OPERATION PAGE 17 CALIFORNIA FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION PANAMINT VALLEY DAYS PAGES 20-21 cal4wheel.com Official publication of the California Four Wheel Drive Association PLEASE THANK OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR DONATIONS WITH YOUR SUPPORT GOLD SPONSORS 4wheelparts.com linex.com genright.com advanceadapters.com metalcloak.com crawlerconceptz.com magellangps.com poisonspyder.com bfgoodrichtires.com warn.com SILVER SPONSOR extremeterrain.com aftermarket.auburngear.com spiderwebshade.com BRONZE SPONSORS quadratec.com calcasuals.com 4xshaft.com rockhard4x4.com differentials.com bilsteinus.com arbusa.com magnaflow.com racelinewheels.com 4x4spod.com yukongear.com tuffyproducts.com WIN-A-JEEP SPONSORS To become a sponsor, contact David Jones at 530-367-2443 or [email protected] 2 IN GEAR October / November 2017 cal4wheel.com OPERATION DESERT FUN 2009 BY JESSE MAY WHO ARE WE? The California Four Wheel Drive Association, Inc. (founded in 1959) is a non-profit organization comprised of member clubs, individuals and business INSIDE firms, united in a common objective — the betterment President’s Message 7 of vehicle-oriented outdoor recreation. C4WDA Contacts 4 We represent four-wheelers, hunters, fishermen, District Meetings 3 and other outdoor recreationalists. Ours is the largest Safety Requirements 3 organization of its type in California. VP Reports 8-9 Natural Resource Consultants 10-11 THROUGH A UNITED EFFORT WE: Swamp Lake monster clearing 14 • Promote responsible use of public lands. Figure 8 race carnage under control 16 • Prevent legislation that would restrict off-road Operation Desert Fun info 17 vehicles and vehicle use. Hi Desert Round-Up raffle thanks 18 • Develop programs of conservation, education Donations 18 and safety. Winter Fun info 25 • Encourage state and federal agencies to develop Panamint Valley Days info 20-21 new four wheel drive trails and preserve existing Hemet club explores the Sierras 27 ones. Honoring troops, Chicks on the Rocks, and 4x4 In Motion 28 Win-A-Jeep 31 • Distribute information to vehicle-oriented Convention 2018 information 32 recreationalists. Club Directory 34-35 • Promote statewide activities and four wheel drive Calendar 37 events for the enjoyment of members. Office Report 38 Associate Members 39 MEETINGS ON THE COVER: Escape from Death Valley run 2016 by Suzy Johnson. BOARD MEETINGS*: November 18-19, 2017 Convention - February 16-18, 2018 - Riverside CAL4 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS NORTH DISTRICT: October 7, 2017 - 3000 Camanche Road, Ione All vehicles must be maintained to conform to highway safety standards, as well as January 6, 2018 / April 7, 2018 meet the minimum requirements listed below: CENTRAL DISTRICT: 1. Roll bar or full cage or factory installed to repair/reinflate tire. October 21, 2017 - Apple Annies, 1165 N. Blackstone St., Tulare hard top. 7. Fire extinguisher with gauge indicating January 20, 2018 / April 21, 2018 2. Emergency brake, parking brake, line-lock good/full, appropriately stored. or other redundant braking system. 8. Seat belts for all passengers. SOUTH DISTRICT**: 3. Tow strap or rope (recommend rated at 2 9. Antennas must be rigid or restrained in a October 28, 2017 times the vehicle weight). manner to prevent injuries. January 27, 2018 / April 28, 2018 4. First aid kit. 10. Adequate attachment points front and rear, 5. Jack capable of lifting the vehicle and a tool i.e., tow hooks, receiver, etc. Tow balls are Board and district meetings are held each quarter and are capable of removing lug nuts. not generally recommended. open to all members. 6. Spare tire within 3” diameter of other tires, 11. Battery hold downs (no bungie cords). *Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at the C4WDA Office at or, for tires 37” or larger, run-flats or tools 8120 36th Ave., Sacramento, CA. **Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at Jeep Chrysler Dodge, 1202 Auto Center Dr., Ontario, CA. OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2017 / VOLUME 58 #4 THE IN GEAR (USPS 436-110) IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY FOR $10.00 PER YEAR BY THE CALIFORNIA FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION, INC., 8120 36TH AVE., SACRAMENTO, CA 95824-2304. IN GEAR IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF LIKE US ON FACEBOOK THE C4WDA — SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN C4WDA. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT SACRAMENTO, CA, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. • Cal4wheel • SierraTrek PERMISSION TO REPRINT ITEMS IS NORMALLY GIVEN, PROVIDED PERMISSION IS REQUESTED AND PROPER CREDIT IS GIVEN TO BOTH THE AUTHOR AND THE PUBLICATION. ALL VIEWS EXPRESSED BY AUTHORS OF ARTICLES, AND • Cal4Wheelnorthdistrict • OperationDesertFun PHOTO CONTENT HEREIN, ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY EXPRESS THOSE OF THE C4WDA. C4WDA • Cal4Wheelcentraldistrict • winajeep DOES NOT ENDORSE ITS ADVERTISERS, NOR IS IT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF ADVERTISING. • Cal4wheelsouth POSTMASTER: SEND FORM 3579 TO C4WDA, INC. 8120 36TH AVE., SACRAMENTO, CA 95824-2304 IN GEAR October / November 2017 cal4wheel.com 3 hank you to all who sent articles for this In Gear! It was by far the most material that I have received in the 25+ years I've been editing the magazine. TI'm hoping that the trend continues. All of you can be contributors. There is no need to be an expert writer or professional photographer to send us something. So get out your keyboard and tell us about your latest run, your builds, club projects, our events, camping ideas, and anything else you can think of. Photos need to be sent at the highest resolution that you have. I'll take it from there. Coming up in October and November: district meetings, Operation Desert Fun, Fun in the Desert (Victor Valley 4 Wheelers), and Panamint Valley Days. You'll find some great historical information in this issue about the Panamint Valley and its previ- ous residents. See you on the trail. — Suzy Johnson, Editor/Web Coordinator C4WDA CONTACTS STATE OFFICERS SECRETARY SECRETARY Phil Moreno Bonnie Ferguson PRESIDENT 559-901-2413 661-943-9744 Steve Egbert [email protected] [email protected] 559-685-1928 559-936-3030 (cell) NATURAL RESOURCES [email protected] NORTH DISTRICT OFFICERS CONSULTANT - SOUTH John Stewart PAST PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT 619-390-8747 Mark D. Cave Peety Woll [email protected] 559-623-5338 (cell) 707-489-5596 (cell) 559-733-4091 (home) 707-485-0346 [email protected] [email protected] NATURAL RESOURCES TREASURER MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN CONSULTANT - NORTH Jeff Blewett Don Spuhler Glenn Reynolds [email protected] 530-333-2047 916-834-7547 209-210-7880 [email protected] [email protected] RECORDING SECRETARY SECRETARY MARKETING & Sherry Stortroen Kitten Chapman PROMOTIONS 209-602-4788 (cell) 209-274-4508 (home) COORDINATOR [email protected] 209-662-2308 (cell) David Jones [email protected] 530-367-2443 CENTRAL DISTRICT OFFICERS [email protected] SOUTH DISTRICT OFFICERS VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT IN GEAR EDITOR/WEB PAGE Mike McGarity Alan Bauer COORDINATOR 559-352-9780 502-379-1029 (cell) Suzy Johnson [email protected] [email protected] Tucson, AZ MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN 805-550-2804 Bob Wagers Terry Dean Fax 866-888-2465 559-250-5095 ESCAPE FROM DEATH VALLEY RUN 2016 661-917-3296 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ALL BOARD MEMBERS: [email protected] MOVING? ALL MEMBERSHIP CHAIRS: [email protected] Send your change of address to C4WDA, MAIN OFFICE Bonnie Steele, Office Manager Inc., 8120 36th Ave., Sacramento, CA 8120 36th Ave., Sacramento, CA 95824-2304, (916) 381-8300, [email protected] 95824-2304 or change it online at cal4wheel.com PRINT MAGAZINE DEADLINES You may also fax your new address to 916-381-8726. Feb./March - January 1 June/July - May 1 Oct./Nov. - September 1 Be sure to include your membership April/May - March 1 Aug./Sept. - July 1 Dec./Jan. - November 1 number if it is available. 4 IN GEAR October / November 2017 cal4wheel.com MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I pledge to support the goals and objectives of the CALIFORNIA FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION, INC., in the protection, respect and the enjoyment of our public domain lands and towards the betterment of off-highway vehicle recreation. I am enclosing: $45.00 for my yearly Individual Membership dues. $675.00 for my Life Membership dues. ($10.00 of your association dues is for a one-year subscription to In Gear.) Ownership of a four-wheel drive vehicle is not a requirement for Please make check payable to: membership. California Four Wheel Drive Association Note: The Federal Tax Reform Act requires that we advise members that contributions or gifts to C4WDA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. NAME _____________________________________________________________________________________________ TYPE OF 4X4 VEHICLE ________________________ TELEPHONE NUMBER ( ) _________________________________________________________________________ YEAR ________________________________________ ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________________________________ MARRIED? o YES o NO CITY_____________________________________________________STATE_______ ZIP _________________________ SPOUSE’S/CO-MEMBER NAME* EMAIL _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________ *Must be legally married to share life membership. Please send information on how I may become a member of the CALIFORNIA FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION, INC. by: Communication Preferences o Becoming an Associate Member (business firm) o Subscribe to