How many CO XJer's does it take to run Die Trying?

[Goatman]

NONE!!!!!! :( :( :eek: :confused: :D :D

I still can't believe that we invited the whole CO XJ list, at least those who were set up properly, and no one showed up to run either 21 Road or Die Trying. We took 10 XJ's through Die Trying, the first time anything like that has been done, and everyone was from out of the state. We had rigs from CA, WA, OR, UT, and WI, but none from CO. That is one kick ass trail, very tight, with some big climbs and a real steep climb out at the end with a few big ledges in it. We feel very fortunate to get 10 rigs through with no breakdowns......a testament to how well the rigs and drivers where prepared.

Evidently, the CO people just can't handle it. :eek: :D :D

I know that a few XJ's have run Die Trying, so I'm not saying it hasn't been done before, just that a whole group of XJ's running it is a first. It blows my mind that no one from CO was there to claim their part in the adventure. I want to thank Brad Green, who is a NAXJA member from Telluride, for coming out to show us to the trails in Montrose. Brad lead us on Scratch and Dent, but isn't quite set up for Die Trying.

Grant and Led met us at Avalanche Ranch, which also had some very tough trails, so we did finally have some CO folks along on the trip. As soon as everyone gets settled I'm sure there will be plenty of pics.

[Jes]

:D

[Beezil]

Goat, I thought you said there was no wheeling in colorado?

[XJJPR]

So Goatman tell how you really feel about noone showing up from Co.

[Goatman]

Beez, I think someone put words in my mouth on that one. I've wanted to run the Montrose and Penrose trails for a long time, still want to run Penrose. Of course, I've always found it strange that I could find only a couple in CO who had ever run the real hard stuff.

I'm mostly ragging on the CO guys because they've made a big deal about how hard some of the trails they have are, but few have run them, and when we put a trip together to run them none of the CO guys show up. If you think I'm talking hard here, you should have heard the things that were said while we were on the trails. ;) :)

I guess most of the CO guys did their hardcore wheeling in Moab at Jeep Safari......or on the web! :D :D

Just a little good natured fun. Hopefully, we'll shake them out for the next trip. :)

[JJacobs]

Bah- I've got to get points for effort. The Jeep is *mostly* ready today, although that is one week late.

I'm gonna step out on a limb here and say that you are actually correct. There's too many CO guys worrying about what settings to run their RS9's on their 4" lift, and not enough that will actually get out, especially if there's a risk of !gasp! body damage!

Oh well, I'll meet all you west coast boys in Moab, isn't that in October or something? Up for the RCAA course at Proving Grounds? ;)

[YELLAHEEP]

Um, sorry Richard -- those were your words about the Colorado wheeling situation :rolleyes: I believe you received an award in recognition for that as well -- but I know you said it "tongue-in-cheek" ;)

That really is a bummer that NOT ONE COLORADO GUY showed up for those trails you mentioned. I really wanted to but I recently promoted to Sergeant at the Cop Shop and didn't feel I should take time off so soon after promoting. I'm hating all this talk of what a good time you all had! Sucks for me I guess :D !!!

Sorry JJacobs, but this is one Colorado guy who ain't picking my trails based on the body-damage factor. I'll gladly run with the big dogs when I can -- I refuse to be the smallest dog in the group though -- don't wanna be the one who breaks and holds the group behind. I'm workin' on that though........ :D

I also thought that was cool that one of those guys from the other group that broke on 21 Road posted to thank you guys! Just another example of the caliber of people in this organization! Well done fellas!

Can't wait for some pics and video.

[JJacobs]

Don't be sorry, just get it out of the garage- don't want to be like John-John do you? :D
You on the CO list, don't recognize the tag.

[4ward]

Jon, I thought you wouldn't do anything harder than Spring Creek :D

Hopefully get to wheel with you again in Oct. Wanna do DT on the way over. I wanna show the folks something tough before we hit Moab. I'm taking Dad to Paragon tomorrow, should be a good weekend.

Sean

[Grant]

After all the fighting words from the west coast guys, you would think they would commit to an east vs west challenge.

Time and Date - 20th Anniversary, afternoon
Location - Proving Grounds
East of the Rockies Team - Jacobs, OneTon, Barclay
West of the Rockies team - ?????, actually the only person with large enough cajones (sp?) would be Jenni driving Farmer Matt's rig.
Rules and Reg's - to be decided

Whaddya say now, Goatman?

[Paul S]

Hey Grant, anytime anywhere, but unless you guys can find something equivalent to our multi prupose Matt tool, you haven't a chance.
Paul

[Grant]

Yup, Paul. I think you got us beat with a Matt tool. Not just the Matt tool but the Jenni accesory (sp?) is pretty damn good behind the wheel, as well

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Grant
After all the fighting words from the west coast guys, you would think they would commit to an east vs west challenge.

Time and Date - 20th Anniversary, afternoon
Location - Proving Grounds
East of the Rockies Team - Jacobs, OneTon, Barclay
West of the Rockies team - ?????, actually the only person with large enough cajones (sp?) would be Jenni driving Farmer Matt's rig.
Rules and Reg's - to be decided

Whaddya say now, Goatman?

Sure, let's do it, but it needs to be CO guys. I know guys from east of CO that don't have a problem showing up for the tough stuff. You can't bring Sean into it, he's never backed down from anything. Also, no trailer rigs and they must be street legal, us west coast guys can drive our rigs across the country, wheel hard, and then drive them home again. Topless rigs, 38's, trailered to the trail, against us street Jeeps with 35's? Come awn, get some of those regular CO dudes to come out and do some wheeling!! :D

Think we'll have this thoroughly worked up by the 20th Anniversary Celebration?? :) :)

I still think we should put together a Montrose/Johnson Valley CO/CA challenge, that would be fun. Maybe we could get Sean out for something like that? We could have a cook off too, Mil's Carne Asada against whatever you guys can come up with. :D

[4ward]

Why don't you guys do a real East vs. West challenge. JV and Paragon- that'll sort out the real big dogs and who can keep 'em going. I'd purpose build a street rig for that. I've got half the parts already ( lt1, 700r, d300, d61, d44), just lookin' for my free 2 door body.

Goat, how's this- if you guys can find someone with enough balls to build a XJ buggy, we'll run 3 of your street rigs against 3 of our street rigs and a 1 on 1 buggy. Cal Rocs scoring rules apply?????????

Sean

[Goatman]

Nah, I think we should just do it for time......fastest time to complete the trail wins. Besides, I'm just talking about CO guys. Grant needs to make it East vs West because he can't get enough CO guys out to the trails!! :D

I'd love to come back there and do Paragon, and get you out to JV. Does anyone have access to a military cargo plane?? :)

Oh, and we don't need an XJ buggy, we run it all anyway with our street Jeeps, and we can still run the A/C when we want. :rolleyes:

[GSequoia]

I think to get more of the CO guys out there you'll have to run the really hard core trails like this:

http://fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/standard?pictid={C9A9C68F-F130-426D-9753-C5F4D229ACCB}&exp=f&moddt=37769.4551388889

:D

[JJacobs]

Drove the XJ to work today, so it must be street legal? Had a cop slowing down so he could get behind me, then rode my ass while I sweated bullets. I turned, he kept going. So, that's street legal in my book- and according to "home rule" legislation it'd be OK nationwide. (technically)

Let's not trot out the street legal and A/C argument just because you guys are scared of real tires! 35's are dinky.

[Led]

Hey Goat I DROVE mine there on 38s!! And when you add the population numbers together yall have quite a larger pool to draw from. So to be fair about it you got to give us a few extra states! :D
Led

[woody]

Sean...I got that old 119" WB MJ shell. Let me steal the low mile 6, front axe and gages out of it, (maybe the bed too for a trailer that matches my 88 and 87) and it's yours to build up with that SBC etc...if ya want it. I'd be proud to contribute it to the East vs West war effort.

He is one of the few animals I'd trust maulling my firstborn unibody Jeep.

Street legal is all relative to who pulls ya over and why...I got pulled last week on the way to work (post lift-pre alignment) Deputy was like "Are you drunk?" I said nope...but if I get to work and home alive I'll get that way to celebrate, then I'll align this shit-box. He said (mean voice) "You are all over the road!" I was like :rolleyes: Duh! I KNOW that...I'm the one tryin to drive it! I was in the ditch a bunch too before ya started following me and I had to speed up to the limit. For effect I got out, started wiggling on the steering stuff and control arms...LMAO he was disgusted, finally said "Well...Be careful!" and left me to plod along.

[CRASH]

Woody, only in North Carolina, and perhaps West Virginia.

CRASH

[CRASH]

I'm gonna chime in here, even though my hoochy is still hurting from not showing up to BOTW II. The good part of this is that I can now make it to 20th anniversary and rag on Beezil......I hope.

In any case, my junk is as junky as they come, and I still make the 10 hour drive to JV twice a year. In fact, after the last JV trip, I added a quart of 30 weight and drove my pile to work the next day!

Proving grounds vs. the mud running East Coast crowd? Bring it awn. :rolleyes:

CRASH

[Goatman]

Andy, I think they're saying that it will take pretty much the whole rest of the country, using mostly trail only rigs, to collectively have a chance to out wheel the west coast rigs that are driven to the trail......on mostly 35" tires.

I don't think we've ever been paid so high a complement. :D :D

All this talk about a competition.......I just want them to show up to run a few trails. :rolleyes: But, we can also handle a little competion. ;) :D

[FarmerMatt]

I have to say that Grant has it right. Lets just give Jeni the keys, crack open a beer, & sit back & watch here drive the pants off those Co. guys.

Matt

[GSequoia]

I'll take part in the junior league competition!

[Porch Puppy]

Richard,
We might want to be nice to those CO guys.... who is going to lead us to the trails next time? We wouldn't want to get lost or anything..... :D :D :D
Andy

[Crunch]

I have lots happening to my 'little' Jeep before Moab, but I wanna play. About this east vs west thing, you west coasters wheel more than anyone I know (except for Sean maybe). Do you guys have jobs??? If so, how do you get so much time off???
I would have loved to wheel with you guys but being open front took me out of the running. I will be locked up front before Tellico and have the 60 in by Moab. Even though I'll only be on 33s, I'll be gunning for the good runs. I've wheeled with a lot of you guys and can't wait to wheel with you again, no matter where you are from. No slurpage intended:D
Countdown is on,
Crunch

[JJacobs]

Bring it! :D Grant has a little idea, I'll let him spring it on you.

I'm glad you CA guys are proud of driving your rigs everywhere, if you are able to get home every time you're clearly not getting it hard enough! Or, you're towing a machine shop- might as well tow the Jeep.

I'm down for a little follow-the-leader any time you guys are, it's just too bad you'll have to borrow some real tires to have a chance!

(not real good at smack-talking, trying hard here)

[KINGSIZE]

This is great.......Please tell everyone when this is going to happen.....I for one would pay to watch the East Coast Mud Boys TRY to out wheel the West Coast Guys.

Wait theres Rocks in some Mud pits right? Bhahahahaahh

Robert:anon:

[Goatman]

Originally posted by JJacobs
Bring it! :D Grant has a little idea, I'll let him spring it on you.

I'm glad you CA guys are proud of driving your rigs everywhere, if you are able to get home every time you're clearly not getting it hard enough! Or, you're towing a machine shop- might as well tow the Jeep.

I'm down for a little follow-the-leader any time you guys are, it's just too bad you'll have to borrow some real tires to have a chance!

(not real good at smack-talking, trying hard here)

Jon, it looks like you're doing fine to me. :)

All this talk is just part of a typical BOTW trip.......we have a very good time poking fun at and ragging on each other, it adds to the fun and comraderie of the trip. We have to let the CO guys know how disappointed we were that none of them were able to make the first few days of the trip, we were looking forward to meeting and wheeling with a bunch of them. I hope everyone realizes it's all a bunch of BS.

Last year it was long arms that got bashed, this year it's the CO XJ'ers, next year..........?? :D

[4ward]

Next year, posers on 35's bustin' out their winches so they can go where the men play :D It's all fine and dandy to wheel with yer little tires so you can make it through a trail, now play follow the leader and make it through a line. Screw times, I say we lay down the cones. Are you west coasters chicken? Oh yeah, AC is for old farts that live in the desert.

Woody, I do appreciate the offer. I'm specifically seeking out a 2 door though. I love watchin' the west coasters when they come here to wheel. Pretty funny watchin' them try to "crawl" a mud and slime covered boulder field. Wrrrrrr, wrrrrrrr- is that Mr. Warn I hear calling your name again :rolleyes:

Sean

PS, I love this stuff

[Goatman]

What are you talking about......winching? I ran 21 Road, Scratch and Dent with all the optional routes, Die Trying, Sidewinder, and Aliens and never used the winch. I did use the winch on Whippersnapper. It was amazing that winches came out only a couple of times on Die Trying, and mostly with the 33" tire'd rigs to get diffs un-hung......everyone drove all the climbs and obstacles.

It's OK with me if you guys think big tires makes up for driving technique. :D You know, no one thinks it's a big deal to get a bunch of big tire'd quasi buggies through a trail, but take a bunch of street driven XJ's through a tough trail and people are impressed.

I love playing follow the leader.......you can follow me or I can follow you. BTW, the last time I broke down on the trail was about 3 years ago........when was the last time for you? :D :D

You are right about one thing, A/C is for old farts who live in the desert. ;)

[Grant]

OK, OK, so instead of a building contest let's make this a driving contest.

Each team provides a totally stock XJ and three drivers. Maybe allow 30 minutes prep time - weld the rear diff. Maybe the tire guy in Moab will let us run some demo tires. Set up a course on Potato Salad and let's "get some"

Now before you all start screaming about cost - beater XJ's can be had running for $500 here in CO, split between three drivers that ain't exhorbitant. and it only needs to complete three runs.

Actually the more I think about this idea the better it becomes.

How about I bring two totally stock XJ's to Moab, beaters with maybe the rear welded. Each team nominates three drivers, somebody somewhat neutral sets up the course, and we have a full awn competition.

We could also use them to settle grudge matches between individuals. any proceeds would have to go to BRC, USA-All or UFWDA.

I would need to make this a business expense so how does "The 20th Anniversary of the Cherokee - East versus West Challenge - presented by Advanced Spine and Rehabilitation and Built-by-Bones Consulting"

Maybe require that each team includes a female driver.

[ChuckD]

Originally posted by Grant
OK, OK, so instead of a building contest let's make this a driving contest.

Each team provides a totally stock XJ and three drivers. Maybe allow 30 minutes prep time - weld the rear diff. Maybe the tire guy in Moab will let us run some demo tires. Set up a course on Potato Salad and let's "get some"

Now before you all start screaming about cost - beater XJ's can be had running for $500 here in CO, split between three drivers that ain't exhorbitant. and it only needs to complete three runs.

Actually the more I think about this idea the better it becomes.

How about I bring two totally stock XJ's to Moab, beaters with maybe the rear welded. Each team nominates three drivers, somebody somewhat neutral sets up the course, and we have a full awn competition.

We could also use them to settle grudge matches between individuals. any proceeds would have to go to BRC, USA-All or UFWDA.

I would need to make this a business expense so how does "The 20th Anniversary of the Cherokee - East versus West Challenge - presented by Advanced Spine and Rehabilitation and Built-by-Bones Consulting"

Maybe require that each team includes a female driver.

I nominate FarmerMatt's wife for Sierra Chapter! :D

[XJEEPER]

Originally posted by Grant
OK, OK, so instead of a building contest let's make this a driving contest.

Each team provides a totally stock XJ and three drivers. Maybe allow 30 minutes prep time - weld the rear diff. Maybe the tire guy in Moab will let us run some demo tires. Set up a course on Potato Salad and let's "get some"



I'll have an extra large slice of what your servin' up , Grant. Having run nearly every "harder" trail in Moab with 31-32's, a 5 speed and open diffs at one time or another (PC, RN, Helldorado excluded), count me in. Sounds like a great way to seperate the drivers from the web-wheelers.

How does that go.........."The older I get, the better I was"............:moon:

X

[Goatman]

Grant, I think that's a great idea, it would be fun. I'd participate and kick in a little towards the cost. So, you're talking basically east of Moab verses west of Moab? We could even rotate drivers between the two beater rigs to keep it totally even, if needed.

Of course, I'd still go for a west coast/CA vs CO challenge, I'm not going to let you guys off the hook that easily. :D :D

[CRASH]

Can the CO guys even come up with three drivers? ;)

CRASH

[Grant]

Let the hype begin. I will start putting out the word and see what Cherokees I can come up with. I already have a two door that would work.

My intent would be to keep them as close to stock as possible, maybe weld the rear, try and find some freebie tires. Keep them identically prepared so no team has an advantage, draw straws to choose which team gets which XJ.

Choose an afternoon when the wheeling ends early so everyone can watch, cheer or jeer.

I don't want this to develop into a "redneck riot" - and harm our reputation as responsible tread lightly wheelers. I know if we plan carefully this can develop into a great challenge, it will allow trash talking from now until October, and it may make a little money for the access organizations to boot.

Having seen what XJeeper can accomplish I don't think we will be limited for trail choice.

Oh yeah, let's see if those CA pansies can walk the walk - we already know they can talk, boy can they talk

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Crunch]

I wanna play. Ain't skeared a no left coaster. Ain't skeared a no tater salad. Ain't skeared a no skinny pedal. Just wanna play. If I can't play, I'll volunteer for heckling :D
Peace,
Crunch