PNW-2009-First Annual Chehalis River Valley MV Convoy

[AaronW]

Todd was not able to make it up this time.

 

[bigelk50]

Thanks Aaron. I have not talked to Todd in a couple of months.

 

[5_TON_TOMATOE]

Best day ever!!

Finally checking in with you guys. Made it home O K, about 1 AM, and had to get up early for Alans race. Pretty tuckered out. This was such a great event, and making the appearance in Aberdeen to show our support for the memorial was a very gratifying experience. We can never do enough to show our support, or give enough thanks, for what these men do for our country. and sometimes, make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
I want to say thanks to Arron and his wife, Mike and his wife, and all the members who showed their support for the club by attending. Without Arron and Mike putting this together, We PNW members would still be wishing that somehow we could attend some far away rally somewhere, and trying to figure out how in the world we could ever get there. I think it would be awesome if we could do a national event someday, somewhere in the middle, where all or most of the S S members could attend. Kind of a big dream but, who knows? It would be one hell of a convoy!! I can see our own event growing each year, and us local guys should get the trucks together at least a few times a year, if possible. ( Mud, anyone?)
When my deuce went down, everyone was on it, making calls, making plans, and coming up with solutions. Arron was awesome to donate parts off his perfectly fine running truck, just to get me back on the road, and eventually home. He certainly didn't have to volunteer his parts, and don't tell anybody, but Arron's a genuinely good person. When he told me he knew someone that owned a wrecker, I had to laugh.
I also need to give a special thanks to Hammer and Hammerswife. Ed, in case you don't know him, is a walking TM. He knows just about everything by heart, and off the top of his head. HammerWife was also a huge help, handing us tools, and whatever support we needed. They are a great team! And the 1009 was not only a chase vehicle, but a support vehicle as well. Ed had every tool needed to rebuild a truck on the side of the road, if necessary. Without these two, I would still be there. (Thanks guys)
I have to give thanks to my wife, Tammy, for being a good sport about the whole thing. She has not been exactly supportive of my green hobby, and with some reservation, agreed to drive the 1009 on the rally. By days end however, she was into it! She was telling me that as a chase/ escort vehicle, she needed to block traffic for the trucks, etc,etc. (She was diggin it!) This event had positive effects on her, and, well, the green pills are a little easier to swallow As for my son Alan, he lives and breathes these trucks, and had a great time. He was hoping for some mud to 6 wheel in, but maybe next time.
Last but not least, Arron, I ordered the new bearings today, should be in this week. I want to get your other deuce back together as quick as I can. It's the least I can do. Thanks again, 5_TON_TOMATOE

 

[wsucougarx]

No, Todd didn't make it. Alex was really looking forward to driving one of Todd's trucks. I guess the timing just wasn't right. Hopefully everyone who missed out this year will be able to make it to the next one. I forwarded the pics to The Daily World newspaper. So far they have been forwarded to the editor. I'll post a link if they run our pics

 

[AaronW]

Awesome write up 5_Ton. Thanks! I'm sure I'll see you soon.

 

[bigelk50]

Yes great write up EVERYONE! I showed this thread to my very soon wife to be (3 weeks) and she is not really fond of MV's but she thought this looked like a blast! She respects my Big Green Truck a little more. Thanks guys. We will be there next year!!

 

[Alex400]

No, Todd didn't make it. Alex was really looking forward to driving one of Todd's trucks. I guess the timing just wasn't right. Hopefully everyone who missed out this year will be able to make it to the next one. I forwarded the pics to The Daily World newspaper. So far they have been forwarded to the editor. I'll post a link if they run our pics

Awesome write up 5_Ton. Thanks! I'm sure I'll see you soon.

Mike, that would be really cool if they ran our pictures. Maybe it would bring a little more respect to the hobby.

Aaron, just restating the well known fact, but that was awesome of you to tear into your deuce for tomato. True generosity in this man.

 

[wsucougarx]

As far as future convoy and rallies, it is a definate must. I think this get together really opened my wife's eyes to how normal we MV operators are. I'm sure all of our non-MV interest wifes and girlfriends kind of did this about us before the convoy. This really added that PR to the MV thing. Now my wife is considering actually driving for the next convoy....WOW!!!! Sure she kind of jokingly talked about it, but watching us have so much fun really made her think. I'm just hoping to someday catch her viewing Gov't Liquidations Kind of far fetched but in the meantime I'll just keep looking for her. She definately will need a green MV chase/media for next time however. I better get working on that

 

[Alex400]

As far as future convoy and rallies, it is a definate must. I think this get together really opened my wife's eyes to how normal we MV operators are. I'm sure all of our non-MV interest wifes and girlfriends kind of did this about us before the convoy. This really added that PR to the MV thing. Now my wife is considering actually driving for the next convoy....WOW!!!! Sure she kind of jokingly talked about it, but watching us have so much fun really made her think. I'm just hoping to someday catch her viewing Gov't Liquidations Kind of far fetched but in the meantime I'll just keep looking for her. She definately will need a green MV chase/media for next time however. I better get working on that

That is awesome. To be honest, i didn't really know how crazy of a group of guys this was going to be when i first came down!

I am going to be getting a helmet cam for motorcycle riding videos, but it can also be used for automotive video taping with different mounts. It would be cool to have one on the hood or the bumper even recording video. She might need a m1009 for the chase rig........

 

[wsucougarx]

Now thinking about the next convoy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the next event? I thought our first convoy event went really really well. In fact I wouldn't change a thing! Some things that do come to mind are the following:
1- Take up a company pool to cover food/drink/portable santitation station expenses
2- Maybe an event T-shirt if enough are interested
3- Someone will need to buy a wrecker for next year Hmm I know who may be working on this right now........
4- Have comms b/w lead and chase vehicle
5- More more more MV's
6- Open up single-person operated MV's to those without. Sorry Alex
7- Definately get Hammer and his wife back up here as our company motorpool mechanics!

 

[AaronW]

Getting ready for 2010.

Now thinking about the next convoy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the next event? I thought our first convoy event went really really well. In fact I wouldn't change a thing! Some things that do come to mind are the following:
1- Take up a company pool to cover food/drink/portable santitation station expenses
2- Maybe an event T-shirt if enough are interested
3- Someone will need to buy a wrecker for next year Hmm I know who may be working on this right now........
4- Have comms b/w lead and chase vehicle
5- More more more MV's
6- Open up single-person operated MV's to those without. Sorry Alex
7- Definately get Hammer and his wife back up here as our company motorpool mechanics!

I have alot of these same ideas floating around. I was going to put up a post asking for likes/dislikes from those who attended. So, go ahead and PM me with ideas or feel free to post them in this thread. It will soon be time to put this thread to bed, and open a 2010 thread. Mike and I will come up with an official title first.

As far as Mike's list goes, I'm all over #2 and #4-7. Amber seems to be involved in #3. #1 is just OK, but you all might be suprised to find out how affordable this event was. In the future, maybe we will just have a coffee can with lid in an out of the way corner where anyone can just drop five or ten bucks or nothing at all. This $ could be used to offset some expenses. I really want to continue to keep an open event where all can participate regardless of cash on hand. You just can't put a price on the fun this event involved!

Thanks again to all for being a part of this! Mike and I will be working hard behind the scenes to make next year even better.

Also, I really like the idea of having a mini-rally a couple times a year (mud/ short snow run/meet at a drive-in) just to keep the group tight.

Stay tuned..........

 

[Alex400]

Now thinking about the next convoy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the next event? I thought our first convoy event went really really well. In fact I wouldn't change a thing! Some things that do come to mind are the following:
1- Take up a company pool to cover food/drink/portable santitation station expenses
2- Maybe an event T-shirt if enough are interested
3- Someone will need to buy a wrecker for next year Hmm I know who may be working on this right now........
4- Have comms b/w lead and chase vehicle
5- More more more MV's
6- Open up single-person operated MV's to those without. Sorry Alex
7- Definately get Hammer and his wife back up here as our company motorpool mechanics!

Sounds good. #6 would be awesome. I had a blast anyway, but if there are people out there that are willing to let a non-MV owner drive, that would be very generous. Believe me, of the 335 miles i drove that day, it was the 3 or 4 miles in the deuce that was the best. Thanks Aaron and Rob!

I have alot of these same ideas floating around. I was going to put up a post asking for likes/dislikes from those who attended. So, go ahead and PM me with ideas or feel free to post them in this thread. It will soon be time to put this thread to bed, and open a 2010 thread. Mike and I will come up with an official title first.

As far as Mike's list goes, I'm all over #2 and #4-7. Amber seems to be involved in #3. #1 is just OK, but you all might be suprised to find out how affordable this event was. In the future, maybe we will just have a coffee can with lid in an out of the way corner where anyone can just drop five or ten bucks or nothing at all. This $ could be used to offset some expenses. I really want to continue to keep an open event where all can participate regardless of cash on hand. You just can't put a price on the fun this event involved!

Thanks again to all for being a part of this! Mike and I will be working hard behind the scenes to make next year even better.

Also, I really like the idea of having a mini-rally a couple times a year (mud/ short snow run/meet at a drive-in) just to keep the group tight.

Stay tuned..........

Sounds good guys. For the first Convoy, I think it went really well, and above all it was great time. Really enjoyed meeting all of you and hopefully to see you all again soon in one way or another.

Can't wait for next year!

 

[srodocker]

i know rock candy mountain has a good entrance for deuces. i just havent been back very far into to it to see if it could turn into a day trip...

 

[Alex400]

i know rock candy mountain has a good entrance for deuces. i just havent been back very far into to it to see if it could turn into a day trip...

You know what would be cool, is to drive from ellensburg to wenatchee on colockum road as a convoy! I am going to do it in my 4 runner to scout it out this summer, but that might be a fun trip. we would need to be sure to have the wrecker and some trucks with winches just in case.

 

[srodocker]

yea i'll scout out rock candy next month as i have a day trip planned with my ranger. cause i definatly want to test out the deuce when i get one ...alex we both have to get one!

 

[5_TON_TOMATOE]

Rock candy

Guys, we could spend a week or more in the hills going through the rock candy entrance. I've lived here and ridden all capitol forest, and its all accessible from there.

 

[ABN173]

Here is some of the work my wife and I did, I can use any color ink/shirt as long as it makes sense ie light on dark or dark on light. As far as graphics go we would need "Line Art" or similar format that does not distort or pixel out when it is enlarged.

Dale

As far as #2 goes I volunteered to make them back on post #59 but nobody ever got back to me so.... I was like I guess they don't want them.

-Dale

 

[Alex400]

yea i'll scout out rock candy next month as i have a day trip planned with my ranger. cause i definatly want to test out the deuce when i get one ...alex we both have to get one!

HA, your telling me! I would have one already if i didn't live in urban King County. The insurance on that thing would be through the roof.

 

[AaronW]

T-shirts.

I was like I guess they don't want them.
-Dale

Hey Dale. I was aware of your offer to do shirts. Thanks for that. The only reason I didn't jump on it was that this was the first time I've ever done anything like this. I was not sure if we were going to have 2 or 42 trucks show up. Now that we have a base of support for the event, it will make decisions like that alot easier.

 

[ABN173]

Aaron I'll send you a Pm with some ideas/info