Flatlanders Jeep Club
Trail Reports

Below is a summary of the meetings that I (Obi-Wan) have been to:

• 13-14 Sep 97: My first exposure to the club came in Sep '97. My wife Stacy and I spent Saturday wheeling with Nick Falcetto and Sunday with the other club members. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Brian Baker

• 12 Oct 97: The October meeting doubled with the Briggs 8th Annual Jeep Jamboree (not part of the Chrysler jamborees). 129 Jeeps & their owners attended. It poured rain from 10pm Saturday til 4pm Sunday, so the ORV area was soup. Surprisingly, there was no breakage and very few stucks. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Jim Arp

• 31 Oct - 2 Nov 97: Several of the Flatlanders headed down to Cass, Arkansas, for Roctoberfest '97. Faye Arp provided the trail report in the December club newsletter.

• 9 Nov 97: I didn't make it to this meeting, but Nick Falcetto reports that everyone seemed to want the Hard Luck Trophy that day. The first contestant's parking break wouldn't even let him leave the parking lot at Briggs. Jim Arp nearly flipped over backwards & ended up twisting his rear driveshaft & bending a rim. Leon Smith's CJ sent the fan into the radiator.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Jim Arp & Leon Smith (tie)

• 14 Dec 97: We had a simple Christmas party at our December meeting and held nominations for new officer elections. Though a couple dozen people came to the meeting, only seven vehicles went to the ORV park. It had snowed quite a bit the week before, and then temps were in the 40's all weekend, which meant most of the surface was mud and wet snow. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Nick Falcetto

• 11 Jan 98: After a couple weeks of very light snow and 20 degree temperatures, the ORV area was one great big ice slick. For the second straight month, nobody broke anything, and the Hard Luck Trophy was awarded to someone who succumbed to the strap. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Ben Hollingsworth & Ernie Scheir (tie)

• 8 Feb 98: For the first time since September, we finally had a gorgeous, sunny day for our club outing. We had such a big turnout (25 Jeeps) that we split the group in two for the trail riding. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Brian Baker

• 22 Mar 98: The 8 Mar meeting got snowed out, so the official club meeting was rescheduled for the 22nd. I didn't make it down, but Nick Falcetto reported lots of mud and an entertaining afternoon. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Dave Givens

• 2 May 98: The May meeting was moved to coincide with the 1st annual Flatlanders 4x4 Fest and to avoid Mothers' Day. The 4x4 Fest was a great success, with 59 vehicles in attendance and good weather all day. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Doug Knox

• 21 Jun 98: The June meeting was moved to coincide with the annual Fathers' Day cookout. State-wide rains that morning avoided the ORV park, leaving the infamous entry mud hole surprisingly dry. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Leon Smith

• 12 Jul 98: The July meeting saw higher-than-normal water levels in the reservoir and surrounding creeks, but otherwise fairly dry ground and good traction. The 90+ degree temperature with no breeze was the only drawback. Read the trip report.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Stacy Edwards

• 29 Aug 98: The August meeting in Waterville included a campout Friday night and a parade on Saturday. No writeup available yet.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Bill Bears

• 14 Feb 99: Gorgeous weather brought the biggest turnout I've ever seen for one of our meetings, despite it being Valentine's Day. We split into several groups of 8-10 Jeeps each to go play at the ORV area.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Aaron Kilgariff

• 6 May 2000: The May meeting was moved to coincide with the 3rd annual Flatlanders 4x4 Fest and to avoid Mothers' Day. The 4x4 Fest had the best turnout yet, with roughly 100 vehicles in attendance and cloudy but dry weather all day. See some photos.
  Hard Luck Trophy: Aaron Kilgariff

• 18 Jun 2000: The June outing included our annual Father's Day cookout. 15 or so vehicles showed up for the good food and beautiful weather. David Rush took some good photos of the outing.
  Hard Luck Trophy: ???

Remember, whenever you go trail riding, please:

Going to the ORV area soon? Better check the National Weather Service forecast for nearby Manhattan first.

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