November Internet Run
The "Badlands" Attica, Indiana
by Troy Graham
11/17/98


"Roll" call:

Norman Clark, Columbus, OH (Sammi, SPOA, 30x11.50 Swampers)
Dana Whittenbaugh and Shane ? (Sammi, SPOA, S/R, 32x11.50 SX, GRS2, REP8000)
Chad Adams, Hamilton, OH (TJ, 2" coil lift, 31x10.50 MTs, trac-loc, 4:1 low range)
Kevin Lindamood and son Jeremy (Sammi, S/R, OMEs, 31x10.50 MT)
Me (Sammi, a *few* mods :') )
Claude (CJ-7, 2" lift 32x11.50 MTs)
2 YJ (one on 35s locked front and rear)
2 XJ (MTs, etc)
1 ZJ (yeah, that's right, a ZJ!)
7 other TJ (mostly bigger MTs, a few locked, etc)

Saturday was beautiful weather, and started with the informal
ramp competition, then due to numbers, we split into two
groups. I led what became known as the "Body Damage" (hehe)
group (all Sammies, the CJ, and 3 TJs), and rest of the
Jeeps went elsewhere.



Started out running some familiar warm-up trails, then went
exploring. We found a really tricky, steeply crowned uphill
with a rock garden entrance. Being the first one up, I made
it through OK, but it was a good thing I had stopped abruptly
at the top, it dropped off into nothing! Sharp right turn
required here, off camber, slippery sand, etc. All made it
up except Claude. Chad mad it look especially easy - but
he didn't go first now, did he? Two of the TJs looked up
at us and then bugged out to go with the other (easier)
group.



From there it was off to find some more hilly parts with
some creek foraging thrown in. Later, we came upon a pretty
steep hill, that was very slippery with mud. A few of us
made it up, and some others took and easier bypass trail
to the top. Not Dana! He gave it hell three times, and in
backing down the third time, got wedged in between two
trees. About a 20-point turn later, he was free, and went at
it again - and made it. When we reached the bottom on the
other side, Dana had a squeak coming from his rear driveshaft
- likely a shredded u-joint. To add to the agony, I noticed
that his rear pinion is leaking some gear oil - EEeewww.
Back at "camp" we confirmed it was a u-joint, and Kevin ran
him into nearby Danville to fetch another.




Continued...



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