Okay, so the "Ultimate Tour" didn't live up to everyone's expectations. So, howsabout we do one of our own. Start planning NOW for spring/summer/fall of 2002. I say we START it in the Southwest, meander East/Northeast, then wind back West/Northwest to finish up in the Fall. We'll encompass EVERY conceivable type of terrain (Desert, Mountain, Mud, Sand, mild, wild, etc, etc). People from each region will be responsible for setting up a run in their area, on the type of terrain they want featured. The Mag can decide who to bring for the whole thing, but locals would be involved at each particular stop.

I'll start:

June 22nd & 23rd, 2002 in Central, MO. AR or OK needs to be at least a couple of days earlier, or up to a week earlier. TX before that, NM before that, AZ or NV before that, etc. After the 23rd of June, the tour could go to KY, Western TN, GA, NC, etc. up the East Coast, then back West through PA, OH, IN, MN, Dakotas, MT, ID, WA, BC.


Who's in?


TEX

That long of a trip is going to be spring/summer/and fall of 2002. But when it comes though Nevada on the way to the Con, I'll be ready.

Man that would sure be a BLAST. I'd love to do something like that, if time and money will allow it. In a West to East direction, we could hit the Hammers (CA), Highway to Hell (AZ), Proving Grounds (UT), Die Trying (CO), then head further East into the abyss of mud. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: Lance ]

Originally posted by Lance:
<STRONG>then head further East into the abyss of mud. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

</STRONG>

Abyss of mud, bahahahahah! Good one.

Yeah, the trip would be too far for one group of people - except for the journalist/vendor types. But, I figured the POR types could take part in the various stops along the way. For example, if you or your club were to make all the arrangements for one of the stops, that would entitle you to take part in some of the OTHER stops <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">


TEX

Originally posted by Lance:
<STRONG>Man that would sure be a BLAST. I'd love to do something like that, if time and money will allow it. In a West to East direction, we could hit the Hammers (CA), Highway to Hell (AZ), Proving Grounds (UT), Die Trying (CO), then head further East into the abyss of mud. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">
</STRONG>

Call it "The Endless Trail" ... kind of a take off on the Endless Summer movie. Now if I can just talk a Holywood type into sponsoring me and another 4 or 5 into a year of wheeling! <IMG SRC="smilies/cool.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by paniolo:
<STRONG>Now if I can just talk a Holywood type into sponsoring me </STRONG>

Or, how about a video production company that does 4-wheeling tapes?


TEX

if my jeep is road worthy, i may be able to actually take a month off work and get it.. I have another guy that should manage it also.. we have talked about it allready, but we werent planning on going further west than OK. Heres a little known local fact.. NC actually now has 4 OHV areas. there is tellico, uwharrie, carolina beach, and the croatan. the croatan is the big mystery, and it is all mud...very very deep..were talking chevy duallies with 6 44's disappearing past the hood. if we could meet in ok, i could easily guide through all of NC as i have been to each of these places many times.(croatan is 4 miles away). I also have room for 4 people in my house for any wheelers passing through(it's on base, so behave)

...This would be sweet. May I remind you, that you are forgetting one very important terrain... Snow. <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> ... Alaska or Yukon would be a good stop somewhere along there... <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

What would be nice is a BIG, national level title sponsor that will cover the WHOLE concept, so some of that money can be distributed to the local events involved in the 'series' to assist with local marketing... I think it'd be great!

...Run like a local rockcrawl/mudbog contest too? With spectators and stuff?

You'd need to do some type of year book (for lack of a better term) plus the video. That many trails would be one long movie.

Originally posted by ColdNorthToy..:
<STRONG>

...Run like a local rockcrawl/mudbog contest too? With spectators and stuff?</STRONG>

Actually, that is exactly what is planned for my leg of the tour <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

TEX

Originally posted by BrianR:
<STRONG>That many trails would be one long movie.</STRONG>

Actually, it would be a whole series of videos. For example, one video could be nothing but carnage highlights from the various runs/events. One could cover all the mild "camping type" trails. And some trails/events would warrant their own dedicated video.

TEX

if you guys want this to be a big vendors thing, and are serious.. someone should drop rick pewe an e-mail....

Just emailed the thread to Pewe. They could even do a monthly article like "Where they went this month."

I volunteer to Organize a TX trail run and the Clayton, OK part <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0">

Well if you want to wait another year, I am in for the summer part. I will be a teacher, so I get summers off. I am all over this, as I think it will be a blast.

Dimitri

must sell more glitter....need to go on wheeling adventure <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by camo:
<STRONG>must sell more glitter....need to go on wheeling adventure <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>


ba hahaha, just put the glitter on your ride, you can write the trip off through the company <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

you could paint it <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0"> with glitter all through it.... youd be the true <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0"> warrior

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: badassjeepguy ]

Originally posted by elusiv:
<STRONG>Heres a little known local fact.. NC actually now has 4 OHV areas. there is tellico, uwharrie, carolina beach, and the croatan. </STRONG>

I've done Uwharrie. Very nice area. Watched Mark Hall roll his Baby Blazer on Dutch John.

Originally posted by TEX:
<STRONG>Or, how about a video production company that does 4-wheeling tapes?


TEX</STRONG>

try http://www.thrust1.com/ for the west, anywere near va I can film with DV Camera

Originally posted by Lance:
<STRONG> then head further East into the abyss of mud. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

</STRONG>

We can find some rocks in MN <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Although, there is a ton of mud around here <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
Hit up the Black Hills also...god stuff out there.

This is a very good idea. All a need is endless funds <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> If this happened, I would hit as many runs as I could.
I would setup the runs in KY and Indiana <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Got a reply from Pewe:

Brian, that was cool, thanks for sending it. Lot's of good ideas there, wish we had the resources (time, money, energy) to do it all, but it is good food for thought.

Bet if we got it set up though, they would be there taking pics.

Originally posted by BrianR:
<STRONG>

Bet if we got it set up though, they would be there taking pics.</STRONG>

Precisely, so let's look at what we have suggested so far:

(1) Hammers in CA - need leader (May, 2002?)
(2) Highwy To Hell in AZ - need leader
(3) Proving Grounds in UT - need leader
(4) Die Trying in CO - need leader
(5) Somewhere in TX lead by wngrog
(6) Clayton, OK lead by wngrog
(7) Mud racing & tough trucking in MO lead by TEX (06/22/2002)
(8) Badlands in IN? Lead by Syko and/or Woody
(9) Somewhere in KY lead by Syko
(10) ? East or Southeast?
(11) Up to 4 stops in NC lead by elusive
(12) ? Big Dogs in VA?
(13) ? New England area? (August 2002?)
(14) Paragon, PA?
(15) ? Upper Midwest maybe sand dunes in MI?
(16) MN lead by Dana 27?
(17) Black Hills lead by ChinLei
(18) ? Northern Rockies?
(19) ? More Northern Rockies?
(20) Rubicon need leader (September 2002?)
(21) ? OR or WA?
(22) ? BC?
(23) Yukon snow lead by ColdNorth? (Oct 2002?)



Anyone care to fill in some blanks on dates and/or event leaders? Or make route alteration suggestions?


TEX

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: TEX ]

Don't put me as a leader on the Con, I don't know the trail, but I'd definately like to be there. I'm about 200 miles east of there in Northern Nevada. I am looking for some 4+ trails in this area to run that could be included if possible.

Originally posted by BrianR:
<STRONG>Don't put me as a leader on the Con, </STRONG>

Okay, you're edited out. I suspect SOMEONE here knows the trail <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">


TEX

Alright, let's take a look at the terrain so far:

Suggested:
Southwestern Rocks
Northern Snow
Sand
High-Altitude trails
Northeastern Slop

Definite:
Ozark Clay
Competition Mud
Tough Trucking (the "bypass" is the grandstands)
East-Central trails (KY/IN/MN)
Tellico type grease rocks
And terrain in TX to be determined


Starting to sound pretty good <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">


TEX

paragon park, here in Pa, and ya got the big dog trails in Va, im sure would could break a few on those 2

Originally posted by Dana 27:
<STRONG>We can find some rocks in MN <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Although, there is a ton of mud around here <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
Hit up the Black Hills also...god stuff out there.</STRONG>

I can help organize the Black Hills portion.

Originally posted by ChinLei:
<STRONG>I can help organize the Black Hills portion.</STRONG>

So noted! That makes Black Hills a definite stop now <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">


TEX

Badlands of Indiana, running Troy's Trail. I'll lead. Figure June maybe?? tho really most anytime Spring thru Fall is good there.

McCaslin Mountain in N. Wisconsin....snow ride, best in late January. With some luck, 36" plus of the white fluffies to jam in. I'm all over that one too!

Tough part is if we've got a few folks trying to run the circle of all the trails...gonna take some coordinating (and luck!) for them to hit them all!

Originally posted by badassjeepguy:
<STRONG>paragon park, here in Pa, and ya got the big dog trails in Va, im sure would could break a few on those 2</STRONG>

Now we're cookin'!

TEX

Originally posted by woody:
<STRONG>Badlands of Indiana, running Troy's Trail. I'll lead. Figure June maybe?? tho really most anytime Spring thru Fall is good there.</STRONG>

Got ya pencilled in as the next stop after MO on June 22nd & 23rd.<STRONG>

McCaslin Mountain in N. Wisconsin....snow ride, best in late January. With some luck, 36" plus of the white fluffies to jam in. I'm all over that one too!</STRONG>

That sounds fun, but could be tough to fit into a "Summer tour" <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"><STRONG>

Tough part is if we've got a few folks trying to run the circle of all the trails...gonna take some coordinating (and luck!) for them to hit them all!</STRONG>

I think it would be damn near impossible to hit the entire tour as currently suggested. But, I could see how any number of ambitious participants could hit several stops along the way if we coordinate geography with the calendar.

For example, by the time the tour got to CO, it could pick up some of the Midwestern guys AND gals, but by the time it headed to Texas, most of the leftcoasters will have dropped off. And that's not necessarily bad 'cause if EVERYONE tried to hit the whole friggin' thing, there'd be too big of a group to make it work.

TEX

Oct '02 I'll be in Abbotsford, but I'd be more than willing to come back up here to lead this. Won't have a tough time organizing it either. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> I'm definitely down. ...It is a long ways up, but worth it. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

id gladly get involved in tellico, paragon PA, and if we could get the permission gore Va

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: badassjeepguy ]