hey all...

Just catching up on digests, read Morgan's and Ross's notes...  Morgan's
comments about this event were right on target!

My highlight... took my 82 Mini (Little Busu - Japanese for Ugly) through
the Little Sluice.  My first time.

Scott Fisher, trail leader for Fri 9 To Buck, went through the sluice, Steve
Sasaki (sweet 4Runner) busted a birf. on the entrance and backed out and
then it was my turn.  I almost bailed after watching Steve bust but my truck
was performing beyond expectations and I was feeling confident!  My daughter
Sheryl asked if she could ride also... "Will I be in the way?  Not if you
stay in that seat" I replied.  I entered the sluice and took the right hand
line.. missed it.   Backed up and took the line further to the right and got
the back wheels up...  was vveeerrryyy off camber.  Scott and someone else
jumped on the side of the truck.  I continued forward and lifted the
passenger tire, darn near feeling like we were going over.  Sheryl grabbed
on for dear life.  The tire came down and I eased around the large rock in
the center.  Crawled over the next rocks and took the hard left line on the
side of the wall to avoid the new pumpkin grabbing rocks that seemed new
this year.  I was/am completely filled with adrenaline after tagging the
Little Sluice.  I have it on video too....

My other awesome line was right above Walker hill, there are some pretty
tough sections after the major hill climb.... everyone was noting to stay
right... I took the most difficult line on the left and put my tires darn
near where their feet were and climbed through them all.  Again, the truck
with 4:88s, trutrac up front, detroit in the rear and single crawler gear
was phenomenal.

Tom Boyd busted a birf. on Friday and then busted the other side in the big
sluice on Saturday.  Phil (I don't need no stink'in springover) Pasciak
repaired each one and the three of us were the last from our group to get
into the springs on Saturday.  The second birf was right above Phil Johnson
(MTA) in the sluice on the CB, I noted to all we were having a birfield
party in the sluice when asked where we were.

On Friday at the first major tough spot, the alligator pit, I spotted Brian
Sullivan through in his very stock FJ60 and at the last moment before
creaming his rockers, I had him hold up and placed one significant rock
which lifted the rear tire and saved the truck from any damage.  He got
through completely unscathed.  When I saw him again not 200 yards down the
trail (after the mine field), his rockers were completely wasted!  I told
him fine deal, all my work down the drain.  :-)

Thursday evening while camping at Loon Lake, Jim Adams showed up.  He had
busted many major items but the last few saw the end of his trip.  He and
his buddy were completely filthy, camped on the trail the prior night with
his busted 40, had exhausted all his spare parts from the prior breakage...
and was heading back to Ice House... Not a happy camper.  He gave me all his
paperwork, told me where his trailer was (he had entered via the Tahoe side
with Mudrak on Monday, did the trail in reverse to lead his group in on
Thursday) and gave me some last minute instructions to cover for his
unplanned departure.  He drove away doing less than 5 miles an hour.  Jim is
in our Club (PMC) and certainly one of the nicest guys I know... it was very
dis-heartening.

Jamie Taylor had busted both front hubs on jeep can hill.  Tim Wehrer had
lost his over drive and only had front wheel drive.  James Henry ended up
leading Jim Adams run and tagged the trail on his first trip since
completing his spring over.

I got skunked at the raffle, no winners but as noted, the money was to
support the event and TLCA, winning anything is just extra credit.

My daughter Sheryl (11) had a fantastic time but was bored while either
sitting on the trail in line or hanging out while dad helped with trail
repairs.  When Tom Boyd set up the zip line with his winch at the river in
the Springs, she was having a great time.  I also let her drive the last
hundred yards of the trail before the overlook.  Now she can officially say
she wheeled the Rubicon Trail.

Bad part....  I did not have enough time.  :-(   We got into the springs
around 2.  By the time I chatted with all my club friends and others such as
Dave Brown and Jerry Nichols, found a campsite and swam in the river, it was
time to head off for the BBQ and raffle.  It was neat to sit with many of my
PMC Club Members, all who had made the trek in at various times.  I ran into
Joel from the Southern Nevada club who helped me home from Moab.

I took a new dent to the only straight panel I had.  At the top of Big
Sluice, I took a line to the left making the turn over all the boulders and
stayed right going over the large rock, again trying to take a different
line.  I was not aware that the trail would lift the truck into the stump on
the right side... oh well, it was still a sweet line.

Special Note... I am very pleased Dave Brown asked me to present Ron
Patston, former TLCA President, with a plaque expressing the associations
appreciation for his efforts.  This is an honor for me, having had the
opportunity to serve on the board while Ron was President.

OK, enough rambling, just still a bit excited as you might tell.  I don't
believe I can use any of this for a TT write up but I will include a lot for
our Chapter report.    Any PMC Members who have video, please bring it to
the next meeting and we'll do some serious video watching.  PMC will return
to the Rubicon for our Club Rubicon run in August, same weekend as Sierra
Trek.

Shameless plug... Don't forget about the PMC Swap Meet on July 29th in
Petaluma, 1 hour North of SF on Hwy 101.  Details are in the last issue of
TT or contact me directly off line at cruiserfan@worldnet.att.net

Finally, I saw many friends whom I had met before, met many new friends, but
am still bummed at the many on this list who I did not see or get to meet.
How can you do it all in one evening.  :-)

Tony Twiddy  #5049
Pres, PMC, TLCA of N.CA       TLCA Western Rep     United   BRC