1979 - Nicks Spectacular Crash: | |
Nick and I built this buggy, a Corvair-powered, minimum-expense baby.
We triangulated the cage and welded-in full skid plates.
Nick actually hand-sewed the full shoulder harnesses.
We weren't engineers, but we knew the basics.
It worked beautifully for quite a few years.
|
1979 - Nick's Most Excellent Dune-Buggy Crash
That's me driving. I rolled back after failing to crest the top.
Nick Almost Crested the Top,
But the Front Wheels Got Light
|
This Buggy Had No Front Brakes - That Didn't Help
|
The Photos Were Taken By Don A. With A Regular Camera
I've never seen anyone click and shoot so fast in my life.
|
The Buggy Rolled Sideways, Three Complete Revolutions
The last was off a drop that literally slammed it upside down,
bending the roll-bar and ripping the battery out by the posts.
|
It Landed on it's Feet
|
That's Mike M. Running Down to Check on Nick
|
Back at Camp - The Bent Cage is Obvious
I rode back to steal a battery from the Webers Van. I came
back with the battery between my legs on my bike. We installed
it, the buggy started right up, and Nick drove it back to camp.
|
1979 - Our 1959 Weber's Van Behind Pam's Meyer's Manx
(Installed a 327 Corvette Engine - A.K.A. a Sleeper)
|
1981 - Quiche - No Thank You: | |
I love a good photo. When we added onto the living room of our La Mesa home,
I had this idea. The addition was eight feet wide, a dirt bike is only seven feet long.
I'll build a bike into the room and drive it into the old living room. Yeah, that's the ticket.
So that's what I did. Of course, I'm not stupid. I used Pam's bike.
I also removed all the studs and scarred the back of the drywall to make it "splinter" better.
Anyway, I laid down a plastic tarp to catch the pieces, invited some friends over with their cameras,
and launched the bike through the wall into the living room. What Fun!
|
Getting the Best Photos Requires Careful Prep
Kids, Don't do This at Home - Snicker
|
Keep in Mind This Was Almost Instant
|
Fortunately, There Was About Five Cameras Clicking
|
Delays on The Different Cameras Allowed
Me to Create an Almost Perfect Sequence
|
Tah Dah!
|
View From the New Addition:
Tom (Sitting), Evelyn, Kevin & Nick in the Background
|
View From the New Addition:
Alan, Tom & Pam in the Background
|
Heading Out by the Pool - Really
|
What Next? - Build a Wall in the Desert,
Light it on Fire & Drive Through it of Course
|
1981 - Other Desert Trips: | |
Sorry for the blurry images of the scanned photos, but the pictures were very old and faded.
|
1981 - Pam's Big 3-Wheeler (Honda 350cc Twin Engine)
Very fast and fun to ride, but it took up a lot of space.
1981 - Pam's Big 3-Wheeler Custom
|
1981 - Pam in Camp
|
Circa 1986 - Other Desert Trips: | |
Not as blurry, but still made with scanned photos, so they're not the best images.
Pam's 1986 Yamaha BW 200 (Big Wheel 200cc) and her new helmet are the clues that this is 1986.
That, plus early 1987, I had a newer truck.
This trip is probably the first time out for the BW 200 and one of the last for the 1981 Nissan Truck.
|
That's Pam's Yamaha Big-Wheel in Front of Her
Glenn Getting a Tan
|
Mike W. Watches Rich do the 2-Stroke Pre-Mix Shuffle
|
Gassing-up My 1981 Yamaha YZ-465
|
Should be Good to Go
|
Starting an Old 2-Stroke - Kick & Kick & Kick...
|
Skinny Rich (Many Moons Ago) - Left is Pam's 125 Suzuki
|
Rich at a Father-Son Relay Race at 4-Corners
(Scott Had no Father - I was Sitting-in - We Came in 3rd)
|
1985: | |
One of the few years we got Glenn's brother John to come out.
I picked up a 1982 Maico 490. That bike had one of the best motors of any bike I've ever ridden.
It was a 2-stroke that delivered power like a supercharged 4-stroke. Very fast, but smooth.
|
1986 - John, Glenn & Rich (My Maico 490 Behind Me)
1987 - The Firegod Show: | |
Used to love getting a big hot fire going, throwing an old VW engine into it,
getting the magnesium melting and then dumping a pitcher of water right on top of it.
Looks like a small volcano errupting.
Can't do it anymore. Besides the VW engines going up in price from a 6-pack of beer to 50 bucks,
the EPA seems to have a problem with it. Oh well, that's probably why I like taking pictures.
I can prove that stuff actually did happen.
|
1987 - Firegod (Hot Fire + VW Magnesium
Engine Case + Water = Cool Explosion)
1987 - Firegod (Don't Get to do This Anymore)
|
1987 - Firegod (I Loved Doing This - What a Kick)
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
|
1987 - Playing Firegod
I did almost lose an arm doing this,
but that's another story.
|
Hercules Enduro - 1977 250cc Sachs Engine, 7-Speed
|
Jim's Famous Crash - Enduro Race Near Plaster City
Jim was heading left-to-right into a gully with a
tight, turn that followed a 5-foot drop. His bike
burped and planted him like a potatoe.
|
1997: | |
My 1996 ATK and the fact that I'm not wearing a cast are the only clues I have that this is about 1997.
|
Ocotillo Wells, 1997
Our Old 1976 Dodge Motorhome at Ocotillo Wells, 1997
|
Ocotillo Wells, 1997
|
Ocotillo Wells, 1997
|
Alan Out With Me on a Ride
|
And There I Am
|
Here Comes Alan
|
Alan Arrives at Sunset Mesa
|
Dennis, Alan & Randy at Sunset Mesa
|
Sunset Mesa - A Nice Way to End the Day
|
Sunset Mesa is a Long-Standing Tradition
|
Another Fine Sunset
|
2002: | |
Don't have photos from every trip, but will try to give a decent sampling.
|
Shell Reef (Play Hills)
Where the Old Men Come to Watch Young Men Crash
|
We Used to Play Here, But It's Pretty Crowded Now
|
Alan, Jim & Karl Relaxing on Top of Squaw Peak
|
Jim, Karl & Alan (Sitting), Rich Standing - Squaw Peak
|
Jim, Karl & Alan (Sitting), Rich Standing - Squaw Peak
|
The View Looking West From Squaw Peak
|
2003: | |
Most of the photos now arriving from the wonderful world of digital photography. Sure beats scanning.
|
At the Confederate Airforce Wrecking Yard
At the Confederate Airforce Wrecking Yard
|
At the Confederate Airforce Wrecking Yard
|
An Entire Gaggle at the Wrecking Yard
|
At the Wrecking Yard (Airstrip in the Background)
|
Yer Basic Family Ride
|
Such a "Grizzly" Beastie
|
Alan's Dad John & His Jeep
|
2003 - Big Bear With Jim & Randy
|
Jim (Sitting) & Randy Look Over a Map of Big Bear
|
2003 - Fun With Cousin Dave: | |
My second cousin Dave (really more like a nephew, but not technically), is a very adventurous kid.
He's ridden a bicycle cross-country, he's been an engineer for JPL, was on the show "Survivor-Amazon",
and is now back to M.I.T. to further his education.
Still, he had time to join us in the desert for a couple trips.
He's very athletic and obviously mechanically-savvy, so jumping on an off-road motorcycle was a snap.
And it was. He rode like a pro and we all enjoyued his company.
Hopefully he'll be back on the West coast someday so we can do it again.
|
Dave, Mark's Son Jeff & Mark at the Wrecking Yard
Tammy, Rhonda, Mystri, Alan & Dave
|
Dave Explaining to Mark That His
Arms Seem a Bit "Stretched" Today
|
Karl on His Honda XR 400
|
Come-on Mystri, It's Better Than a Day at Work
|
I Told Mystri - Don't Drink the Water From the Mudpots
|
Rich Putting Down Some of the
Other "Vitamin G" at the Mudpots
|
This Mudpot Has Been Burbling For as Long
As We've Been Coming Out - At Least 35 Years
|
Dave With Mark's Kids - Christie & Jeff
|
Dave Caught Trying to Steal Part of a Bush
I tried to tell him: "Desert jousting really isn't a good idea."
|
Mystri, Tammy, Dave & Rich at Blow-Sand
|
Mystri, Tammy, Dave & Rich at Blow-Sand
|
Tammy, Mystri, Dave & Glenn at Blow-Sand
|
Dave's Home Had an Encounter With a Brisk Desert Wind
|
He Was Actually Still Sleeping in There in the Morning
|
Tammy, Pam, Dave, Mystri & Rhonda
|
Tammy, Pam, Dave, Mystri & Rhonda
|
2004: | |
The Toys seem to get better, faster, and safer every year.
That's a good thing because we're all getting older, slower, and more brittle as time passes.
|
Mark's Son Jeff Warming Up
Mark's Camp
|
Mark's Camp
|
Rich's Camp With Toys
|
Second Trip for 2004
|
Yeah, I Know - Too Many Toys For
One Guy (But They're All Different)
|
The Bikes: 1996 ATK 605 4-Stroke, Street Legal Enduro,
1984 Honda CR 500 2-Stroke Motocross Rocket &
1988 Yamaha BW 350 (Big Wheel, 4-stroke, Play Bike)
|
Newest of the Herd is This 1988 Yamaha BW 350
|
My Quad: 2002 Yamaha Grizzly 660cc,
4WD, 4-wheel Independent Suspension
|
Yep, It's Got a Winch Too
|
Pam & Dave Kicking Back
|
The Back Side of Sand Dam, Superstition Mountain
|
Dave on Top of Sand Dam
|
Dave Cruising Down Pole-Line Road
|
Dave Cruising Down Pole-Line Road
|
Theresa & Dave
|
Theresa, Dave, Trisha & Eric
|
Rod Looking for FOD on His Quad in an Absence of Sod
|
Dave Meets Trisha
|
Randy Approaching the Top of Squaw Peak
|
Mike Approaching the Top of Squaw Peak
|
Randy On Squaw Peak
|
Alan & Mark - Mark Looks Kinda Thor
|
We Visit Squaw Peak Often - It's High With a View
|
View From Squaw Peak
|
Family Ride Near the Mudpots - Recently Rained
|
Family Ride Near the Mudpots
|
Family Ride Near the Mudpots
|
Trip With My Niece Alex - That's Alex Earning Her Ride
|
She Looks Tiny on The Grizzly
|
Alex Was Actually Pretty Fearless - I Had to Slow Her Down
|
Looks Like She's Having Fun
|
Alex & Her Boyfriend Suffered a Windy Night
|
A Very Windy Night - We Tied Their Tent to Everything
|
They Slept-In & Missed This Ride
|
Turned Out to be a Pretty Fast Ride
|
Bob, Cara, Gary & Kim - A Rare Endangered
Quad Family - Genus: Roostus-Sandus
|
Alan & Dennis Take a Break
|
Pam Puts the Grizzly Through it's Paces
|
Pam Puts the Grizzly Through it's Paces
|
Cara, Bob & Kim Enjoying Sunset Mesa
|
Eric Works Desperatly to Save Zack
No child-units were in danger - photo was staged for his mom.
|
Randy, Dennis & Pam Testing Sun-Glasses at Sunset Mesa
|
2005: | |
As we age, the desert trips involve just a little bit less hard riding, more mellow riding, less vodka, more wine,
fewer tents, more motorhomes. Yep, it just keeps getting rougher every year.
Of course I'm talking about everyone else - not me.
A Neighbor of Glenn's came out with a huge motorhome.
It's one of the big ones built on a Bus chassis, with 3 slide-outs, kitchen, dining room, bedroom, bathroom,
living room, laundry room, office, changing room, ballroom, pool, jacussi, sauna, fireplace, and waterfall.
He was pulling a 20-foot enclosed trailer housing a pair of 4WD Polaris quads, camping gear, two yachts and a backup motorhome.
Believe it or not, he gets stuck in the sand. Whoda' thunk? Fortunately, my Grizzly is 4WD with a trailer hitch.
We separated the trailer from the mansion.
Young Matt was able to drag the bus out with his truck and the Grizzly had no problem pulling the trailer out of trouble.
There is a French term for the experience: "Le pain en la Deriere,"
|
2005 - Putting the Grizzly to Work
2005 - Putting the Grizzly to Work
|
2005 - Putting the Grizzly to Work
|
If That's Not Juan Carlos, It's Elliphante'
|
2005 - Enjoying Some Shade
|
Young Matt in the Middle, "That Dan"
On the Right, Friend of Dan's at Left
|
More Friends of "That Dan's" -
They Found us in the Middle of Nowhere
|
2005 - A Grizzly Sighting
|
Larry, Glenn & Tammy Take a Break
|
Ellyn's Son Bryon, Pam & Ellyn
|
2005 - Pam & Ellyn Hamming it Up
|
Top of Squaw Peak - Not Sure Who's on The 650
|
2005 - The Bug Made It
|
Eric on the Right - Not Sure of His Friend's Name
|
2005 - Nick on the Left & His Friend
|
2005 - View North of Squaw Peak
|
2006: | |
2006 was a pretty good year. Quite a few good desert trips.
One was to El Mirage Dry Lake area on a work assignment.
|
2006 - Larry, Rich & Vitamin "G" on Squaw Peak
2006- Glenn & Larry
|
2006 - Rich at a Dead-End in Split Mountain
|
2006 - Glenn at the Dead-End
|
2006 - Beautiful Show From Sunset Mesa
|
2006 - Beautiful Show From Sunset Mesa
|
2006 - Beautiful Show From Sunset Mesa
|
2006 - Trying to Put it All Together
|
2006 - Second Trip
|
2006 - Second Trip
|
2006 - Second Trip
|
Trisha Relaxing at the Pumpkin Patch (Round Rocks)
|
Alan & Eric at the Pumpkin Patch
|
Paul at the Pumpkin Patch
|
Big Group at the Pumpkin Patch
|
Please Don't Eat The Pumpkins
|
Trisha & Eric - The Buggy's a Little Dusty - Finally
|
2006 - Third Trip
|
Glenn & I Rode Out to a Crash Site of an F-8 Crusader That
Occurred in the 70's Near Superstition Dry Lake Bed
|
It's Been 40 Years Since the Crash,
But There's Still a Huge Debris Field
|
Glenn's 5th-Wheel & Camp
|
I Was Up in the Air About Doing Maintenance
|
Glenn, You Should Avoid the Close-Ups
|
Fixing a Broken Wire in the Middle of
Nowhere - Where's the Beer?
|
Young Matt & His Entourage
|
At the Old Gypsum Mine
|
At the Old Gypsum Mine
|
View From the Gypsum Mine
|
Glenn & His Puppies Elliphante' & Juan Carlos
|
2006 - Fourth Trip - Here Comes Tammy
|
Here Come the Big Toys
|
Bob & Cara Having Some 4-Wheelin' Fun
|
Trisha & Eric Cruise In
|
2006 - Fourth Trip - Resting at The Water Hole
Cara, Trisha, Tammy, Larry & Casey Kick Back
|
Another Beautiful Day in the Desert
|
2006 - Fourth Trip - They're Still Too Clean
|
Eric Taking a Picture of me Taking His Picture
|
Tammy, Larry & Casey at the Water Hole
|
Tammy's Sweet CRX-250 Using My ATK as a Kickstand
|
2006 - El Mirage Dry Lake Bed: | |
Went up to work at the Grey Butte facility near Lake Los Angeles.
I was going to be there all week and this time, I decided I didn't want to stay in a hotel.
I loaded my CR500 and the Grizzly into the Motorhome and went to work.
When I got off work every day, I explored the nearby hills with one of the toys.
One day, my friend Blake came up to work riding his Kawasaki KLR 650.
He brought steaks and beer with him. Good man!
We rode a bit, had a few beers, then kicked-back by the fire telling tales.
|
El Mirage Dry Lake Bed Area - Kicking Back
Waiting for a Sunset
|
Blake Relaxing on a Nice, Soft Pile of Rocks
|
Beer - Where Did That Come From?
(The desert is such a magical place)
|
Camp
(Had to drive the motorhome onto base every
day, so I didn't set up much of a camp.)
|
Camp
|
Sunset & the El Mirage Dry Lake Bed
|
Then it's Back to Work in the Morning
|
2008: | |
2007 didn't allow us many opportunities to get to the desert.
We did manage to go on a 2-week street ride to
East Glacier, Montana .
We did get out to the desert a couple times, though.
|
2008 - Yep, That's a Wee Bit 'O Captain Morgan
Trying to Get Larry to Have Fun is so Hard
|
Glenn & Casey - I'll Bet There's
More Than Water in That Cup
|
Eric & Trisha With Snoopy & Poopy
|
There Must be a Wet-Bar Nearby
|
2008 - Back at the Gypsum Mine With Some Louder Toys
|
2008 - Back at the Gypsum Mine With Some Louder Toys
|
Still Too Clean
|
Trisha & Cara Spotting
|
View From The Mine - Target Area is at Right,
Against the Backdrop of the Mountains
|
Link to Some of Our Other Trips:
Main Page:
Send an email message to Rich King, by clicking here.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 
