Valley Hybrids, hanging around the shop
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Not big fan of the bedliner paint job on the 60. Some incredible workmanship is prevalent through out the shop.
Little details, sweet weld lines, smooth cutting and fitting. All models are there --
Little details, sweet weld lines, smooth cutting and fitting. All models are there --
Not sure but I think its a mining truck, internal brakes and stuff...
George is the guru of cruisers, he offered if I get down to drive the buggy through the rubicon. He said, I have done it so many times I quite enjoy being the in the right seat and spotting.
That buggy was built by Justin Reece in Oregon, he raced it in the hammers many years ago. Very talented builder. Met the man himself at Pismo cruiser meet, I said nice buggy could you take me for a ride, he replied just take it out for a burn.
Baja FJ45 (Buildup thread) - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum
Story coming!
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KOH 2009 Team 435
KOH 2010, 2011,2012,2013,2014, 2015 Team 4431
EMC 4619 2014,2015,2016
TLCA# 5305
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RustyNailJustin
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Member # 8568
Location: Klamath Falls,OR,Fruita,CO,Montrose,CO,
Posts: 7,544
Our race from the seat of the driver seat of the 4619 stock class car.
After 6 days in the desert tying up loose ends and prerunning the 2017 EMC Course race day was here. My brother Cameron Reece and I were feeling super confident with the changes to 4619 and our prerunning even though we were starting 3 to last in a pack of well over 100 cars and 3 classes . The flag dropped and we were off into the desert. The car felt great and I passed a least 4 in class cars in the first 4 miles. As the first desert loop wore on we started seeing cars make mistakes or have mechanical issues and we took advantage passing a ton of people. After about race mile 55 the whoops, rocks and desert cross grain give way to a dead flat lakebed called Melville. Cam and I get the 4619 hauling crossing the dry lake fast, we pop out on the southern end going way to fast and I accidentally hit a large rise on the flat desert floor. The hit sent the 4619 into the air and I could feel myself start trying to correct the mistake we landed half sideways and I was able to steer out of it. I think it got Cameron's heart thumping .
We finished up the desert and dropped into Resolution with several broken cars jamming up the main lines. Cam jumped out to help guide us through the carnage. We got down to Backdoor and of course there was a broken car on the main line so we took the bigger drop to get around. I drove right down, the crowd was cheering and Cam loaded back up. We came into main pit for fuel and a once over. Our pit crew informed us we had worked into 1st place. Our pit crew did a great job and Cam and I were back off onto lap 2 and a lot more rocks. We cleared the 20 something miles of desert before we made it to the bottom of Aftershock. We started in and made it right to the bottom of the side hill or tougher bottom section when the rig died in a tight spot and would not turn over. I wanted to winch out of the way before I became traction for other racers but the winch would not run. I got a jump start off another racer and 4619 started right up. I quickly got out of the way and gave the guy a thank you for the jump. I jumped out and cam and I started looking for the issue. A quick look at the wiring, everything was fine, I went to the alternator. The sides looked sooty and I grabbed the back of it to have it basically fall off. Cameron striped his fire suite off and started his on foot journey to remote pit 2A. I wanted to call our radio relay Moore McEvil to have the alternator ready to be picked up. I could not even get the radio to transmit we were so low on power. I started pulling the alternator. Once that was out the first 4600 car had made it to me, I think it was Brian Hays but a lot of this 1.5 hours is a blur. I helped spot a few 4600 guys through while I waited for the new alternator and Cameron. I believe 5 4600 class cars passed me while I was down. Cameron showed up and I was way up the trail helping a fellow racer when I saw Cameron back at our car. Cameron was totally soaked in sweat and looked whooped. We quickly got the alternator in, packed up and we're off to the real off camber part of Aftershock. I drove through that when I noticed I have lost my steering, DAMIT! I wiggled the 4619 into a hole in the rocks so others could get by. Jumped out and somehow both belts jumped off. We quickly put them back on passed 1 4600 car in the rocks and finally finished Aftershock and headed into Pit 2A. Mat Carpentier and his pit crew once again did a fantastic checking everything, fueled us, as planned I dropped Cameron off and picked up a fresh co driver Mike Klensin. Mike and I were off into Fischer Mountain. It's always nice to have a fresh co dog to help keep your head right. At this point I figured we were in survival mode and would just push to finish on time. We were quickly to the top of Sledge Hammer and headed down. We didn't see much traffic and made near the bottom and saw a 4600 car broke. We asked if they were ok and we didn't have the parts they needed so we moved on. A few sand washes later we were caught in some traffic at the bottom of chocolate thunder and its massive crowd. A 4600 car was stuck and broke but out of the way. With a little work we got the 4619 through unassisted and the crowd went crazy. At this point I knew I was back into 3rd place. I could feel myself pushing hard to try and catch 2nd with only a few miles left. Mike and I made short work of the remaining rocks and pushed hard in the desert, we dropped into Resolution going as fast as I could. When I rounded the corner to Backdoor I could see 4696 of Brian McNamara dropping the final ledge. I told Mike if he ends up needing to get out I would want to leave him to try and run 4696 down vs. wait for him to get buckled back in. Fortunately he never needed to get out. I was shortly behind 4696 but with mixed class traffic in the way I couldn't pass and they beat me to the finish line. Crossing the finish line of any race is an amazing feeling but this race is dubbed the toughest 1 day off-road race in the world for a reason. The feeling is indescribable. My friends and family and 5000 spectators were all there cheering for the finishers.
Thanks everyone for the support and putting up with me chasing this desert racing dream. Kelly Adams Reece especially you, love you.
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Thanks for getting me that hoody from his shop..
Cool pictures Jon. Cruiser heaven in there!
Georg is the the man. I really like the guy and he's a Cruiser master. When I was there he was just moving towards the new shop, glad to see its full of work projects. What I really appreciate about Georg is that he is as good at being a dad as he is at being a Cruiserhead, that holds a lot of weight with me. Too many small business owners I see have the balance between family and business the wrong way around, not the G-man.
And ya, that axle is a contained unit axle used for underground mining. Cool, but I suspect the gearing is too low for street use and I also doubt it meets DOT regulations.
And ya, that axle is a contained unit axle used for underground mining. Cool, but I suspect the gearing is too low for street use and I also doubt it meets DOT regulations.
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- #11
Check your email. J
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- #13
I like the aluminum light protector. The stock looking wheels are from Stockton Wheel, apparently you can give them
a stock 15" center and for about $700 - for a set of 5 - they will make them custom to fit the same tires I run, these looked to be
17 x 8 with 3.5" BS with factory clips for hubcaps. If I'd gotten proper info from calling them, I'd have ordered these
but someone I talked to there said they couldn't make them up to 17". Bummer for me.
a stock 15" center and for about $700 - for a set of 5 - they will make them custom to fit the same tires I run, these looked to be
17 x 8 with 3.5" BS with factory clips for hubcaps. If I'd gotten proper info from calling them, I'd have ordered these
but someone I talked to there said they couldn't make them up to 17". Bummer for me.
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- #15
So I went back to see Georg. I've been kinda agonizing about rebuilding my t-case. So I went back to
ask a few more specific questions if he had time. Lucky for me, a case was on the bench being rebuilt.
So in a class-like manner, and patience with my questions and observations Georg finished it up. Very cool.
ask a few more specific questions if he had time. Lucky for me, a case was on the bench being rebuilt.
So in a class-like manner, and patience with my questions and observations Georg finished it up. Very cool.
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- #16
So we yakked about trucks, I got an idea for a new truck. And I came home with a ziplock full of
the little odds and ends that will make the whole rebuild much easier and complete. If it all works out, then
I'll tackle the other wee beasty sitting in the garage at home.
I won't get another chance to get back down there I don't think. I can't thank Georg enough, J
the little odds and ends that will make the whole rebuild much easier and complete. If it all works out, then
I'll tackle the other wee beasty sitting in the garage at home.
I won't get another chance to get back down there I don't think. I can't thank Georg enough, J
Top photo, tender loving Rubicon scratches on my 60, aka The Goat. It's in with Georg for some more goodies in the axle/suspension/drive train category. It's definitely a fun place full of good people.
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- #18
Yeah, it's got some miles on it now. You and I met, I think you were with your son at the old shop? I took this pic then.
Certainly a well put together truck. I have side quarter shots, but they don't go up to the height of the new scratches, too
bad! J
Certainly a well put together truck. I have side quarter shots, but they don't go up to the height of the new scratches, too
bad! J
Does George do v8 swaps for 62? Goerge is a lot closer to me than TOR.
Thanks
Thanks
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- #20
@orangefj45 ? I’ve sent a ping, he should respond in time. Or you can PM directly.