MESA 4 WHEELERS HORN NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 MESA 4 WHEELERS HORN NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2015 Mesa 4 Wheelers, PO Box 107, Mesa AZ MESA 4 WHEELERS STAFF President Bill Mihailov Vice President Bob Nyberg Secretary Pat Jenkins Treasurer Ray Jenkins Corres. Secretary Hazel Hart Membership Lori Moore Editor Mike Drawsky Remembrance Gert Leible Trophies Clete Hruska Safety Chairman John Hart Publicity OPEN Next Meeting October 16, 2015 Third Friday of every month, 7:00 PM. NEW LOCATION: Bass Pro, 1133 North Dobson, Mesa, AZ (602) PRESIDENT'S CORNER Words from the Prez Roses R Red Begonias are NOT I m sure glad it s cooling off The days are no longer HOT I don t know about you, but I am glad it is finally getting to be that time of the year we can start to enjoy the trails and the beauty Arizona has to offer. As the seasons change, we the M4W, have been making some changes too. Our Media outreach and personal efforts to reach out to guests seems to be working! Let keep going forward! Mr. Bill.The Prez President REMEMBER WHEN? 30 years ago ASA4WDC Jamboree - The Trip October 12, 1985 With most all the four wheelers up and stirring around Saturday morning, the first thing in order is to get in line. Well, up comes the question of where is the line and which way is it headed? It seems a few speedy people have already lined up - guess what - the wrong direction. I wonder if Gary Keller helped get them lined up? Anyway, Myron goes to the head of the line and figures out what to do about 117 vehicles going the wrong way. Myron does a semi group circle and we re off down the trail. Myron does an introduction of position, vehicle and Club affiliation - good idea Myron. The introductions get all the way up to vehicle 11 when we have our first stuck vehicle. Fortunately, they unstick it quickly and on we go with the introductions only to be interrupted by other CB conversation concerning the loss of some mirrors and fender flares and remember we have just started the trip! Right away we realize this trip is going to be a stop and wait trip as the group is already spread out and some haven t left camp yet! As we enter Hagler Creek, a small bank waits to cash in on Dennis Noffz and does. Don t take it wrong Dennis, but when you re flying you don t need any more accelerator. Then the old yellow boat comes along rocking up the creek with both oars going, slipping off the bank. The good old roof rack protects the side panels from a tree. I even saw our Mad Russian kiss his roof rack! Then old gidd up go, belonging to Kirk, coughed and belched black smoke but made it anyway - want to buy a slightly used $350 Predator carburetor anyone? Soon it becomes too crowded to watch all the crazies pound their vehicles, so we move on. Finally arriving in the canyon where trees are real close together and big vehicles take an alternate route, well some anyway. Mike P. don t quit for nothing, no matter how many times he hits his roof rack. The tight turns and steep banks make an interesting area for all who took the main route. We traveled over numerous roads and in several directions. With time getting away, we spoke with Myron and got corrected directions for the way back to camp. A few of the Copper State Club joined our rush group back to camp, and I do mean rush. We hit camp about the time the main group came up to the spring.

2 Getting back to camp, we wasted no time setting up for the evening event to come and watched as the Copper State Club prepared a feast fit for kings - Boy, what a good meal. Hats off to the 4x4 Explorers for taking on the trip. Keith did an excellent job working with Myron to provide a good and fun route for a great number of 4 wheelers. Congratulations, good trip! Hec Ramsey Ray Jenkins CLUB TRIP REPORTS Pavilions Car Show Trip Leaders: Lee & Bev Coppage Date: September 26, 2015

3 Crown King Annual Fire Dept. Benefit Run Trip Leaders: Martin Bode Date: September 19, 2015 M4W Members in attendance: Walter & Gert Leible Guests in attendance: Dean Eddleman &?

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5 Dusy Ershim Trip Leaders: Mike Drawsky Date: September 14-18, 2015 M4W Members in attendance: Ray & Pat Jenkins, Dave Brown, Bill Murray, John Hart, Steve Fleming, Rob Hayton, Jack Gray & Bill Frank Guests in attendance: Ed Fitzpatrick, Matt Brown, Jim Hopper, Becky Antle, Rheal Tetreault, Malcolm & June Leslie, Andy & Gayle Sacio, Leo & Jodi O Campo Pete Engburg & Steve. ODE TO THE DUSY She is long and lean Tall and curvy From the north the Gate Keeper guards her beauty, While Thompson Hill protects, Always standing duty. 4x4 s beware; she ll lead you astray, Become complacent she ll make you pay. 33 s a minimum, lockers too, skid plates she ll bust Axles and drive shafts can be found in the dust. Play by her rules she ll open her doors Leading to lakes and their shores. So ask yourself how is this possible? The Fresno 4 Wheelers are responsible. Thousands of hours and many years later, 33 miles of hand built splendor. Care for her and be a good steward to help insure access for the future. Submitted by Steve Fleming Mesa4Wheelers. Sept Same starting point we began our 2011 Rubicon adventure! First night, Mini Cabin at Barstow/Yermo KOA campground. Lin & Gert join the Friday Dusy Caravan for breakfast at the Good Egg at Carefree & I-17. Rob left at 1 AM Friday morning and was able to catch up with us for breakfast in Barstow! Got Rob & Jim to pose for photo at rest area, between Barstow and Fresno.

6 Sunday breakfast at Yosemite Café in Fresno. The breakfast was arranged so we could meet and give thanks to some of those responsible for the trail construction and annual maintenance. Kneeling next to Jim, front row center, our trail guide Ed Fitzpatrick. Ed has been across the Dusy many times, by means of 4WD and hiking. Every summer he devotes a lot of his time working with the Sierra National Forest Adopt-A-Trail Program in preparing the trail for its annual August 1 st opening. At this end of the table, Mike s Death Valley gang, Jack Ross, Bill Frank and Dave Heffner. On this trail crossing, Ed volunteered to be Mike s co-pilot. About 5 miles west of Courtright Res., near the south end of the Dusy Trail, the group stops to take in this grove of Giant Sequoias. One of the last of the Dusy Ershim s trail builders, John Skadden with his daughter Sue. John is a lifetime member of the Wheel Drive Club of Fresno, the club that built and provides annual maintenance. The trail originated in 1956 when the Four Wheel Drive Club of Fresno blazed a trail through the back country from Badger Flats to Ershim Lake. The club continued on until eventually reaching Thompson Lake in In 1967, more progress was made as a trail was formed from Courtright Reservoir to the north end of Dusy Meadow. Finally, in 1968, the Four Wheel Drive Club of Fresno connected the two trails, completing what is now known as the Dusy Ershim Trail. While some are admiring the BIG trees, others are admiring Dave s resent BIG 5.7 Hemi transplant.

7 For some in our group, this was their first time seeing a Giant Sequoia! We were only able to stretch around half of this sequoia s circumference! Lost Canyon, looking south from Courtright Dam. The day that we arrived at Courtright Reservoir, the Rough Fire was still burning 20 miles to the south in Kings Canyon National Park. Smoke from the fire blanketed the skies from as far away as Fresno, 75 miles west of here.

8 Courtright Reservoir Jack, Mike & Bill engaging in some Monday morning conversation. Looking north at the dam, Courtright Reservoir looked nearly empty. Some of this was due in part to the draining of lake for dam repairs, but most was brought about by California s long term drought. First challenge, Chicken Rock! Ray and Pat nearing the top of Chicken Rock Monday morning at Voyager Rock Campground, Rob packed up his Jeep for our first day s drive on the Dusy! Bill & Jack making their way up Chicken Rock. Dave, Matt and Bill packing up their camping gear, preparing for our first day on the trail.

9 Just as our group of 16 vehicles made it to the top of Chicken Rock, the rain started to come down! For the next couple of days, the rain would drizzle on and off, making the run a bit more challenging! Jim crawling his way up Chicken Rock Steve, waving his hand out the window as his finished the climb to the top of Chicken Rock. Leo, nearing the top of Chicken Rock Jim, running on 39 Super Swampers, had no problems with ground clearance. He made it over this rock outcropping with little effort.

10 Bill & Jack selected the outside line, where the rocks were a bit more friendly! Leo & Malcom Rheal and Becky in their CJ5 crawling over one of the dozen or so log beds. Rob