More involved NAC

gearwhine

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Denver, CO
I haven't noticed much going on lately in the NAC chapter. We have discussed getting a project going (stretch jeep), NACfest, and not much else that I can recall. I don't think I'm alone on this one, but I would love to get more going on with the NAC.

The project jeep would be great...If we know we can get the needed parts lets get someone to be in charge of it, and find a place to work. I would be glad to help in any way possible if it's being held close by.

NACfest is all planned out as I see, and I can't wait.

I am thinking of hosting a BBQ(/fab party maybe) early this summer. We just made a new patio (with a swingy chair), we are making a large scale shed now, and searching for a new grille. We also acquired tons of new tools over the past year which would be great to make almost anything you want. So if there is interest in that let me know.

More trails runs are definitely in need. I know there aren't too many people that are around, and available all the time, but how about a monthly or bi-monthly trail ride to try and provoke people to get out on weekends.

Those are my thoughts to get more going on in this chapter. Let me know what you guys think. _nicko_
 
I agree on the regular trail rides, that should definitely be instituted.

I am getting parts together for a NAC project vehicle, an MJ extended cab. I have a line on a 2-door XJ body in Harrisburg for free, just need a trailer to go get it with and a place to put it. We can either use my MJ trailer or cut a different MJ bed/frame for the project. I have a drivetrain & axles w/ rims & tires as well.
 
That sounds great so far. Is this project going to be a tame thing for mild offroad (if any), or is it going to be an extended rockcrawler. I saw a lot of pictures on that post, but what's the final design...if you even know?

Don't give up your trailer you just made, I'm sure there are scrap MJ's around that we could scavenge the bed from.
 
Yep, I agree, its been quiet around here for a little while. I plan on hosting a BBQ and some work parties at my place over the summer. I have a large in-ground pool and plenty of room for a volleyball net and lots of Jeeps. I am really looking forward to NAC-Fest as well. I would like to see some more input on monthly trailrides and such. It is worth putting a schedule together if we have enough people interested in going. We can post the schedule on the NAC website. As for the NAC Extendoo 4Dr MJ, that sounds awesome. I would be willing to source parts, and help out with putting it together.

A.
 
I was thinking with the trail rides, since we don't have an overwhelming number of people come to the few trails rides that go on already, start out with a tri-monthly ride. 1 month up in new england(Mass, etc.), 2nd central NA(PA, NJ), and 3rd lower NA (VA and such) I think it will be a good way to get everyone to travel away from their normal wheeling spots, and also not have so many trail rides right next to you that there will be 2 people at each one. I think it would be a good start.....? Any other ideas? _nicko_
 
I agree with Nick on having regional rides on a periodic basis. As far as the MJ-EXT is concerned, I plan on building this thing to replace my MJ for accomodating offspring in the future, so I was figuring on a similar multi-purpose rig that is comfortable on the street, hauls a load, and can hold its own off-road.

-Mark
 
The idea of a chapter project vehicle was mine, but Mark jumped all over it so he's the point person on the project. Aside from his intended purpose, the end product will have a longer wheelbase than a long-bed MJ so I don't think it will be a very capable (or desireable) trail beast, but it should be a very interesting one-off truck.

We keep talking about trail rides, but the trail rides we have hosted anywhere other than Paragon simply have not been supported by the membership. Earle from Rhode Island has done two events in Massachusetts (and southern Vermont), and after a lot of planning the attendance was embarrassing. We had a lot of expressions of interest in doing a Maine run when I hosted a BBQ in the Fall of '01, so Earle, Bob Salemi and I put a lot of initial effort into planning an event in Maine. When we asked who was coming and when would be the best weekend to hold it -- the lack of response was deafening.

This is your chapter, but the members are spread out from Virginia to Maine, so it's impossible to hold one event that everyone can attend. Smaller sub-regional trail rides, meet-n-greets, show & shines, are all great ideas but don't all have to be organized by the chapter officers. The best way for these things to happen is for the members to decide what they want and make it happen.

And out of common courtesy, I think when discussion turns to potential events and locations, it's really unfair to encourage someone to organize something if you don't really intend to go to it. I can tell you (and I think Mark can confirm, since he was there) that Earle was feeling pretty low last year when virtually nobody showed up for his Mohawk Trail event. It wouldn't have been so bad if numerous people hadn't basically promised him they would be there.
 
I do plan on coming to some of them. I can say I will not be able to make most of them way up north, but I will at some point. I understand what you mean though Eagle. I wouldn't want someone to tell me to organize a run and 1 or 2 people show up ecluding the person who told me to oraganize it. I think if you post pics of those trails up north, show what there is there, and what you guys do, maybe people could justify driving the many hours it takes to get up to the new england area. I have no idea what kind of terrain is up there.

I would definitely be up for organizing trail rides in or around the PA area rather than leaving it to the officers. I don't know about the other areas though, as I don't know much of what goes on there. Thank you for the response with some contrasting views on this. It's exactly what I wanted, but I still don't have any other ideas. I guess a little more views on this topic are needed. Thanks, _nicko_
 
I'll be seeing Earle on Saturday. As far as I know he is planning another Mohawk Trail event for this spring, but it will be only a week away from NACFest and many people can't make it to both. It's probably best to think of it as an alternate for those who can't make it to NACFest, but I would certainly encourage those who can make it to both to do so. Earle has put a lot of effort into exploring new trails, especially since the legal status of Old Florida Road seems to be unclear at present.

If he knows who is coming and how their rigs are set up, Earle can pick trails to suit the group. His most recent runs have been more hard-core than my stock rig can handle, and that's the type of trails he's looking for. Not quite like M Trail at Paragon -- these are real trails he finds, not piles of boulders that someone decided to call a trail -- but they are moderate to hard core. But they aren't in an enclosed area like Paragon -- these are old roads that go from a point 'A' to a point 'B.'
 
The trails in southern VT are very close to N. Adams, MA which is a very convenient place to set up camp. The trails are long and have challenging obstacles on them. IMHO it is well worth the 5+/- hour drive from the Philadelphia area to see these new areas. I, for one, am getting bored with Paragon.

I intedn to attend both events in May, using the VT run as a shakedown for Nac Fest. Earle works hard to organize these things and it was all I could do to make excuses for why more people didn't show.

If one is willing to drive down to GWNF in western VA from this area, then the trip to MASS/VT is not unreasonable. It offers a greater return on the drive, IMHO, since the trails are better.

"Rant mode off."
 
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