September event: Cruisin' the Carolina's (Logan' Run 2012)

[GarnerFJ40]

I too want to say thanks to all the Mud/TLCA members and friends that live across the East Coast and Southwest who made it out this past weekend. It was near pefect weather, with a little chill in the morning and clear skies!

I too was running around with my girls, and making sure things were going well, that I didn't have much time to chat with everyone (unless they made the late night talks!). And I had to skip the memorial on Kodak, to help the wife setup so everyone could enjoy a good meal after a great day on the trails. Sorry Kenny!

Also, thanks to all the great sponsors that donated the swag! The last few years have been bad for the economy, but our sponsors still continue to provide items for the raffle. Please thank them in your day to day dealings with any of them you decide to do business with!

That said, Al and I will compile some items that worked well for the trip, and some items that could be improved upon for next year. Your suggestions are welcome, and you can PM me for your input. The main one we'll take away from it is getting the groups organized and on the trails more efficiently, and in a good managable size...

That said, can't wait for next year!

 

[fj user]

Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and hospitality. We had a great time and hope to do it again

 

[dbenke]

Thanks for everything guys,We had a great time. Can't wait until December.
Let me know what I can do to help.

 

[Roxx]

Thanks to the organizers of this event. I could not stay for the memorial or dinner but you guys put together a great event. Thanks Eric for pulling me out when i was stuck. Probably for next trip i can have either a locker or a truck that i dont care to mess up. Either way I had a Great time

 

[Fort Knox]

Not much that I can say that hasn't already been said. It was a great weekend. Couldn't have asked for better weather, better wheelin', better food, or better company!

Here's a group shot from Kodak Rock from Jay:

 

[SparksParts]

It was my first time wheeling since I left AZ 8 years ago and my first time ever doing it in a Land Cruiser. I'm so glad to have gone and I don't plan on missing any more events ever I had such a blast. Thanks for the fun and glad to meet everyone!!

 

[Brock]

glad to see you out Jamie.....next year we need some TRD SPARKS swag to compete with the others!!!

hope you can make it in December again and bring your wife.....

another great event, great food, great people and great trails......other than the driveshaft and muffler. Doh!!!!

 

[SparksParts]

I'll be there! Might bring some other guys from Sparks too if that's cool? Another 100 and a Tacoma possibly. What happened to the driveshaft and muffler?

 

[2000UZJ]

Brock smacked the muffler. It's a replica of mine

Time for a 50 Series tucked up nicely!

 

[SparksParts]

How does that 50 series sound? Did it cause any loss in low end power? It definitely has to help on the trails being that its so much smaller than the OE one.

 

[erymer]

What an amazing time. So many things to be thankful for...great sponsors, the guys that worked so hard to put this all together. I've said the the past that the people in this group are second to none. I knew I had an alternator issue before I came and expected to miss out on some trail time. But the social time with you guys is the main reason we keep coming. Huge thanks to those that pitched in on the repair, Dave Benke, Nick, Mike for some great advice and the moral support of others. Dinner was ready but no one quit on me and kept at it till it was done. The wheeling Sunday was fantastic. nothing hard but a nice leisurely ride up to Kodak. The ride back in the rain and slop was excited but worth every minute.

I cannot say how impressed I am with you Kenny. This time last year you took on wheelin Logan's 80. Not knowing what to expect you jumped in and trusted your spotters. I know Logan would be proud of you and how far you've come. You are wheelin it like it was intended and even put your own "mark" on the truck.

Sadly I didn't get much for pictures enjoyed meeting some new faces and catching up with some familiar ones. I am already excited for the next trip to the barn.

 

[2000UZJ]

How does that 50 series sound? Did it cause any loss in low end power? It definitely has to help on the trails being that its so much smaller than the OE one.

The 50 sounds fabulous, I honestly wish it was a little louder. With the windows up you cannot tell I have a 50 Series. Even at full throttle it's extremely tame. Roll down the windows and it has a nice V8 sound but not overkill. Power remained the same, however the seat-o-pants meter says it a little quicker, but that is just because of the slight output in noise. It has a really nice tone when cold, but after the truck warms up completely it sounds almost stock, sans resonator. I'm not 100% satisfied with the "loudness". However the clearance was the ultimate goal in switching mufflers. I plan on doing full exhaust sometime in 2013 along with a SAS in 2014

 

[lt1fire]

Brock smacked the muffler. It's a replica of mine

Time for a 50 Series tucked up nicely!

Never understood Toyota's reasoning with those oil drum mufflers.

I cannot say how impressed I am with you Kenny. This time last year you took on wheelin Logan's 80. Not knowing what to expect you jumped in and trusted your spotters. I know Logan would be proud of you and how far you've come. You are wheelin it like it was intended and even put your own "mark" on the truck.

Not even that long... I couldn't even get him behind the wheel last year. First time he did it was last December. He has come far in a short time that's for sure.

 

[SparksParts]

The 50 sounds fabulous, I honestly wish it was a little louder. With the windows up you cannot tell I have a 50 Series. Even at full throttle it's extremely tame. Roll down the windows and it has a nice V8 sound but not overkill. Power remained the same, however the seat-o-pants meter says it a little quicker, but that is just because of the slight output in noise. It has a really nice tone when cold, but after the truck warms up completely it sounds almost stock, sans resonator. I'm not 100% satisfied with the "loudness". However the clearance was the ultimate goal in switching mufflers. I plan on doing full exhaust sometime in 2013 along with a SAS in 2014

Cool thanks for the feedback. I'll check it out.

 

[2000UZJ]

Cool thanks for the feedback. I'll check it out.

I could take a quick video if you want this weekend.

 

[alk747triodad]

Thanks for the praise guys but I am still such a newb at wheeling. Just ask Mike, I think he walked most of Daniel when he and Todd rode with me Sat. And it wasn't because he was my spotter! But thanks Mike for all the advice, (when you were in the 80). I think you have to have some big kahunas to, confidently, go on that trail.

When Todd posts the vid of the camera pointing at me going up Daniel, you will all see the fear on my face!

 

[SparksParts]

I could take a quick video if you want this weekend.

Would you? That would be awesome!!

 

[Brock]

I'll be there! Might bring some other guys from Sparks too if that's cool? Another 100 and a Tacoma possibly. What happened to the driveshaft and muffler?

ofcourse it is okay... well after all the hard stuff on trails I decided to crawl over an outcropping of big rocks that everyone else went around.....did not line up right so one of my tires went over the rock to raise my body height...and ended up dragging gas tank skid, muffler and drive shaft over a dozen rocks the size of big pumpkins..... so getting driveshaft rebuilt with new steel tube and balanced.....and putting magnaflow and custom bend in pipe after muffler to tuck it higher between frame rails. LOL

 

[addicted56]

Turns out my constantly flat tire was a cracked wheel. My MFD had said it was a defective wheel. I wonder how it measures that.

Anyway off to find a new set of wheels and tires just so I can sell this thing and get my land cruiser done. Looking at all of the FJ40's around got me really excited.

I want to say thank you to everyone that came as I'm going to steal at least one idea from each of you.

 

[FJinTegaCay]

My family and I really enjoyed this past weekend. It was Laura's first time on the trails and the girls and her first time camping at URE. Although I wish I'd been able to spend more time on the trails, I'm sure the memories I made with the girls were worth the sacrifice.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some folks but thanks to Al who contributed countless hours to make this event happen, to Johnny for the sips of pie, to Meatball for the fish, to Kenny and Lydia for sharing their secret BBQ sauce, to all those that helped with the food, to our sponsors (especially Scott Clark Toyota) and to all those that helped my wife and kids feel so welcome and have fun.

Finally, Todd and Jason, be sure your family does a thorough check for ticks. When we packed up on Sunday, I found at least a dozen on our tent and tarp. Thankfully, we didn't find any on us.