Oak Ridge VA4WDA Annual Trail RunSep 21-23, 2007

Good wheeling, good people, good prizes and most of all a way to raise money for a good cause. The VA4WD Association annual trail ride and poker run has something for everyone!




I wasn't particularly ready to go on a trail ride this year. My Jeep sat in the driveway for the last month waiting for some fluid changes and a new roll cage, but I was unable to get all that done. I ended up just rinsing off the GW mud and packing her up to get out of town on Thursday. No time for maintenance!!

The weather was perfect and there was only a 20% chance of rain. As it turns out, it did sprinkle a couple of times, once in the middle of the night, on my face, because I pulled back the rain fly on the tent for some air!

As for the trails, they were dusty but fun. Our group was lead by Keith who was wrangled into the job and we had several folks from Beltway Jeepers in our group. There were some damage, including some drive shaft problems, bent tie rods, and other minor issues, and one big hydro locked engine (OUCH!). The only problem I had was when I tried to line up my passenger side to get on a rock and ended up on my tie rod and drag link, which promptly bent a bit. Not enough to hinder the ride home, but enough to be looking for a heavy duty after market replacement.




For the raffle this year I won a bookbag from Tom Wood's and a shop light. A friend from Beltway gave me a certificate he won for a tax prep next year! Yay! Maybe next year I could win some tires...or...maybe not.

Can't wait for the 2008 run!!!!

To see the photo album of this trip click here.

T4WD Annual RunOak Ridge Estates - Sep 21-24, 2006

This was probably the most rushed trip that I have ever had! I didn't have Thursday off and had to work overtime or go to school a majority of the evenings that week, so I actually packed up the weekend before. I was able to speed my way to Oak Ridge and arrived at about 21:30. My friends were nice enough to save me a place and lend me a light, so I got set up pretty quickly. That first night was in the low 40's and facilitated my head cold to worsen.

I wasn't really in the mood to do anything crazy this weekend, so I took a lot of bypasses and only did a few good obstacles. I rode with group five tailed by my friend Jay. The rest of the group was from 7 Hills Jeep Club, a very friendly group of people. They were sensible and had some really nice rigs.

Somewhere along the way I noticed a noise in the front end. It sounded like a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Turns out (thank you Paul) that it was a U-joint going bad; nothing that kept me from traveling home.

I am writing this several weeks after the trip and I have yet to get the Jeep cleaned or repaired. I've been so busy with work and school that I cannot find the time to do it.

And the picture above is the only picture of my Jeep from the entire trip. Being sick, I didn't take any pictures either, so it's my only picture memory of the whole weekend.

VA4WDA Annual RunOak Ridge Estates - June 15-18, 2006

We started this trip in the early afternoon on Thursday. Jay (and Armando), Keith (and Cheryl and Ethan), Dave P. and I all convoyed up together. We got there around 6pm and set up camp to enjoy a night of beer, DVD, and chat.

Day 2 started early with registration in the staging area. Somehow, Dave P. (Core) ended up being our trail guide. Things seemed to go smoothly as we registered and lined up. I think the most exciting part of Day 2 was Trail 2 and the hill climb. I managed to be the only Jeep to make it up the right side of the trail. No CLUE how that happened. It was a good day.

We wrapped up the night by watching the repairs, drinking lots of adult beverages, sitting around the tiki torch and having a wicked marshmallow fight!! Cheryl feared for her life when marshmallow-chucking individuals were falling over her tent! It got late...and the stars were beautiful.

Saturday was Day 3 and it started too early. I had developed a new wrinkle from lack of sleep. I felt bad, but kept moving. One of our first trails was Quarry. I had really been looking forward to this trail. I was excited about the large rocks in the river and the hill climb at the top. Both went well and the hill climb was a success, if not a bit crazy. I managed to make it though-with all parts in tact. It seems like I manage some sort of wheel in the air on each trip. Some mud and trails later, we arrived back at camp.

Saturday night was much the same as the last. We sat around the tiki torch, made smores, hit the adult beverages, listened to some music, and played toss-the-dollar-store-glow-in-the-dark-bracelette-thingee. Games were invented and hilarity ensued. There was a late night intervention with Aleve and water. Thank goodness! I hit the hay a little earlier tonight, in hopes of a better morning.

Sunday we packed up and headed home. I was happy to get home to my bed, but sad to end another weekend of fun.

Thanks to everyone who made the weekend possible and to everyone who spotted for me. It was great!

To see the photo album of this trip click here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.

9/23 - 9/24/2005 Oak Ridge VA4WDA Annual Trail Run

Oak Ridge was great! I'd like to know the final number of how many people showed up, but 247 Jeeps were registered. Thank goodness the trails were dry! Everything ran smoothly and kudos to the planners for a job well done.



Debbie, Jay, and I arrived Thursday afternoon. The VA Four Wheel Drive Association run at Oak Ridge did not start until Friday, so we had some daylight to kill. Jay headed to camp and Debbie suggested we head to Crabtree falls for a relaxing ride through the woods. And that was what it was. Everything went okay, but, as the day progressed, I noticed significant play in my steering. So much in fact, that it scared me to drive on those backcountry roads. I made a mental note to call a Jeep dealership early on Friday and get in there ASAP!



Friday morning we hit the staging area at Oak Ridge. (I called Jeep as soon as I got there and made an appointment in Waynesboro for 1pm that day.) There were A LOT of people there and there were impressive displays of all sorts of four wheel drive vehicles. We had stock and extremely modified vehicles. I just had a great time checking everyone's junk out. We got on the trails and had an uneventful day, which I had to cut short, leaving at 11am, to get to Jeep. Turns out my track bar was loose. I could kick myself for not checking my bolts before heading to the stealership. So, one hour of labor later, I was on my way back to Oak Ridge to hang out for the evening.



Saturday was even bigger than Friday!! Everyone was there!! The trail ride that day was great! We hit that one big rock in the river (I wish I knew the names of these trails...) and I went WAY over it this time. I got to a point on that rock and just thought, "Uh..maybe I shouldn't have gone quite that far over, okay breathe and go sllooww..." I made it over with this HUGE grin on my face. I wanted to do it again, but could not. The second obstacle that made me sweat was minutes from the big rock. The two larger Jeeps in front of me hit the bypass. I eyeballed the hill and said, "No way!" Cory (bless his heart) was behind me, in his relatively stock Jeep and said, "I'll do it!" Ooookay. So I pulled up and he handled it like a champ!! (Go Cory!) When I saw him, I knew I had to do it and I did, thanks to Cory's example!! After that, nothing posed a problem for me. I didn't get stuck at all and got over CJ-5 Hill on one try. I was sorry to see the day end.

On Sunday, I was supposed to hit GW to do some more wheeling with Lennox, but we were so tired, that we just headed back home. We got home about 1pm and were both beat, but the experience was worth it!

Thanks to all who worked instead of wheeling and those who took time from their busy lives to plan a great weekend.

To see the photo album of this trip click here or use the "General Photos of Stuff" link to the right.