2009-03-06 thru 08: 2009 Annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari

[taugust]

The board for OAUSA has generously granted permission to post the following announcement:

Tierra Del Sol 4WD Club of San Diego is hosting their 47th annual Desert Safari, also known as the TDS. This annual event raises funds to fight to keep trails and public lands open to recreation. Organizations such as California Assn of 4WD Clubs, Blue Ribbon Coalition, United 4 WD Assn. and CORVA have received substantial donations in the past, particularly for their legal funds.

The event is always held on the first weekend in March, this year on March 6, 7, and 8th. There is a trail ride on Sat, a large display area with over 80 vendors, a huge raffle wih over $100,000 in prizes on Sat night, and a rough run and GPS run on Sun. morning. This is a family event with activities and fun for all ages.

The cost is $50 to pre-register before Feb. 16th, onsite registration is $60. It is open to all street legal 4WD vehicles and takes place at the north side of Ocotillo Wells SVRA, in the Truckhaven hills west of the Salton Sea.

More info and online registration are available at http://www.tdsdesertsafari.com

A pdf registration form is attached below for your convenience. This is a great way to have fun and support the ongoing fight to keep our public lands open to motorized recreation. When it's gone, we won't get it back.

[toms]

Tim - any plans to carve out a camping spot for OAUSA at or near TDS?

[taugust]

Tim - any plans to carve out a camping spot for OAUSA at or near TDS?

If there is enough interest, I can do that. The headquarters area is very large and relatively flat, so finding a good location to camp will be easy. There will be groups all over the area, so finding your group is best done by preplanned radio contact.

Since I am a member, I will be camping in the club area, and I will be working the entire weekend in one way or another. I plan to work on safety inspection Friday, and be part of the trail crew on Sat. I am also the organizer of the GPS Safari run on Sunday, which should be a lot of fun. I am working on getting some of the valuable prizes from the main raffle for the GPS run. Maybe a set of tires.

[ralphie]

I am planing to go, and I am bringing some friends that have never been, I hope the OAUSA crew also goes , it would be fun to get everyone together and support OAUSA with other wheelers and show thew what we are about.

[FunJunkie]

I Was planning on going this year since I missed last but unfortunatly i'm moving to lakeside that weekend.

[RedDavid]

I'm planning on going. I'll be camping with the wife and another friend with a Lance camper. There's a couple guys on the jkforum that are going as well. Should be a fun weekend. I'd really like to meet some of the folks on this board.

dave.

[taugust]

Looks like the weather should be nice this weekend. Breezy Friday and calm Sat and Sun. Highs in the low 70's and lows in the 50's. I'm leaving this morning and will try to check in to the net tonight. Not sure if I can hit the repeater from there.

[DaveK]

Tim:

This is a great event and for a very good cause. Please let us know how it turns out.

[OLLIE]

I wanted to attend this event. I get my truck out of the shop either today or tomorrow morning so it doesn't look like I'll be able to make an appearance. Even if I get it tonight I need to break it in before it sees the dirt. I paid my Safari fee though and know it's going to a good cause. I really enjoy the times I've spent with the TDS group. Great people with the right intent in mind where the offroad community is concerned.

[taugust]

Well, it turned out to be a great event, again. Very successful by nearly all accounts.

Some numbers:

* 386 served at West Shores Senior Breakfast
* 1249 paid participants, approximately 600 on site
* T-Shirts sold out, over 2,100
* Over $11,000 collected from bucket raffle
* Over $400 collected from RTI ramp
* Over $112,000 in prize value given away at the raffle on Saturday night.
* 690 vehicle counted passing through Checkpoint #1
* Eleven rollovers or flops, no serious injuries.

It was a lot of work and very enjoyable. After the wind died down on Friday, the weather was great Sat. and Sun. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and all were happy to be in the Truckhaven hills. I even won a prize in the raffle. I hope to see some of you next year. Mark your calendars for March 5, 6, 7, 2010.

PS. I wasn't able to hit the repeater for the net on Thursday night. Sorry.