Colorado Land Cruisers is a four-wheel drive club based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and sanctioned by Toyota Land Cruisers Association.
We are organized to bring together Toyota owning families and individuals interested in exploring Colorado four-wheel drive trails.
“Remember we’re all
in this together, I’m pullin’ for ya!”
Andy “Minisrule”
Johnson
President – CLC
And no one came! What a beautiful area to see in mid-September. Put it on your list for the next scheduled time.
Bummer. Maybe next year.
The Price household has recently been going through the thin-all-the-extra-stuff (junk) from the house to get rid of as much unused ‘stuff’ (read: junk) as we can. I sorted through some of the items and found things I had long forgotten I even had. All of this was in preparation for the “Garage Sale”. I have dreaded this, as my wife will verify, for a long time but finally the day came and after I parked the FJ40 and F250 off on a side street, we loaded all the stuff into the driveway, on makeshift tables, on the ground, on the grass, with clothes hung on a 1” diameter steel bar hung between 2 step ladders, we were ready, and the sale began. Or really the sale began as we were carting all the stuff from the house and garage. People began coming in. I am always surprised at what people will buy, but not surprised at how little they wanted to pay. We had special deals on crock-pots, candlestick holders, on everything. My big surprise came from the questions about where my FJ40 was and if I had sold it, or if I wanted to sell it. The interesting stories came though, of a Land Cruiser they had either had long ago, or as a kid growing up with their family and how the ‘Cruiser was always there ready to go and how it never failed to do the job – whatever the task was. These stories were followed by the tales of the one that got away. Or of the ‘Cruiser they had seen and didn’t buy because of not enough cash, too many other bills, wife didn’t understand, kids, or (fill in the blank). As the stories unfolded, it was easy to tell that these stories about ‘Cruisers will always occupy a pleasant spot in their memory. The detail of the memories was incredible. They remember the ‘Cruiser and then point to the near new 4WD diesel pickup or SUV they have to drive now, and always share the thoughts that “some day” they will find a ‘Cruiser and be able to buy it. I, of course urged them to follow through on their dream. I was very surprised about a neighbor from up the street who was an older gentleman and his memory of my FJ40. His memory went back more than11 years to when I had just gotten the FJ40 and I also had a Chevy S10. I didn’t need 2 small 4WD’s, and so I put both up for sale, and figured I’d keep the one that didn’t sell. I also figured I’d keep the S10, as the FJ40 was a rusty, rattle trap, in which the radio couldn’t be heard at any thing above 50 MPH. And steering wonder? WOW! Did it wonder all over the road! It was a handful at any speed above 50 MPH. Anyway, my neighbor from up the street recounted the day he drove by and I had just given the keys to the FJ to a guy who wanted to test drive it. He told me that when he drove back by later, and saw the FJ was still there, he was relieved that I’d come to my senses and had kept the FJ. He was right, the S10 sold, and I began my journey on restoring – actually refurbishing - the FJ. He evidently followed my progress quite well, because he remembered many of the details: having the top off, doors off, doing rust repair, various colors of grey and red primers, and then the big change in going from a green top to an all white ‘Cruiser. His telling me this took me back through all the steps you go through when you do a refurbishment on a ‘Cruiser. I still have a folder in a file cabinet with all the receipts. I wanted to know what it was costing. Somewhere around $4,000 I stopped counting. Overall cost didn’t matter. I don’t think it really matters what vehicle you are restoring/refurbishing; the cost will always be higher than you anticipated. And through this process, the ‘Cruiser becomes something never intended. It almost comes to have a life of its own. The original concept of a utility vehicle was to be rugged, reliable, inexpensive as well as easy to repair when needed. I do not believe the designers intended the ‘Cruiser to live on and on as they do. (I’ll bet the designers are grinning ear to ear though) Have you ever noticed that when talking about a ‘Cruiser it is referred to as, say, Sam’s ‘Cruiser? (Or whoever’s name it was) Linda and I were on Rampart Range Road this past August stopped on a side road having a snack, when around the corner came a light green FJ40. It was Sam’s ‘Cruiser – although Sam had sold it earlier in the summer. We did meet a lot of our neighbors too. One neighbor in particular I noticed was dressed in forest service clothing and from the patches that he worked for Pike NF. In fact he is working in the Hayman burn area. He is also an avid outdoorsman and totally understands about the issues we as 4WDers have with how the forest service is closing the gulches to 4WDer use. (Metberry, Hackett, and Longwater). Its good to know I have a neighbor working at PNF!
Enough of my rambling. See you on the trail, shiny side up. And plan to go on the Spring Creek run. You will enjoy it.
~ Darryl ~
Next
Run ~ Spring Creek ~ October 16, 2004
Meet 7am; leave 7:30am from the North location, McDonalds at N. Academy and highway 83. Kendall is listed as (?) to lead.
Next Next Run ~ Chinaman
Gulch ~ Nov 20, 2004
Meet 7:30am; leave 8am from the West location, the Western station 3 miles east of Woodland Park on highway 24. Super Charlie is listed as (?) to lead.
Next
CLC Meeting ~ October 19, 2004 7:00PM
Mark your calendar for CLC’s next meeting, Liberty Toyota, North. Coming items are trip planning for 2005, as well as planning the Christmas Party. See you there!
FOR
SALE ~ FOR SALE ~ FOR SALE
1972 FJ40 front axle. Includes housing, both axles, hubs, bearings, and brakes. NO 3rd member. $125/???
Darryl ~ (719) 593-9829
What Trail is this sign on?
Email your answer to: editor@coloradolandcruisers.org