47 but growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, things have changed a lot since the too.

Cheers
 
Looks like a very good turn out for the event and glad to see a good crowd make it to and enjoy the area!

Having spent my youth in similar area nearby, there would have been entertaining appreciation for the characters around 30/40 years ago!

Unfortunately, I had other obligations the rest of the weekend and couldn’t make the official event, we did pass the caravan of 70’s coming off the backside of Windrock, we were in a couple 40’s, heading for some trail riding on Friday morning.

Maybe next year the calendar will align for the full event, at least as a non 70’s guest.
 
Approach avoidance, if I spend less time around 70 series’ I can control my Already very strong interest in owning one!

Hope to make it this year, looks like a good time!
 
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Although its billed as a "70 Series event" we do appreciate our heritage and EVERY Land Cruiser is welcomed.:cheers:
 
Onur said:
I’m pretty sure any LCs are invited to this event.

So even if you are driving a 40 I think they will allow your participation.

At least that’s how I remember the one I went to a number of years back.
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We had a blue FJCruiser present at the first event. That fact screams "all inclusive". :)
 
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