THE FOUR LETTER WORD

The Four Letter Word is a publication of the Roughwheelers Four Wheel Drive

Club to entertain and inform our members and friends. We would be glad to

hear from you and/or your club.

FIRST CLASS MAIL

THE ROUGHWHEELERS 2023 Vanderbilt Lane Redondo Beach, CA 90278

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2500-B Marine Avenue ● Redondo Beach, CA 90278-1104 See or Call Marco Alverez-Store Manager (310) 973-6115 Fax (310) 973-6199

Email: rb@4wheelparts.com Or

400 West Artesia Blvd. ● Compton, CA 90220-5103 See or Call Juan Ochoa-Store Manager (310) 900-7725 Fax (310) 900-8726

Email: comptonretail@4wheelparts.com

WE ARE YOUR # 1 JEEP SOURCE

Professional Tools for Professional Results For your entire tool needs contact your local Distributor Andy Hammitt 310-977-8767 MatcoTools@ymail.com

ATTENTION ROUGHWHEELERS

These businesses sponsor us, offer a discount and/or donate prizes to our raffles.

Whenever you or your friends need any “off-road” products or tools,

these are the places that should be shopped.

EDITORS NOTE: This newsletter belongs to the club, and any items you may want to include are welcome, space permitting. This includes our friends at CA4WD and El Mirage OHV.

The DEADLINE for the November newsletter is Wednesday, November 4th, 2015.

Contact me at (310) 938-2257. My email address is kslhome@aol.com

Club Website: http://www.roughwheelers.com Club Facebook Page: The Roughwheelers – Off Road Club

WHAT’S UP THIS MONTH

GENERAL MEETING Friday, October 9th, 2015 from 8-10pm At: Redondo Rod & Gun Club, 2023 Vanderbilt Ln, Redondo Beach, CA. 90278 Free parking is across from Carl’s Jr, and near the corner of Artesia and Blossom.

BOARD MEETING: The Board Meetings will be held on the Thursday one week prior to the General Meeting at a place to be announced. The Board Meetings are open to club members only.

October Run: El Mirage OHV Area October 23-25, 2015 (Base Camp) Mailing Address:

The RoughWheelers 2023 Vanderbilt Lane Redondo Beach, CA 90278

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES (Please send any corrections to Karen)

October / November

Birthdays

Andy Hammit

Erik Hammitt (Andy’s son)

Stan Lykins

Yvette Hammitt

Jonathan Asdourian (Nathan’s son)

Memberships (October)

Dave Telenko 10/1969

Vic & Jan Overman 10/1981

Weddings (October)

Bob & Rhonda Hughes

Chips & Christa Mercier

Members in Memoriam (October)

Greg (Spud) Allen 10/14/1964 – 1/27/2010

Kent (Loin) Nelson 10/14/39 – 3/5/2008

NOTE: Future Newsletters will feature Birthdays from the 16th to the 15th of each month. Also, as a member, if your Birthday, Membership or Anniversary is not mentioned, please contact me to update our records.

2015 OFFICERS

President: Dr. Seuss (310) 714-1847 Vice President: Sam (310) 779-6507 Secretary: Bird (323) 440-1883 Treasurer: Montego (310) 538-4342 Editor Karen (310) 938-2257 Sergeant-at-Arms: Plugger (310) 938-2256 Safety Chairman: Jim (310) 938-1406 Wagon Master for September TBD TBD El Mirage Liaison Nathan (310) 570-5101 CA4WDC Delegate: One Eye Jack (909) 581-3186

OCTOBER 2015

THE F

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The Roughwheelers IV Wheel Drive Club

ROUGHWHEELERS GENERAL MEETING (Called to order at 8:00 pm)

September 9, 2015

ATTENDANCE: 11 Members (Alan-Sam-Steve-Tuvia-Snoopy-Toni-Keith-Jim-Stanley-Karen-Nathan) 5 Guests (Dennis Wensauer – Phil Marsh – Jerry Bullard –William Oppenheim and wife Patti)

REPORTS:

PRESIDENT: Present – Celebrated a moment of silence in tribute to 9/11. The president is in better health but still needs one more surgery. Minutes approved as written. Membership info read – Birthdays – Anniversaries – Membership - Memoriams. Nathan is providing meat to cook at the El Mirage run October 24, 2015.

VICE PRESIDENT: Present – No report. Will get the inventory report to Editor for publication.

SECRETARY: Absent – No report.

TREASURER: Absent – Assets: Bank balance $1,649.29. No recent deposits. Pending checks – rent and newsletter, $46.47. Cash on Hand: $21.98. Total: $1,624.80. Forecast: Rent for 3 months $12.00, Newsletter postage 3 mo @ $25.00 ($75.00), Christmas $50.00, 2015 End of Year Forecast Total: $1,379.80.

EDITOR: Present – No flyers requested.

SERGEANT AT ARMS: Present – We have a raffle.

SAFETY CHAIRMAN: Present – Kit is up-to-date and ready.

WAGONMASTER: Absent – At this time, there is no wagon master for Sherman Pass.

EL MIRAGE LIASION: Present – Had to leave after the BBQ, Jonathan was with him.

CA4WDC DELEGATE: Absent – No report.

NEW MEMBER: None this month.

REFRESHMENTS: October – Mynor November – Tuvia December – Sam

TRIP REPORT: Trip report to Dish Pan Springs by Steve Telenko. Great trip and report.

AWARDS:

ACE DRIVER: Steve for having a lead foot and destroying his equipment.

MASTER MEC: Steve for everything else.

BACK SEAT DRIVER: Robin (Steve’s better half) for wanting to get out of the rig while Steve was destroying it.

PHYLLIS DILLER: Not awarded.

OLD BUSINESS: HUBS

Big Bear “Adopt-a-Trail” is tabled at the present time when more volunteers are available.

The Roughwheelers Newsletter will continue to be hard-copied to all members. All courtesy Issues will be by email in an effort to save money.

Karen to get the artwork from Montego to proceed with getting 250 reflective stickers from StickerGiant.com.

NEW BUSINESS: The BBQ before the meeting was a great success. We will be having a BBQ quarterly. Next BBQ will January 8, 2016.

FINES COLLECTED: $0.50

The Roughwheelers Trail Ratings

1

Passable by stock and 2WD vehicles, improved dirt, gravel etc. 2

Scenic, touring trail ride; four-wheel drive required occasionally, some mud holes or rocks that would stop most other vehicles are traveled easily in 4WD.

3

For novice and experienced drivers alike; the most fun four-wheeling you can expect to have in a stock four-wheeler; low range may be required often.

4

Not advisable for novice drivers; potentially dangerous situations; maximum ground clearance, lowest gears, lockers, limited slips, winches, and jacks advised due to moderate to large rocks and obstacles, vehicle damage possible. Full size vehicles limited to specific trails at this rating.

4+

Not advisable for novice drivers; potentially dangerous situations; maximum ground clearance, lowest gears, and minimum tire size of 33 inches and one locker or two limited slips required; jacks and winches indispensable due to large boulders, steep inclines; vehicle damage is very likely. Full size vehicles limited to specific trails at this rating.

5

No novice drivers; dangerous situations; maximum ground clearance, lowest gears, minimum tire size of 35 inches and two lockers or limited slips required; jacks and winches indispensable due to large boulders, steep inclines; vehicle damage assured. Full size vehicles limited to specific trails at this rating.

5+

For the hard core experienced driver; extremely dangerous situations; maximum ground clearance, lowest gears, minimum tire size of 35 inches, two lockers, and winch are required. Full size vehicles limited to specific trails at this rating.

PRE TRIP INFORMATION

RUN FOR OCTOBER El Mirage OHV Recreational Area WHEN: October 23-25, 2015 LEAVE: On your own time or contact other members for convoy information. RUN TYPE: Base Camp – bring your motor homes, campers and tents. TERRAIN: Desert washes, hills, gulches to meander thru, tight canyons and rocks. MAPS: AAA – DeLorme – Google Earth DIRECTIONS: Take the 405 N to the I-15 N to the 14 N to Palmdale Blvd.,exit and turn right. Going E, travel

approx. 13 miles until it ends. Turn left on 240th Street for approx. 1.5 miles, then turn right (East) on El Mirage Road approx. 9 miles to El Mirage Recreational Area. Turn left and continue into the Visitors Center. Let the Visitors Center know that you are with The Roughwheelers 4 Wheel Drive Club for trail maintenance. After the Visitors Center, turn right and follow the road until you see Out-house #9. Look for the wash road on the right marked by piles of rocks on both sides heading NE with blue ribbons on the bush. Turn right and take the trail until you see our campsite at the base of the largest hill (Crow’s Nest). There is plenty of room for campers, trailers and

tents. NOTE: The wash road may be hard to spot, go fast and go past!

THE PLAN: Explore and create more trail, if we find something. LAST GAS/SUPPLIES: On Palmdale Blvd. TRAIL RATING: 3 – 4+ BRING: Firewood (1 bundle per night minimum), food, water, clothing for warm days and cold nights,

sunscreen, and plenty of water. CB: Channel 4 always. HAM: 146.440 WAGONMASTER: Chips Mercier – (310) 650-4758 or chipsmercier@yahoo.com

Duties of Office

In accordance with The Roughwheelers IV Wheel Drive Club “Standard Operating Procedures”, from now until the end of the year, I will be including the descriptions of each officer’s duties for the nominations and elections in November and December for 2016.

EDITOR:

1. Publish and reproduce club newsletters, responsible for collecting input from members (trip report, etc.) in time to publish in newsletter.

2. Mail newsletter to those on the mailing list on the Friday prior to the general meeting. 3. Hand out the newsletter to any guests at the meeting. 4. Write bulletins, ads, etc., for the newsletter. 5. Update calendar of events in the newsletter. 6. Obtain postage money from the treasurer. 7. Can spend up to $30.00 monthly for reproduction costs. 8. Notify late dues paying members (when Treasurer says to) that the current newsletter is their last one. 9. Actively solicit ads, notes, and items of interest from the club members for input to the newsletter. 10. Maintain current membership questionnaire. 11. Maintain the standard format for the newsletter. 12. Publish the standard minutes of the latest club meeting. 13. Maintain mailing list at the discretion of the board. 14. Mailing list:

A. Club members in good standing. B. Guests for a period of 3 months past last meeting attended. C. In Gear newspaper. D. Off Road publications as determined by the mailing list. E. CA4WDC Southern Area Vice President. F. All club sponsors. G. Newsletter subscribers.

15. Club Roster is only sent to club members 16. Maintain annual schedule of general meetings, board meetings, and events. 17. Update and issue membership roster, published semi-annually in February and August. 18. Keep track of all members “personal events” (birthdays, weddings, other club-recognized milestones).

SAFETY CHAIRMAN

1. Maintain the first aid kit. 2. Ensure safety kit gets to someone who is going on the designated run. 3. Arrange for special demonstrations relating to safety when appropriate. 4. Club Safety Education Chairman. 5. Maintain vehicle checklist. 6. Recommend date and location for the vehicle check. 7. Chairman in charge of scheduled inspection committee. 8. In charge of Vehicle Check. Assigns duties to participating members.

El Mirage Liaison

1. Maintain a single point of contact between The Roughwheelers and the BLM. 2. Obtain and fill out all paperwork relating to helping the local BLM Office get paid for as much time as

reasonable for volunteer work. 3. Convey all upcoming planned activities to facilitate paperwork preparation, as well as ensure supply

availability when needed. 4. Coordination equipment availability when needed. 5. Ensure that a safety/driver’s meeting is held prior to the run and mention common sense safety issues.

El Mirage Day is being held in conjunction with our monthly run to El Mirage OHV Area. We will be arriving on Friday, October 23, 2015 and leaving on Sunday, October 25, 2015. Hope to see you there.

Trip Report to Sherman Pass Due to insufficient members available to attend this run, it will be postponed to sometime in the future.

Trip Report to Bull Frog By Mynor Moreno My day started early meeting our friend Damon on the side of the 605. We headed straight to the Valero of Hwy. 18. We made great time and met up with Frank and his newly acquired wife at 8am. We were in no rush so went to our favorite spot for breakfast. Once finished, we headed to the beginning of Gold Mountain, where we aired down.

We were able to get our group to a spot where it was OK to switch the spare and with help from all, we were back on our way! The loose gravel and slightly wet rocks made for some very interesting lines! But all in all, we had all five Jeeps through the trail and we had a great time with our new friends!

We met up with a pair of Jeeps heading our way, so we invited them along for the trip. We made great time through the trail and made it to the start of John Bull. We had a good chance to check out the scenery and it was great! When we got to the “Gate Keeper”, we saw what was a caravan of “XJ’s”, one being hampered by a rock that would eventually be its downfall. He eventually snapped his rear.

As we had decided to take lunch, we were in no hurry, but did see that there were two other groups wanting to try their luck. Once the damaged XJ was removed, the once group that had been waiting, started their turn and made small time of the Keeper. Frank wanted to try a new line but was slightly discouraged by another of nature’s elements. Eventually he changed his line and I followed as I crossed a “V” notch. I soon realized that my driver side front tire had been slashed. Oh well, time for a change anyway!

Once we got to the “T” on the road, our friends headed to the left and Frank, Damon and I headed to the right. We took the fire road back to Fawnskin, where we aired up and we said our good byes. I love this mountain! Great surroundings and surrounded by great friends!

Trip Report to KOPL (Kids on Public Land) By Karen Lykins

In the meantime, Stanley was briefed on his task of driving one of the 50 young men between the ages of 8 and 12. The group was divided into 25 boys in the morning run and 25 in the afternoon run. Only 1 youth went in the drivers rig. They talked to the young man about his school, activities, interests and goals in life. Our objective was to tell the child what we did for a living, our educational background stressing on the fact that we finished high school. While 25 youth were out 4 wheeling the other 25 were involved in various activities in the camp. There was Rocks/Geodes, Gold Panning, ATV Safety, a Camping demonstration, Hug a Tree/Safety in the Forest and a CHP presentation on Sunday.

The youth arrived by bus at 9:00 am. There was a brief orientation and each driver was assigned a youth and proceeded to their rigs. The morning run to Coon Creek Cabin was easy with a presentation at the cabin by Frontier People. The morning session was back for lunch at 12 noon. All had lunch and then the groups changed and the afternoon session began with the same routine returning by 3:30pm. Everyone met at the outdoor meeting area, talked about their trips and activities, said their goodbyes, loaded the buses and headed for home.

All the volunteers had a great dinner of Cantonese BBQ Ribs, Mesquite Smoked Chicken, Fried Cabbage w Bacon, Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes, Buttermilk Biscuits, a full Salad Bar, Strawberry Short Cake and a raffle. Jim, Stanley and I all won items. It was a great time. Then time for bed to start Sunday with all the same except it would be the girls.

Sunday, I did not have kitchen duty because it would be my first day to be a driver of Stan’s rig. Yes, little me. Jim still had server duty and Stanley duty was to worry about me driving his rig. He volunteered to be a spotter at the first turn off to Coon Creek Cabin with Paul from the Gad-Zuks. When I made the turn, I could see the relief on his face that his rig was still intact and I was doing a great job.

Evalyn was the 9-year-old little girl that was my passenger for the morning. She attends Lincoln Elementary in Long Beach. She was quiet and reserved. I had to put 3 cushions under her so she could see out the windshield. It was a great time. All the girls in the group wanted to ride in the monster truck. All the others were jeeps and SUV’s. I had so much fun driving Stan’s rig and can’t wait for Jim and I to get our own rig.

We returned for a great lunch and the morning girls switched just like the day before.

While in line waiting to get my new passenger, there weren’t enough to go around so I got the afternoon off.

Headed to the coach to start preparation to head home. Jim was still in the kitchen cleaning and Stan was preparing the rig for the drive home.

Around 3:45pm the afternoon girls came back from their 4-wheel drive. There was a group gathering; we all said our goodbye and the girls were off.

And so were we then on our way home. What a great adventure.

LOOK WHAT’S IN THE FUTURE

Our day started at noon on Friday, September 18, 2015 with a leisurely drive to the San Bernardino National Forest to Camp Conrad-Chinnock were KOPL was being held. Upon arrival we settled our motor home, found Keith and several other personnel and began with the introductions with Tim Crawford and Rick Russell, the founders of KOPL and Andy Cunningham, head chef. Come evening we had a great dinner of pizza, salad and drinks and prepared for the morning activities.

Saturday morning, Jim and I were up at 6am to start preparing breakfast. I made hash browns, flipped pancakes and French toast while Jim was a server at the counter.

October 2015

October 9, 2015 – Roughwheelers Membership Meeting in Redondo Beach, CA. Jesse May of CA4WD South District will be attending our meeting.

October 16-17, 2015 – Operation Desert Fun benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America.

October 23-25, 2015 – Roughwheelers Monthly Run to El Mirage Recreation Area. Wagonmaster is Chips Mercier.

October 24, 2015 – El Mirage OHV Recreation Area Clean Up Day Please remember to register at “Friends of El Mirage” for your T-shirt and breakfast and lunch.

November 2015

November 13, 2015 – Roughwheelers Membership Meeting in Redondo Beach, CA.

November 12-14, 2015 – Panamint Valley Days by CA4Wheel.

November 20-22, 2015 – Roughwheelers Monthly Run to Johnson Valley/Hammers. Wagonmaster TBD.

December 2015

December 11, 2015 – Roughwheelers Membership Meeting in Redondo Beach, CA.

December 12, 2015 – Roughwheelers Annual Christmas Party

December 30-January 3, 2015 – Roughwheelers Monthly Run to Lake Havasu. Wagonmaster TBD.

January 2016

January 8, 2016 – Roughwheelers Membership Meeting in Redondo Beach, CA.

January 9, 2016 – Annual Run Planning Meeting/BBQ for 2016 location TBD.

January 22-24, 2016 – Roughwheelers Monthly Run to Jawbone-Lake Isabelle. Wagonmaster – Woodstock.

February 2016

February 12, 2015 – Roughwheelers Membership Meeting in Redondo Beach, CA.

February 14, 2016 – Valentine’s Day

February 26, 2016 – Roughwheelers Monthly Run TBD at January 9, 2016 meeting.

If you have any items to be added to the next issue of “Look What’s In The Future”, send me an email or call me.