The Rooster
February 2021
THE ROOSTER A monthly update from the Inland Empire Offroad Association
What’s New We had a very big group with over 20 rigs during the week between Christmas and New Years. The next good sized Glamis trip will be Presidents Week.
Kids in Camp
Christmas-New Years at Glamis, 2020-2021 by Jim Kastle I had such a good time on the Thanksgiving trip, I couldn’t wait to start the trip. I heard that Ray and Janice and Jerry and Linda would arrive as early as December 18th. I headed out Monday the 21st, with plans to get in some side by side rides before the buggies arrived right after Christmas. I had a smooth trip until I reached the gold mine when I happened to look out my driver’s side view mirror
One of the best parts of the New Years trip was that we had a bunch of kids in camp again. They dug holes, rode quads, and had a great time. It reminds many of us of how we grew up in the club.
Website Forum / Trip Sign Up Issues People are still seeing an error message after posting their trip plans on the club website. I am working on a fix, but in the mean time your plans will still be posted, despite receiving an error message.
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February 2021
Upcoming Events • January 29-31: Potential Glamis trip, contact Ray + Janice for details. • February 11 (or earlier) - 15th (or later) Presidents Week at Glamis, Wash 6. I’m sure some people will extend this trip both directions.
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and saw a tire rolling along next to my fifth wheel. For some unknown reason, I immediately thought that the spare tire on the RZR trailer came off. I pulled over and stopped as quickly as I could and started checking for wheels on the truck and trailers. Nothing unusual on the truck, or the first fifth wheel axle, but there was no left side tire, wheel, or brake drum on the second fifth wheel axle! I spent nearly an hour looking for the missing tire and wheel, having walked back at least a quarter mile, checking both sides of the road for the missing parts. I estimated the value of the missing parts at close to $300, so you KNOW I was looking hard! I finally gave up and after marking the spot on my GPS, chained up the axle, and drove slowly the remaining 10 miles to camp. When I arrived I told Janice and Ray what happened and Janice IMMEDIATELY said, “Let’s go find it! I like scavenger hunts.” She got in the truck and we drove to where I had stopped the truck. She got out, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this, within a minute she said, “There it is!” Sure enough, at least 50 yards off the road, on the passenger side (the tire came off the driver’s side) there sat my tire, wheel and brake drum. She helped me roll the heavy assembly to the truck and we parked the truck near a berm to lessen the distance we had to lift it, and together we got it in the truck. Thanks Janice. That was the first of many thanks from me regarding this incident. Back in camp I set up the fifth wheel and got the two other trailers from storage and started examining the damage. The axle was very bent at the stub where the bearing rides. It must have gotten hot enough to bend when the bearings dried up and failed. I thought for a few minutes we might be able to find a new stub and weld it to the axle, but Jerry quickly explained that was a VERY bad idea, as we’d never get it straight. He told me to replace the whole axle. I have tremendous respect for Jerry and knew I needed an axle. Due to the lack of crowds this early, service was good and I found axles at several places, but with three week delivery times, and I would need a very accurate measurement of the distance between the spring centers and the hub faces. The next morning Ray came over and helped me measure the axle. Nowhere on line could I find the appropriate
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February 2021
axle. I then remembered Benlo RV in Indio, where earlier this season I found a complete hub for my RZR trailer while we were camped at Salton City for the Mona Bacon Hot Dog Weenie Roast and Poker Run. I called them and spoke to Raul, their “axle guy” who took the measurements and said he’d call me right back. He called within 10 minutes and said he found one and could have it in Indio on Tuesday, the 29th. I told him to order it and gave him my credit card info. I thought he said he’d call back once the card was run, but I heard nothing. I spend most of the time the next couple of days getting the trailer ready for the new axle, and never went for the planned side by side ride. On the way to P.J.’s Christmas Eve, I stopped at the store to check on the order, but found they were closed until Monday the 28th. Nancy and I met at the camper at John’s Christmas Eve afternoon and due to COVID, were unable to have our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at Northwoods in Covina. Instead we got a Pizza Factory pizza to go, and ate in the little camper! Christmas morning our usual Christmas morning breakfast at Denny’s with my favorite waitress, Desiree, also fell victim to COVID, instead we bought WENDY’S to go at a truck stop on 395 and had breakfast in the camper. The rest of Christmas was great as usual, spent at P.J. and Melissa’s with the kids, and Melissa’s great cooking! I headed back to Glamis Christmas evening, and Nancy headed back to home. When I got to Glamis John and Anna had just arrived and were setting up camp. Mike and Pat, and Kris and Doug had arrived with Dana and Daniel. The next day’s details escape me now, but I think Ray led John, me, and probably others on a ride. P.J., Melissa, and the kids arrived in the afternoon and set up camp. The buggies and side by sides had separate rides. On Sunday or Monday, Erik Knowles and his dad, Mark arrived. We met them about 4 years ago when P.J., Dale, and I were parked at one of the hills and we saw an unusual side by side sort of looking vehicle arrive. It turns out it is a “truggy” scratch built by Erik and Mark. It uses a 5.3 liter LS engine and automatic trans and a standard rear end, and features beautiful metal work and excellent fabrication. Mark was content to stand to the side while Erik shared all the details of the build and engineering. The then high school senior was extremely articulate and knowledgeable, and a darn nice kid! A year or two later we ran across them at Coral Pink, and they later camped with us at Glamis one previous trip. Erik is now a senior in mechanical engineering at U of A, and will graduate in May, joining his dad as a mechanical engineer. On our first ride together this trip I led us out near Gecko where we took a break. Erik mentioned his car seemed to be running a little rough. I suggested he should lead back, to set a comfortable pace. His dad made the comment that I should be careful what I ask for. Erik took the lead and within minutes I KNEW he could lead, and lead well! I pride myself in leading smooth rides at a reasonably fast pace. Erik picks a line at least as smooth as mine, but does it noticeably faster. I honestly think he is the best leader I have EVER followed! Although very fast, it is very 3
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February 2021
comfortable as he regularly doubles back to let those of us who aren’t as fast catch up without slowing the ride. Mark should be proud, and he is! When asked how he learned to drive so well, Erik points to his dad, and says, “I learned from the best!” You have to love a family like that! The rest of the time Erik and Mark were in camp, Erik led every ride. The rides were all great. The Hagens: Pete, Linda, Jeremy, followed a day or two later, Karissa, and (now doctor), Jason. Congratulations Jason! So did Dave Huggard; Danny and Pam; (Little) Charlie, (Big) Charlie; Jeff and Lavon; Dawn and Jack; David; Randy and Cainen; Tom and Sarah, Jacob and Aubrey; and many others arrived at various times. One ride I do remember was again led by Erik and included Charlie’s dad (big Charlie) in his 1200 horsepower Alumacraft mega sand rail, and several other rails. Even 1200 horsepower doesn’t guarantee success, especially when the 200 horsepower car you’re following has to slow in a bad spot. The beautiful car got stuck, and his son pulled him out, with a large amount of sand involved. I understand the video is special and will soon be posted. On Monday I called Benlo to inquire about my axle, and make sure it had been ordered, as they had not charged my card. The owner was very nice and said it had been ordered, and would call when it got there. Tuesday afternoon I hadn’t heard anything, and being the nervous type and realizing if the axle didn’t arrive, the logistics of getting everything home would be difficult at best, I called again. Raul took the call and checked and said tracking showed it would arrive at the shop by 9:00 P.M., but the shop closes at 5:00. At 4:10 Raul called and said the axle was there. I told him I’d be there in the morning. I was back in camp shortly after noon and heard about a ride that had to be cut short when John’s car pulled a CV flange out of the transmission and it took P.J. and Pete hooked together to pull him out of the hole he was in when the trans let go. John was working on his car when I got back. Sadly, I don’t recall everything that happened, nor everyone who helped, but almost as soon as I got back the axle was out of my truck, the axle was on two milk crates and Danny and others were measuring and leveling to get the spring perches which had to be welded in the EXACT spot. Some of us were playing the “NOT ME” game when it came to who would actually weld them in place. Mark stepped in and said, “I will.” The welds on Mark’s and Erik’s cars are beautiful, and Mark’s welds on my trailer axle are better looking than the welds on my sand rail! THANK YOU Mark! And also thanks to everyone who set up the axle for welding. I honestly don’t remember everyone who helped, as there were so many of you and I was relieved to know this very important job was being done precisely. One name I do recall is Jeremy who when someone asked it anyone had any wedges to position the axle exactly, said, “My parents do.” We must have looked surprised, so he explained they had to use them to properly place a new TV, or something like that. I hope Pete and Linda still
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have a functioning TV! As if the very critical job of welding on the spring perches wasn’t enough, what happened next was clearly IEOR magic! I figured I would spend most of the next day with P.J. and probably John installing the axle. It didn’t work that way! A bunch of people said let’s install it. I do remember P.J., Jeremy, Danny, and Charlie, as well as many whose names I don’t recall worked as a team to install the axle. Whoever said “Many hands make light work” never watched an axle being installed on a 27 year old fifth wheel in the sand. It was NOT light work and looked much harder than I expected. I have to say “LOOKED” because they wouldn’t let me get close enough to do any of the work! There was no room for me. THANK YOU ALL! As I look back at the broken axle my strongest thoughts are not negative, instead they are positive because of how great a group I am fortunate enough to be part of. Ray led night rides to and from Olds two different times. He does a great job of maneuvering through the crowded dunes at night. He led both buggies and side by sides both times. He cooked Jiffy Pop as no one else can. Despite the instructions saying not to use an open flame, he cooks it to perfection every time! Two highlights of our night rides were (1) a guy in a side by side just down from us decided to impress his buddies by making a sliding turn to park while traveling fast. He rolled it completely upside down just to our left. Reports are he littered the desert with empty beer cans, much to no one’s surprise. (2) P.J. taking night time video from his new drone. At times he was high enough the camera caught the lights of Gecko. He flew all the way to the top of Olds and well behind us. The video is really great and is available on the website. We were joined this trip by a new family, the Murschels, Dad Adam, Mom Serena, and their two kids, Breely and Weston, 9 and 6. They usually go to Ocotillo, but went to Glamis in the past. They seemed to have a good time and I hope they’ll join us again. This reminds me that this trip was special in that we had the most kids in camp since P.J. and Melissa were little. They all seemed to get along well and just like days of old they dug a huge hole. The camp was big enough they were able to ride inside camp, and Mike made a real effort to park on the perimeter of camp. I’m sure that made for a less dusty camping experience! Kudos need to go to Mike and Pat for how well they tolerated being in the center of the track at Thanksgiving. It was not a good situation, but they handled it well, but hope to remain on the outside of the track! Marshall looked forward to riding his (Uncle Matt’s old) Suzuki 50. He has been riding it around the shop and the first few days rode quite a bit in camp. But after a few days it stopped running well. It would start but soon die. Grandpa John and Dad tried to fix it but it wasn’t cooperating. Danny took a turn at it and it seemed to help for a while, but it wasn’t rideable. Danny saw it as a challenge, and took it home to fix it for the next trip. Two days after getting home he had it disassembled. More IEOR magic! It seemed people were glad to see 2020 come to an end. 5
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February 2021
There were a lot of people at Glamis in general, and we had the most people at the campfire at the turn of midnight since 2000. There were the most fireworks I ever recall as we entered 2021. I’ve seen lots of fireworks shows in all kinds of venues, but nothing came close to the sheer volume of fireworks this year. Once again I want to thank everyone who jumped in to help with my axle. I’ll never be able to adequately express how happy I am to have friends like you! Let’s keep dunin’
More New Years Highlights By Paul Kastle In addition to all of the great things my Dad mentioned, while going through the trip pictures I came across some other highlights of the trip. For me, one of them was playing with the new drone, and in doing so I got a lot of cool pictures. On the left we have our Saturday omelet breakfast, which drew quite a crowd. I also enjoyed the annual New Years Eve Spaghetti, which is pictured below. I wasn’t the only one with a new toy, as Steve and Kimmie from Arizona arrived and made the debut of his long awaited home built single seat motorcycle engine powered sandrail. It looks great, and Steve is super excited to have it in the dunes after many years of planning and work on it. Congratulations Steve! It was great for me (as one of the “kids” in camp) to see lots of little kids playing in camp. They had fun digging holes and riding around, just like we did over 30 years ago.
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February 2021
The rides were great as always, and I went through a lot more gas than usual, in part because it is our longest Glamis trip of the year at 8 nights. I know some stayed twice as long, and I aspire to join them for that long some day, but I too might have to retire first. Overall the cars worked well, despite having to do some unscheduled maintenance on John’s transmission, but fortunately he had a spare with him. It is amazing to me that our current cars are over 14 years old, so I guess some maintenance is to be expected. I am planning on an engine swap after Presidents to replace rod and main bearings, but they have provided for a lot of fun over the years. Overall, we had a great time and we are looking forward to the next trip, which for us will start right after we get back from Disney World, so we have a fun month ahead of us. -P.J.
This month we’d like to thank Jim Kastle for sending in an article, and encourage everyone else to do the same. We’re looking forward to getting together once again for a long trip over Presidents Day as we return to Wash 6 at Glamis. Please send your contributions for future newsletters to me at pkastle@msn.com and we will publish them along with a calendar of events each month. -Paul, Melissa, Allie, and Marshall. 7