Wonderful Winter Wheeling Weekend Note date change

[brewmenn]

note date change

Sorry, I had to change the date due to the timing of the various DNR requirements.

The dates been changed, March 5, 2005.

I plan on staying in a motel in West Branch, probably the Super8 or possibly the Quality Inn. We are thinking of offering a night run Friday if people want to come up early, and then wheel all day Saturday, and then Saturday evening maybe we could get a banquet room at the hotel for after wheeling socializing and food. Sunday who knows... maybe a "Gilligan" run or other activity. Or maybe if I have my kids with me I'll do an "unofficial" (meaning the events over, lets go do something on our own) visit to the sledding hill I know of not to far from the hotel.

I have the permit aplication in front of me right now and have been told that we are moving forward with the insurance so hopefully all that works out.

I haven't worked out just what the cost for this event will be. It will depend on how many people are going and how involved we get into offering food.

Look for a flyer to be send out to everyone once we get more of the details worked out.

[WhiteRhino]

We will be there!

A couple things to add to Brewmenn's post:
Everyone will nee to be a Great Lakes member since this will be a "sanctioned" event.
We expect to have prizes to raffle and there will be a 50/50 drawing.

Come join us!

[brewmenn]

Thanks Jim. Theres another thing I forgot to metion.

People were asking about a stocker run.

We will do every attempt to accomodate every level wheeler and vehicle but the big unknown is the weather. We could have no snow in which case the built rigs might get bored running up and down the same sand hills all day but the stockers will do fine.

Or we could get blasted with 2 feet of snow and the bult rigs might have fun but the stocker might find themselve at the far end of a tow strap more than they'd like.

But thats part of the fun of winter runs, you just never know.

[wildflower]

I'm sure that Victor and I will be there.

Just a couble of things, pay the $25.00 sanction fee to Rick Ingam and make sure to get a hold of Victor because there is paper work that you'll need for the event.

Now we'll have another event to put in on the points system also.

Great job indys! :D Great way to help out Great LAkes and be involved!

PLease let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

Wildflower

[yogi]

we will be there also :D

iam collecting donations for the raffle in the members section so if you know someone that would like to donate a prize let me know


thanks yogi

[motrctyman]

How can I refuse? I'm in. :blink:

[Roadhouse]

Bruce, count me in. I'll be a trail leader also, if you need more.

[Timbr Wolf]

Bruce,

Congrats to the Indy's for comming up with an event!

Don't send anything to Rick, You need a sanctioning application from the Trail Ride Committee chairman (me).

I have other stuff for you too. E-mail me @ brasseur@localnet.com

[Vader5]

I'll be there, even if I have to be towed behind a Jeep on a sled. I will also bring some extra GL "Year in Pictures" cd's for the raffle. I might also be able to get my employer to donate a few cool magnetic products for mechanics. I'll keep thinking of other sources for prizes and raffle items.

Let it snow!! Not yet though, I've got work to do on the plow truck.

Paul

[yogi]

just called super 8 in west branch
we can get a block of rooms for $60 + tax for 20 rooms or more
cut off date is feb 11 2005
they have a small meeting room we can get for 30 bucks for saturday night

ph # 1-989-345-8488 ask for debby and tell them its for gl4wda block
i will be calling quality inn all so



yogi

[Miffy]

Sounds like fun ,If ya need trail leaders let Marv know Bruce. He may have a idea of the area. ;)

[spoiledbrat]

I can't wait! B) This will be great, between the Snow blind and this trip, Feb. looks full and fun :)

[brewmenn]

Originally posted by yogi@Nov 18 2004, 02:09 PM
just called super 8 in west branch
we can get a block of rooms for $60 + tax for 20 rooms or more
cut off date is feb 11 2005
they have a small meeting room we can get for 30 bucks for saturday night

ph # 1-989-345-8488 ask for debby and tell them its for gl4wda block
i will be calling quality inn all so



yogi


Thanks for looking into it. I hadn't even thought about contacting the hotel yet. Good work.

[yogi]

lady from quality inn is calling me back today :D



yogi

[T-way]

I probably won't have BIG BAD BLUE out to wheel at this time of the year, but I will probably be available to help work at the event!
:D

[DDS4X4]

What ... your heater doesn't work???
Or is it too far to drive???
LOL

I'm sure we can find a job for T-Way.

[T-way]

Actually Doug.....it's neither!!

I don't drive the Jeep in the winter!! With a Detroit locker in the rear, and big Boggers, it's not safe on the ice!!!

I'd rather keep it in the garage, and not total it on the highway!!!
:D

That way, I've still got it to play with next summer!!!

[brewmenn]

Well I spoke with someone from the DNR and quite frankly I did not get a good feeling about this. Rather than sounding like he wanted to work with me to make this happen it sounded like he wanted to put up as many road block and hurdles for us to clear before we can do this.

I'll keep working on it and let you know how it works out. Stay tuned...

[yogi]

well keep at it .if we have to put it off till next year at least we can get a lot of things done now.
we still can do some pre runs :D



yogi

[brewmenn]

Regardless of what happens wit hthe permit I still plan on going up that weekend and doing some wheeling. It's just a matter of if it's a full blown GLFWDA sanctioned event or just a group of people heading off into the woods.

I wish I had a recording of the phone conversation because at one point he said that if we stayed within the St Helens motorsports area we would not need a permit but I couldn't get him to repeat that for me. I think he was confusing "event permits" with "event trails permits"

[yogi]

any news bruce??



yogi

[brewmenn]

Originally posted by yogi@Nov 30 2004, 11:23 AM
any news bruce??



yogi
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Still working on it. It looks like we'll need to change plans some. Most significantly, the date. It looks like I will have to push the date back one week to March 4,5,6. I underestimated how much information I was going to have to supply with the initial aplication and with being out of town most of last week I missed the 90 day dead line. If we move it a week I have until Monday to get this to them. The guy I talked to sounded like he was the type to use any excuss to deny our permit so I don't want to give them that one. They also expressed concern about having another event right after snoblind so maybe this will help ease those concerns.

I had hoped to be able to get up there to prerun the trails I want to run but I have to give them detailed maps of our route with the application so I am going to have to rely on the information I have on GPS and the maps from the pig roast to make up a route. Hopefully it will be OK. Hopefully we still have a decent amount of snow cover then otherwise it might be a little dull.

I'm considering this... I have 2 different routes going into the St. Helens Motorsports area. One from West branch and the other from the next exit up I75. i was thinking of maybe having 2 groups each follow a different route in and converge at the parking area. I could be set up there with hot beverages, snacks, and if you ask nicely maybe a big pot of chili. People could then form into there own small groups and explore the area. I will also try put togeather a route that will go on some of the area 2 tracks if people would rather do that. Then depending on time and how people feel they could pick either route, or main roads back to West Branch.

Then in the evening we could just go back to the hotel, use one of the banquet rooms, maybe order some pizzas and drink some beer and socilize for a while.

[DDS4X4]

Hey early March works for me, still better than sitting at home. Besides I have 2 events booked in February already and the third was going to try someone's patience (not mine).

Where would the groups start off from ... some central location?

Thanks Bruce! Keep at it and Git'ir Done!

[yogi]

i can lead a group from st helens to bull gap :D



yogi

[grandman]

Bruce , exit numbers are ,,,, wb 212 and 215 . st helen 222 houghton lk 227 roscomon 239 if that is any help .

Did you go to the DNR site and check on snow mobile maps ? make sure your routs isnt running over them or they will deny you instead of working with you to make a route

[brewmenn]

Originally posted by grandman@Dec 2 2004, 07:51 PM
Did you go to the DNR site and check on snow mobile maps ? make sure your routs isnt running over them or they will deny you instead of working with you to make a route
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[/quote]

Yeah, I looked at that. One thing I was wondering about though is that the map shows a snowmobile running up the middle of the St Helens motorsports area and I wondered if we have to stay off that one also? I'm sure I've driven on it before in the winter.

[Danno]

Originally posted by brewmenn+Dec 3 2004, 11:33 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brewmenn @ Dec 3 2004, 11:33 AM)</div><!--QuoteBegin-grandman@Dec 2 2004, 07:51 PM
Did you go to the DNR site and check on snow mobile maps ? make sure your routs isnt running over them or they will deny you instead of working with you to make a route
<div align="right">3537


Yeah, I looked at that. One thing I was wondering about though is that the map shows a snowmobile running up the middle of the St Helens motorsports area and I wondered if we have to stay off that one also? I'm sure I've driven on it before in the winter.
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The snowmobile trail does go right through the motorsports area. I am not sure if that one is off limits or not. I have seen a lot of 4 wheelers on that trail while snowmobiling. It goes pretty much North/ South in that area just West of the sand hills we were playing on this summer. You can definitely get there without going on the trails. You must cross them at one time or another though.

[brewmenn]

I got tenitive approval for the event permit. All I need is to send in the $75 permit fee, $250 bond, and proof of insurance.

[DDS4X4]

Git R Done, Bruce Thanks!

Have the dates changed??

Also, what is the status of the pre-run on Saturday, Jan. 8, the day before the Quarterly at Midland??

After the last 2 days, OH is starting to look like a pre-run for Sno*Blind!

[kerryann]

:unsure: I am definitely tenative.
I have my work 4 wheel drive club winter event that weekend.
My MudRat events keep conflicting with the dates for GL :P You guys dont like me so you purposely plan things on top of my dates :blink: :lol:

[brewmenn]

Obviously this is no longer going to be an officially sanctioned event but if anyone still wants to wheel up there this weekend meet me a the resturant in the Quality Inn at 9am Saturday.