The story began last year when I went to buy parts from Johnnewyork and his SFA project. We started to talk about meeting up for some wheeling, and after talking about how the folks on the Northeast part of the continent were really limited for trail runs, we decided to make this an open event for all FJ owners.
Easter weekend finally arrived and Friday, the first day at the park, we had about 20 trucks show up, including the Toyota Trail Team. The day was sunny and 35F, but the wind was blowing hard on the mountain. Having the Trail Team on site was great! They had provided great lessons in off roading to everyone. They then led groups out into the field to put into practice what they just learned. What’s better than learning on the trails? Returning home from your first day of off-roading and having a BBQ by the Trail Team and raffle prizes! Our sponsors provided us with all types of gear: sliders, spacers, lifts, subscriptions, rims, bumper discounts, and the most sought after prize, the E-Tool!
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The second day rolls in, and to our surprise there was snow on the ground! People assembled on site and the FJ’s start rolling in. The total head count was 48 trucks! People arrived from as far away as Quebec, Michigan and Maine to participate. The snow not only added to the pleasure, but also added a bit of challenge. While the Trail Teams led more expeditions with those that hadn’t made the Friday rides, the rest of us grouped together based on our experience and vehicle’s capability. We definitely got to practice again what we learned the day before: rock recovery, mud puddle fording, and high center avoidance (a.k.a. running jumps). Once we all got back safely it was on to dinner and more raffles.
On Easter morning the sun was out again and the Trail Team took out the remaining participants to do blue runs. Fifteen trucks had the pleasure of having the entire park to themselves. The final day ended with some good trail runs.
We expect that this will become an annual event. With trails for every level of driver and a great bunch of people, it was fun to see the camaraderie and smiles. It was certainly worth the time put into organizing the run, and best of all, we raised over $2,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation. I would like to thank the Trail Team, the sponsors, the Comfort Inn (aka party central), and most of all, the participants: without you this Northeast FJ Run could not have happened. It was a pleasure to meet all of you.
The Northeast Crew
