Camp NL

[dwcjwerfner]

I know this is kind of late but I only found out this weekend that Marek was going to Camp NL so I decided to go. I have been in contact with them and there are a few spots left.
You have to be a member of OF4WD to go.

http://www.of4wd.com/

Dwayne
:smokin:

 

[mucovich]

I'm looking forward to checking out what that area has to offer instead of reading about in the mags. Should be a good camping weekend too!

 

[mucovich]

Dwayne, i sent an email to the registartion dept. about what we talked about and i hope to here back from them soon.

 

[mucovich]

well, heading out to camp NL today with Dwayne! we'll post up pics when we get back :beer::beer:

 

[Dirk]

Have a good trip guys. And report back. :beer:

 

[Baja]

Hey Dwayne and Marek how was it. Anything to report. Pics?

 

[mucovich]

It was a great event! Lots of rigs and people (especially TJ's) but there was a good mix of different kinds of trucks. the trails where great too. On the friday Dwayne and i decided to run a 4 trail called "the rock". It was a good time but we where able to run all the obstacles with little difficulty so on the saturday we chose a 4 plus trail called "the forest" which we where told was a good, fun trail.

Now here is probably the only complaint about the event - all the trails where about 30 to 60 minutes drive on the road to get too. So on the 45 min drive to the forest Dwayne's truck shut down, we all pulled over and checked it out and it was diagnosed as a bad CPS. The decision was made to carry on and Dwayne would call CAA however after it cooled down (and pouring cold water on it) he was able to get back to camp under his own power.

Back to the forest. It definately was a challenging trail. It was almost exclusively rocks and although not a long trail - a very technical one. I am proud to say that i was able to do all the obstacles and surprised many big TJ's on the prowess of the cherokee. I will admit that there where a few white knuckle moments and i've been close to flopping over a few times but never as close as on this trail (thanks to the dudes who put some weight on my rear end before i went over!)

On sunday Dwayne decided to ride shotgun with me and we chose another 4 plus trail called "timber 1". I have to admit that i felt a certain sense of inadequecy when we showed up at the staging point as the 5 other rigs that where also running the trail where either buggies on 42 plus tires or very large TJ's and CJ's that made the cherokee look tiny. Timber 1 was probably the most challenging trail for me of the weekend as the trail consisted of lots of rock and off camber combined with lots of mud and slick areas. Once again though i did all the obstacles and made it as far as everyone else before i was forced to pull rope.

So in case anyone was wondering - yes, i have left a few patriot blue tattoos on some trees and rocks back on the trail and my rear bushwackers are no longer on the vehicle as the local trees thought they would be good trophies but i had no serious breaks minus a few trashed bushings and some custom body work.

So all in all a great event that i would certainly attend again, friendly people and lots of trucks!

 

[Twinkie]

Ahhhh, the pretty XJ ain't so pretty any more.

 

[mucovich]

it's pretty - in it's own way, the dents and scratches are battle honors

 

[badcompany]

it sure was nice to see you guys there.
im glad you guys had a good time. but i dident see you guys in the bowl, not even 1 night.:beer: theres always next year.

 

[dwcjwerfner]

Alright, not much for pictures here at all as the Saturday Connie was going out was when I broke. But here is what I have.

Ok as you know pictures never do justice but on this 30ft rock garden as it was about a 30 degree uphill combined with a good off camber. Our guide had brought Marek and I (the only 2 in the group that did) down without even a noise that I recalled so on our way back out Marek and I stayed to play on it as the others worked their way out.
No matter what we tried neither truck could stay on the small lines needed to go up and we both ended a few times hung on or jammed between rocks with both front and rear diffs. Even our tail guide had stopped to help spot and when I was on it and Marek asked him what line they usually used he said he did not know as he had never seen anybody go up it lol.

These are some from Sunday and this was a nasty, greasy, rutted and very steep hill that only the trail guide made up without pulling line and here is shot of Marek at the second last set of ruts which he had to get winched from but note that the Ford Truggy with 44's only went to the next hole before winching.
This a shot of the Toyota before he launched it hard from the bottom of the hill and bounced on top of a boulder to the left and landed on and bent his front driveshaft.

Here was another really tough climb, kind of like 2-step on steroids.

Marek got it on first attempt and the guide called "lucky bounce" which I would have to agree with as the others that tried really pounded their trucks and only a couple made it.
Note the truggy with 44's and he made several attempts.
Or maybe it is just that Cherokee's are amazing :lmao: and Marek's skills should be on a circuit somewhere.

All in all we had a good time but next year would like to go with more club members as basically we could do all our runs together.

Here are all the pics:

http://s370.photobucket.com/albums/oo146/dwcjwerfner/Camp NL 09/

Dwayne
:beer:

 

[mucovich]

nice pics, definatly a good weekend.