Vermont Overland Trophy Challenge

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REDrum

REDrum

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Just in case you missed the roll-out last month on Expo....

August 2013: in two truck teams, 4 nights and 4 days of navigational and off-road driving challenges in the woods of Vermont.

http://www.vermontoverland.com/vot/

Entry is very limited, so if you want in, sign up fast.
 
I was all about this, read down through the whole thing..... looks like a ton of fun.

Until i saw the $495 registration fee. I understand there's a lot into planning an event like this..... but that seems a little bit... ridiculous. I guess you can sign up for just one day for $150 (for separate one day "events")....I can cruise class IV roads in Vermont for a lot less than that!

Will be fun for those that can afford it. :cheers:
 
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We have a two truck team heading up from florida. We are looking forward to it. I haven't been to Vermont in at least 30 years. I am taking my 60 and my buddy is taking his military d90 rover. I believe a few other cruiser guys are going also.
Hope to see a lot of toyotas up there.
Ed
 
I originally considered this and then I had a few thoughts-

I Wondered how the local 4 wheeling people in VT feel about this?
60 plus trucks competing against the clock in local unmaintained roads that are shared with
horseback riders, mountain bikers, hikers, moto xers and other offroaders?
I have to imagine that some moves were made to limit the traffic to these areas?

It's a cool idea, I'm sure tons of work went into planning it and I'm sure it will be a blast but one accident or altercation could lead to more problems
for our community.

Then $1,000 per team? Plus food, Plus gas and any other incidentals?

$495 x 60? Where does all that money go?
 
Allow me to retort....

Cost: $125.00 a day to "wheel" does seem like a boat-load of money. But for those use to participating in motor sports events it ain't too bad. Comparison:
  • Vermont winter rally is $85 (from dusk til dawn)
  • The Maya rally last year was $300 (approximately a week)
  • Most 2 day performance rally's in the northeast run somewhere between $800 and $1200.
  • And the Dakar runs approximately 25,000 euro for10 days (albeit that comes with meal plan for 5)
As for public acceptance, Peter (the owner of VO) utilizes all public class 4 roads, that are wheeled on regularly. And he is a VT land use attorney.

Its not a cheap weekend of wheeling but its the closet thing to the old Camel Trophy we gotz on the east coast. We are forgoing the New England Forest Rally to run it.
 
I guess to me I'm a little more blue collar and this exceeds what I would spend, but that's just me and we all have different budgets/perspectives.

I know who Peter is and what he does. I'm well aware of his struggles with the state of VT as well.

With him being an attorney I'm sure he must of thought about liability and has done some safeguarding to ensure public safety.

It's funny to me, I never really associate wheeling with the Camel Trophy though.

PS Coffee much needed....I'm an addict.
 
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Well I look at it as an experience for my son and I do experience some different terrain and bond in an exciting and beautiful environment. We wheel in Florida which is flat. It costs us twenty to thirty dollars a day to four wheel at an old dairy around here. $30 per if we camp out there. Add my wife and daughter, that's $120 per day. 120 times 4 ends up being around the same price as the Vermont entry fee and we get a dinner the last night. It is, of course, more then I want to spend but I think it is going to be a great experience. Ed
 
Mud Dawg,
I think it's awesome, just pissed i can't afford it this year!!! What a great way to spend a vacation with your family. If you guys have some extra days out side of the event scheduling, let "us" know, come closer to the event. We could hit some other trails, good restaurants/breweries, or just check out cruisers!
 
rain76king said:
I guess to me I'm a little more blue collar and this exceeds what I would spend, but that's just me and we all have different budgets/perspectives
Click to expand...

Right there with ya...its why they make Bud and Southern Tier....time and a place for each I'm trying to get off of the later....

rain76king said:
It's funny to me, I never really associate wheeling with the Camel Trophy though.
Click to expand...

Me neither, rather loosely related.

The other factor that makes the event attractive is the navigational element. My wife and I have been rallying together for 6 years; both stage and TSD. This event continues with the driver/navigator model we enjoy. While few would want to spend 4 days lost in the woods with ones wife, it works for us. And it is cheaper than couples therapy....
 
VT: I will definite like to hit some other areas up in that beautiful part of the country. We are giving ourselves extra time and are also trying to surf down in hatteras nc on our way
 
Sorry I didn't complete my post.

As far as the cost, no I am not looking forward to spend that much cash (plus the expense to get there) but it will be quite an experience for us and I am all for experiencing life and what it can offer. Spending time with my 19 year old son makes it worth it. I hope others will attend Or at least I get to meet some other cruiser guys on the way.
My team mate is bringing his d90 military rover and supposably we are riding up with a bunch of rover guys.
Ed
 
Who am I to say what something is worth to someone else?
It's obvious to me that you can't put a price tag on time spent bonding with friends and family.
I was only saying that the price for me was too high but I often spend money on things others wouldn't as well. To each their own.

What I was concerned about more so was the impact that VOT could possibly have not only on the trail system in VT but more so with the neighbors surrounding these roads.
VOT will introduce a lot of out of towners into these trail systems.
I feel like when you live in the region you wheel in, your a little more cautious about public perception and you know the trails (more than likely at least).
With the navigation part of VOT's challenge it's possible that some participants could end up in someones backyard, that as most of us have found out at one time or another pisses neighbors off a little.

Myself being someone involved in putting together numerous runs every year and our larger scale event (Fall Gathering) I always have concerns on our impact on the surrounding neighborhoods that are around the properties we enjoy.
I usually ask trail leaders to go below the speed limit when going through the neighborhoods and if you can hear your tires humming away more than likely a neighbor will as well.

I know we have the right to travel any of these roads and we can take the "screw them" type of mentality but that only aggravates most folks and really doesn't help our cause.

Instead of speculating and forming a opinion without having all the information I reached out to Peter (creator of VOT and owner of Vermont Overland) and this was his response-
--------------------------
Hi Bob:

These are all great questions. So good, in fact, that they prompted me to prepare a VOT FAQ page on our website: http://www.vermontoverland.com/vot-faq/. I think I've answered most of your questions there, but, if I didn't, please let me know. In the end, nothing we do is without risk and, as I'm sure you can understand, it's all too easy to get wrapped up in the possible issues that may arise during any off-road related event. Indeed, that's what prompted me to curtail VO to just the ORW for the past two years. But, in the end, I decided that I truly believe in adventure travel as something deeply positive for Vermont, especially in the wake of this horrible economy. Now more than ever, we need people to think outside of the box to promote healthy, vibrant, adventure-minded people to come and enjoy our state in new ways. That's really what VOT is all about. Touring VT in a unique, fun and family-friendly way and supporting our local economy all along that way.

Thanks and please let me know if this helps ease your well-founded concerns.
-------------------------

I read through the FAQ and it did answer a few of my questions.
There's always a concern of personal injury/liability and how people perceive our hobby/sport when we hit the trails.
I wish a good time for all of those heading out to VOT and look forward to hearing of your experience.

Bob
 
4 of us from GCLC have put together a team.

Expensive? Not really when you look at the costs split 4 ways, $250 each for the camping and trail access (I know the trails are "free" to use but gaining access to them - knowing where they are and how to get to them in an organized fashion - certainly has value.)

We struggled with the cost element too but being that this is a great way to spend a few days with some good friends out in the woods in our trucks we decided it was worth it. Hell, you can spend that much over a long weekend hanging out with your buddies in Myrtle Beach or down the shore.
 
Hey Mark glad to hear that you guys are making the trip up. We have at least two trucks registered for the event. Really looking forward to getting out and exploring VT.
 
We may be having some trouble keeping our team together - we have had some medical issues crop up. We are CONSIDERING selling our team position (at cost of course)

If anyone is interested please drop me an email at mark@woytovich.com

Mark
 
woytovich said:
We may be having some trouble keeping our team together - we have had some medical issues crop up. We are CONSIDERING selling our team position (at cost of course)

If anyone is interested please drop me an email at mark@woytovich.com

Mark
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Will you take $100 for it?
 
Our registration has been sold. Thank you for your patronage.
 
Pulled the HJ45 out of storage to get it ready for this event. The only major project remaining is the dual battery install. Everything else on the truck is coming together and working well.
 
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