Koh 2015

[KarlVP]

After a trailer tire pooped it's big boy pants, and stops at In-N-Out, we arrived at the lakebed. You will notice the Toyota hood is already up.

The sticker battle that has been proceeding through the years is still in full effect.

It appears someone tagged my jeep too.

Wasting no time, we headed out to Sledgehammer.

The rain earlier in the day made things interesting.

 

[KarlVP]

At the top of Sledge, we met the guy that oneshotted backdoor during the challenge last year.

The Sign we posted at the Mailbox last year is still year, but has faded away.

Heading down Sledge, view from my window on Saturday morning.

Anthony headed down plaque rock.

After running the trail, we headed into town to meet David Schneider and Team CRAWL whom we would be assisting in the pits.

 

[KarlVP]

Crappy fotos, but we ran up SOS on Saturday evening with some folks in a nice runner.

Sunday morning on the patio.

In town meeting up with the race team.

After BSing for a while, we headed up to trapdoor to watch the King of the Motos Race.

Kurtis driving like a boss.

Headed up Turkey Claw.

Ran into a group having trouble and stopped to say hi.

 

[KarlVP]

As a change for this year, we have 50 degree pants off guy.

At Kevins Tent (Big Ugly Racing) pregaming for the Super Bowl.

My seat to watch the game.

Kurtis' face describing the 'Hawks loss.

 

[pokey]

So who was it on the news tonight that got into an accident with Bruce Jenner ?

 

[KarlVP]

The obligatory view from the top of Starfish Mountain.

Anthony's failed shock mount. He didn't have enough bumpstop and this happened.

Getting it prepped for welding.

The guys at Ruff Stuff Specialties in Hammer Town had welding services available to anyone. I can't say enough for them, they worked their fannies off all weekend. Here we are getting the shock mount welded on.

Mobbing through the desert on the way to Chocolate Thunder.

We got about this far into CT before we got a call on the radio that Anthony was having trouble.

After turning around in the trail, we found that the other shock mount broke off. YAY@!!!11!!11!1

Saw the OG kid buggy on the way back.

 

[KarlVP]

Waiting on Doctor Anthony to fix his junk.

Yes please.

Finishing the fix on Anthony's heep.

Showing off for the crowd at Chocolate Thunder.

Anthony nailed this line. It gave many racers trouble.

At the top. We ran the trail in about 3 to 4 minutes. Dunno what gave those racer guys so much trouble.

 

[KarlVP]

Really neat series of Chad. The photos do this NO justice.

Looking at Anthony on the same line.

Fully getting it.

STOP. HAMMERTIME.

Mobbing back to camp before it got dark.

 

[KarlVP]

Most, if not all of my photos of the backdoor challenge turned out crappy. It was way to dusty.

You sir, are doing it wrong.

Picture of your winner lined up. If you haven't seen the video, it's pretty forkin' awesome.

It isn't a Tamers run until you have had a doughnut.

We met up with our neighbors from AZ and headed out to run Outer Limits and Spooners.

One of them was having engine troubles so we stopped to figure it out.

 

[KarlVP]

Chad at the top of Outer Limits.

Roll cages are important MMMMMk?

Kurtis driving my junk down.

I really like this picture. After I took it I ran as far as I could.

Mark's sammy.

Good shot.

Not sure if you saw it or not, but there is a rock there Anthony.

You want me to drive off what? I love this shot.

Poser.

 

[KarlVP]

Travis' Rig.

Valet parking anyone?

End of Outer Limits, headed to Spooners.

Entrance to Spooners.

Mark having a good time.

Dr. Anthony and NotDr. Chad.

Getting it fully.

Anthony's driveline wanted out.

Everyone heckling whilst we put it back together.

All ficksed with a fancy new drivline. Remember kids, carry spares. Especially on Outer Limits. It's a LONG way home.

 

[skinny_pedal]

I approve this post:cool:

 

[KarlVP]

Finishing up on Spooners. We had some "racer guys" we were holding up.

This fine gentleman whom we were holding up was out prerunning with his buddy. He asked me what the line was. I told him to follow Anthony.

Anthony's line. The "racer guys" did not follow. They took the line to the right.

Headed out of Spooners.

Looking down on what we had just run.

All done running trail, it's time for campfire shenanigans!!

You know s just got real when the lightsaber comes out.

Professor Fireball

The morning after pill hasn't been invented for fireball yet.

Kurtis sold some Buicks to this bush.

 

[KarlVP]

Watching a UTV burn to the ground in the distance. Everyone made it out okay. Bummer for those guys.

Cars lined up for qualifying.

Watching LCQ

More LCQ.

Crowd watching LCQ.

 

[KarlVP]

More LCQ.

Someone help! The helicopters are stuck together.

Someone tagged my jeep again.

After watching qualifying, we headed to dinner and then to the team meeting to discuss strategy for the race the next morning.

Pulling tires off the rental and getting spares for the car ready.

David letting us know what the plan was for the EMC race.

Discussing race strategy.

Passed tech and ready to go.

 

[dvdswan]

awesome pictures. thanks for sharing. :awesomework:

 

[KarlVP]

View of town from main pit.

Watching the start of the race from main pit.

General Lee impression anyone?

Setup at remote pit 2a.

And the end of our day after the head gasket went to the great parts store in the sky.

Bummer I didn't get more photos on EMC race day. We had a blast helping out in the pits, and actually did a damn good job until the car broke down on Jackhammer. It's a bummer. We were in 3rd overall and running 1st in our class. We had a damn good chance of winning.

Saw this in town when standing in line for a delicious burrito. It was in the big race but pooped a transmission during the race.

IFS Wrangler anyone?

After getting cleaned up and everyone back home to town, we went for a night run up clawhammer.

 

[KarlVP]

Morningish on race day. Anthony with a delicious sandwich.

I am 100% certain the owner of this vehicle is terrified of the dark.

Our race day vista above Jackhammer.

First place (at the time) Erik Miller coming through.

I have nothing professional to say about this fruit in the dodge. He was trying to drive up to where we were. In the process he broke his axle u-bolts. After he got out of his truck in his "RAM IT" T-shirt and declined help from the crowd, he proceeded to find the smallest rock he could and attempt to winch the rest of the way. It almost pulled the rock (about the size of a refrigerator) into the crowd. It was WAY sketch. Finally some spectators told him to stop and fix his s-box on the hill. Just ain't care if he's still up there now.

Panorama of the Jackhammer spectator area.

Bryan with Team CRAWL #4477 turtled on a very large rock.

After the backup on Jack ensued, we headed over to Chocolate thunder to watch the leaders come through. Miller still in first place.

Chad and Anthony found some shade.

Giggity.

This is the line Anthony was on earlier in the week. Just from a different angle.

Cody Addington. Used to drive the very mildly built 22RE powered Toyota pickup in the race. Finally got him some big boy pants.

Racing on the rocks.

 

[KarlVP]

Sunset on race day.

Headed back to camp for dinner.

Kurtis found an ice cream truck in the desert.

Enjoying his dessert in the desert.

Anthony enjoying three plates of spaghetti and custom Jack Daniels(TM) meat balls.

Saying our goodbyes to the folks from the Team. It was truly a humbling experience to assist these guys. I would love to do it again.

Big ugly on the finishers podium.

We went over to let Chad and Anthony rub their weeners on the finishing cars.

The damage from the race on these cars is impressive to see. Photos do NOT do it justice. But if you look around the passenger compartment, you really see how protected they are. Safety first boys and girls...

I'm pretty sure Chad is in full coitus with this one.

Got all his stickers.

Tom Wayes' car.

Chad drooling on Tom Wayes' custom visors. He has way better pictures. They're friggin' sweet.

At about this point my camera battery died and I couldn't take any more pictures. In total I took more than 500 photos of our trip. We had an absolute blast. Hung out with some very fine folks, got to see some folks I usually don't see much, wheel some killer trails, and help out the guys and gals that make this happen. Thanks again to David Schneider and Team CRAWL for letting us help in the pits and be close to the action.

Our trip home we stopped at 100 dollar man's to grab an axle for Crazy Daze, stopped for dinner and were home in about 25 hours from leaving the lakebed. I'll leave the phantom "transmission issue" for a campfire story.

If you have never been and are thinking about going to this race next year, start planning NOW. Beg borrow or steal to make it happen. Trying to explain it in words or pictures/video does not do it justice. The experience itself just to go down and spectate is worth it.

 

[zuk88]

Will have to test my new trailer and D60 down there very soon!

 

[Poohbair]

... bad ass...

 

[Anthony1]

:awesomework:

 

[mudmaster]

Thanks for the pics.

 

[4xrick]

I have not logged into this place in god knows how long but it looks like I did just in time,
I always like your pics and the way you lay the story out. wish I was there. maybe again some year I will make it.
looks like you guys had a blast.

 

[Donkeylips]

Very steep hill climb only Chad could make it up.


At the top


Karl made his own way. You can see him at the very top of the ridge to the left.


Karl posing


Pretty awesome sequence of photos. Very cool obstacle.

 

[GRW]

:cool: PICS
Some day, did you run into Hip or did he make it (now that he's closer)?

 

[KarlVP]

:cool: PICS
Some day, did you run into Hip or did he make it (now that he's closer)?

No Hip wasn't down there. He had a KOH viewing party at his house.

 

[AMJ]

Thanks for the pit help guys! Sorry for those that went out to pit 1 missed the free lunch lol. Looks like you got a bunch of wheeling in.

 

[karhart77]

Thanks for the pit help guys! Sorry for those that went out to pit 1 missed the free lunch lol. Looks like you got a bunch of wheeling in.

^who's this? It's all good the fire extinguisher was a surprisingly great pillowfor my mid day nap.

 

[JPT]

Nice :awesomework: sure looks like it would be nothing but a good time to me. Camping and wheelin an amazing area with a couple good buddies and getting to watch and be a part of the coolest off road racing event around does it get any better than that? Next year hopefully I can get down there too because I'm just jealous right now.