Dedicated to Responsible Family-Oriented Four Wheelin' Fun

Job well done! Now get busy, and relax.
July 2010

So the dust is finally settling, and there is much to celebrate.  Big Bear Forest Fest XIII is in the history books, and can only be described as the Best One Yet.  The only way to top this year is to make things more smoothly next year. Plenty went wrong but the committee chairs and the members of this wonderful club handled everything. And our guests were unaffected.

I am looking forward to going over the surveys to determine what the general perception was, but judging by the e-mails we received it is overwhelmingly positive.  Many guests approached members to express their gratitude for such a well-run event. We should not come down on ourselves for any mix-ups or miscommunications, other than to say we need a more comprehensive plan and then stick with it, because everyone is making their decisions based on that plan. One change begets another and so on until you have what Mike coined, organized chaos.

I will leave it to Mike to cover the details at the meeting, but suffice to say that each year we creep up in the stats, and this year was no different. We got bigger, and 97.5% of the vendors were happy.

For the Month of July the club will be attending the Morongo 2nd of July Fireworks Spectacular, with a baked potato potluck. On the Third is Ken and Bubba’s Pool party BBQ. Run With No Sun, led by the Sloans, has been moved up one week to the 10th. Bill and Luana Henry will be hosting a party for members on the 17th. And finally on the 27th, Luana Henry is organizing the bi-monthly Ronald Mc Donald House IE4W / Cooking with Friends, where volunteers from IE4W and their friends provide a cooked meal for the residence.

There is no shortage of relaxing things to do this month with our friends and family of IE4W. Hope to see you there.

Proudly,

PDiddy

Mountains Members Vendors and Guests

It’s June!!! Time to roll out the red carpet, shine the rig, pack up the RV or tent, finalize planning and get to it!

But let’s not panic. Our BBFF committee chairs have been going nonstop since the beginning of the year to make sure everything is accounted for and in place for this years Forest Fest.  Every year I say that this will be the best one yet, and this is no exception. Snow Valley has been generous enough to allow us to use the kitchen for food prep and cleanup, the decks for the raffle, dining and hopefully an after party following the raffle if anyone is up to it and the weather cooperates.

We have new entertainment scheduled for dinner. The rock wall will be back. And we have a new vendor layout sure to facilitate the vendors and participants.

The committee chair persons will be looking for volunteers to help with their specific tasks and we are opening the site to all members Thursday night so we can help each other out getting the site ready for arrivals.

This month we go to a potluck format for the business meeting so we can focus on last minute preparations for the Forest Fest.

Not forgetting our runs for last month, Mike Petrarca led the Forest Aid run and campout from which I think he is almost completely thawed. Randy put together the Pre Run for Forest Fest which covered two days and being held in conjunction with Jeep Jamboree, we were able to spend the night in utmost comfort in the Animal House.  Joe Muhs led the Taboose Creek Campout, another in a list of scenic runs to get out and see Gods splendor.

We keep moving ahead and this month dive into our “Greatest Show on Earth!!!” no, someone already has that one… I guess I have to stick with the “Best Forest Fest Yet!!!”.

PDiddy

May 2010
Motorboats, donkeys and tequila

Amazing the conversations that go on around an IE4W campfire. In April, Tom and Sherie Thompson decided to host a run in honor of their 60th birthdays. True to the Thompson form they insisted that everyone around the campfire either had a birthday that week, month or year, and we sang happy birthday to everyone… Classy.  There was certainly no shortage of food at the potluck this time as several picnic tables were pulled together and were overflowing with goodness. Tom mentioned that the authorities only showed up twice. And once was to tell us to stop feeding the fire pits at 9:30. We probably would have gotten hassled for disturbing the neighbors except all the neighbors were, well, us and we were all there. And as for the title of this little missive, well you had to be there to watch the conversation evolve and, fall right in the gutter and flop around a bit.

Also at the end of April was our Adopt-A-Trail run led by Mike Petrarca.  He was frozen texting from the back of his SUV. The trails they ran included:
2N12 (blocked by snow),
3N80 Delmar Mtn.- adopted by Out 4 Fun (blocked by fallen trees)
3N10 John Bull – adopted by Waywegoes, and So Cal Broncos (blocked by fallen Trees)
3N69 Gold Mountain – adopted by West Coast 4x4 club and Bear Valley 4x4 (open)
3N03A Horsethief Flats – adopted by IE4W (open) 
This should make for an interesting Jeep Jamboree and Forest fest is not far behind.

The month of May will be busy as all get out with the Members volunteering as trail guides for Forest Fest getting out on the trails - some for the first time this year because of all the snow – and getting in some pre run time. From the looks of Petrarca’s trail report we might be doing more working than driving on this pre run, but it will be good to have such a large group to tackle the mess.

Joe Muhs is hosting a Taboose Creek Run on the 29th – 31st. Near Independence CA, Joe has billed this run as a nature walk from the comfy seats of your 4x4, and a chance to pass through the high country at a casual pace to take in the grandeur of the Sierras.

April 2010

Out of Control Control Arms

Sometimes the most durable bulletproof part on your rig bends or breaks… but most often it’s the stock part you have been putting off replacing.  A stock TJ control arm is more than durable enough for the street, but once you bounce one off a nice big rock or two, they will deflect, bend and in severe cases, buckle. If that happens it’s a matter of time before it flexes and due to metal fatigue, eventually break all the way through. If you are lucky enough to have someone on the trail with a welder, the engineering minds of the IE4W powderpuff run have a repair solution for you.

Men in dresses, wrenching on a rig, cutting metal and bonding it back together with a stick welder… It’s a beautiful thing. It was determined that a High Lift handle, cut to fit, pounded into the channel on the bottom of a re-straightened stock control arm and welded into place, will reinforce it better than new. Yet another way the High Lift jack is a wheelers best friend.

Kevin had his own control arm drama on the AAT work trip led by Mike Petrarca -apparently too chicken to put on a skirt like the real men of the club, Kevin didn’t attend powderpuff- but the damage was apparently minimal as he was able to finish the trail and drive home.

So what’s the point of this repair tip? Upgrade what you can and pack a spare for what you can’t, because April is another doosey. We have the Corral Canyon Run April 16th –18th led by Tom and Sherie Thompson in honor of their 60th birthdays.

Mike Petrarca is going to put members and guests alike to work on April 30th for weekend of tree planting for Forest Aid, where the wheelers and ATVers outnumber the greenie volunteers.

Check out our calendar at ie4w.com/calendar for the full scoop.

Forest Fest is shaping up to be the best yet if you go by popularity numbers. Our registrations are way up thanks to the efforts of Mike Moore and Carl Lhamon. Currently we are sitting on a 38% increase in registrations compared to the same time last year. The meal Saturday night is also a major draw looking at the 45% increase in adult meals and more than doubling the kids meals. So if you are not yet involved in BBFF then start thinking about what rolls you might like to help out with.

PDiddy

March 2010

Don’t Let Them Win!

It will be such a relief when I can open 4 Wheeler, JP, Four Wheel and Off Road, In Gear, American Motorcyclist or any of the numerous e-mails I get from BRC (Blue Ribbon Coalition) and ARRA (Americans for Responsible Recreational Access), and not see “Immediate action required, Government Land Grab!” Wilderness this, land closure that.

Looks like over 40 years ago Congress approved a survey of all public lands and designated 107 million acres that met the strict rigors of a specific new definition of “Wilderness.” So why do the anti-access groups want to designate more? Simply to keep all motorized vehicles out. The 1964 National Wilderness Act states that to earn a Wilderness designation the land must be “an area where the earth and it’s community of life are untrammeled by man,” and that “generally appears to have been affected by the forces of nature with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable.”  That literally means NO roads, dams, power lines, houses and/or bridges – nothing that shows any human involvement with the land.

HR 980 is called the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, which would designate 24 million acres of public land in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. That’s an area the size of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont combined. According to American Motorcyclist, what makes this even more outrageous is it does not even come from a Lawmaker in an affected state. Introduced by U.S. Reps Carol Maloney (D-NY) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) who also happens to chair the Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

HR1925 America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act would close 9.4 million acres in Utah. It was introduced by another New Yorker, U.S Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). If approved this legislation would close forever  areas around Moab, the San Rafael Swell and Chimney Rock. Popular with 4 wheel enthusiasts as well as ATV, dirt bike and even mountain bikers, this area clearly fails to meet the definition of Wilderness.

In congress anything can happen as was seen in last year’s Omnibus Public Lands Act- a 1300 page bill that was the combination of 170 land measures. The “Access Army” worked hard to defeat the bill by just one vote. Then, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) took a bill entitled The Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act and added the language from the already rejected Omnibus Public Lands Act. Senator Reid added a 1300 page amendment to a two-page bill that had nothing to do with each other and suddenly the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act would designate as wilderness more than 2.1 million acres in nine states, shutting out off-highway riders. Due to a parliamentary loophole, the new act only needed a simple majority instead of the two-thirds majority of those present as needed before, and passed easily. Sometimes I wish we could just throw the bums out.

On the lighter side we have runs to recount and some to look forward to.

In February Bob Peterson led the Annual Calico Presidents Day run, where the wash road leading back to camp rock was heavily eroded leading to RV carnage just getting there. And Randy took his Sister in Law who had never four wheeled before, where else… to Calico where, by all accounts, she did just fine. And many of the club members showed their support for the King Of The Hammers event.

For March we have Mallory Lhamon leading the Powder Puff run to Mottino Wash on the 13th. This trail has its share of obstacles and opportunities to show what a gal and her rig are really capable of.  Fellas you are welcome too… but if you are gonna get behind the wheel, you better throw on a set of strappy heels.  You never know who you might see on the trail. Buttercup or Biffalishious. It is sure to be a sight. And some things just cannot be unseen.

PDiddy

February 2010

2010 is off to a wonderful start. We have to mention again the New Years Run to Truckhaven with much of the standard notching, follow the leader and bombing up and down the washes, everyone had a great time. Steve Owen’s CakeFrog - or was it BullWalk- run was a blast with minor difficulties and no major breakage, everyone got back to camp before sunset.

For February we have the ever popular 9th Calico Valentine’s run led by Bob and Karen Peterson on the 13th and 14th. We will be camping in mule canyon at the camp rock spot. We will be running the canyons on Saturday and Sunday, then enjoying the campfire at night. Some of us will be going to Peggy Sue’s diner for Valentine's dinner.

January 2010

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy 2010, or as some have spelled it, “2100”.  It stinks when you have a can of gas, it’s New Years Eve, a pile o’ Christmas trees await their final fate, moments till the stroke of midnight and dyslexia kicks in. At least it wasn’t “20010”!

Our club has been really busy over the last month of the year.  The Christmas Party, where the pirate gift exchange was in some ways less savage than in years past, but in other more diabolical; Some things like gift certificates for nice restaurants get stolen over and over, while others got stolen kept and then traded afterwards. Wende and Kevin… you paying attention?

We had our Christmas parade in Yucaipa… our wettest yet. We took first place for best car club. Lets see those pansies in the convertible PT Cruisers top that. Not a sign of them this year by the way! We followed the Jazzercise gals this year, and if you missed Jim Sloan’s dancing… please don’t miss it on YouTube.com, just search “Boy’s got some moves”.

Super D led the Monthly Club Run. It was a magical snowy good time. Ron Burris led the Day After Christmas Run, and the Sloan’s Hosted the New Years Bash.

2010 will start with Steve Owen and his debut as Trail Leader with a trip to the Cougar Buttes area to run Bullfrog. If you have not run it yet… Don’t miss this trail. Chaun took us through it last year, and it was awesome.

I know how hard the economy has hit us this year. In fact I was not going to the New Years run this year because of the expense of the holidays, but after New Years Eve at home, and my birthday rolling in on Saturday the 2nd, I could not think of a better way to spend my birthday, than with my Family and my friends my club. So before sun up, I loaded the family in the Suburban, flat towed the Jeep to Truckhaven, and made it in time for breakfast.  We wheeled the snot out of the notches, and in the end, I thank all of you for the best birthday yet.

Here’s to a happy and PROSPEROUS 2010!

PDiddy

December 2009

Brrr. It’s cold in them thar hills.

So November has flashed by… and with it our annual Thanksgiving potluck goes down in the history books. I have not heard a lot of reports so perhaps everyone is still recovering. The rest of us who did not make the trek to Parker AZ had another opportunity to wheel Thanksgiving weekend, and many jumped at the chance. Billed as a impromptu trail run, with the possibility of a dusting of snow, I got the boys dressed warmer than usual and after checking the weather report, took off my purist medallion, and put the hardtop and doors on the Jeep.

Now this would have been a tremendous wheeling trip, but it turned out just getting to Big Bear was the real challenge. We had one Jeep slip off the road and hit a tree followed not long after with another member using his front bumper like a can opener on the front fender of a BMW.  The rest of the participants were already at Denny’s ordering their beverages when they got the call.  True to form everyone was up and out the door to assist. And assist they did. I had already pulled a Jeep out of a drift on the way up the Mtn, and it didn’t end there. In all I wound up pulling the Jeep, the newly ventilated BMW, A Chevy Dually and an F150 off of icy hills. The rest of the members acting as spotters and pushers, got 2-wheel-drive-non-chained vehicles literally slid around facing down hill where they could drive away on their own, and thanks to the hard work of this club, we got an atta-boy from the CHP for keeping the roads clear and not a single vehicle got dented after our own accidents. Pretty amazing, considering the icy conditions.

So we already have snow and we have not gotten on the trail. Super D is hoping to fix that for us this month. Scheduled for either the 13th or the 19th, hopefully the snow won’t be melted by the time we get there. I expect that this will be a good year for snow as the weather reports are already talking about our El-Nino forming up.

So this month is shaping up to be chilly and fun. The Christmas Party is on the 4th open to members and guests.  The Yucaipa Parade is on the 12th, which is members only, and we get to decorate our rigs and really shine.  Ron Burris will emerge from whatever rock he’s been hiding under to lead us on the day after Christmas Run, and for New Years the annual Truckhaven run.

Check out those heaters and long underwear… It’s gonna be a white Christmas.

PDiddy

Nov 2009
I made it through Calico unscathed.

It’s true. The trail that ate my axle shaft, Doran Canyon, tried to beat our group into submission, but it didn’t get anybody this year. I am not counting Scott Dilly’s break because he didn’t even get into the trail. We bypassed the gatekeeper and it was still the most challenging I have seen it yet and thanks to helpful guests and members, not to mention proper tow hooks and D rings those who could not climb after a few tries were helped out by a strap and drove on and finished the trail.  Thankfully we got back in time for the games and had plenty of time to prepare for the potluck.

IE4W events like these are not to be missed except by those lonely few who wind up taking solace in another groups arms to drown their sorrows. OK maybe a bit dramatic but the families who attended were treated to some of the best chili this side of the Mississippi not to mention the other delectable’s found on the potluck line. My bacon wrapped scallops never even made it to the table, being consumed by the patient folks in line. They always were best as appetizers anyway.  And always better than a Snickers bar left on the dashboard all day… kind of squishy, know what I mean?

This, alas, was but a warm up to the premier eating event of our calendar. While we have many notable potlucks throughout the year, what approaches this month is a gastronomical delight which will fill the hungry tummies of four wheelers lucky enough to attend the Parker AZ Thanksgiving run. Not only is there spectacular wheeling, enough to fill a week, but the Club has outdone itself each year with the Thanksgiving potluck. So leave the skinny jeans at home, grab a set of sweat pants and mark your calendars for Nov 23rd through the 26th.

Also in November is a day run to Mottino Wash with Sam Wiseman on the 14th and the quarterly AAT meeting at the Corona Sizzler on the 18th. These and other happenings are on our club calendar at http://www.ie4w.com/calendar.html.

Above all else, just get out there and have some fun. Christmas is just around the corner….

PDiddy

October 2009

If it’s called common courtesy, why ain’t it so common?

I just love our local mountains. The San Bernardino National Forest offers great trails within an hour from our club’s home base. And possibly that’s why we see so much mixed use on many of our trails.  Case in point; Randy’s overnight in September. A truly beautiful day starting from Lake Arrowhead, through our adopt a trails and down to devils hole, before heading up 3n34 for lunch at Deep Creek before our ultimate challenge and goal, the waterfall at Dishpan Springs.

For many of us who have climbed this obstacle many times we understand how our vehicles will behave and handle the climb. Mike Moore knows that his rig is just too top heavy for his liking and after standing his Jeep on the spare tire, chooses to take the serpentine route. The rest of the members and guests lined up and began to sweat trying to decide which route they would take. There were already some rigs sitting at the bottom when we arrived trying to decide if they really wanted to attempt this widow maker.

Now as a motorcyclist, I understand the desire to get around the slow moving traffic. But what happened after lunch next defies belief. While lining up a Jeep at the base of the obstacle, a dirt biker decides to try and get around on the right side of the trail. He had not been waived through and the Jeep was still in motion.  Well he stalled it after bouncing off a couple of the rock outcroppings and almost went down. By down I mean almost slid under the Jeep he just tried to pass. I commented “you probably should have waited huh?” and all I heard from the top of the obstacle was Randy saying “That’s karma dude. That’s karma”. So somehow he backs his bike back down without scratching the Jeep he almost got eaten by. This time he waited for all of the vehicles to clear the obstacle before he tried again. He even asked if I had a spare bolt because he broke his lower shock mount and was holding the shock to the swing arm with a screwdriver pushed through the holes. Trying a challenging trail like that in an aggressive manner around other vehicles with band –aided equipment… Just makes you wonder.

So I came across the Blue Ribbon Code of Ethics -similar to the one I use with Tread Lightly training- and it bears reprinting here to refresh our memories of courtesy that should be much more common.

BlueRibbon Coalition Code of Ethics

1. I will respect the rights of all recreationists to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. I will respect public and private property.
2. I will park considerately, taking no more space than needed, without blocking other vehicles, and without impeding access to trails.
3. I will keep to the right when meeting another recreationist. I will yield the right-of-way to traffic moving uphill.
4. I will slow down and use caution when approaching or overtaking another recreationist.
5. I will respect designated areas, trail-use signs and established trails.
6. When stopping I will not block the trail.
7. I will not disturb wildlife. I will avoid areas posted for the protection of feeding wildlife.
8. I will pack out everything I pack in, and will not litter.
9. I realize that my destination objective and travel speed should be determined by my equipment, ability, the terrain, weather, and the traffic on the trail. In case of an emergency, I will volunteer assistance.
10. I will not interfere with or harass others. I recognize that people judge all trail users by my actions.
11. As a motorized trail user, I will pull off the trail and stop my engine when encountering horse back riders (it is also a good idea to take off your helmet and greet the riders).

September 2009

Wow, what an August! Pismo went off without a hitch with over 70 people participating in the potluck. Jason Stockberger learned the definition of leeward side of a dune…
”The prevailing winds that blow in from the ocean push sand particles up into wave-like crests that run north-south. On the west or windward side the slope is gentle. On the east or leeward side the slope is quite steep. Sand grains, as they are blown over the dune crest tend to accumulate high on the leeward slope; then, periodically thin tongues of sand slide down. For this reason the leeward slope is called a slip face.” 
Jason taught us it IS possible to break an axle in half at the cast pumpkin, winch onto a trailer with fenders without tearing them off, and be extracted from the bottom of a sand bowl by a stock Dually, daisy chained to 4 Jeeps and a Toyota. Steve Owen taught us that to truly “drive it like you stole it” you have to hand over your keys to your blind-to-a-relationship/emotionally-inept” brother. Sam taught us it’s not how much wood you use it’s how high you stack it.  And finally, we learned that no matter how many people we rescue and retrain, there is always another dummy who is ill prepared for what they got themselves into and can seriously use the help of this awesome club.

Mike Moore also led the inimitable Dusy / Irshim trail which, even though they had mild carnage, had the time of their lives judging by the trip report. If that didn’t make you regret missing this one of a kind trail, you are as emotionally barren as Steve’s brother.

The Installation Dinner has been planned and Dani Goldberg has picked us a new venue and has been planned for Saturday September 19th 7:00pm - 11:00pm at Coffee Depot, 3204 Mission Inn Ave. Riverside, CA 92507.

September Runs include Randy Stockberger is gearing up for the Overnight run through our mountains and even with the new fire restrictions should be an awesome time. Sam Wiseman has planned our AAT work trip for this month, and the Fun In The Desert at the end of the month as well so be sure to check the calendar at www.ie4w.com for the latest.

Lastly I would like to thank all the members and guests of this fabulous club for making the past year as rewarding as it was challenging.

PDiddy

August 2009
Club Rescues

Well it has been another tremendous month.  The Big Bear Forest Fest committee held their wrap meeting to go over some lessons learned from this past Forest Fest, and the surveys played no small part in this discussion.  This year being the first time we have given out surveys to participants, we received many good constructive criticisms as well as tons of complements. I think we will be seeing some big improvements in our Forest Fest as it evolves into and even more professional event.

The Sloans led the night run to Pontiac loop, and while we got off the trail in the early hours of the morning, it was still an awesome run with what I think is a new record in number of rigs participating.

As I write this I am home for over 48 hours following our August Pismo run and am still not unpacked.  I will likely go into more detail in next months message, but suffice to say that the families and friends of IE4W, and the lucky ones we came across who found themselves at the end of a strap being rescued during this trip truly know the diehard get’R’done spirit that this club exemplifies.  But they are not the only ones who are rescued at these events.  Every time I am able to get out on the trail with this club. Whether we are behind the wheel, sitting around a campfire or enjoying the latest creations placed on the potluck table, I feel I am also rescued.

From Mirriam-Webster.com
Main Entry: res·cue  
Pronunciation: \ˈres-(ˌ)kyü\
Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): res·cued; res·cu·ing
Etymology: Middle English rescouen, rescuen, from Anglo-French rescure, from re- + escure to shake off, from Latin excutere, from ex- + quatere to shake. Date: 14th century
: to free from confinement, danger, or evil : save, deliver as a : to take (as a prisoner) forcibly from custody b : to recover (as a prize) by force c : to deliver (as a place under siege) by armed force.

Two other words are synonyms of rescue and are included in this definition; save and deliver.  “Deliver implies release, usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering”. “Save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.”

Release from confinement, slavery or suffering? Preserve for usefulness or continued existence? Indeed I am rescued every time I get together with members of this awesome club.

PDiddy

July 2009
Presidents Report

Wow.  That word is so small but means so much when used to describe this club and the Forest Fest. Lets look back at what will go down as our best Forest Fest yet.

270 guest vehicles plus members adds up to 750 people and 788 meals served. 103 motor homes, 59 trailer/campers, 47 tents, and 64 guest vehicles staying offsite. Wow!

We implemented a survey form this year so we can document some of the challenges and also bask in the areas where we excelled. We learned a lot this year about growing vendor areas and the challenge of trying to make them happy while clearing room for the dinner and raffle. We will have a lot to discuss at the post Forest Fest meeting and I know we will be able to iron out some of this years wrinkles, only to find new ones. But every year we have been more proficient and above all concerned with the people who sign up year after year to come up and play with us. This is what keeps them coming back, drives the word of mouth advertising we enjoy and allows us to be so generous in giving back to the trails and local charities.

I am humbled by the Herculean effort put forth each year to stage what has become known as the preeminent four wheeling event of the year.

It’s like looking over a grand view or even a beautiful sunset at Pismo, overwhelmed by the magnificence, if I can muster any words at all… It’s usually Wow.

PDiddy

June 2009

Excitement fills the air. Jeeps lined up 25 deep. Anticipation of the adventure that lies ahead. The Big Bear Forest Fest is just a few short weeks away and it looks like by the 1st of the month we are sold out. Vendors making their final preparations to put their best foot forward for the guests have shipped all manner of prizes for the raffle. The kids raffle is in full swing, as shopping trips are scheduled and prizes for the smaller wheelers are rounded up. Members scramble everywhere to finalize programs, food orders, facilities arrangements, lighting, sound, entertainment; Bob Fosse would be proud of this production.

But the excitement is tempered by our losses. Bodo’s wife Barbara, whom he had dated since High School passed mercifully into God’s hands, and the turn out of members, friends and family members to her memorial reflected what a wonderful person she was. 4 Wheeling also lost an ardent supporter in Art Royce on May 31st. He passed away at his home in running springs; the set of several scenes in the show On The Rocks that featured several club members. He leaves behind quite a legacy in film and TV, and with the show On The Rocks, hoped that he could make a difference in keeping trails open and spreading the excitement for 4 wheel adventures that had consumed him once he got a taste.

Within the club, we share many threads between us. Each one as delicate and as precious as a thin gold necklace; and just as susceptible to breakage. Life is short and as Barbara and Art have shown us, it can be pulled away way too soon. But their lesson should be to minimize time wasted on the trivial disputes that sometimes distract us from the things we should be doing. Things like spending as much time as possible with family, enjoying the things that truly make you happy, things that bring others around you joy, because knowing you brought happiness to the world, even within a close circle of influence, is a true measure of someone’s life. I feel blessed to have known such people of greatness.

PDiddy

We Cannot Passively Stand By

May 2009

Land closures have long been an issue for 4 wheelers.  We have fought hard for our local lands and are in fact embroiled in a very important land grab going on in Johnson Valley.  Sadly there are only 199 members on Friends of Johnson Valley (FOJV.org), and other avenues have been underutilized to show the powers that be, that we are a large group involved in protecting our public lands, while keeping them open for everyone.

I’ll admit that in the past I ignored most of the notices from land access groups appealing for help in keeping distant lands open because they were just not near me.  Well I have stopped.  It’s time for all land users to join together and respond in loud voices that we cannot have any further land grabs. Hopefully they joining us in our fight for Johnson Valley.

We all know the arguments against further closures and some of them have been addressed in the below response to Congressman David Dreier to oppose H.B. 980

May 4, 2009

Dear Congressman Dreier,

My family has very much enjoyed the recreational opportunities afforded them by the ATV's and Jeep vehicles I own.  I am a responsible user of these machines and am training my children to also be good stewards of the environment. I have been waiting for them to grow up a bit more before we take a vacation to these threatened public lands. What will happen to the businesses at and around the destinations, not to mention along the way, who benefit from tourism dollars? Dollars that are spent in our economy. 
We should be encouraging travel and recreation within our borders because it supports the economy.

Closures such as the one being considered in H.R. 980, limits access from the many to the very few and able bodied.  My son has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and can't walk far but he can operate an OHV safely, which allows him to get into the backcountry without damaging the ecosystem by remaining on established trails.

And what of our retired senior citizens?  I am one of many who look forward to retirement and the freedom to travel this great country.  At an advanced age it is more difficult to access wilderness areas by traditional manual methods, and I have seen my Grandparents give up on travel plans because they could only view the sights from a distance, and "May as well just see them in a photo." as Grandma said, while other able
bodied people can enter the areas at will.

(The remainder of the letter came from an automated letter generator from the AMA)
As a constituent and concerned motorized outdoor recreationist, I am writing to ask that you oppose H.R. 980, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA). H.R. 980 will designate 24 million acres as Wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

By designating over 24 million acres of new Wilderness, this would close all trails to responsible motorized access in these areas.  The closure of these trails will be devastating to many friends and families who recreate together responsibly.

We cannot afford to close any more trails to responsible motorized recreation without providing alternative riding opportunities. Therefore, I ask that you oppose H.R. 980.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.

Sincerely,

George Biddlecombe

When the wrong way becomes the right way
April 2009

One of the benefits of belonging to a group of wheelers is having people with whom to wheel.  Usually this means being shown an area that others have a great deal of experience with… but sometimes, it means having a general idea of where you are going and discovering the trails as you go.  Occasionally, you might even get lucky; even though your trail leader has pre run the new area, you might miss a turn causing you to run the trail in the opposite direction, revealing new challenges even for the trail leader.

One such run was the clubs trip to Corral Canyon near Campo CA. An awesome weekend of wheeling and likely the funniest campfire I have had the privilege to attend.  With home base set up in a campground, we had all the power and water we could handle and for some… more water than they needed or necessarily wanted.  The wheeling was legendary, and I nominate Tom Thompson for a fine for being a local and never bringing this area to our attention.

The month of April brings us more opportunities for legendary wheeling with the 43rd running of the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah April 4th – 12th, and the annual Burro Schmidt Tunnel run, April 25th and 26th, led by Larry Long. It will be another month of adventure, as we gear up for the Big Bear Forest Fest in mid June.  It is coming up fast so if you have not signed up for a job or trail position, please do so soon.

PDiddy

4 Wheelers Are Good Stewards Of The Environment
March 2009

Off Road Competition has been a divisive issue in the 4 wheeling community for many years, and in today’s climate with Enviro-Nazis looking for any excuse to limit access to our favorite areas people are hyper sensitive about negative publicity.  It was not always this way, but recently when a club member expressed concern about the extreme wheeling videos which are coming out of the King Of The Hammers competition, everyone had to take a step back and take a look from another viewpoint. As a Tread Lightly! Trainer I am keenly aware of negative publicity our sport generates via personal videos on the web and magazines looking for that action shot to put on the cover. 

King Of The Hammers is an organized competition, just like SCORE racing and King Of The Desert is held in open areas with required permits.  This year KOH organizers held a voluntary cleanup on Saturday, and to be honest, when we left camp on Sat morning to run Clawhammer, I didn’t see much trash lying out anyway.  There wasn’t much on the trails either. Contrast this with the photo’s coming out of the Inauguration of President Obama. The mall and streets of our nation’s capital were completely covered in trash; empty coffee cups, water bottles, food wrappers, gloves, blankets, scarves, newspapers, sign cards and even American flags were shown strewn about and according to the Washington Post, at least 130 tons of trash was hauled away.

In any group you will find your bad apples, but just as NASCAR does not increase highway deaths, competition rock crawling does not increase damage to the trails.  If we remain good stewards of our environment, we can demonstrate the difference between competition and recreation.  As a whole OHV users and 4wheelers have proven to be more conscientious about the environment, but only by questioning what we see and taking a look from another angle can we make sure that we present the very best face to the general public, educate others and make sure that our open areas remain open areas.

A MONTH OF ROCKS
February 2009

What a month we had in January!  IE4W rang in the New Year with flair in Truckhaven, supported the Friends Of Johnson Valley meeting at Means Dry Lake, and Chaun Goldberg led us on a spectacular new trail, Bullfrog.  We were lucky enough to have one of the creators of the trail along with us, Mike Koher from Bear Valley 4x4 and LOST JEEPS - So Cal; he was able to help pick out some optional lines and point out areas of significance along the trail. Chaun, thanks for leading this outstanding run.  Several members and guests decided to make a weekend of it, camping on the lakebed, so on Sunday, we ran one of the milder trails in JV, Lower Big Johnson.  Always a great chance to test rig and driver, the Hammers trails are a true test of your “mettle”.

February has more opportunities to test yourself in the rocks.  Bob Peterson will be leading his Presidents Day weekend run to Calico.  This is a run not to be missed, with lots of challenges for the beginners as well as emerging “big dogs”.  The nearby Calico Ghost Town also has had Civil War reenactments on site, and is full of history from its past as a mining boomtown.
King of the Hammers will be run in Johnson Valley the last week of February, and Saturday Feb 28th is Brad Lark’s Hammers BBQ Cookout.  He was “Cookie” on the show On The Rocks, and definitely knows his way around a grill.

Also, our Scholarship Committee has posted on the website the announcement for the IE4W Scholarships. Two $1000.00 scholarships will be awarded for high school Seniors who will be attending college in the fall semester. While the application is designed to be less than a cakewalk, the only qualifying requirement is that they or their parent(s) hold a current membership in a 4-wheel drive club and/or Cal4Wheel. Great Job Carl and Mallory, and Tracey Rivas, thanks for your help in getting the scholarship started.

This is truly a club interested in not only its present members and the sport of 4 wheeling, but also the future.  W.B. Yeats once stated, “Think where a man’s glory most begins and ends, And say that my glory was that I had such friends.” Amen to that.

PDiddy

Happy New Year!
Jan 2009

Well the holidays are over and its time to haul out the boxes and put away the decorations till next year.  Never uneventful, December brought us The Yucaipa Parade hosted by by the Sloans, in which we took 2nd place; Hammers 101 led by Tim Kemp; The day after Christmas run led by Ron Burris, and lastly, to ring in the 2009 year, our annual Truckhaven Run out by the Salton Sea, organized by Jim Sloan, which is to include a potluck dinner and a pancake breakfast.

In January, not to be outdone, Chaun Goldberg will lead the club into Bullfrog, a newly opened trail as part of the Friends of Johnson Valley event.  Those of you who attended the Scoping Meeting held by the Marines at three different locations in December know that they have been somewhat receptive to our input and another show of force will likely go a long way to show them that this area is used, a lot, and is irreplaceable.
Another event in January that has attracted some attention is the Quartzsite Sports, vacation and RV show. Held each year, it is billed as the largest show of it’s kind, just 1/2 mile South of I-10 on Hwy 95, at 700 S. Central in Quartzsite AZ.  Attending members in the past have often found excuses to lock their vehicles in low range and explore the local terrain without the stifling heat common to the area in summer.

Keep an eye on the club calendar for more information on these and other events. It will be a busy New Year.

PDiddy

An eating club disguised as a 4 wheeling club
Dec 2008

As I write this, the first drops are falling of what has been promised to be the first big storm of the season, the Club is preparing a feast like no other in Parker, AZ for our annual Thanksgiving Feast and Wheeling Run, and, with enough hard-core trails to keep wheelers entertained for an entire week, it is amazing that we can pull everyone out of their vehicles to sit down together and feast.  But keep in mind; this is no ordinary turkey dinner.  Coordinated by Terri Patterson, fried turkeys, stuffing, casseroles and sides; a meal fit for a king, devoured by members and guests alike, it is truly a spectacle to behold. 
Now that December is upon us and that feast is finally digested we can look forward to the Christmas Party on December 12th, organized by Tammy Clay with, you guessed it, more potluck fabulousity.  December 13th is the Yucaipa parade. Open exclusively to members, we get a chance to decorate our vehicles and really shine, and perhaps indulge in one of Jim Sloan’s gourmet Slop Burritos.  December 20th-21st is Tim Kemp’s Hammers run where the rocks may dine better on vehicles than members on food, and of course New Years eve at Truckhaven organized by Jim Sloan, where wine and cheese and perhaps some bacon wrapped scallops will fill bellies around the camp fire, and likely a pancake breakfast.  It’s a full month of events, wheeling and friendship…and of course, food.
Hey look at that, it’s coming down a little harder now… I’m thinking, snow run!  Right after another leftover turkey sandwich.

PDiddy

All 4 Wheelers Welcome
Nov 2008

Surfing the web or thumbing through magazines for 4x4 related info, it is hard to dismiss the preponderance of  Jeep vehicles.  While there are articles on everything from TRARS (Frankenstein like creations lifting a car on a truck frame) to the occasional crossover SUV build up, everywhere you turn are tech articles and parts for Jeeps.  This gives the Jeep owner a wide selection of parts to choose from to build up their vehicles to fit their own style of wheeling.  From low stable lifts and tall tires to tall stiff lifts with… gulp, 22 inch wheels and low profile tires… about as functional as handlebars on a unicycle.
Our club is made up of mostly Jeeps, built in every functional configuration possible.  But as the Samurai Mafia will quickly point out we’re not all Jeeps.  Tim and Darryl are yelling at the page right now, reminding no one in particular that we have some pretty well built Toyotas as well. Which brings me to my point this month.  We are a diverse club, with a population of vehicles that seemingly reflect the market.  While there are clubs catering specifically to a brand or model, the members in this club gather to share a common lifestyle… 4 wheeling.  A better term than off roading which always generates visions of hooligans ripping through a pristine meadow, or running roughshod all over a hillside, scarring the terrain with ruts that last a lifetime, 4 wheeling describes to me trail running in all seasons… though I have also been busted calling what we do “Jeeping”, at a Toyota demonstration of all places.
Recently I heard of some hard feelings that embarrassingly got back to the club via another popular bulletin board.  You need a thick skin to run with this club, but everyone is welcome.  Our vehicles are just as diverse as our membership, and while not a good fit for everyone, once you get past the exterior, you’ll see that there are 4 wheels, a transfer case and a driver with a big heart.
Is there benefit to being a member?  YES! Sure, guests are welcome to go on the regular runs, if that’s all you want is tour guides, but membership goes far beyond not paying for the installation dinner or Christmas party, or attending the parades and other events the club might be asked to participate in.  It’s having the opportunity to lead a club run and test your own abilities.  It’s knowing that if a disaster occurs, or a fire breaks out near your home, people are already in motion making contingency plans and offering assistance.  It is a sense of belonging.  It’s a community that looks out for one another, and all are welcome at the campfire no matter what you drive.

PDiddy

Friends, Fun and Family
Oct 2008

That’s what IE4W means to me.  Case in point; Randy’s overnight trip. Someone (me) breaks and Randy and Paul Rivas, winch the me to the top and then turn to the task of getting everyone else up the hill.  Other members formulate a plan for repair, and while Al Auerbach runs me down for parts, Robert Wise and his boys hang out to make sure everything is still there when we get back and even begin removing the broken parts so all we have to do is start installing when we arrive.  Al and Robert work on the front end while I replace the drive shaft fixed with discounted parts from Rick’s shop and Al’s welder (which he loaned me last winter and I still have), and I am escorted back to the road and loaded onto the Jeep trailer Rick loaned me.  Not one to miss out on the fun, with a couple hours left until sundown, we said our goodbyes to Robert (who was only out for the day due to his work schedule) and Al and I headed up the mountain to join everyone in camp.  And what a campfire we had too.  I am glad I didn’t miss it.
Many of us have stories of rescues and being rescued, and that’s what being a member of this club means.  Visitors are always welcome at our table, and no one is left behind. That’s a family.

Future opportunities for “friends, fun and family” in October include Leslie Auerbach’s Autumn run through some trails not often run by the club and a chance for the rest of us living in the valleys to experience actual season changes. Rick Clays Calico Scare-fest some have dubbed “Hallowheel”, always has some truly challenging trails for the stockers through the well-built experienced wheeler.  In November the annual Mojave Trail Run led by Bodo Papenfuhs and Tom Perkins winds from Laughlin Nevada to Barstow California.  And finally, Thanksgiving in Parker AZ at the La Paz County Campground.  All of these events and more can be found on our club calendar on IE4w.com.

I look forward to another tremendous year.

PDiddy