We had a twelve syncro event and a great time in West
Virginia. Faces were connected to email names,
vehicles got very dirty, and I hope everyone had a fun
time.

For me, the most memorable escapade was clearly the
"Challenge Course", less than a mile long but it took
the group about five hours to complete it. Unlike the
wide open west, the Challenge Course was in hilly
wooded terrain, with lots of narrow choke points made
more difficult by the wettest spring in (my) memory.

Some lessons learned:

*BFG Mud Terrain tire make a lot of highway noise, but
are superior to BFG ATs in these particular
conditions.

*Brady's infamous winch got lots of use - he never had
to be pulled out, but others did. There must have been
over half a dozen winch pulls set up and executed.

*The weak point on syncros may not be the wimpy stock
engine or the VC, but the axle/cv joints. Only one was
broken, but that was one too many.

*Spare axles from an automatic trans vanagons will not
fit syncros. There was a lot of work involved in
learning this lesson, so please remember it.

*On trail body damage is not a defect,but a badge of
honor. (Many folks aquired the badge).

*It was a good thing no 2WD Vanagons showed up,
because just getting in and out of the campsite
required 4 wheel drive.

*If you have a Westie, provision it with food and
water. You may think you are going off for a twenty
minute off-road romp, but may end up back on solid
ground hours later and very, very hungry.

There is a picture album setup under "events" in the
syncro group at yahoo. Participants, please post your
photos and video. There is a place for syncro de mayo
west, as well.

How was Hollister?

Tom F.

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