15th Annual Truckhaven Challenge!
TRUCKHAVEN CHALLENGE XV 2010 UPDATE
By Steve Hewitt
Yes it is almost time for the 15th Annual Truckhaven Challenge, and your “Challenge” crew is hard at work in the prep stages!
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing studies happening with the Freeman Property Acquisition, CORVA is still forced to have our run on the south side of S-22 in Ocotillo Wells SVRA.
At press time, we have our new course under review by the state park folks, and hope to have it approved by the first of the year.
One thing we can tell you is that we are going to have another fantastic event! The trails will be great as usual, with the routes appropriately marked for driver/rider skill level.
Now, CORVA has gained a lot more members in the past year so for those that have not participated in this event before here is an overview…
The Truckhaven Challenge is held in late January each year just west of Salton City, California. The terrain is primarily decomposing, dry mud hills with some sand wahes and rocky sections thrown in for good measure. The area is laced with trails ranging from tight and twisty to steep and hairy. In other words, great for off-roading!
It is in the ever-changing terrain that we mark an approximately 20 mile course (changing it each year) for the Saturday Poker Run. There will be several checkpoints. At each checkpoint you will draw a card to assemble a poker hand, and also participate in a “game of skill”. The top three winners of both the poker hands and game scores will win great prizes! There will also be marked “Alternate routes which will be much more difficult than the main route. These are for those folks really keen on abusing their vehicles! After the run we will have a BBQ dinner prepared by the Trailmasters Four Wheel Drive Club, and a drawing for great prizes donated by the off road industry.
The event is open to all OFF ROAD vehicles, but please remember not all four wheel drive vehicles are suitable for off road use. Stock SUV’s, full-size vehicles, and novice drivers run the biggest risk of getting stuck/damaged and may be discouraged at the start line. Similarly, young children on 50cc-60cc bikes and ATV’s may have a problem with some of the hills and technical spots. While we test the course with a high-clearance Jeep in 2 wheel drive and open differentials, this does not mean the run will be easy. We do this so we feel the course “should” be navigable by most 4 wheel drives and other OHV’s. Since there is no way we can anticipate the experience level of every rider/driver, please consider this paragraph as a “heads-up”! Also the since we have to have the course approved by the state park authorities we have to have the route layed out months in advance. The course can change in condition due to weather and use.
We promise you will be kept busy all day and boredom will not be an option!
This year due to lack of interest, mostly due to everyone wanting to head home on Sunday the Satellite Safari has been cancelled.
And, as usual, we will have our Sunday morning Kid’s games, so the younger ones will have their own fun near camp!
We already have several businesses signed up for our vendor row, and products for our BIG Saturday night raffle is being lined up now. The Trailmasters Four Wheel Drive Club is once again going to be putting on the killer post-poker run BBQ, with the best fixing’s you could ever put on burgers or hot dogs!
Like last year, we are opening up this event to the entire OHV community. We would like all our CORVA members to let all their non-CORVA member friends know they are welcome at this event! They will even be signed up as FREE 90 day members! All OHV’s are welcome of course, but please keep in mind that this run will not be easy for everybody. Vehicle damage is always a possibility. But for those that do attend, a great time for the whole family is virtually guaranteed!
Please circle the weekend of January 23rd-24th, 2010 on your calendar and join us for the fun!
Any Questions Email
Steve Hewitt at
steve.hewitt@corva.org
