After lunch we decided tp lay around a bit at the new obstacle course. Seems like a good place to try out your rig for the first time, or to learn the ropes.
My buddy Sean driving my junk
Nice :thumbup:
Someone was enjoying the mud.
After playing around a bit, it was time for the Jungle trail. Zach led the way and this time we made it through with no problems at all. Just a quick, easy run through.
Fyrftr was putting on a good show for us in the back of the group with his super clean dark red XJ.
Jason
So then we decided to run the the bitch trail. Started off ok with no problems until we got to the split. This section has had 's number for quite a few years. Farmer Matt got stuck here, NickAngus got stuck here, and this year was no different.
Ed, was trying to pull his buddy out of the hole he fell into and his rig stalled. He tried to start it and all of a sudden smoke started pouring out from under his hood and from under the jeep. He opend the hood and there were flames coming from near the firewall (go figure). Without even thinking me, Ed, and I can't rmember who else started blowing out the fire. It actually worked?!? Now I have to Zach some credit here for being the only to think of pulling the negative battery cable. We were all standing around trying to get a plan together to get him out and we noticed the smoke from inder his jeep was getting worse. I looked under and found flames coming from something near the exhaust and floor pan area. I yelled for a fire extenguisher and nobody close by had one. Someone threw me a bottle of water and I used it to put out the flames. Someone from further back in the group had a fire extinguisher and gave it to us. Right about that time we noticed the smoke was getting worse again, I looked under and some some burning embers of some kind. I emptied the extinguisher on it and finally got the fire all the way out. I haven't had one for some time now, but I will get one before my next run for sure.
I winched ed's XJ back a few feet until it was semi level and we could figure out what was going on. After some looking around Ed finally found the problem. The winch power cable he ran got pinched between the frame and the alternator and was grounding out. That melted his body to engine ground strap and started the fire near the engine. I never crawled under but apparently the fire underneath was caused by some oil from a leaking seal. We were lucky that the engine started right up and he drove out.
So thanks again for everyone who came out. The next official Hollister run will be in November for the 2nd annual Sierra Chapter Toy Drive November 7th.
