44th Annual  Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari

                                                    March 4 & 5 2006

Friday afternoon, approaching Santa Ysabel on Highway 78 East .

Hootman follows.

By the time we got to Truckhaven, it was dark. We picked a pretty good spot, considering.

Saturdays' trail run leaves at 9 am. After a camp cooked breakfast and a strong pot of coffee, it's time to line up for the run.

BF Goodrich had tires and wheels mounted up, and were letting participants in the run try 'em out.

I would like to have tried the Krawlers, but the tire and wheel combo with the Toyota lug pattern was already out.

 We got in line, but it wasn't moving, so we jumped out to watch the parade of vehicles.

There were so many rigs, we could barely find the end of the line so we watched the procession file by, waiting to drop in at the end.

 Hootman plans to lift his Runner for more ground clearance. He's got the bug.

A festival of four-wheeling.

 Mostly Jeeps, but all vehicles are welcome.

A fine example of an old  flatfender.

 Hmmmm.

Kids, the family dog and Boggers, Yeah.

Oops, looks like they are leaving without us.

We are catching up with the rest of the rigs, (line of black dots in the distance), Cueballs' Big Red is in the foreground. There is more on his truck further down the page.

There were over 1500 registered rigs for the 44th Annual Tierra del Sol Desert Safari.

The Salton Sea in the background.

 This little Samuri is getting a strap up the hill.

 Hootman, honing his driving skills.

Some hilllclimbs,

Some switchbacks.

This nice Jeep Unlimited was prepared by TAG Motorsports.

 Someone flew in for lunch and to check out the action.

Another trail marker with waypoints and mileage. GPS of the ancients?

 This is at the end of Saturdays' run.

Hootman has the skills!

 Hoot waits in line for the climb out.

 His stock Runner went everywhere.

While we were on the run, Dennis was fooling around in the open area.

It was a scene right out of Mad Max. Modified vehicles and motorized hang-gliders buzzing camp.

Saturday night at the Vendors display before the raffle.

San Diego Off-Road Coalition is going to raffle off this desert car, including trailer, on My 21st. Proceeds go toward keeping public lands open for public use.

 Comp buggy.

Nice paint job.

Hootman wonders why he doesn't have a rig like this.

We stayed for the raffle, but didn't win any of the nearly $60,000 worth of donated stuff.

 Sunday mornings' Senior Center breakfast.

Back at the trail run, after a good breakfast of sausage and eggs with hash-brown potatoes, biscuits and gravy, orange juice and coffee, we lined up for the Sunday rough run.

Since this is a 4-Runner, it makes sense Cueball lined up for the SUV run. SUV runs are usually dedicated to the less capable vehicles attending an event.

Sunday drives with the family aren't what they used to be.

 Toyota front axle with 5:71 gears turning STOCK Toyota axles and Birfields. Apparently, Dave has broken Detroits and beefier axles, so he just replaces Birfields now. Running smaller tires is not an option.

 Dave gives a guided tour of Big Red to one of the officials.

Toyota running gear!

The custom shackles are connected to the leaf springs and to an arm that is mounted to the frame. That set-up must allow miles of droop.

Hootman wants to do this to his Runner. This generation of 4-Runner came stock with Independent Front Suspension, or IFS, and this one has an SAS, or solid axle swap. The combination of leaf springs and ground clearance make this Toyota ready for some serious trail exploration!

 Out on Sunday's rough run, more challenging than Saturdays'.

Truckhaven Hills

 Beautiful day for wheelin'.

Hello.

Another helicopter.

Back to the action.

Here's a nice Runner with a recent SAS.

 Lined up for Sundays run.

Out on the trial.

These guys had no trouble with the hill climbs, or any other obstacle.

A buggy comes down and a Unimog comes through the bypass.

Oops! There were a few roll-overs this weekend.

This was the first run, after working on it for a year.

Dave winches the Unimog back on its wheels.

After kicking out the windshield and checking the fluids, he drove it back to camp.

Back to the trail.

After a little further, we cut out early to break camp and head back home.

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