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.
As some of you may have heard, we lost one of our most liked members (Chuck Terrell) this month due to an illness. He will be truly missed. There was a good turnout for his funeral, which was appreciated by his family. The Oct 4 run went to Chinaman's Gulch and was the Chuck Terrell memorial run. Chuck’s wife and son (Charlie) were on this run. See David Hayes trip report later in this issue.
As the year is winding down, there are some things that we need to start thinking about. The board member elections will be in January and we need
Volunteers. This will be the end of my 2nd year as President. The bylaws state that there is a 2-term limit, so we will need a new President. The other positions of Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and
TLCA delegate will also be up for grabs. In addition to the elections the bylaws can be reviewed and updated as well. If there is anything in the bylaws that you would like to see changed please bring it up at one of the meetings this year, so the others can consider it for the vote in January.
We need to discuss a Christmas Party at the next meeting. Please think about it and bring ideas. Only 2 meetings remain before December for planning.
October’s meeting time has changed to 7:00PM and will continue to be held at Liberty Toyota.
Happy Trails,
Kendall Carlton
President CLC
We met at the Western Station in Woodland Park. John brought donuts and Mike brought a state trooper. Well actually, the state trooper just stopped by to lecture Mike. However, he did take the time to wait just up the road from the Western to check our speeds; fortunately none of us got pulled over. Then with a couple of other stops at Wilkerson Pass and the Gun Smoke truck stop we were at the trial head just before 10:00 am. After airing down, half the group took a brief detour to walk the new Carnage trail. Then we proceeded on up the trail we had a total of 9 vehicles: Kendall leading, Charlie in the yellow truck with his mother, Mike and Vicky in the Bronco, Andy and Bart in Andy’s truck, John with the extra tall Michelin’s, Kendall’s friend Paul in a Jeep, Vic and Gary in Vic’s Cruiser, some Friends of Vic’s in a 4 month old Jeep (Rubicon edition), and myself with both kids in the 80. By the time we made it to the first obstacle, I think Vic’s friends in the Jeep realized that there was a lot more to what we call a mild trail with optional obstacles suitable for stock vehicles, than they had ever seen on Rampart Range road. While the first obstacle has become a little easier, there is a rock just past it that has become more interesting and hung up the Jeep on the transfer case skid plate. It was light enough that a half dozen people pushing managed to free it. Once we were into the gully at the first major obstacle it was about lunchtime. I saw Vic starting to drive around it thinking about his barbequed Pork chops and I pointed to the obstacle. I didn’t think that his MTRs and rear coil suspension should be driving around anything. He as well as the rest of us had a great time on this obstacle with the help of Charlie and Mike’s expert spotting. We all had a lot of fun watching each other go over this one. A custom line was chosen for each vehicle to make sure it was challenged (and in many cases the drivers nerves as well). We then ate a leisurely lunch afterward.
As we proceeded to Whale rock, Mike found a large rock to put the front left tire of the bronco on. While Mike was still getting his beating for scaring Vicky, I heard Charlie’s mom in the vehicle in front of me, give him clear direction that he was not to drive over
it. When we got to Whale rock three of us tried the steep left side, but only Andy made it. Mike first tried it in the bronco. Then I gave it a try. At one point it actually felt like it was starting to climb, but then the rear tires slipped to the right and it was no
longer lined up correctly. After that each further attempt resulted in the front tires slipping left closer to danger. It takes even more work, forward and back and numerous adjustments, to get the vehicle back off of the obstacle. Then I just took my standard line up the center, and managed to bust a birfield. With the 80 being so heavy I think I pulled Charlie back 10 feet while winching my self over with 3-wheel drive. Then Andy successfully drove up the left side. He was both pleased and surprised. This time I had parts, and most of the tools needed, so we proceeded with the birfield repair. I managed to loosen the lug nuts, then while I was rounding up my other tools and
parts, Andy had jacked up the front, John removed the tire, and Charlie was in position like a surgeon calling for tools as parts. Almost everyone there did or contributed something to help with the repair process. Especially when the vehicle started leaning and we had many people pushing it up while others were scrambling for two additional jacks. This certainly is a great group of people to wheel with. Thanks again to Charlie and everyone for their help. We hadn’t gone too much further, when Andy tried an optional obstacle that he got stuck on. This made John’s day since he got to strap Andy off of the rock. Once we made it to the place were we usually exit the trail, we came upon a road-closed sign, and had to continue
around the loop trail. There were several more interesting obstacles. Kendall had the front left tire a long ways off the ground for the first of these obstacles. Later there was an off camber obstacle that tested our nerves. After a few wrong turns, we eventually found our way back out to pavement at dark. Most of us ate dinner at the Gun Smoke truck
stop before we completed the long drive home. I think my son Travis (just under 4 yrs old) summed it up best at the end of the day when I asked him if he had fun, he said, “I had fun going over big rocks and fun with my new big friends”.
At least three or four people had cameras, so I’m expecting some good pictures for the Web Site from this excursion.
David
Good news from Cindy! She is now able to work 2 days a week, driving herself there and back, and her physical therapy continues 3 days a week. She is feeling better but continues to have to use crutches to get around. She and Paul were able to drive to Kansas City last weekend (Oct 5th) to attend a NASCAR race where she met Bobby LaBonte one of her favorite drivers. Cindy, you and Paul continue to be in our prayers.
Next Meeting – October
21, 2003 - 7:00pm.
Mark your calendar for CLC’s next meeting, Liberty Toyota, North. See you there!
Trail run – Rainbow Falls
- November 8, 2003
Meet at 8:00am and leave at 8:30am from The Western station just east of Woodland Park. Rated at 2 to 3. Come to the meeting, and help decide who will lead!
1970 FJ40: 330 HP Chevy 350(<3000 mi), New Edelbrock QJET, E'brock Performer Intake, Chrome Headers, E'brock high volume water pump, 4-row radiator, K&N air filter, New starter, NV4500(6.34:1 low), "3spd" t-case, "Triple-D Dual Drive"
(Gleason Torsen) front diff, 2 ½" Alcans, RS9000 shocks, New RS5000 steering stabilizer, New Saginaw P/S box, New tie rod, All new tie rod ends, 33x12.50 General Grabber AP's, "New" brake booster, Dual tanks, Dual batts, A/C, Rear heater, AM/FM cass, Reclining highback buckets, Center console. $10,500 Sam in Colorado Springs, CO
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Complete stock FJ40 exhaust, “F” engine, 1972
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Four BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO tires,
9.50 x 33 x 15 $400.00 719 535-6045