TheSamba.com :: View topic - SoCal Bajas September Run: Monache Meadows

Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:40 pm

I got some good news for Mark, too. I talked to one of the two guys today who originally built the trail many years ago who also happens to be a pilot, also. He gave me the exact location of what he called "Many" plane crashes in the area. They should still be up there unless someone has cleared the debris away over the years. He also told me a story about a crash he personally witnessed up there. I'll share it all later.... and much more. He actually sounded like he wanted to come with us, but he's not going to go.

I'm looking forward to this run. It will be a really pleasant change of scenery and pace.

Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:55 pm

Packed and ready to go. I'll be leaving in the morning, see you guy up there.

Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:52 pm

still threatening to show up, might leave tomorrow afternoon

Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:23 pm

Hope to see you there DUSTY. I'll be heading out in a few hours.

Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:40 pm

I'll see you guys up there tomorrow morning (Saturday). I'm camping outside Barstow tonight and will drive up at the crack o' dawn tomorrow.
I'll be yammering away on my new CB when I get close. Channel 14 right?

xxooxxoo
Mark

Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:21 pm

Made it home, will post pic's later. sorry had to leaver early, hope you guys got kevin's rail out OK. had a great time can't wait till next one.
Skid missed you out there, I was the only subi out there and those air cooled guys had a field day with me :) . I felt like one of those deers out there with all those hunters. there was alot of hunters out there giving us the stink eye, I geuss we where little noisey for them.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:14 pm

I just walked in. The run was completely awesome. Terrific people, incredible scenery, awesome rides, challenging trails, and fantastic weather! What more could you possibly ask for? We had a great showing of 9 rides, too!

Pictures and video to be posted soon.

Thanks everyone for another memorable SoCal Bajas run!!! I can't wait for the next one.

Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:53 pm

Thanx Jeff you put on a great show and everyone else for showing up. We missed the carne asada. We all had a blast even though it was only for one day. It was worth the drive. On the way home we started driving the thing home, for some reason it was really slow. It wouldnt go over 50, on the 395 up the hills, people were passing us and flipping us off quite regularly. Dave said it was too slow and to hook it back up to his van. Daves (tdwesty) van is faster towing my thing, than my thing is driving under its own power. Looks like i will have to test run the bus motor in the thing for next months rowdy adventure. Ohh yeah and thanx for initiation into, the lets make the new guy with the stock thing go up and down all the hard stuff over and over
club. Sorry for almost smashing some of you guys into the trees. It was a riot. Cant wait for the next one.

Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:26 pm

Okay... you know what we are all waiting for. :roll: Somebody post some pics and/or video for the rest of us that couldn't make the trip!

Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:28 pm

GREAT Trip! I agree with everything that's been said so far.
BTW, 57Baja was right, that really was the best carne asada I'd ever had -- absolutely amazing!

On Saturday afternoon, I learned the hard way how much a dirty air-filter can bring a car to it's knees. I noticed the engine seemed to be losing power as the day wore on but assumed it was the altitude. It wasn't until I failed four times to climb one of the more treacherous hills that Regnbus suggested I check my air cleaner. It was so dirty, I couldn't believe it. With the help of 57Baja's air compressor and some of Regnbus' Simple Green cleaner and water, I was able to get it clean enough to make a world of difference in the car's performance. In addition to the air filter field maintenance, I also had to pound one of my front rims back into shape as I hit a bump too hard on that fourth attempt on the hill and the tire lost its air. Again, thanks to 57Baja's and Regnbus' help, advice and equipment, I finally had the power to get back home.

That wasn't the end of my tire trouble though.
On Sunday afternoon, at the end of our run, I was choking on the dust of a truck on the trail and didn't see a rock that bent the same front rim again -- deflating it AGAIN! ARGGHHH!! I beat it back, inflated it and finished the run.

All in all, it was a fantastic ouiting.

It was a blast to see DustyBus take his bone stock Thing through all the obstacles and his friend Dave's Subi-Syncro was amazing.

(Photos are uploading as I type).

xxooxxoo
Mark

Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:31 pm

DUSTY BUS wrote: On the way home we started driving the thing home, for some reason it was really slow. It wouldnt go over 50, on the 395 up the hills, people were passing us and flipping us off quite regularly.

You might run this symptom by MC Grinder. It sounds a bit familiar.
:wink:

OK. So here's a sneak preview Skid...

Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:40 pm

Thats BADA$% great video, more please :P .

Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:12 pm

You guys went rock crawling?!! That is too cool. I went out to Cleghorn a month back and had a great time doing the slow technical trails for a change. Can't wait to see some of the Master's photos.... you know. The ones taken between ALL those tire changes... :shock: :lol: :lol:

Mark - I thought I heard something about quid pro quo... 8)

Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:14 pm

Hi people
Had a great time in the dirt with all of you ,hope to come and play somemore sometime.
Great place thanks 57baja next time i get to see you run.
I got home at 1am drove a total of 935mile since friday ,400 of those miles towing dustybus.
Where are you guy going next month??
ltr

Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:40 pm

here are some pics. lets start with the first brake down, we had not even started the trails when this happend. My son wanted to thanks kevin for geocash, he talked about it all the way home.

Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:52 pm

I'm editing video right now. I hope to be done in a day or two. I need pictures from whoever has them! Unfortunately, after reviewing the video, there's lots of stuff that I know we captured that just seems to have disappeared. I'm really bummed. The camera has been acting weird (as I'm sure you noticed with the last run) and it didn't help things when it turned itself on inside the car and ran tape until the end. I rewound it to where I thought it left off, but I think I ended up taping over some of the best footage I had. Sorry guys.

I'll blame it on Robert (my son) for not coming along. I thought he did a fantastic job last time of keeping the video flowing and getting good shots. I'll just handcuff him to the roll cage a day or two before the next run and feed him crackers to keep him alive.

Great time guys! I found myself just cracking up all day today thinking about some of the fun we had together.

Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:58 pm

I didn't get any great action shots, but here's a couple of shots and a link to the rest:

tdwesty:

dustyBus:

Thanks again, Jeff for organizing another winner!!

The rest of my shots are Here.

xxooxxoo
Mark

P.S. yeah, Skid, I know, I promised you a CD of the Big Bear shots. Maybe i can get it to you at the next meeting???

-MG

Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:11 pm

What a great time! I had a blast even though the motor blew and the rail had to be towed out! Thanks again Jeff, for driving the truck in the second day for the retrieval mission ;-)

My pictures are up here http://www.bwkh.com/08-09-27-monachemeadows Click on the thumbnails for bigger images. Here are a few of my favorites . . .

Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:14 pm

It looks like I missed a good one... great pics guys! Anyone tow a large trailer (toy hauler size) up there, or did everyone flat tow and tent it?

Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:35 pm

Awesome pics! and that video... wow. I've never seen a vanagon do that before. Looks like I need to get my rail back together soon!
--Tim