Ben's leg catching on fire,
Farvin grenading a front diff, and rear longside halfshaft,
and a little freelander tearing a transmission pan.

How could this year's Mid Atlantic Rallye get any better?
2 words,
Hurricane Isabel
Most of the rallye site was underwater last week as the James River rose, and all the Trails are slick, and exciting.
www.roav.org for details, and be there to hear "the dealer said these goodyear tires were great off road"
Its this weekend so if you have prior plans, break them; if you have to work- call in sick.

word

I will be there, 3 out of 4 years we have wrecked something. It is going to be REALLY fun watching all the stockers stuck up to the windows in mud. Remember 99?

hehehehe

might make it depending on how stupid I feel. Getting the truck pretty much back together for the first time in about a year. If I feel really dumb I'll drive out and bring a friend or two I'll try not to catch on fire this weekend. I have duty on friday so I won't be able to make it until saturday mid morning. Where are yall going to be camping? Up the hill again away from everyone? Well if so I guess I'll see you there remember it's the loud white d-90 with texas plates that everyone hates

-ben

I'll be there. Leaving Charlotte around lunchtime on Friday.

Wish I could, stuck in Chicago over the weekend. Do we know what the trails are like now -- 10 spline, have you been down? I'm assuming it's as nasty as the year the Island was submerged . . .

I think in 99 there was a hurricane a week or 2 before the event. Barf still had temp tags on his 90 and Fwank still had trac edge tires and a rooftop tent!

Anyway, this past weekend the island was still inaccessable (SP?) and many trees came down. Power line trail is all clay and slick as goose *$%&, and the log bridge had to be totally rebuilt.

Should be one hell of a good time, too bad you can't make it.

anyone planning a central point for meeting of pirate people? I know that last year a bunch of us were way up one of the hills I know how to get there but I have no idea where it is officially. Maybe tony knows. should be an interresting weekend still trying to finish up the truck wish me luck

-ben

Hows the truck, ben? what needs to be finished?

Last year, he rolled into DC on OCT 1, towing a trailer with all his worldly posessions, front driveshaft disconnected, and he wheeled the whole weekend with rear wheel drive

many laughs

Camp was at the top hay field -- pass the house, first right, up the trail 1/2 mile (stay right at the fork), up to first field, all the way at the back of the second field. That said, since I'm not going, I've no idea where they're camping this year :flipoff2:

Look for boyrico's truck (white 94 with 36" ssr's and quebec tags),Patrick's (10spline) Green Hunter or Frank's debacle of a disco (didn't you 'sleep' in the back of it?):D

OK guys. Anyone from this board PLEASE look me up out there. Silver DII w/ 35" SSR's and NC tag "NEEDNORD". PLEASE!

Hell, I wasn't going to make it down there this year, but I may have enough gas in the tank to make it. If I can it won't be until Saturday. Greg, I'll look you up.

Collin

Guys: My mother, Helen Harding is stranded in Lynchburg VA because her 99 VW Eurovan Camper broke down there ($5,000 to replace the transmission!!!), so she is attending the MAR with a guy named Jude who lives in Roanoke rather than hang around in a miserable hotel all weekend.

If any of you run into a 60 ish lady with an English accent, be nice and try not to get any mud on her. Don't worry about language though. She raised the seven of us alone, and can swear like a sailor. She's tougher than nails - even though she doesn't look it.

Seriously, if you run into her, let her know I (and you) are looking out for her. She's having a hard time dealing with the dealer and being stuck there.

Simon

well I'm probably not goingt o make it this year turns out that I got a place to live yesterday and I was expecting to get it next week but since we leave on tuesday I have to move in this weekend. But of course stranger things have happened so we'll see

-ben

soo, any photos from this weekend?

i'm not a red star, so you'll have to visualize.
Got there Friday night late, was on the trail (muddy ruts) for about ten minutes when i lost all steering. Climbed underneath, and saw that where my ball joint had broken at the threads inside where it threads into my welded/sleeved track rod. what fun. Tried several times to drill and screw into it so i could back it out and put on and old one that clicks and squeaks, but it wasn't happenin'.
SO i pushed the beast to the side of the trail and slept. The next morning i hiked back down the trail with another track rod, and was back in business in a flash, and a string alignment was all i needed. Then i got to winch a series III out of DEEP mud- I swear this guy was Farvin Re-incarnated. He was sitting in this mud pit cranking his engine, not once did he think to look at the mud that was above his dipstick... needless to say he had more mud in his crankcase than he had oil

There were several miles of fun trails, lots of cool used junk to be had (speedo head for the chicken which hasn't had a speedo in 2 years, a console schroud from an 88 so i get a cool lighty thing when i lock the t-case, and a rear wiper switch- must have items) The middie continues to be one of the most genuinely fun events that i attend, and is put on by some of the best rover people around.

PS: i heard brooks might actually drive one of his trucks!!!
will keep you all updated

There are some pictures up on the yahoo d90 list site.

It's been so long since I even saw either truck I'm not sure I'd recognize them

A great time was had by all, the weather was perfect and the trails were nice and gooey. This was the first time my wife had ever driven off road in her Disco or in anything. You couldn't miss her, Red 94 Disco with blacked hood, brush guard, Hellas and full of screaming women! I must admit she tore some shiznit up and then retired to the campsite to get loaded and run around naked with the rest of the rovergirls while the men were out night rovin (I wish I hadn't missed the naked part) Any way it is always a great experience no matter what expenses you may incur! And if another old fart tells me I can't make it through the Red trails in my Cooper 265 75 AT's I'm going to tie him to the bumper, drag him out there in the dark (three sheets to the wind) and prove him wrong ; several times!