How you got involved with UC

[the gimpey one]

Thought it would be fun to here how everyone got involved with UC. The club is picking up steam again and I have noticed lots of names and faces I do not recognize. I basically got involved after buying a beat to pieces fj60 as my 1st cruiser. Ran like a scalded dog and looked like one too. The 1st meeting I attended was a front axle rebuild hamom. Met josh Gallagher and josh (insert last name) that night. The next day I met Trollhole and crew. Funny moment was when I rolled up Jay conkin exclaimed"i hope you don't think we are going to work on yours today." Lol nice to meet you too. Anyway I have made it a point to be a thorn in the clubs side ever since then. I have learned a ton, made great friends,and look forward to hearing your story!

 

[6894kevin]

Found out about the club talking to the PO of the 80 that I bought. I Bought my 80 a few years ago and have only meet a few guys in the club (I Work all the time). Josh helped be get the front end rebuilt, Marshall helped me out getting the old girl running better and Steve gave me a free mower (interesting loading story) anyway hopefully get to meet more of yall. For now I'm an online guy, who lives through your trail rides and photos.... one day!

 

[NCFJ]

I just started lurking around when I moved to Chesnee. I had been around ONSC and had a great time so I started looking at UC. I me Rick first and had a great time, also have met Marshall, Gabe and Bill. I work on Land Cruisers in one form or another all day. I'd rather be in the shop wrenching than here on the computer chasing parts. Guess what I am doing this afternoon?

One of these days I hope to have something trail ready built for myself. Between now and then I'll have the shop's 80 done and will be ready to hit the road and light trails. The new owner can break it in on the harder trails.

 

[CharlestonG8R]

I went up to Uwharrie last year with the Swamp Fox and ONSC guys. David Benke came up as well and he helped spot me in some areas on Dickie Bell (was an exceptionally muddy day). He mentioned GSMTR is a can't miss event and that UC might have a cabin and extra space. I paid for a spot in the cabin and paid dues to Chuck. Also, met Marshall and several other folks as well as most of the Low Country chapter.

 

[Trollhole]

I had previously owned a 40 in college. 15 years later I'm going with my wife to a coworkers party. Out front sits a 40. I looked it over and walked inside and met the owner. Told him he had a nice 71. He was surprised I knew it was a 40 and even more that I knew the year. He gave me the bug and 6 months later I bought the cruiser I have today. His name was Alex, but most of us know him as the Cuban.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Some crazy redneck named Chuck stalked me in the Clemson BI-LO parking lot. He ran up to my 40 like a giddy school girl all hopped up on pixy sticks and immediately started ranting and raving about his Land Cruisers and this club called Upstate Cruisers. That scared me away from UC for several years until I met some of the other members and realized they were decent normal guys, and not crazy like Chuck

 

[CruisinTiger]

I've been around so long I don't even remember how I found out about UC. But I make it my mission to track down fellow cruiser heads and turn them to the dark side of the land cruiser world! And when they decide to sell their cruiser and get out of the cruiser world I never let them hear the end of it....Cuban....

 

[89s rule]

I found out about UC through MUD. The PO of my old 62 told me about MUD and be prepared for the addiction. I then found UC through the forums, first meeting I ever made was in Easley at the Sonic. Might have been in '05/'06? I remember, David, Chuck, Marshall, Ghen, JP and maybe Brian Marsh?

 

[boombapslappy]

I'm surprised we're several posts in and no ones been inappropriate yet. Great job guys!

I worked at a Boy Scout camp one summer with Malphrus who had a 40. I had always liked cruisers but that summer really gave me a hard on for them. Fast forward a few years, my wife and I are expecting our son, so I sell my Tacoma (mistake) and buy a 100. A month later I was a member of UC and went to the 2007 annual meeting at aunt sues and rode with Ghen in his diesel 61 to Allen's cabin. Four months later I bought a 40 that didn't run. Four months after that, I got a job in Charlotte and bought the Cubans 62 for my DD.

Everyone's been very helpful. Always willing to lend a hand, a tool or share information and parts. I'm a pansy when it comes to wheeling, but I've always enjoyed the meetings, HAMOMs and trash pick ups. Now I'm in Knoxville with a different group of yahoos, but always thankful for the help and support of UC.

 

[Gundy]

Henry Cox and I met through the old LCML. Arranged a meeting at a Chinese restaurant in Clemson.
Decided to form a club. Decided to call it Upstate Cruisers. I had been to a Couple of GSMTRs with
SE Cruisers. We set up a meeting. Elected Henry as Pres. Took groups through the old Horsepasture
and local trails all of which are now closed. Had some wild parties at the cabin we rented at Tellico.
The rest is history as they say.

 

[the gimpey one]

Bump

 

[Teddy]

I thought it was a local book club that liked to "cruise" the libraries and Barnes and Nobles. Boy, was I wrong. I showed up to the first meeting in my hatchback Prius and ironic glasses and was chastised! Next thing I knew I was doing crazy things and flying to far away states to buy these Landcruiser thingies. I really don't even like most of you guys, but I stick around for the t-shirts and stickers.

 

[ErikinSC]

So 1 year ago, I drove to Chatanooga, TN where I finally found the -40 I wanted. It is my first -40. Always loved the look and ruggedness of the Toyota, finallly had the means to get one. I spent days and nights reading and searching info on mud.... and i guess @CharlestonG8R was the first local guy I started talking to... met him and found out about the clubhouses, met some of the other local guys, then I eventualy accepted am invite to wheel together at GSMTR and spent the weekend with the UC crew... Im still a rookie, but treated like a life memeber.

 

[dbenke]

I had bought me an 84 cJ7. My son (scott Johnson) wanted a 40. We had wheeled at Tellico with his pathfinder, and I said we need to get you something better to wheel in. Well, it wasnt long, he had found this partial 40, and we ended up buying it. We wheeled together at Tellico at GSMTR for a couple of years (me still in my Jeep). When he went to iraq, I told him if he sent me the parts, I would install them for him while he was gone. I didn't realise how many parts he would order. (i.e. front and rear gears, lockers, 4 sp trans, axle rebuild kit, longfields, and lots more small parts I dont remember) So I got it done and we went to GSMTR again on his leave. Sometime when he got back, we went to Cullowee with UC. '08 I think. We started Lowcountry not long after that.
Sitting at Seewee Resturant, I mentioned that we needed to have some elections, Indiandoc pointed at Me and Brock and said "done"...
Thats how I became the Prez of LCLC. I drove a friend of mine's 62 in the Mt. P. Christmas Parade, and thats when I decided to get a 62.
Now the Jeep just sits as I really like wheeling the 62 better.

 

[BMThiker]

Summer lovin', had me a blast
Summer lovin', happened so fast...

Summer of 2006 I was looking for my first 4x4 and had settled on a Toyota, likely a Tacoma. A friend offered me a test drive in his FJC and I was sold. Bought one about 2 months later after scouring all the dealerships for the most basic options: rear locker and power windows/locks. About a week later I met K9Crazy on the FJC forum and she had been familiar with MUD for a while along with her brother DanKunz. She told me about a ride with the UC that was happening in October 2006 and that was my first trip to Cullowhee. We had almost every platform represented: 40, 60, 80 & FJC. I met all these folks for the first time on the trail: JP, Marshall, the Cuban, Chuck, Alex F, Jason F a few others...

and Logan.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Man Rick, that pic makes me feel old!!!

 

[Trollhole]

This will make you feel even older. Has to be a good 100lbs ago

 

[Turkeypen]

Well, the judge told me it was either 6 months in county lock up or join Upstate Cruisers.

 

[the gimpey one]

View attachment 1128123 Well, the judge told me it was either 6 months in county lock up or join Upstate Cruisers.

So you accepted a life sentence instead!

 

[the gimpey one]

If anyone else has vintage photos of UC post them as well. Awesome getting to see how we all have changed.