Date: Sun, 11 Jun 1995 18:21:59 -0700 From: jfhess@ucdavis.edu (john hess) Subject: YaHOO!(TM) Challenge All, Walt and I formed a small convoy from Hayward to Davis. Despite me being confused at the construction at the 580/680 junction, we proceeded without problems. Thanks to everyone for either being him/herself or for putting on a great facade! Another land rover event that Kathy and I came away from thinking that everyone is truly enjoyable to be around. Thanks for those we borrowed sunscreen from and whatever else was shared. For those who didn't make it, we had two nice nights at a camp at Fremont peak state park and one day at Hollister off road park. I'm not sure if my son alex had the most fun at hollister or if it was someone else. Alex really liked getting into the mud obstacle to bring a winch cable to someone needing help. However, regardless of needing help or not, it would appear that everyone who entered the mud hole had a good time; I hope the enjoyment carries you through the spray clean! The dormobile took alot of trails and ground up some hills in 1st low. All the while, carrying our home away from home, myself and Katherine plus Mike Hoskins. I was glad it could do it. Of course, at hollister, the first thing that we did was snag part of rear tow hitch on a downslope, leaving a rear wheel hanging in the air. This was about 30" after entering the area to the obstacle course! I provide a good photo-op, while morgan loaned me a shovel to dig my self out. Later, in the shade of an oak, Mike and I removed the low hanging plate. BTW, Mike Hoskins is the kansas city resident who is santa cruz visiting relatives. He ditched the folks for rovers! He also brought photos of midwest rover folk, a good attitude and a lot of stories. I think he'll convey a few stories about the scenry, the rovers and the rover owners to the members of the flatland rover society back in missouri. Good to seeya Mike! A great showing at Hayward. SO MANY rovers the british car folks quit counting numbers from each marque! They couldn't bear to think of Land Rover taking the award for best turnout two years in a row. However, they couldn't stop a bunch of crazy people from voting for the hessmobile as best 4x4 of the show. Thanks for any left coast rover folk who voted for me. Kathy and I agreed that the real vehicle to vote for was eric and brigid copes natural finish 88: no top, good dose of mud AND the windshield was secured with a small piece of oak and a chain. This wonder vehicle, towed their trailer to fremont peak, traipsed around hollister (including two tries up a cliff) and was then going to take them home, towing the trailer. john f hess phd (wow, really?) jfhess@ucdavis.edu from home via modem Land- -Rover, Sunbeam Tiger and Mazda owner! ------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 18:31:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Morgan Hannaford Subject: Yahoo and beyond Hey all, I had a blast at the Hollister Yahoo Challenge '95 and the Hayward meet. Thanks a bunch Jimmy for the placards again, cool stuff. I spent >$5 pressure washing my rig, man some of that mud was just baked on. For those who didn't attend the Hollister Challenge or the Hayward Lawn leak, this left coast crew has now achieved legendary status. Here are a "few" points (actually it's rather long winded): Friday night, Eric and Brigid Cope in the infamous "Copemobile" soon to be renamed the African Queen show towing the tent trailer. The Hessmobile is there. Vance, Jeremy & Susan and I all show up withing CB range of each other. Later, Jimmy, John, Mike Hoskins (from da flatlands) and Mabel make their appearance. Of course we shoot the breeze til the wee hours. Mike Hoskins was an interesting fellow. And boy are you right Michael, this boy can sure talk Rovers and many, many, many other things. Saturday, we prime up for Hollister Hills off-road park. This is a "sacrificial" recreational area, where motorcycles and 4x4s can drive around for a mere $4. The dirt-bikes and the 4x4 sections are separate, presumably to prevent carnage. We met up with Bruce and Spot (I forgot Bruce's nephews name, but he was along too) at the park and headed directly for the obstacle course. The Hessmobile learned all about how approach angle doesn't help if your departure angle isn't similar; the trailer hitch caught up on a ditch leaving rear wheels spinning. No problems after the hitch plate was removed. At the obstacle course we greeted the fearsome mud hole. This sucker was about 50 meters long and quite deep. Spot tried it first, oh but the momentum ceased about a D90 length away from the exit. I could still see a smile on Bruce's face as the brown muck came pouring in from under the doors. Vance and Bruce hitched winches to get out. So, we figure the other way would be better- spare the deep hole for the beginning of the trip. Eric and Brigid in the Copemobile tried and made it about as far as Bruce. This stripped 88" is the coolest Rover I have ever seen! Mabel revved up and powered through without problems, what a star! I tried it, got stuck. Vance tried it, got stuck. Jeremy & Susan, not wanting to be outdone by Mabel powered through the mud victoriously. Vance's Rover and Spot were so excited by all this that I think I saw them run up and kiss each other!!!! Some chappies in a Land Bruiser and a Nissan pickup showed up cheered us on, although none of them met the challenge. We messed around the obstacle course for awhile and then hit the hills. Fun driving all around. We went up some pretty hairy hills. The Hessmobile followed us most of the way, but wanting so save body damage she aborted the narrow wooded track. This was a fun, rooted, shady path that twisted through a ravine. We were kind of following the Bruiser crew, but not really. I think they wanted to find something that we wouldn't do. All of us had tires lifting off the ground on a regular basis. 1st gear low for most all of this precision work. I ended up in the lead and came to an off-camber, steep, narrow path with an eroded ditch on the right. "What the hell"? With Eric signaling I creeped down, hugging the left wall of poison oak. My front wheels felt it was time to stymie my progress and slid out into the ditch. There I was, photo opportunity, my left rear wheel was about a foot in the air, and my right front was well planted in the ditch. A pro-winching session ensued with Jeremy pulling me from the rear, angled with a snatch block off the trees, and Vance pulling from the side-hill to keep my wing from scraping on the gully walls. No problem, I was pulled right out. Thanks chaps! The big hill climb was next, really steep and long. Lots of loose dirt. The Copemobile tried it, and nearly got to the top before losing traction. The hill gets steeper as you go up and there is no room for a running start. After they backed down, I went for it (with Alex Hess navigating). No problems, just powered up it with worn tires and all. Jeremy made my attempt look silly after he just creeped up in 1st low, like there was some tractor beam at the top pulling him up. The Hess's climbed up, sans mobile, to see the view and Mabel damn near caught air off the top as she powered up the hill. The Bruiser boys were mighty impressed. Off to the pond! We cruised down to this little mud/sand hole full of water. The Bruiser boys were inching their way through the shallow areas, revving up the motor and stuff. Finally, after some audience pressure they went deep and got stuck. Good thing Vance was set up to yank them out with the Koenig winch, and of course good thing we all still had film left.....heh, heh, heh. After we cleared out the inferior 4x4s Mabel plunged in and crossed the long way (the bruiser went the perpendicular short path)! No problems. A few more Rovers went frollocking through just for fun. The Copemobile plowed into the deepest section and got stuck (motor still churning of course). There was Eric, barefoot, with rolled up chinos standing on the deck. Brigid, with here strawish hat looking on. Deja vu, I had seen this picture before. Yes, Humphry Bogart and Katherine Hepburn in John Houston's "THE AFRICAN QUEEN". When I told the Copes this Brigid did a perfect Hepburn impression and I inscribed the name onto the muddy fender. Fun, fun, fun. Before leaving most of us tried the mud pit again and Mabel, Spot, my 88" (I haven't come up with a silly name yet), and the African Queen all cruised right through. We must have learned something! I even cheated and added some artistic embellishments to my top and windscreen with a shovel. The next morning we cruised to Hayward. Vance was having some kind of clutch problems, alternator problems and starter problems. My radio wasn't working, probably because I was charging Vance's dead battery in my rig for the trip, while he ran off of mine. When Vance stopped at a light, he couldn't get her back in gear. Being rather flat land, and not wanting to be any later I just bumped up behind the 'ol boy and shoved him through the light, in gear to start her up. This was getting too good; we repeated the process several times (good thing vance had his trailer ball on, it mated up perfectly with my front bumber, no damage). Vance even cruised through a McDonalds parking lot to avoid a red light. Finally, on the hill to Hayward State University, at the final stop sign the pushing technique would work no more. We even tried to scare a dim-witted Morgan owner (no relation) off, but he pondered directions too long. We hooked Vance's beast to a tow strap and I towed him into the car meet. Imagine if you will, a hot, sunny morning. On the lawn at Hayward State, overlooking the fine S.F. Bay. When off the hill comes more than a half dozen Rovers, the first one is towing the second with a yellow strap. Most of them are just spackled with brown mud. And we are all smiling. I think we received an applause from the entire meet as we pulled in. Jaguar owners dropped their dusting diapers, and Morris owners bolted in fear as I roared across the lawn in 1st gear low range, peering out of the portholes created by my window wipers through the mud. Towing a second rover that looked similarly decorated. Sheer astonishment. That was fun. Cheers, Morgan