APPLE VALLEY FARMS. |
Workin'
and Wheelin' R.P.M. Style. |
Editor:
Eric Bewley Photo/Story: Bryan Zigler |
New Auburn, WI. -I recently
had the privilege of a weekend, Working and Wheeling RPM style. The week before I gave
Mike Hagen a call to find out what unusual parts I would need to round up to install my
recently purchased Currie Ford 9”. As we went through the list he mentioned that I
ought to come up for an upcoming ride they were having the following weekend. It
definitely struck my interest, and when he said that we could work on installing the axle
when he was not “working” the event, I started making plans.
The following Wednesday I was loaded up and
ready to go. I had heard lots of stories about the trails and the RPM club members, so I
could not wait to experience an RPM 4x4 event at Apple Valley Farms.
| I arrived a day early, so I decided to get
myself a room in a local Inn for a day of physical and mental preparation for the upcoming
weekend. Even though the Inn had a weight and exercise room, I opted for the meditation
brought on by Ice cold refreshing beverages, a hot tub and a pool |
|
|
I was eager for the next
day to arrive. I had heard that RPM 4x4 was legendary for putting on great events and even
had the privilege to ride with a few of their club members in Attica, IN. BUT now I was on
their home field and had no idea of what I was in for.
I arrived at Apple Valley Farms the
following day just after noon. I was a few minutes ahead of Mike and the other RPM members
but there was still a welcoming party waiting at the end of the drive, Lucy. We played
fetch for a few minutes until Mike arrived. |
When Mike arrived we did the
usual inspection of the rigs to see what all each other had done to their ride and began
unloading. After quickly setting up camp I was ready for the grand tour of the trails.
When they said I was going to get the “quick tour” of the trail before we headed
to the shop, they definitely meant QUICK. Let me put it this way, ‘red line all the
time’ is not just some cool slogan he made up to add character to his posts. It was
an absolute blast. We spent the next few hours racing from obstacle to obstacle checking
out all the key points of the trail system.
  
Later that afternoon we headed down to his
uncles shop for a few hours work on my Kick and to fix some trail carnage caused by the
combination of to much speed, a stump, and an axle tube. You know you are riding with a
great club when they do not even flinch at the site of a broken axle tube, but instead
caravan down to the shop, collect parts and get to work.
| After a few hours in the shop the broken axle
tube was fixed, my 9” had its new gears in and was sitting under the truck ready for
spring perches, shock mounts, etc… We decided to call it a night and head back to
camp for some fireside beverages and to get ready for the next 2 days of trail riding. |
|
The following morning the
majority of the guest club had arrived. There were 20-25 trucks at camp. I was eager to
see what all Mikes Tracker could do after the ‘Quick Tour’ the day before. After
breakfast it was time to hit the trails. It was an awesome site seeing Trackers leading
trails in front of a line of 10-12 big V-8 powered Toyotas, Broncos, Blazers, Jeeps,
etc…. Almost every truck in the guest club was running a 302 conversion and 37”
or larger tires.
   
RPM 4x4 upheld their reputation for putting
on great events. Saturday and Sunday was spent on the trails at Apple Valley Farms. I rode
with Mike the entire weekend and what a ride it was. With the combination of an
incredibaly built Tracker and awesome driving skills, there are few places that we could
not go. After the first couple of obstacles, I quit asking if he could make ‘that
hard line’, because he was heading for the hard line any way J The entire
weekend was filled with great trails, wheel stands, roll overs, carnage, and even air born
4x4’s. I missed out on allot of cool pictures due to the fact that somebody dropped
there digital camera Sunday morning, and it was ran over by Mikes 35” Krawlers
(I’m pleading the 5th).
|
Sunday afternoon was spent
adventuring the areas I had not seen and rally racing along the trail system. I really
enjoyed riding all of the trails during the event, but Friday morning and Sunday afternoon
was the best time I had. A small group 2-3 trucks blasting around from obstacle to
obstacle, just having fun.
With all of the guest club gone, by Monday
morning, we headed back to the shop to finish roughing in the Ford 9”. It was hard to
believe that the weekend was already gone and it was time to head out on my 900 mile ride
home. |
  
  
Initially, I thought that a 1800 mile round
trip was going to be a lot of driving for a weekend of wheeling. From the moment I arrived
I knew I had to make this trip again. With all the awesome trails, great people, beautiful
scenery and a all you can eat buffet of ripe, fresh pick fruits along the trail, Apple
Valley Farms is a great place to ride.
For more information on RPM 4x4 and Apple
Valley Farms please visit http://www.rpm4x4.com
 ZW
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