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This year the Tin Benders invited every one to participate in an effort to cleanup the lakebed and surrounding areas. Rusted burned out hulks and miscellaneous trash and junk were littering our playground. Friday morning the active participants collected 5,000 pounds of junk, and by Saturday night the bins were overflowing with more discarded remains of old cars and litter. All told I'd say the efforts had an impact on improving an area that is designated for off highway recreation and used by a variety of off-road enthusiasts.
My family and I arrived Thursday afternoon towing Tuffy II with an RV from All About Fun on a trailer from Coast Equipment. I got close to my favorite spot on the lakebed and kept a spot open for Terry and Hootman. After they made it to Means Dry Lake and set up their tents, we had a tight little circle to hang out in. Brian spotted our campsite and joined us for a few liquid refreshments. He said he was going to do a run to the Monument Trail on Friday, mid-morning. I wanted my wife and daughter to see the spire, erected by the Men in Black in memory of Brian's friend Steve Riffel, for themselves. Friday after breakfast, Brian, myself and family, along with Hootman and Terry headed out to the Fisher Mountain Trail to view the monument. I told Dave with the Benders I'd help out with the cleanup, but I also wanted to go do Fisher. On the way out we swung by a group loading an old car on a flatbed trailer. I stopped just long enough to supervise and pick up a few pieces of rusty metal, but not too long to delay the trail run. Hey, I helped!
Stewie rode his pit bike to, and up the trail.
At the site of the monument.
Looking back toward the mine.
Pretty rugged terrain.
The trail continues up, but we just came to pay our respects. Afterwards we headed back to camp.
Once back from Fisher, I was looking for something to run. Back Door is real close to our campsite, and I had never seen it. Erin and I headed over to check it out.
I made it to the waterfall after this, and made a few attempts. No pics of it, but I didn't make it. I did have fun trying though. On the way we ran into Troy from Cal Mini and Eric from Yota Masters. They were putting a run together to Sledge Hammer. I wanted to do that with them, but wanted to check out Back Door first. I wound up trying the waterfall at Back Door and didn't make it back for Sledge. Sorry guys. Next time.
I really enjoy night runs, and Brian was going to run Aftershock that night. After we got back from Back Door, we barely had enough time to wolf down some tacos before Brian was ready to leave for Aftershock.
As the shadows begin to grow on the dusty trails of Johnson Valley, an intrepid group of avid four wheelers venture forth into the looming darkness. A trail beckons. The trail, Aftershock, described as the second easiest trail out here, has been run by our leader in 43 minutes. From camp, and back. We leave at 6:30. It's not even dark yet.
To the trail head, I don't even have my headlights on. I grumble to my passenger, " I won't even get to turn on my rock lights." "What kind of a night run is this?"
At the Gate Keeper, we can use our headlights, but it's still just dusk. We are 15-20 minutes from camp. According to my calculations, we should have 3-13 minutes on the trail before we are headed home again.
After the first couple obstacles proved more challenging than expected for Brian and Bear, I decided to wait for them by taking an even more challenging line, which I am want to do. I can't help it. The easy line isn't something that attracts me. I'm just not happy being out here unless I'm testing my rigs worthiness or my ability. While my line proved quite challenging, Brian and Bear blasted off to the next obstacle. Leaving me, and those foolish enough to follow me fending for ourselves.
Dennis follows one of my lines. I thought he made it thru o.k., then Erin said "That truck rolled over!"
From Jason's view.
No worries. Back in business.
Next up, Jason.
Then Chase makes it through.
Chase shows off his new beadlocks.
A little longer wheelbase helps this flattie in some spots.
I had one of many plugs holding air in my tires pull out. I had extras, though. One did the trick. fill it full of air and off we go. That, and the flat fender pulled his driveline apart a couple times, was the only carnage. Oh yeah, Dennis' flop and Bear's front fender. The trail proved quite a challenge even for our record setting trail leader. Four and a half hours later...we were heading back to camp with headlights and rock lights. Back to camp from the trail formerly known as the second easiest trail out here, Aftershock.
Saturday morning as the rigs start to line up for the official runs, Hootman takes time to fire off a couple rounds with his potato gun. Or potato cannon. No one had seen one quite that big before.
Here he stuffs just the right size potato into the barrel.
Hoot assembled it from PVC, prefers Oust room freshener for propellant and uses a camp stove igniter to spark an explosion.
Back at the lakebed, rigs prepare for their runs to start.
Have you seen what these trails tend to do to sheet metal? I'm not sure if he actually ran one of those trails, but all that money sure is impressive.
There's Bobby Long. He thought that truck was so big, it made Dana 60's look small.
Competition driver, John James. headed up the Wrecking Ball run driving the Marlin Crawler F-Toy. Right behind him is Canadian Rick's Big Bird.
We are ready for Wrecking Ball.
Moving out.
Up into the trail, looking back toward the lakebed. Pat's SAS'd Taco leads a buggy. The lucky s.o.b. in the foreground is the proud owner of the raffled Tin Benders F-Toy
Rick's Big Bird is well built and very capable.
A fine example of another worthy rig.
The waterfall only allows one or two rigs to walk it. Here Marlin's F-Toy tackles it.
Up and over.
Stewie helping.
My turn.
Tuffy, walked this obstacle the only other time out here. Not today.
This first generation tackles the waterfall.
While we waited for the rest of the rigs to clear the waterfall and catch up, this driver tries a difficult line.
Who says women aren't good drivers?
It was a hot day on the trail. Everybody was drinking plenty of water and looking for shade. On the ride back, Stewie's pup Micky was riding in the back and must have decided he'd had enough sun and heat for one day.
Hey, you guys got A/C in this thing? Move over and roll up the windows, I'm coming in.
Meanwhile on Jackhammer, Jason took some shots of the action. I thought I'd share them here.
Hugging the wall and climbing.
Carlos finds a parking spot.
Oops!
If this was Tuffy, I'd be in tears. I don't mind a few dents, but Carlos, Dude!
I had a full weekend of crawling. Friday it was Fisher, Back Door, Aftershock, and Wrecking Ball on Saturday. Back at camp Rick and Brian brought some Canadians by, Hootman and Terry returned from a long hot day of exploring, Rob came by with his girlfriend, and Dave and JD drove up with a broken rear driveline and in the front, something didn't sound right. We all had an idea what was making the noise, but there was only one way to find out. Rick offered his bottle jack and jack stand, I had tools and shade, so we tore into the front axle. An archaic ringed Longfield was cracked and the inner cage was destroyed. Dave hunted down Bobby and sprung for a new Longfield. A little while later he had front wheel drive.
From the middle, clockwise...yours truly, JD, Rob , Dave and Troy.
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