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<P>Just got back from three weeks of beach, sun, and fun on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I won't tell you where because I don't want this gem to become more crowded. The syncro performed&nbsp;great in the sand. Lots of deep sand driving. The only challenge was the ramp onto the beach. Deep ruts and holes dug by stuck vehicles created problems.&nbsp; The ruts were so deep that the syncro bottomed out several times. Here is what&nbsp;I learnt (first time 4 wheeling on the beach):</P>
<P>- deflate tires to 20 psi or lower</P>
<P>-always follow somebody else's tracks</P>
<P>-momentum, momentum, momentum. You can't downshift, so be in low gear before you get into a trouble spot.</P>
<P>-bring a tow strap to help out others</P>
<P>-bring a shovel to help yourself and others</P>
<P>One day,at high tide, I was forced to drive too close to the dunes, the van lost momentum in the&nbsp;soft sand, I could not shift fast enough into low range and got stuck. I told my kids to get out and start digging. My 8 year old took my words literally. Instead of digging&nbsp;behind the wheels she began digging a hole right outside the sliding door. I had to laugh&nbsp;and being stuck turned into a memorable moment on the beach. We removed some sand, lowered the tire pressure even more, backtracked a few&nbsp;meters, and then with&nbsp;momentum and low range&nbsp;drove across the dune.&nbsp;</P>
<P>Many a times were we approached by&nbsp;SUV drivers&nbsp;on the beach who wondered what kind of vehicle we were driving. They had never seen a van on the beach that was capable of making it across the ramp and through the soft sand.</P>
<P>I wish I had a front diff lock. Maybe I'll give Derek Drew a call and talk to Santa Claus.</P>
<P>Oh. Almost forgot one mishap. Driving up the ramp at full speed in low range we bumped so hard through the holes&nbsp;that the passenger window ,already lowered,&nbsp;shattered into a thousand pieces. We drove the 1300 miles home with a duct-taped window. Thank&nbsp;God for ac.&nbsp;</P>
<P>What the heck! The island is called Ocracoke and&nbsp;would be a perfect place for a syncro meeting. The Outer Banks have about 70 miles of driveable beach.</P>
<P>Sightings: a bunch of westies at the National Park Campground, two other syncronauts in town. One strangely&nbsp;painted westy in Virginia on I-64 with a taxi sign in the front. Crabby driver. Would not wave back at us.</P>
<P>Cheers,<BR>Hermann de Boer </P>
<DIV></DIV>Kansas City,Missouri
<DIV></DIV>87 Westy "Eurospec"
<DIV></DIV>89 Syncro GL
<DIV></DIV>"...even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat..."
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