The on-site registration desk was manned by the Middle Tennessee Trail
Runners for the weekend. Doug and Sharon Tremblay and crew performed
a very efficient and admirable job. Tech inspections were handled again
by Rock Solid Jeep Club, who apparently stayed well-fed throughout the
weekend (sorry, I had to say that :-)
Thursday, the day before the official event start, began with a new
event sponsored by Tellico4x4.com: the Vendor Run. Dixie Run vendors
were invited to participate in a trail ride on Trail 12 before the vendor
staff were resigned to manning their booths for the weekend. We had
an exciting time climbing school bus hill and the rest of 12 before
descending the back of trail 11. Jack Lancaster of Tellico4x4.com experienced
a completely broken steering box that jammed his steering so we left
his Jeep behind for parts retrieval. Eric Lichtbach of Olympic 4x4 in
his exoskeleton clad Cherokee conquered the terrain with skill. Chuck
Davis of Tellico Cabin Rentals rode up all the obstacles like an old
pro.
With hurricane Lili in the neighborhood, the air was humid and clouds
threatened rain all weekend. On Friday, the 3rd Annual Rock Challenge
( results ) was run
by the Extreme Ridge Runners in Crawford's Campground. I first saw the
course the night before and surveyed it with trepidation. Two rock courses
had been built by an apparently devious mind in the middle of a field
in the campground. Think large rocks and deep holes! The location allowed
for convenient access by spectators who spent the day in their lounge
chairs alternately cheering and consoling the hard-working competitors.
The courses were short, but intense, challenging the skills of the spotter
and driver to the max. There were two classes - those with 36 inch tires
and smaller and an unlimited class with 37" tires or larger.
The 36"-and-under tire class was expertly won by Neal Tew. His
near flawless and quick run in a CJ-7 through the two sections of the
course amazed everyone, especially after the teams before him struggle
with the course. Most of the competitors in the 37"-and-larger
tire class had to run in the light rain that started during the middle
of the day. Such is the luck of the draw. The second section for the
large tire class was a significantly harder section than the small tire
class had run, with huge boulders and deep holes in-between. Scott Schlapman,
driving an early Bronco with a stripped body calmly ran the course under
the direction of his spotter to win first place. The missing sheet metal
allowed for better visibility and less weight, but the vehicle customizations
were matched by the driver's skills.
I also entered the Rock Challenge and was surprised that it was easier
to run than I had feared. Yes, the rocks were large. A lot depended
on the skill of your spotter and the willingness of the driver to follow
those directions no matter what. Several times, all I could see of Sam
Houston was his hand waving above my hood, telling me which way to turn.
My run ended prematurely when my tie rod bent at the end of the first
section. Still, I had a blast. There were even some entries with 33”
tires, though 35s are probably a better idea. I encourage everyone to
consider entering the Rock Challenge next year.
The Kids Games are a big deal at the Dixie Run as we really try to
run a family-oriented event. The Georgia Bounty Runners put a huge effort
into running the games and the resulting fun was contagious. The mini-Jeep
races are the highlight, but there was also a bowling alley and scavenger
hunt (everyone hide your stuff). The only problem was a little girl
tried to run me over in her battery powered Jeep, with mother chasing
behind her. Hm, maybe the fact that I stood on the race course had something
to do with me being a target? Or maybe we have a Jeep driver in the
making?
We had trail rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with many people
on the trails. Because of past years congestion on the trails, fewer
people took to the trails on Saturday. That and the somewhat lousy weather
kept down the attendance a little. There was also a chance for people
to test their suspension on a ramp, plus a slow-crawl contest. Saturday
evening is the BBQ dinner, catered by Buddy’s. Can we ever go
4-wheeling without eating BBQ? Apparently not. As it got dark and most
of the rides returned, we started the festivities. Of course, everyone
is there for the door prize raffle and everyone could see the large
pile of prizes donated by manufacturers. However, first Dixie Run coordinator
Greg Griffith officially welcomed all and thanked the volunteers for
all the hard work put into the event. President Bob Yarbrough thanked
all the officers of Southern for the time they put into Southern to
help keep all the trails open. All the officers spoke briefly about
various issues affecting our recreation. Greg was presented with a plaque
for his years and years of service running the Dixie Run. We also presented
the first honorary Lifetime Membership to Richard Winchester of BF Goodrich.
Richard was very happy and surprised (it’s hard to keep anything
from him). Richard has been both a professional booster and personal
friend and advisor for many years. Southern has greatly benefited from
him.
The Dixie Run may be over, but the happy memories linger. Everyone
got to see old friends and make new ones. The vendors get to present
a variety of new and unique products and the attendees get to learn
from them. You get a chance to show off your specialized vehicle modifications
and admire others handy work. Plus, the proceeds from the Dixie Run
are directly used to fund our trail maintenance work and help keep our
trails open.
