Back Country Driving School

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[ayoung]

http://www.4x4bcds.com/index.html

Anyone been before?  My GySgt won three course seats in a raffle and is taking me along.  Can't wait to go.  We are doing a modified package of the basic/advanced offroad driver training and a little field maintenance mechanic training.  I am thinking it will be an official version of the "Wheeling 101" that NEJ does.  Of other interest, they are hiring instructors.  Would be pretty cool to teach people to offroad for your job.  I had no idea that was even a possibility.

I am going right after Thanksgiving and will report back how good the training is.

Also, the park where they do the training is apparently open for rent by 4x4 clubs.  I know it would be a haul for you guys up there, but if the wheeling is good, might be worth it.  Is anyone familiar with Anvil Rock ORV Park?  Does it suck, is it good?

http://www.anvilrockorvpark.com/index.htm

[Axle]

sounds cool. have fun Adam!

[Mitch]

want pics, and update!

[ayoung]

want pics, and update!

It was fun, good to actually be back behind the wheel of something offroad.  It has been over 4 years now.  We were wheeling slightly modified Toyotas (land cruiser and four runners).  Trails were not that extreme, but were certainly difficult enough for stock vehicles with mildly aggressive tires.  Some decent rock garden areas, two log bridges to cross ravines, steep hill climbs with soft soil, engineered off camber embankments, approach/departure angle obstacles, etc.  I did manage to blow two sidewalls, so it was good to see that I haven’t lost that skill    I blame the sidewalls on crap tires (no name mud terrain and the other was an old, dry rotted BFG all terrain).  The other guys I went with have a few pictures, I will see if I can get them.

The classes were good.  I was re-acquainted with the two foot driving techniques and got to operate a manual transmission offroad which I had not done before with my jeep being automatic.  They gave some good classes on recovery and field expedient repairs.  Learned how to use tire inner tubes to reconnect steering linkages if a tie rod end goes.  They showed us how you can bury a tire in sand and use it as a winch point if there is nothing else available.  Got to do some decent winch work, utilize snatch blocks, tree savers, etc.  For the most part pretty basic stuff that yall are familiar with but for the other two guys that had never been offroad, they learned a ton and it refreshed my memory on a lot of things.  I was pretty impressed with what the old stock Toyotas could do.

Talked to them about jobs, most of them work as instructors part time and have another job (these guys were fire fighters full time…which means 10 days a month with their rotations).  They seemed to love it though and travel all over the country teaching.

Side note, they used to use the Cove as a training area (where Big Dogs holds events) but stopped due to the excessive use fees being charged by the land owners.  A lot of these guys go to the Big Dogs events though.  Todd, they were not familiar with the 4 oz boys   The Anvil Area that they use now has another company on the land that teaches tactical shooting, there were gun shots all day long.  They have a 360 degree live fire shoot house and some other cool stuff.  Fun times.

[jps4jeep]

Sounded like fun... More importantly, when are you going to be up here again? will you have an oppertunity to go wheeling?

[jeepgod]

i have heard that over the years there have been ofrfroad driving schools at the cove, they should have been there with the 4oz boys. they would have had more fun . . . .

sounds like a good time for ya, good experience if nothing else

[ayoung]

Sounded like fun... More importantly, when are you going to be up here again? will you have an oppertunity to go wheeling?

I will be back late on 18 Dec and leaving 2 Jan.  Will not have my jeep with me though.  Would love to at least do a get together of some sorts, even if it is just to get dinner and a few beers.  What nights work best for people?

[jps4jeep]

any evening works for me except the 24th, 25th, and 31st for obvious reasons.

You pick a time and date, then we can work on a place.

[ayoung]

good to go, ill talk with the wife and make a couple phone calls and then post up on here in a day or two

[ayoung]

any evening works for me except the 24th, 25th, and 31st for obvious reasons.

You pick a time and date, then we can work on a place.

Meet up Wednesday evening, 21 December.  Place TBD at this time.  Open to suggestions from all.  I think two years ago we did BBC in Framingham but the traffic on 90 was not the best for anyone.  BBC in Walpole might be a possiblity depending upon who wants to come.  So, I guess best way to plan is figure out who wants to come and where they are coming from, and we can attempt to get an 80% solution from there.

[jps4jeep]

Let me double check, but I should be in.

[ayoung]

Let me double check, but I should be in.

Starting the trip back north this weekend, right now I know three people that will be at British Beer Company in Walpole on Wednesday night.

Is anyone else interested in hanging out, grabbing a bite to eat and drinking a few beers?

[jps4jeep]

I'll be there, depending on the time, I might be a little late... So what time?

[ayoung]

630 work?

[jps4jeep]

I'll be a little late, but will be there, expect me around 8-ish.