Pikeman vs. The Dunes

[Pikeman]

The Dune Day was my first experience with being in the dunes with a buggy. I have used my buggy for trail riding for the most part. I did learn some things:about me, and my buggy.
1. Thanks to my reduction gear boxes,and Steven's paddles, I can climb any hill at Silver Lake in second gear.
B. The dunes are a finite space, and once explored, don't change much.
3. Not everyone is a safety conscious as I am.
D. I do not like how hard you have to push a buggy to get around in the sand.
5. Showing off ain't my style.
F. I did like being there with other club members.
7. I am not going back.
H. I would like to set up a first annual Trail Day . It would give us non-carshow guys a chance to get together and play with the toys.
thanks for listening,Paul

[vw1s]

Sooo....did you have FUN?
1. Reduction boxes? Josh and I were going everywhere in 2 with old truck tires, 1600dp, and no RGB's!
B. They changed a LOT that weekend. On thursday, test hill was peaked to the front, by Saturday, it was rounded on the front, and peaked to the rear (big dropoffs in some spots!), the wind plays a lot of games with the sand. For the most part though, it IS just a big sandbox, and can get boring after 3 days.
3. Agreed!
D. It is a lot of wear and tear!
5. You don't have to show off to be cool!
F. I also enjoyed hanging out with everyone, for the short time we we had before heading home.
7. Why not?
H. I'm there dude! I have a few ideas for some good trails! Lake co. is a good area...

[Ruffuss]

Back in the day I started going to the dunes was with a 36 horse pan stock in every way(even the exhaust) with welded water pipe from one side to the other to form a roll bar and then from the top of the bar to the front end, another u shaped bar was welded to the floor to support the steering column via a bearing, u bolted the stock seats to the pan, so they didn't slide around. Stole(borrowed) the floation tires off the ol' mans gravity box(with grinder ground cross threads). Didn't go fast but had a blast! That was in 1967 been back MANY times since and will go again many more. You don't have to beat the horse to have a good time.
As far as the dune changing, they change minute by minute. Back when you could still drive into the Big Lake, my brother nearly lost his buggy to a wave while washing it. I flipped mine end for end when the lip of test hill changed during a lunch break(Ask Steven, be was about 4). The dunes have taken(covered) at least a dozen cottages along the west side of Silver Lake. The dunes that don't change have filled about half of Silver Lake since the early sixty's.

[Pikeman]

Don't get me wrong, I had a ball! I have not thrashed a VW that hard since my dad sold the tub buggy I learned to drive on( He sold it cause he thought I was gonna kill myself in it). I enjoyed the way my buggy performed, and enjoyed hearing the girls( wife and granddaughter) scream.

[Ruffuss]

Paul, wasn't meant to rag on you. Like I said, I've been going up to the Dunes longer then most in the club have been around(a glimmer in Daddy's eye). Most everyone with a sand rail built them to beat on somewhat. Two track'n is also a blast, I've tore up more on the two tracks then on the sand, by far(trees and Oh! sh!t bumps).

[inkylewis]

I think the dunes are a great place to test and tune you car for the trails. 1 parts are close by if you break your car. 2 Most of the people are will to help each other when someone is broke down. 3 for the most part it can make a real fun weekend. As for two tracking "Heck Ya" when do we leave. I would say say the Waters, St Hellens area would be sweet. I know a lake by waters that is free to camp on the state land plus 200 or so miles of two tracks. Lots of fun thou we haven't been there in a while.

[Pikeman]

Did I mention that driving a buggy with paddles on pavement is as close as most folks will get to enjoying the ride of a Sherman tank, or a D9 Cat dozer?