We are a group of 4-Wheel Drive owners from all over Northern California with Associate members from as far away as Alaska. We meet for the purpose of social, recreational, and educational activities and to enjoy and protect our natural resources. One of our members was on the board of Tread Lightly!. We follow the Tread Lightly! guidelines and are a member of the California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs.

We help with many conservation projects and the one activity that gets our name in print the most is the Safety Clinic we put on at Hollister Hills OHV park twice per year. The Safety Clinic helps new 4×4 owners become acquainted with their vehicles and to learn valuable off-highway skills.

We have at least one official club run per month, sometimes more during the summer. The runs include everything from day runs to Hollister Hills OHV park, running in the sand at Pismo Beach, Toy Runs at Christmas, to longer excursions over the Rubicon Trail, Moab, or Mile High Jeep Safari in Colorado, just to name a few. Some CA4WDC-sponsored runs that are popular with the club include the Molina Ghost Run, Sierra Trek, Run-A-Muck, and Panamint Valley.

Summer Campout, July 17 - 20, 2008 Jim, Ira, Ira’s Photos, Connie W. (Prospective), Michael C. (Prospective)

Courtesy of Ira

Esprit de Four 4WDC of San Jose is proud to present its continuing series of beginner off road driving classes. 16 years and going strong! Classes are scheduled for 2008 at the Hollister Hills SVRA in Hollister, CA. Hollister Hills is about an hour south of San Jose.

Who can attend? Our courses have been specifically designed for the novice driver. More experienced drivers also benefit from the classes as we cover new improvements in 4×4 technology and techniques every year. New drivers with a STOCK off road vehicle will be shown the rigors of off road driving in a friendly and helpful environment. Students come away from an ED4 safety training clinic with a newfound understanding of their own vehicle and its capabilities. Our students give us high marks. Students often attend year after year and bring friends.

What do we do? Your day begins with some classroom instruction conducted by some of the most experienced drivers within ED4. This is followed a hands-on live demonstration training! Your group then has time for Lunch to talk with Staff and your trail lead. (this BYOL bring your own lunch).

Each student then gets an opportunity, to experience actual off road driving using their own vehicle!

During the trail ride, students in small groups are lead by experienced instructors. Stops are then made at different “off road driving venues.” These venues have been carefully designed to challenge the driver with basic and everyday off road challenges without introducing a high degree of risk. Since safety is of paramount importance, instructors are stationed all along the way to encourage and offer assistance each and every driver. All drivers get to watch others in their group drive over and through the different challenges. In most cases an instructor will make the first pass through an obstacle so as to provide an actual demonstration.

Come join the members of Esprit de Four 4WDC on one or more of the following dates in 2009:

May 16th or 17th or September 19th 2009 in Hollister, CA. Those interested in attending any of the four separate (but identical) classes should get their reservations in as soon as possible as these classes tend to fill up. Sign up for dinner and enjoy some good stories of your day.

We will have reistration information for 2009 available soon - please check back.
You can obtain additional information or sign up by one of the following methods:

• Read more
• Download Registration Form
• E-mail: Doug Greig @ GreigDR@appliedbiosystems.com

Trips coming up…
• September 20-(21), 2008Cancelled Safety Clinic
• Sept. 30, 2008 Pismo Beach Run (see Jason)
• November 8-9, 2008 Panamint Valley Days, Southern California area (see Rich)
• November 2008 TBD
• December 13, 2008 Toys 4 Tots, Christmas Party
• 2009 A whole list of events

CJ A.
Ron F.
JD G.
Mike G.
Daniel L.
Or S.
Greg S.
Connie W.
Chuck W.
Michael C.

Read more on how to become a member.