Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
The Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
A monthly publication of the Dirt Devils
Editors Message:
The holiday party, what can I say other than everything
was great. The food, the company, the stories and the
lively gift exchange. Thank you Ray and Karen for
hosting such a fine event. Best of all I won the perpetual
Dirt Devil white elephant gift. `
Ron Webber & Pete Johnson are now part of the ham
radio click. We are still waiting for our call signs.
Click on the link below for an overview of just how much
land the federal government controls:
government-day.html
it is amazing we get to go anywhere.
See you on the trail.
Chris looks perfectly fine to me, Chris we wish you well
and look forward to seeing you on the trail soon.
Ron & Emi Webber
Table of Contents
Run Reports
2
CA4 Wheel Drive Assoc
4
Run Calendar
6
Adopt a Trail meeting place
6
February
6
March
6
April
6
May
6
June
6
July
6
Romantic Rides for Valentine’s Day
August
6
September
6
October
6
November
6
December
6
Guests & new members
7
Club info
7
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 1 of 9
printed: 2/14/2016
Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
made it clear they would not be attempting the trail and
just wanted to see the gate keeper. They did get a chance
to test the new mods on their ride and got a show for their
Run Reports
efforts. I think they have a pretty good idea of a "difficult"
Claw hammer (Johnson Valley)
rated trail. Next time we will get them on the trail!
1/15- 1/17 2016
The rest of us embarked on a slightly weathered and loose
Trail rating: Difficult
Clawhammer trail. The entire trail is only .8 of a mile and
we spent the better part of 5 hours to complete the
Trail Master: Joshua Bleijenberg
mission. There are 2 or 3 parts that are pretty challenging
Tail Gunner: Frank Gilliland
and even heavily modified vehicles have trouble here. At
# OF RIGS: 10
the waterfall, which is about 1/2 way through, we got out
the straps and had a bit of a winching educational
Members/ Riders/ Rigs:
moment. Suhag and Kirk both earned their first cowbells
Joshua Bleijenberg- TJ
at this point. Frank earned yet another cowbell to add to
Gilbert Vasquez-XJ
his collection a little further down the trail. Gilbert also
Frank Gilliland- TJ
shredded a sidewall on his BFG 35" tire which he patched
Suhag Patel- Toyota FJ80
on the spot. The only other damage was Brads rear locker
James Ettinger- JKU
which was not activating. He ran the trail with a front
Brad and Brandin- TJ
locker only. He was showing off his driving skills as this
trail is hard even with 2 lockers.
Kirk Smith - JKU
Rod and Carol- TJ
We finished up with all participants still running and fully
functional although some of us earned some new jewelry.
Guests/ Rigs/ Riders:
Most people had only rsvp'd for Saturday only, so we
Chris and Frank- CJ
kind of scattered after the run. Only James, Gilbert, Kirk,
Doug- YJ
Chris, Brad, Suhag and Josh went back to camp. Kirk just
Start: Brads campsite at Valley vista airport 9 AM
to grab his doors and top. Suhag to load up some gear,
Weather: Mostly Sunny, but cold. mid 60's during the
and Chris and Gilbert to pack up the tents. By 6 pm It
day and mid 30's at night
was only James and myself and we contemplated some
options. We had some dinner and realized maybe we
Trail report:
would save Sledge hammer for another time. We saddled
We headed out Friday evening around 5:30 and sat in
up and made the trek back down the hill. It took about 3
traffic forever. James let me torture him pretty much the
hours to get home which was very welcome considering I
whole weekend and the 5 hour drive was the first leg of
slept for about 12 hours upon my return. That was
our journey. We very slowly made our way east and met
followed by a pretty brutal cold/ flu that put me down for
up with Gilbert and Suhag at the cheese cake factory
the next couple of weeks. I'm glad I didn't spend another
before heading up the hill. With our bellies full and still 2
night camping and wake up to feel that way and still need
hours away from our destination we steamed up the hill
to make it home. I think we made the right choice.
and arrived to camp around 11:30. Brad had a big hot fire
burning and some cold drinks ready for us upon arrival.
Thanks to all who made it a great trip! I am looking
He was a gracious host and his campsite was a very
forward to the next one!
welcome resource. I only wish it was a little warmer and
Cowbells: Suhag Patel, Kirk Smith, Frank Gilliland
we could have stayed longer. Those are just points to
Damage: Gilberts tire and Brads rear locker
build on for next year. Chris and his brother Frank with a
couple of riders met us Friday night and tent camped.
They had a couple small children with them so they
stayed away from the main fire and turned in early. The
rest of us stayed up until 1 or so. James and I took few
minutes and stripped the jeeps down so we would be a
little lighter for the trails the next day.
Saturday morning we got started around 8 and cooked up
some breakfast. Frank Gilliland, Kirk smith with his two
riders, Doug, and Rod and Carol all met up with us
around 8:30 and we made our way over to means dry lake
just after 9. Kirk also stripped his jeep down that morning
and we all aired down. There were a few race crews at
means dry lake preping and testing, but we had an agenda
and a trail to conquer so we pressed on. Rod and Carol
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 2 of 9
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Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
King of the hammers
By: Ron Webber
The King of the Hammers race vehicles are
capable of speeds over 100 miles per hour
across the desert sections, but still negotiate
the technical aspects of rock crawling. Most
racers use highly modified V8 engines that
can have up to 800 hp. Just imagine the
engineering that goes into these rigs.
The competitors start side-by-side, two
vehicles every thirty seconds, and must
complete the 165-mile course in less than 14
hours. Each team must pass through seven
checkpoints and at all times while staying
within one hundred feet of the centerline of
the course. KOH is a no-chase-team race;
repairs can only be done on the trail by the
racers or in the pit area.
I and a few my former dirt bike riding
buddies hung out at Brad’s place in Johnson
Valley, what a great location, after spending
the days watching the race we were able to
A view of Back Door Trail, only one out of ten rigs make it over the waterfall
drive back up the hill, enjoy an adult
without winching.
beverage and dinner while looking over the
I am told that only 10% finish.
whole valley. Yes, there is a cloud of dust
that hangs over the whole valley. The dust cloud does not
make it Brad’s Place.
there must be 10,000 RVs and 50,000 people at KoH.
This event is huge. If you want to be entertained do an
internet on King Of The Hammers there are no shortage
of pictures, videos and stories about this event.
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 3 of 9
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Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
The final Land Rover Defender
Rolls Off the Line
CA4 Wheel Drive Assoc
February 19 - 21 2016
Convention & Jeep raffle
11211 Point East Drive, Rancho Cordova near
Sacramento
Win a Jeep & keep trails open.
Raffle date: 2/21/2016 in Sacramento
The Land Rover Defender has been in continuous
production since 1948, with more than 2 million built.
Originally known simply as the Land Rover Series I, and
then the Series II—it didn't acquire the Defender name
until 1990—the off-roader has been built in numerous
iterations: two-door softtop and hardtop, four-door station
ARB fridge
PRP seats
wagon, pickup truck, fire truck, snow plow, etc. The Land
37” BFG tires
Rock hard sport cage
Rover's reach expanded to the far corners of the world—
Genright aluminium
TBM brakes
even as Britain's worldwide influence receded.
fenders, bumpers,
BBS short arm kit
the old-school Land Rover 4x4 disappeared from the
skid plate
Warn winch
U.S. market in 1997, at which point it was already a relic.
JE Real drive shafts
Odyssey battery
I thought it was gone along time ago. The old school Land
Atlas 2 transfer case
Kicker sound system
Rover will be missed, but we still have Jeep.
Snevy’s LED lights
Sider web bikini top
K&N air intake
Reid hi steer knuckles
Curry front dif
Rugged ridge hood
Yukon axle shafts
latches, handles, mats, ½
w/ zip air lockers
doors
PSC hydro steering
LGE paint work
Fox shocks
Land rovers
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 4 of 9
printed: 2/14/2016
Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
Obama grants monument status to nearly 2 million acres across Calif. Desert
President Obama granted national monument status Friday to nearly 1.8 million acres of scenic Southern
California desert. Obama, in California this week for a fundraising swing, signed proclamations establishing three
regions as national monuments — Mojave Trails, Castle Mountains (both in the Mojave Desert) and Sand to
Snow in the Sonoran Desert. The White House says the designations will nearly double the amount of public land
that Obama has designated for national monument status since taking office.
In addition to permanently protecting incredible natural resources, wildlife habitat and unique historic and cultural
sites, and providing recreational opportunities for a burgeoning region, the monuments will support climate
resiliency in the region…
White House statement
Castle Mountains National Monument, in the Mojave Desert, links two mountain ranges. Sand to Snow National
Monument rises from the floor of the Sonoran Desert to the 11,503-foot peak of Mount San Gorgonio, Southern
California’s tallest alpine peak. Its diverse landscape includes the headwaters of the state’s Santa Ana and
Whitewater rivers and is home to 240 species of birds and 12 endangered or threatened species of wildlife. It also
contains an estimated 1,700 Native American petroglyphs and 30 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 5 of 9
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Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
August
2
Monthly club meeting
Run Calendar
6
Off road Clinic 1 - Mike
13
Off road Clinic 2 - Mike
Adopt a Trail meeting place
13
Little John Bull night run (M) - Jack& Zoe
8:30am at Rocky’s Roadhouse
20
Adopt A Trail - Josh
32150 Hilltop Blvd Running Springs, CA 92382
11 -14
Jeep Jamboree Rubicon Trail - non club event
next to the 76 gas station
September
February
6
Monthly club meeting
20
Holcomb Creek 3N93(snow run) (Dif) -
9 -11
Sherman Pass (M) - Danny
Rick Walter
17
Holcomb Creek (D) - Jack&Zoe
26 -28 Primm NV, Colosseum Gorge Trail (M) -
24
AAT BBQ
Rick Walter
October
80 miles, will be an overnight run
4
Monthly club meeting
March
7, 8
Miller jeep trail / lockwood creek
14 - 16
Death Valley (E) - Rick
1
Monthly club meeting
El mirage date not set
4 - 6
Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari - non club event
12
Motino Wash (D) / Rattlesnake canyon
November
(E)-D Josh/ E Ron
1
Monthly club meeting / run planning 2017
4 - 6
Afton Canyon (M) - Chris
19
Adopt A Trail - Roger
11 - 13
Panamint Valley PVD - Cal 4 Wheel event
19 - 27
Easter Jeep Safari Moab - Dave & Zoe
plan to go through Flagstaff on Friday, then through
December
Monument Valley.
6
Monthly club meeting
25 -4/ 3 Moab (trail ratings Dif ) - Dave
10
Calico (D) and Calico (E) - Ron/ Mike
April
5
Monthly club meeting
9
Adopt A Trail - Danny
15 - 17
El Mirage Jim & Karen
22 -24
Anza Borrego (M) - Mike
29 -1
Corral Canyon (D) - Danny
May
3
Monthly club meeting
7
Adopt A Trail - Chris
12 -14
Jeep Jamboree Big Bear - non club event
13- 14
Molina Ghost run sponsored by CAL4WD see
in gear or
20 -22 Overland Expo, Flagstaff AZ. - non club event
21
HDR Prerun Devils Loop (M) - Ray
27 -29
HDR Cal 4 Wheel Devils Loop (M) - Ray
June
7
Monthly club meeting
11
Adopt A Trail - Roger
17 -19
Big Bear Forest Fest - non club event
17 -25
Grand Canyon North Rim (E/M) - Ray
July
5
Monthly club meeting
16
John Bull (D) - Josh
23
Adopt A Trail - Ray
Old white mtn road near bishop No date
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 6 of 9
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Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
Club membership
Membership dues:
Guests & new members
Dirt Devil annual club dues
$36.00
Spouse
$12.00
Guest
CAL4WD annual dues
$45.00
CAL4WD permanent member
$675.00
Mel & Barbara 2014 JK
CAL4WD permanent member 12 installments of ... $56.25
Don Landry and Mary Karr 2015 JKU
CORVA
$30.00
Ken & Eva 2016 JK
Nikki 2014 JK
Joe 2009 JK
Chris Raymond 1998 ZJ Grand Cherokee
Adopt a Trail
Nick 2015 Wrangler limited
The Dirt Devils Adopt A Trail is: Dishpan Springs Trail
(3N34)
New members
Dishpan Springs Trail can be found in the
Steve ran Gold Mountain clinic and Black Mountain.
San Bernardino National Forest near Lake Arrowhead.
The Dishpan Springs Trail is one of the toughest and most
Club info
popular trails in the SBNF.
The West entrance:
Meeting Place
2N26Y is N34° 16.198 W117° 08.258.
The T6 Bridge:
First Tuesday of each month,
N34° 16.106 W117° 07.745.
6:30pm for Dinner & 7:30pm for the meeting at
The East entrance:
just east of Imperial Hwy and north of the 91 Fwy.
3N16 is N34° 15.663 W117° 05.116.
Marie Callenders. 5711 East La Palma Ave., Anaheim,
Meeting place
CA 92807, 714-779-0600
8:30am at Rock Road House
32150 Hilltop Blvd Running Springs, CA 92382 next to
Club officers
the 76 gas station
President: Ray Kleinhuizen
kkfusedglass@roadrunner.com
Accessories
Immediate past president:
Available at the regular meetings, see Emi Webber.
Jesse May: jemay.xj@gmail.com
Dirt Devil Stickers: $15.00.
Vice President: Mike Wallace proudpop80@gmail.com
Short sleeve shirts: $15.00
Long sleeve shirts: $18.00
Secretary: Cheryl May: jemay.xj@gmail.com
Sweatshirts: $30.00
Treasurer: Emi Webber: emiwebber@hotmail.com
Hats: $20.00
Web Master: Chris Slaughter:
DD logo magnets available in various sizes for
webmaster@dirtdevils.org
$4.50 to $13.50 each.
Adopt a trail chairmans:
Roy Chance: rchance@aol.com
Awards
Roger Mauer: rogermauer@gmail.com
Newsletter: Ron Webber: ronjp@outlook.com
Hospitality: Emi Webber: emiwebber@hotmail.com
Safety Committee: Bill Smith:
Run Coordinator: Rick Walter rick03tj@gmail.com
Emergency response team coordinator: Rick Walter
rick03tj@gmail.com
the emergency response team makes themselves
available to help with our adopt a trail Dish Pan.
CAL4 wheel reps: Jesse May and Keith Graham
CAL 4 Wheel Drive, new member award
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 7 of 9
printed: 2/14/2016
Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
Newsletter advertising
$25 for ¼ page ad, for 3 issues
$50 for a ½ page ad, for 3 issues
$100 for a full page ad, for 3 issues.
A full page ad also gets a Web Link.
First aid kit tracking
FA #1 (red, blue backpack)
Josh B
Old logo green bell
Danny Ward
Frank Gilliland Claw Hammer
Ray Kleinhuizen
Frank Gilliland Holcomb Creek 9/26/15
Mike Wallace
Josh Bleijenberg Corral Canyon 4/10/15
Josh Bleijenberg
Josh Bleijenberg Dusy Ersham Sept 2014
FA #2 (Orange canvas bag)
Dave Jones
Ray K
Gilbert
Mike Wallace
Josh Bleijenberg
Pete Johnson
FA #3 (Orange canvas bag)
Rick Walter
Bill S
Ron Webber Calico
Brown bell
Jack & Zoe
Suhag Claw Hammer
Roger Mauer
Frank Gilliland Claw Hammer
Danny Ward
Bill Smith HDR May25 2015
Ron Webber March 2015 Calico
Tim Debolt Rattlesnake Feb 2015
Rick Walter adopt a trail 6/27/2014
Josh Bleijenberg Corral Canyon 5/4/2014
Cowbells
The cow bell rules are: If you get stuck and are unable to
Little Blue bell
move under your own power and need the help of a winch
Kurt Claw hammer
or you get strapped from one of your fellow jeepers then
Frank Gilliland Holcomb Creek 9/26/15
you have earned the privilege of hanging a cow bell from
Bill Smith HDR May25 2015 winched Bronco on to trailer
your front bumper. You must leave the cow bell on the
Gilbert at Corral Canyon 4/10/15
front of your rig until another Dirt Devil gets stuck then,
Chris Slaughter Grizzly
you can proudly hand it over. This starts at the beginning
Rick Walter
and the end of the trail, not on the highway.
Mike Wallace
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 8 of 9
printed: 2/14/2016
Dirt Devils Digest
February 2016
Mike Maneth memorial bell
James Ettinger Holcomb Creek
Frank Gilliland John Bull 6/27/2015
Mike Wallace Corral Canyon 4/10/15
James Ettinger Claw Hammer 1/10/15.
Castulo Olivas
DD newsletter feb16.doc
pg 9 of 9
printed: 2/14/2016
