The Rooster
June 2019
THE ROOSTER A monthly update from the Inland Empire Offroad Association
What’s New
Dumont May 1-6 By Jim Kastle
The regular sand season has come to a close, but the cool weather has people thinking about squeezing in another trip.
Coral Pink This year will be our 25th annual Coral Pink Trip. This has become a great summer duning tradition. If you want to join it, there’s time to get your reservation for a camping space. Contact Jim for details.
Summer Time What are you up to for the summer? Share your trip plans or toy upgrades with us in a future newsletter. Send your stories by e-mail to pkastle@msn.com.
Steve and Kevin wanted an early start to the weekend due to scheduling issues. I figured I’m retired, so I agreed and I headed for Dumont Wednesday morning. We had loosely set an early afternoon arrival time. I usually buy my pass at the store across the main street from the Mad Greek. For the first time in several trips they were sold out and when I asked where else I could buy one I was told to use the vending machines at Dumont. I don’t like
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June 2019
relying on the machines, so I went to the old Valero, now a Shell station, and was told the same thing. As long as I was there, I decided not to waste the stop, and bought a DQ Blizzard. It took longer than usual and when I walked outside, I saw a nice looking sand rail at the pumps. It was being towed by a Lazy Days motor home with eyelashes on the front of the cab over. I realized it was Steve’s. He was in search of race fuel as despite what was posted on the internet, the Baker airport did not have av gas. We headed off to the dunes.
Upcoming Events • June 16: Father’s Day • July 8-10: Pre-Coral Pink time in Mesquite, NV. • July 10-19: Coral Pink: This will be our 25th annual summer trip here. • July 19-20: Night in Mesquite on the way home from Coral Pink.
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At Dumont the instructions on the machine said to insert a card, and then follow the directions on the screen. I inserted the card, and waited for a couple of minutes and nothing happened. I removed the card and tried again. Same thing. The third time I inserted and immediately removed the card, and the machine worked. Leave it to the government to give inaccurate directions. We set up camp near the spot we’ve been using, across the road from restroom 11. We unloaded and prepped the cars. Kevin soon arrived and we went for a ride on absolutely virgin sand. The sun was high enough to affect my vision, so Kevin led, and lead he did! He hauled ass and picked great lines. It was a pleasure to not have to struggle with the sun. He’s about 15 years younger than I, and that age difference was obvious! The only tracks anywhere were ours, and we made a bunch. Back in camp my buggy took five gallons of gas, a lot for a Dumont ride. Kevin and Steve take turns preparing dinner, and they invited me. Kevin brought great steaks and Steve barbequed them. Kevin prepared a great salad. It was among the best steak dinners I’ve ever enjoyed. Thursday morning we went for another ride, with us owning the dunes. With the better lighting conditions Kevin led an even faster ride again with a great line. After a break, as I started my car, it backfired loudly, and Kevin said a bunch of smoke came out from under the engine cover. When I fired it up, it idled at about 3000 RPM. We headed back to camp and using starting fluid, I diagnosed a cracked intake manifold. I knew I had spares at home, and made the hasty decision to make the 300+ mile round trip for a spare. Driving the dually without a trailer is a rare treat, so I wasn’t too bothered. I got back to camp in time to be invited for dinner again, this time barbequed chicken. Again a great meal. I don’t eat a lot of
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June 2019
chicken, never having developed a liking for it, but this was great. Steve buys it marinated, but uncooked, from a restaurant near home. He then barbeques it in camp. I had the biggest piece of chicken I’ve ever had, and loved it. After dinner I swapped the manifold, and fired it up and it still idled at 3000 RPM. We took a close look at the two manifolds, and not surprisingly, found no differences. We did, however notice an uncovered 3/8” port on each manifold. A light went on in my 68 year old head, and I remembered that on the break earlier I found a 3/8” rubber cap lying on the sand. DUH! I took the cap from my pocket and installed it on the manifold and the car idled as well as it has this season. Not perfect, but good enough. I need to do some off-season maintenance. John and Anna arrived. Friday Morning Kevin led us all on another ride on sand we had to share with one other camp. John heard some noise from a CV, and very wisely decided to request a tow back to camp while the car was still capable of providing assistance. We dropped him off at camp so he could replace it, and the three of us continued on our ride. Before long, I also heard a CV type noise and headed off to camp to replace it. Steve and Kevin continued the ride. As I was pulling the CV, I noticed the micro stub bearing was bad. I made a quick call to the shop in Las Vegas where we have found the best price on them, and they had one in stock, and agreed to hold it for me. I told John I was going on another 300 mile dually ride to get the bearing, and he said he had one I could use. I was thankful, as another day away from the dunes would have bothered me. I quickly called the shop back and told him I wouldn’t be coming. He appreciated the call. I replaced the CV and the bearing, and was good to go. I mentioned the one other camp. They came over and introduced themselves and asked if they could join us on our next ride. As always, we said sure. He was driving an older rear-engined VW 4 seater, and I had doubts about is ability to keep up. When we left for our afternoon ride they joined us. Kevin led another fast ride, and I was very surprised that the VW kept up with seemingly no problem. On a break I asked about the car and it has a naturally aspirated 2332. I had assumed it was at least turboed (I guess my eyes aren’t the only things getting old, my ears should have heard it wasn’t turboed.) Back in camp, Steve shared smoked tri tip, a delicacy he has shared before. It is as good as any I’ve ever had in a restaurant. It was complimented by Kevin’s baked potatoes. That’s three great dinners in a row. Thank you both! PJ texted they and Barry had hooked up in Barstow and would travel the rest of the way together. We had a campfire and figured they’d arrive around 11:00 PM., and they were prompt. Saturday morning PJ had to do some work on the car that he couldn’t do with it in the trailer. With some help from everyone, he soon replaced an axle and CV’s, and installed limiting straps to hopefully lessen the CV problems that have plagued him all season. He programmed the IEOR channels into Kevin’s radio, bringing the season total up to 64 radios. 3
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June 2019
We went on another fast, smooth ride, again led by Kevin. Marshall went for a full-fledged buggy ride and loved it. The VW again kept right with us, as did one of his friends in an older side by side; I think it was a Can Am. I don’t think there were any problems. After the ride Kevin and Steve had to head home, as had been planned in advance. We went for an afternoon ride, again with Marshall, the VW, and the side by side. Again, I don’t recall any problems. Saturday evening we had our traditional carne asada potluck. I always enjoy IEOR potlucks, but this one seemed special. Highlights for me included expertly prepared (by John) carne, and Ann’s brownies. After the meal we had a campfire and were entertained by Allie’s “circus acts.” PJ set up a video projector and we watched videos of the day’s rides. On Sunday Anna watched Allie, so Melissa could join Marshall and PJ on the ride. It was the first time in a long time she was able to go on a regular ride. Again I think the ride was trouble free. PJ had to pack up. I often follow them to the Mad Greek for a last meal together, and then return to the dunes. This time timing was such that we weren’t ready for a meal, so I stayed in camp and we went for another ride. Barry, Ann, John, Anna, and I stayed Sunday night, with the evening’s highlights being playing UNO in the Cole’s fifth wheel, while snacking on Ann’s brownies. Yep, those are some great brownies! Monday morning we went for, as far as I can recall, another trouble free ride. We loaded up, and as seemingly always happens, were all ready to go within 5 minutes of each other. We caravanned to the Mad Greek for an end of the trip lunch. I really like our tradition of beginning and ending the season at Dumont. The lack of crowds, the near-perfect weather and the great company all combine to make it great. This time extra highlights included Kevin’s great leading, which really takes the pressure off me, Steve and Kevin’s great food and willingness to share, and the camaraderie of everyone as we overcome issues like supposedly cracked manifolds, bearings, CV’s, and especially, aging minds and bodies! Thanks to all!
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June 2019
Honda’s Sport Side By Side, The Talon
Honda is finally offering a sport side by side to compete with Polaris and CanAm, and it will be interesting to see if it proves to be popular in the dunes. The most interesting differentiating aspect of this offering is its six speed fully automatic dual clutch transmission (DCT). This eliminates the belt drives common in other UTVs, but maintains the ease of drivability offered by an automatic. They are powered by 999cc naturally aspirated engines that Honda claims have been designed to offer increased reliability. Two models of the Talon are available, the 1000X and 1000R, with the main difference being size and wheel travel, with the 1000R offering an impressive 17.7 inches of travel in the front and 20.1 inches in the rear. The smaller 1000X is only 64 inches wide, but has about 15 inches of travel front and rear. MSRP of the 1000X is $19,999, while the 1000R costs another $1000 at $20,999. I am looking forward to seeing them in the dunes. -P.J. This month we’d like to thank Jim Kastle for writing about the Dumont trip. Next month we’ll preview Coral Pink and share any other stories you take the time to send in. We enjoy having content to share, so if you have pictures, text, comments, jokes, or anything that you want to share, please send it to me at pkastle@msn.com. We will publish what content we have and a calendar of upcoming events in every month’s newsletter. -Paul, Melissa, Allie, and Marshall. 5