IXNAYXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wherever the next race is.
On February 25th, 2008, the 's Northwest Chapter held it's second annual Walker Valley March Mudfest. Yes, I said March Mudfest...because it rhymes...and we had one last year...so this sounds better...even though it wasn't in March. Anyway, enough with trivialities.
Saturday morning met us with clear blue skies and mild temperatures, thoroughly out of character for this time of year, and certainly for an event called “Mudfest.” Further, the weather had been pleasant for a full week, ever since a small group of us previewed the trials the weekend previous. Things were definitely not as they should be. To make things even stranger, our Chapter President decided to buck the trend of sitting officials never wheeling during their tenure, and stayed up until 3 a.m. getting his Jeep ready to wheel. Bravo!
As I was staying at the Presidential Mansion that evening, it meant that I was up until 3 a.m as well. Also, for the sake of historical accuracy, I should mention that Ryan’s week long thrash trying to put his Jeep back together to make the event ultimately ended up yielding no Jeep, and costing Fubar a pair of bump stops (more on that later). Yes, despite his best efforts, the Wheeling Gods dropped a Deuce on him when they ran his welder out of gas, then wire. It was as if they were trying to restore balance to the world...or Ryan just uses cubic yards of dripping booger welds and ran his supplies out.
Back to the weather: It was a beautiful morning as we met up and proceeded to the trailhead to air down, disco, secure coolers, and strap passengers in. Here’s the group preparing to tackle the best Walker Valley ORV park has to offer:
There were lots of other rigs out there, as well as the entire population of Everett riding Quads and dirt bikes. It made for a loud and crowded departure. The first challenge of the day was getting everybody through Walker’s notorious Gate Keeper. It’s sort of a “you must be this built to ride” obstacle that bypasses a locked gate. It helps keep people out who weren’t up to the task of WV’s tough trials.
Eli (Can’tMan) going through the Gate Keeper. This can be a challenge with a stick, but he did just fine:
Nick Outlaw picking up a tire:
I think everyone had mixed feelings wheeling with reason46; Willy and his wife just moved here from Texas. Just kidding! The real reason we were both excited and worried to see their MJ on the trail was that it was a Long Bed, and it was so damn nice! We all had images of twisted sheet metal and broken lights in our minds...and we would be proven wrong. With a combination of careful spotting and patience, they made it through (swapping drivers) with very little damage. Here the MJ is going through Gate Keeper:
Here’s FubarXJ, voted (by me) most quotable NWC member...and supplier of beer:
“Navy,” as we came to call him that day:
And me:
Finally, with everyone through and arranged, we hit the trails!
-----Matt-----
Saturday morning met us with clear blue skies and mild temperatures, thoroughly out of character for this time of year, and certainly for an event called “Mudfest.” Further, the weather had been pleasant for a full week, ever since a small group of us previewed the trials the weekend previous. Things were definitely not as they should be. To make things even stranger, our Chapter President decided to buck the trend of sitting officials never wheeling during their tenure, and stayed up until 3 a.m. getting his Jeep ready to wheel. Bravo!
As I was staying at the Presidential Mansion that evening, it meant that I was up until 3 a.m as well. Also, for the sake of historical accuracy, I should mention that Ryan’s week long thrash trying to put his Jeep back together to make the event ultimately ended up yielding no Jeep, and costing Fubar a pair of bump stops (more on that later). Yes, despite his best efforts, the Wheeling Gods dropped a Deuce on him when they ran his welder out of gas, then wire. It was as if they were trying to restore balance to the world...or Ryan just uses cubic yards of dripping booger welds and ran his supplies out.
Back to the weather: It was a beautiful morning as we met up and proceeded to the trailhead to air down, disco, secure coolers, and strap passengers in. Here’s the group preparing to tackle the best Walker Valley ORV park has to offer:
There were lots of other rigs out there, as well as the entire population of Everett riding Quads and dirt bikes. It made for a loud and crowded departure. The first challenge of the day was getting everybody through Walker’s notorious Gate Keeper. It’s sort of a “you must be this built to ride” obstacle that bypasses a locked gate. It helps keep people out who weren’t up to the task of WV’s tough trials.
Eli (Can’tMan) going through the Gate Keeper. This can be a challenge with a stick, but he did just fine:
Nick Outlaw picking up a tire:
I think everyone had mixed feelings wheeling with reason46; Willy and his wife just moved here from Texas. Just kidding! The real reason we were both excited and worried to see their MJ on the trail was that it was a Long Bed, and it was so damn nice! We all had images of twisted sheet metal and broken lights in our minds...and we would be proven wrong. With a combination of careful spotting and patience, they made it through (swapping drivers) with very little damage. Here the MJ is going through Gate Keeper:
Here’s FubarXJ, voted (by me) most quotable NWC member...and supplier of beer:
“Navy,” as we came to call him that day:
And me:
Finally, with everyone through and arranged, we hit the trails!
-----Matt-----