This
years first ARCA event happened at Johnson Valley on Friday and Saturday
the 16th and 17th and I was lucky enough to be there armed with my digital
camera, my new APS my video camera and a press pass. The trip started
on Thursday and I hopped in to Jeff Fretwell's dually with cabover pulling
his cruiser on down to Johnson Valley. The trip down was a long one but
we were lucky enough to have EXCELLENT weather all weekend!
By
the time I arrived at the event on Friday after hunting all over the area
for it the action was well under way. All the Big Dawgs were there, along
with a lot of trick rigs from tube chassis customs to jeeps, land cruisers,
and even a mini monster truck Cherokee.
On the
way out there we came across a couple people in a isuzu trooper.
Thinking they might need a tug from that soft sand we stopped to see
what the problem is. Turns out they had never engaged their 4wd so
Jeff had the honor of teaching them how.
Unfortunately
I could only be at one place at a time and I could only use one camera
at a time so I did not see all the action. Bob drove very well and his
newly redone rig did great, but had its share of breakage - which it seemed
was like the plague and hit every vehicle out there!
The POR team's rig (Bob's)
broke two steering boxes, a dana 60 stub axle, hub, and the rear 4
link system. POR's sister club, Al Berikoff of the sweaty nipples
off road team (SNORT) put on a very impressive show. I believe his
list of busted parts included both front axle shafts of a warn eliminator
kit, about 5 297x u-joints, front driveline (what that blew he twisted
around and hauled ass backwards to try to finish), lower bar from
his 4-link, and one hellava beating on the new 7 day project! Check
out that trail fix image to the right (Duct tape was tried first)!
After hours
provided plenty of entertainment at Pirate camp. I met a ton of really
cool people and if you are reading this and you asked me to mention club
on the writeup email me at brandon@pirate4x4.com
and I will add it, unfornately due to a really cool gas powered margarita
blender I can't remember all the names of the people I met but I had a
great time just the same!
Maniac flying over the fire with his ATC
Full Size chevy with a trailer attached ramping
on Lane's tires!
Image
Library:
Bob Roggy of the Pirates of the Rubicon 4wd Club
Al Berikoff of the Sweaty Nipples Off Road Team
(SNORT) and 4offrd.com
