Be Prepared!

These are some things to check for before you leave the pavement.

• set out a travel plan and tell someone responsible where your going and when you’ll be back.
• don’t go alone, take a partner/second vehicle
• a well maintained vehicle
• a full tank of fuel.
• a first aid kit and emergency blanket.
• food and water.
• a full-size spare tire and working jack.
• a fire extinguisher.
• a flashlight with extra batteries.
• dry matches and paper.
• extra warm dry clothes and footwear.
• tools and basic spare parts.
• spare vehicle fluids.
• a shovel and axe.
• tow hooks front and back, and a tow strap.
• CB radio and/or a cell phone.
• secure all cargo before you start.

Do You Know Your Crawl Ratio?

Lots of people boast about their ‘Crawl Ratio’, but do you know how to calculate yours? Here’s an easy formula:

	1st Gear Ratio	x	Low Range	x	Axle Ratio	=	Crawl Ratio
i.e.	3.98	x	2.28	x	4.11	=	37.3

With this combination you would have a respectable 37.3:1 crawl ratio

Special thanks to Todd Blumel, Slim Marriott, and the whole gang at Bow-Mel Chrysler Ltd. in Duncan for supporting the Island Rock Crawlers. They have kindly offered space to the Mid-Island Branch for the monthly meetings, as well as sponsoring door prizes at these meetings too!

South Island, February 7, 1999
Harbourview, Eye In The Sky/Mossy Hill

We met at Harbourview at 10:00am. The group (Steve V. - Black YJ, Dean B. & Al V. - Red TJ, Ron & passengers - Camo Blazer, Ian - CJ8, Mike & Kevin - Yellow YJ, Chris & Frank - Red FJ40) prepared for departure and proceeded to climb Eye in the Sky. With all the recent rainfall, it was more difficult than I could ever remember. After winching Ron’s Blazer a couple of times and changing a tire, we made it to the summit. After our descent, we reached the main trail where we broke up. Four vehicles continued on to attempt Mossy Hill backwards, the rest heading home. The water hole near the summit proved a tad too deep, drowning Ian’s CJ-8’s air filter. Cleavage is getting deeper and deeper due to the heavy rainfall this winter. Chris in his FJ40 opted to use the bypass route while the others proceeded through. We were home free until a bad line around an ever-growing boulder put Chris’ FJ on its side. A quick double-line pull by Al had him on his wheels with only a few dents/bruises to the good looking rig (he took it well). Fortunately no one was hurt except for Chris’ pride. Hope to see you all out next month!

Dean Bradley

Mid-Island, February 21, 1999
(Too Much!) Snow Fun Day

We met at Bow-Mel at 10 am. There were 5 vehicles including Ian - CJ8, Dean - Scout, Daryl - Toyota, Steve D. - Jeep YJ, 2 Visitors - Toyota. We started off by heading for Mt. Prevost. We could see that it was already blanketed in snow so we would be in a couple of feet of the white stuff. We did the routine of airing down and then made our way around the front to do a loop up and over. Part way up on the second long steep hill everyone was either stuck or overheating. We decided to abandon our effort for the top and head to lower altitude. We made our way back through town and to the south west of Duncan towards the general area of Kinsol trestle and the King Solomon mines. The 2 visitors in the Toyota called it quits but there was still four vehicles. After Steve completed some road side wrenching we were on our way. About 1 km down the road Dean turned around due to a shackle problem. We went up into one of the clear cuts through some new wash-outs and the went over to Fleetwood mines. These are not long mines, but the entrance is big enough to fit a Scrambler in. We did some exploring and playing for a while before we called it a day.

Steve Duifhuis

Dean Bradley, Dave Podmoroff, and Rob deLnge.

Questions, comments, or kudos are welcome!

IRC's Address

Island Rock Crawlers
Four-Wheel Drive Society
P.O. Box 48034
3575 Douglas Street,
Victoria, BC Canada
V8Z 7H5