Muscular Dystophy Association - Off Road For Hope	Short Cuts
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Article By: Angela A. Cook
Edited by:  Randy Wheeler

Over the first weekend in February, a group more than 400 vehicles and 1,500 off road enthusiasts met in Ocotillo Wells for Off Road for Hope IV. With dirt bikes, Baja's, buggies, ATV's and 4X4 vehicles, the OHV community came together once again and raise more than $50,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

One thing that remained constant throughout the weekend was the people pitching in to get things done. We had many clubs represented from Cal 4 Wheel, and we also had members from ORVA, the San Diego Off Road Coalition, and the Los Pretot's club volunteering their time to this great cause. Without the help from all these organizations, this event would not be such a success.

MDA Goodwill Co-Ambassadors Linsey and Amy Wehner are all smiles as they get ready to ride in a Pinzgauer with their parents and grandparents

Sharon Sullivan did a great job of coordinating all the different runs. We started out Friday night with a Sunset Poker Run. Six clubs, Geared Four Fun, Tierra del Sol, San Diego 4 Wheelers, San Diego Outbacks, On the Edge, and Inland Empire, set up some of the most outrageous stops. Geared 4 Fun (my club) made people race manual wheelchairs on a track of dirt and rocks, get out and put their foreheads on a bat and run in circles to get sufficiently dizzy, then toss an air filter over a mounted shock to get their poker card!

The Outbacks, with Frenchie LaChance dressed in red long johns, gave people a choice - stick your hand in an outhouse toilet with god-knows-what in it, or kiss a live pig! Most, knowing Frenchie, opted to kiss the pig! (It turns out that the ingredients of the toilet were harmless, but one never knows with this group). But the winning stop was Inland Empire who went with a Star Wars theme (get it, EMPIRE Strikes BackS). They had every vehicle covered, and I mean covered, with aluminum foil! Their rigs truly looked like something from a sci fi movie, and their members were dressed like the characters from the movie. It was obvious that they put a lot of work into their Stop, and I congratulate them on their win, but watch out - next year my club is gonna win!

Saturday morning started bright and early. Alan Klump from SDORC led his annual Dual Sport Motorcycle run, and this year, in honor of the date, he named it the Groundhog Day Run. He said that since he does the same run every year, the name was appropriate. He had more than double the attendance this year, and next year he may have to split up the run into two different runs. But I'm sure he's up to the task!

One run people look forward to every year is the Desert Roundup hosted by Harold Soens from Los Pretot's. This group of buggies, dirt bikes, ATV's and Baja's did everything from desert bowling to balloon popping getting a little off-roading in between games.

Another popular run was the Mystery Run lead by Roy Denner of SDORC. Participants had to get clues, which led them to the conclusion and hopefully the fastest finish. This one was open to all vehicles, which made it even more fun. 

MDA client Jennifer Gasner wants a buggy of her own after taking a ride with Gary Colle Jr.

In addition to being able to test their rigs at the RTI ramp, all morning long 4X4 vehicles lined up to explore the desert on runs ranging from easy to most difficult. There were eight runs led by six different clubs. Quite a bit of work went into these runs as well. Clubs must go out and pre-run their trails to make sure the weather or hoodlums haven't made their trails unsafe. Some people like to do the same run every year, while some people tried a new one. Next year we are going to need more clubs to volunteer to do a run because the runs were full!

Then, in the middle of the day Saturday, Greg DeGuire of the Orange County ATVs led the ATV-101 run. It was open to all ATV's and was a great way to see the landscape while getting in some serious ride time.

Ray Leuchner, vice-president Cal 4 Wheel South District, with the help of Mike Cook, coordinated rides all day for the kids and adults who have MD. Gary Colle Jr. of Gary's Custom Fabrication, drove out there just to take them on rides in his buggy. And the great folks at Southern California Pinzgauers gave rides in the coolest vehicles I have ever seen! Most of the guys out there wanted a ride in them! Some of the kids would have ridden all night if their parents and their health had permitted. It is hard for us to imagine, but most of these kids don't get a chance to do this kind of thing, and to see their faces as they go off-roading for the first time is something you never forget.

Finally, after everyone made it back to camp, we started the festivities. Scott Erickson, Director of the San Diego MDA, along with Frenchie, made some people very happy as they pulled tickets from the raffle buckets. I have to say that it was not as hard as usual, sitting with a strand of tickets that never wins anything, because I got to verify numbers and direct people to their prizes. 

The man who won the little Polini 50cc motorcycle donated by Savage Motorsports was so happy he was shaking. I don't know who was more excited, the man or his 6-year-old son! 

Contestants wait in line for their turn at the Currie/Goodyear Rock Crawl.

We gave away over $70,000 in merchandise! Linda Berman from the San Diego Outbacks was in charge of the raffle prizes as well as the vendors, and she did an amazing job. And we have some very generous sponsors. Warn even showed up Saturday with another winch. Goodyear, Currie and Off Road Warehouse should also be mentioned as companies that gave big. Everyone who won something filled out a thank-you letter, and I encouraged every one of them to send an e-mail or give a phone call to the companies as well. It wouldn't hurt if we all let companies know that we appreciate their support and donations.

As a wrap-up for the event, we held the Currie/Goodyear Rock Crawl Challenge. Wayne Miller of Miller Off Road Products put it together, and with the help of many volunteers, he made it even more of a challenge this year! I don't know who had more fun, the participants or the spectators! In first place for the Open Class was Steve Hastings. And for the Pro/Vendor Class, Kathy Crook finished on top for the second year.

With the money raised this year, we proved that off-roaders are some of the most generous people around. We opened up our hearts and our wallets to a cause that breaks our hearts and gives us hope all at once. The Co-Ambassadors for MDA, Linsey and Amy Wehner, were there all weekend, riding around on the back of their parent's quad that their grandfather modified for them. They smiled and waved and talked to everyone who approached them, never letting on that they were tired or in pain. We need to find a cure for this devastating disease.

If you want to do something that matters, and if you want to get a warm fuzzy feeling that you wouldn't believe, then volunteer for Off Road for Hope V. We always need volunteers and clubs to host runs, and it is the most fun you will ever have while working!