By: Kenneth Farmer

April 27, 2002 
Gorman

Well, now that I have bought this Jeep, where do I off-road it and who would be kind enough to guide me through some trails that would not scare the **** out of me. So, go these questions, through a new Jeep owners mind. For too many new Jeep owners, these questions go unanswered, but for a select few, these questions were answered.  The answer providers are the volunteers of the Dirt Devils.

Once again, we are called upon by a group of new Jeep owners. New to the sport, these adventurers were given assistance on technical sections of the Don-A-Vee runs. With a little guidance, everyone was assured one safe and memorable day. Once again, we bring more enthusiasts into the sport, to grow it and to better it.

8:00 a.m. April 27 2002, MC Donald’s parking lot in the city of Gorman. The skies are gray, cold, and threatening of possible sprinkles, despite the weather this should turn out to be a fun and exciting day of off-roading. Today’s group consists of seven guests and four club members. With everyone here, we amble into the park to pay our day fees, and to start the drivers meeting. I notice the level of anticipation growing among the drivers. Before we know it, the meeting is wrapped up.

With Jesse as our trail guide, the first trail we drove on was the Road Runner Trail. This easy trail is cut along the side of hills that lead us into the main valley floor. The biggest danger here is not off-camber sections, not loose steep climbs, not even large boulders to high-center your axle on, no the biggest danger on this trail is those lunatic dirt bike riders. You know the type, those kids with more muscles in their throttle hand than brains in their skulls. If you don’t watch out, you will be wearing one of them as a hood ornament.

Now our caravan was diverted from the Road Runner Trail onto the sand wash that runs through the main valley floor. We follow Jesse across sand and rock for a short distance and then exit from the wash, via a brief uphill. It is a short drive and we arrive at the Four Wheel Drive Practice Area.

Now that the preliminary warm up Trails have been completed, we can test our driving skills and our truck’s endurance. Before us looms, two man made hill climbs. The easy hill climb consists of small rocks embedded into a cement roadway going up this mild hill. Up- hill training should not be a frightening experience, so this climb was designed with the novice in mind. With its short length and rough surface, one can learn hill-climbing skills in comfort and safety. Now the other hill climb was not designed with comfort or safety (of axles or sheet metal), in mind. This hill consists of large rocks, with massive boulders outlining the sides. On close inspection of the rocks, you will notice all the metal ground into them. This climb, I would not recommend to the average 4x4 with stock sized tires. My recommendation for this hill is two lockers and at least 33 inch, tall tires. I watched in admiration as Jesse and Dan D. inched their way up this hill. It was no cakewalk for these two off-road veterans; they both had numerous reversals as they clawed to the top. It is amazing what lockers, lift, and tires can allow a truck to do

Now that our guests have been guided up the cement hill, we now move on to the next obstacle. To test our trucks suspension articulation, we arrive at the stair-steps. This obstacle is a four- step cement pyramid at about four feet in height. Stock vehicles can often attain the second step and then two wheels start to spin. Trucks with mild suspension work can make it to the third step. The top of the pyramid is for those trucks with long axle travel and lockers. Our guests were happy with attaining the second step, I was happy with achieving the third step, although one rear tire was way off the ground. Jesse and Dan posed their trucks on the top of the pyramid, for the admiring photographers. There were other test areas nearby, however they didn’t hold much fascination with anyone, with one exception; Lisa and Me Jeep were drawn to the mud hole, like a magnet is drawn to iron. After exiting from her mud run, Me Jeep had transformed from its Arctic white to runny, dripping tan color. Luckily there were no rocks in the bottom of that mud hole. 

Now we stop for lunch nearby at the picnic area. We spend about an hour eating and watching the others playing on the test areas. With lunch over, it is time to hit the trails again. We line, up and drive onto the next part of our adventure. We venture out to the dry wash again and after crossing it, our fearless leader Jesse takes us to the First Real Hill climb. I watch as Jesse’s Jeep effortlessly floats up the hill with barely slipping a tire. He crests the hilltop and goes over the other side. A short time later we see him standing at the top of that hill motioning the next truck to come on up (maybe there is something to this hill after all). Well when it is my turn at this hill, I discover that the climb is not the tricky part, it is the precise location of the truck and for cresting the top, and this is critical. I parked my Toyota and walked up the hill to watch the others climb the hill. While talking to Jesse, he tells me that this is the spot, where Adam Fillius rolled his Toyota. To our relief, nobody rolled on this technical section, and we re group at the backside of that hill.

Lisa calls Jesse, Dan and I over to her Jeep; a dash gauge is showing that the battery is not charging. We try a few ideas to remedy Me Jeep’s affliction, but it is a no go. Lisa’s truck battery was jumped to give it enough of a charge to get her back home and off she goes. We continue on to finish up the Don–A-Vee Jeep Adventure. A few miles later we discover that there is another surprise in store for us. Jesse was forced to give hands on demonstration on how to change a flat tire. My compliments to you Jesse, I do not believe the Auto Club could have changed that tire any faster, and I know that that they would not have put the flat tire up on your roof rack when they finished.

The remainder of the day was spent following one another, single file, up and down the hills. Some of the trickier trails snaked steeply down hill, pushing brush out of our way as we went. I was glad that my truck has not had a decent paint job it years. Jesse led us across many trails through the hills as we meandered our way back to the Road Runner Trail. I reflected back to the day’s excitement as we head back towards the park entrance. As our guests and club member’s air up, I talk to the others about the day, and the fun we had.

I say my farewells as guests and members leave. My plan is to spend the night and start the whole process again the next day. If one day of this fun is good, then two days should be therapeutic.   

In closing, I must say, the Dirt Devils have been a real positive addition to my off-roading. I thank all who help me in my monthly therapeutic sessions.

Written by: Kenneth Farmer.

A.K.A. Lab. Master.