The Rooster
July 2020
THE ROOSTER A monthly update from the Inland Empire Offroad Association
The Giant Rock
What’s New It is almost time for our 26th annual trip to Coral Pink. Read all about what we have planned for this year’s trip, and people’s preparations for it in this month’s newsletter.
Coral Pink and COVID Things still look good for our trip, but there has been a recent spike in COVID cases in Utah and Arizona. We are planning on making our trip, with our masks, and having a good time outdoors.
Summer Time We know not everyone is lucky enough to be headed to Coral Pink to dune in July, so let us know what you have planned to fill your time in the summer.
By Mike Bacon, Photos by Mike Bacon and Pat Starr In the desert by Landers, CA lays a large rock called Giant Rock. It is purportedly the largest free-standing rock in the world. It covers over 5,800 square feet and is seven stories tall! It’s status as World’s Largest was compromised in the year 2000 when a large piece broke off the rock. It has long been a gathering point for UFO believers. The area this rock is located has many very large rocks in the vicinity, one referred to as Potato Rock, for obvious reasons. We were invited to join my cousins Jon & Malinda to join them for Memorial Day weekend to explore the area and see many interesting things. We could only make a day trip, so we were up at 5am to head out for some desert fun. Once there we prepared and left camp for a ride to Pioneertown, an old western film town where many movies had been filmed. After an hour’s ride in a viciously rough sand wash we arrived. It’s an interesting place, many oldlooking buildings, a motel, and a restaurant/bar. We did a little exploring, a few of the buildings are now souvenir shops. Pat and Malinda ran afoul of the authorities and ended up in jail! Jon and I claimed we had no bail money, so they let them go forcing us to take them back home with us.
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July 2020
Upcoming Events • July 6-8th: Nights at the Casablanca Resort in Mesquite, NV on the way to Coral Pink. • July 8 - 17th: Coral Pink 2020 The state park is open and we’ll be there, arriving on the 8th and leaving Friday the 17th. • July 17th - 18th: Night at Casablanca in Mesquite on the way home from Coral Pink.
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Once back at camp we relaxed for a while, then took a short
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July 2020
ride to see Giant Rock, Potato Rock, and the sand track where Polaris filmed a RZR commercial a few years ago. Giant Rock is spectacular!
We made our way back to camp and readied for dinner. Malinda, Pat, and Hannah prepared some great tacos and other fixins. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I personally stuffed myself it was so good! After a dessert of Tres Leche cake and Lucky Charms ice cream we sat around the fire for a while. Reluctantly Pat and I had to leave so we packed up and headed home, getting home about 11:30. It was a very long day, but well worth it with lots of good riding, good friends, great sites, and great food. Can’t wait to do it again!
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July 2020
Boing Goes the Talon By Mike Bacon, Pictures by Mike Bacon, Pat Starr and Malinda Sudduth One of the things we noticed the last few trips, and has been commented on by other Talon owners, is the fact that the suspension is very stiff, especially when on “senior” rides, slow and steady! I was talking with my cousin Jon about this and he had just had his Can Am “re- sprung” by Eibach in Corona. He said it made a huge difference. Jon hooked my up with the guy that took care of him and with one phone call and a couple of emails I had a set of springs for the Talon.
Due to the virus shutdown Eibach’s shop was closed down until July so if I wanted new springs on my car for Coral Pink I needed to do it myself. The spring set came with all parts necessary and full detailed instructions. The only thing I didn’t have was a spring compressor. After looking things over I came up with the idea of using a ratchet strap as my spring compressor! I removed each shock and backed off the preload adjustment as much as I could to reduce the amount I’d have to compress the springs and hooked up the ratchet strap. This was the most physically demanding part of the whole job, but I got it done, all four shocks got new springs and new adjustments in about four hours. I was beat though!
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July 2020
Jon and Malinda were going to be out riding around Pioneertown a couple days later so Pat and I decided to go join them and try out the new springs. I have to say it was amazing how much better the car rode, especially in the little stutter bumps. We were very pleased and now anxious to hit the trails at Coral Pink!
Trailer Trash! By Mike Bacon Doug & Kris Schellinger have announced they have become trailer trash with the purchase of their new th
glamping chateau, a Cyclone 5 wheel toyhouse trailer!
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July 2020
At 42 feet nose to tail it packs a lot of luxury! LED lights everywhere, 4 TV’s, 3 A/C units, and sleeps up to 9 people, this is the definition of “Glamping”! The new rig will debut at Coral Pink in July. Congratulations to the Schellingers!
Utah OHV Permit Requirement Beginning January 1, 2020, Utah no longer has reciprocity with any of the other 49 states for OHV Registration. This means that non-Utah residents are required to buy non-resident passes for their OHVs. This non-resident OHV permit cost is $30 and is good for 12 months from the time of purchase. If you order the permit online, there is an additional $5 charge. If you’d rather pick one up in person, they are available at the park and through local businesses in Utah. Remember to bring the following items: • Proof of residency: driver’s license or other state-issued identification. • Proof of ownership: title or current registration or bill of sale.
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July 2020
Coral Pink Crossword 2020
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Across We see these canyons in Utah, and machines in casinos. Utah ended this process of recognizing out of state registrations, so we now must purchase out of state OHV passes. Type of weather event with sudden rainfall accompanied by violent and sudden electrostatic discharge. Solid means of cooling, available by the bag at the Ranger Station. Best Friends is a ____ sanctuary near the dunes. Sand ____ is the closest state park to Coral Pink, and has a similar color sand. Name we have given a trail that connects the upper and lower dunes, shared with a So Cal theme park. Point where OHV trails start, usually easily accessible from a paved road. Utah town nearest to the sand dunes, also known as Utah's Little Hollywood. Large lake that attracts many recreational visitors to the area. Meal for which we cook omelets in freezer bags with shared ingredients.
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Down These hours are from 10:00 PM to 9:00 AM in the state park. County in which the dunes and nearby town of Kanab are located. This store in Kanab supports the local hospital, which we hope to not need. Self powered recreational vehicle which often is present on Coral Pink trips, but may not be this year. Manufacturer of side by sides making their debut at this year's Coral Pink trip. Prehistoric creatures whose tracks can be seen in the rock near Coral Pink. Name of the restaurant and resort in Mt Carmel Junction that is a ride destination. State known for gambling which we travel through on the way to Coral Pink. This river is crossed multiple times on the way to the dunes and on trails between camp and Mt. Carmel Junction. Catch a view of this ___ A Boo slot canyon across highway 89 from the dunes. Single seat Polaris UTV making its second trip to Coral Pink this year. ____ Beds road is where we turn off Highway 89 to take a now paved shortcut to the dunes.
The Rooster
July 2020
Coral Pink Pics It wouldn’t be a Coral Pink Preview edition of the newsletter without some great pictures of Coral Pink, so here’s some favorites from 25 years of trips. Here is the oldest “photo tree” picture that we have online. It has definitely changed over the years. Below is the ride group from the 2008 trip.
It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since the Coles came to Coral Pink, but look how small Allie was back in 2010…
Jim driving a borrowed RZR in 2011, and a classic buggy group shot with alternate drivers passing through “Daytona”. 8
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July 2020
Lakes! First spotted in the upper dunes in 2005, we thought they might be a once in a lifetime experience but they returned in 2019, and we got a lot of pictures to prove it. This time we all got in the water!
The group site has been enhanced over the years, but is still the center of the fun.
The side by sides have led to some great exploring trail rides, and we made it to Mt Carmel Junction in 2015, and discovered Shirley’s Waterfall in 2013. In 2018 we flew the drone there to get some awesome video.
This month we’d like to thank Mike Bacon for for writing three articles. We are looking forward to a nice Coral Pink trip, and will cover it in next month’s newsletter. How have you been passing your time? Feel free to send in an article to let everyone know. Please send anything you want to me at pkastle@msn.com and we will publish it along with a calendar of events each month. -Paul, Melissa, Allie, and Marshall. 9