| Well I must say it
was GREAT....
Mimi and I left Houston Wednesday late afternoon (7/07/99) flat towing our D-90 with our Dodge Cummins to Moteagle, TN (near Chattanooga). We arrived Thursday evening and the weather was on our side no rain and cool and muggy. Soon as we pulled in the Smokehouse Inn (Best Western) Chris Velardi drove in behind us. Mimi and I being so excited to see some old friends we quickly checked in & changed our D-90 tires out with the help of Chris "V". |
|||
 |
To west on 24: Nashville (east on 24:Chattanooga) |
 |
Beautiful area near Monteagle, TN |
| There was a impromptu night run so Chris, Mimi and I joined with a handful of other well set up D-90's and a Disco. It was a dirt road trail that seemed like it lasted for miles, very scenic because it was a old Railroad in the late 1800"s. Though dark we could easily see the trail cut out on both sides of the rock hill side (knowing that it was dug out by hand before the industrial revolution made it more enjoyable). We then drove up and down some hill sides & there were several spots that were a stair step. Then we came across a long continuous mud hole, Dan N and his very well equipped yellow D-90 (The only thing different from Dan's and Greg with Safari Gard is Greg's has a decal on the door) drove through first with front and rear locked he made it look as easy a Hummer driving in the sand in Saudi. I drove behind him and realized the mud hole was a challenge especially at the end where a sharp left turn up the bank and avoiding a protruding rock to get out. The mud hole was so deep that if we would have got stuck there that mud and water would engulf the rear of the D-90. Chris "V" then showed us how to make those True Trac's shine while going thru and exiting the pit. After seeing the actual size and how messy, the others went around. We headed back to the Hotel around 1 AM. | |||
 |
7/08/99 (Thu.) nightGetting ready for night run (in a hurry !) |
||
|
|
Chris V. |
|
Alan walked up the steps |
| The next morning after some breakfast and a car wash to expose the yellow again, Mimi and I saw how much time and effort Dan Nutkis and The Tennessee Land Rover Association, Tennessee Off-Road and Land Rover of Nashville put into the event. After signing in Mimi and I had to get the Rover inspected by a LR of Nashville service tech. Though I opened my hood for inspection, He stared at our orange bead locks for a while then circled #5 on our window tag. and instructed to drive the trials course behind the Hotel. I was assisted on the well set up course by a long time friend of Bill Burke whom forgot his name. | |||
 |
7/09/99 (Fri.)Safety Inspection Bay at The Smokey Inn |
 |
A very nice badge that everyone wore around their neck |
 |
White Disco being spotted by ex-camel trophy-Ken Cameron at training course |
 |
Alan also tried the training course with proper techniques taught by Ray Stapell, from Buffalo, New York |
| The course was made during the week with heavy equipment and by Bill Burke, Tom Collins, and Ken Cameron (96 Camel Trophy participant). And Ray Stapell, After a watching and listening the instructional demos about winching put on by Tom C, and what spare parts to carry for off road by Bill B, the group ate a wonderful buffet style lunch at the Smokehouse conference room. | |||
|
|
Bill Burke is giving Alan a quick training for trail-welding with the under hood "Premier Power Welder" |
|
Bill Burke shows the crowd on how to change a broken axle |
|
|
|
|
Tom Collins demonstrating on how to re-spooling winch cable |
|
|
Tom Collins showing proper techniques on how to use a winch and tree saver strap |
|
The crowd gathered to learn different things about safety and proper off road recovery |
