Trip Report: Spring Safety Clinic – May 15, 2021
Before arriving at this event, I had a gut feeling that my stock vehicle could handle most everything thrown at it. Upon arrival and seeing some heavily modded vehicles made me wonder if perhaps I had gotten in over my head!? It was reassuring to see many other participants with stock vehicles, and at the end of the day I learned that my Jeep is very capable, as long as I drive it with intention and using proper technique...
I arrived at the Upper Ranch area 5 in my 2020 Wrangler Rubicon at around 7:40am. It was chilly with just the slightest hint of drizzle.
Registration was quick and easy as was vehicle inspection and air-down. Wandering around a bit talking to club members I was impressed at how things were so well organized.
I was assigned to the yellow group where we had ~11 student vehicles (mostly Jeeps plus two pickups) plus three club members running lead/mid/tail: Daryl, Chris and Joanna. A very friendly and lively group, everyone seemed to be excited for what the day held in store.
The day's activity was split into a classroom section in the morning and then hands-on driving skills sections in the afternoon.
Morning session: Classroom
CJ, Jason and Kelly supported the prerequisite video training with lots of good info on:
Knowing your vehicle's limits (clearance, approach and departure angles, etc.)
Practical advice with an emphasis on safety
Useful gear to have (recovery, jacks, fire extinguisher, etc.) Yellow Group assembling at Area 5
Things to be aware of and to sometimes avoid
Special situations, such as the risks of water crossings
Some clues about dealing with obstacles (e.g. momentum)
The importance of setting the correct tire pressure for conditions
Plus helpful Q & A Important tip: JEEP stands for "Just Empty Every Pocket" 😄
Afternoon Session
After a quick lunch break the afternoon session consisted of a number of hands-on skills sections.
1. Tire Placement
Getting the driver's side placed correctly was pretty straightforward. The passenger side (especially rear) not so much! It was clear that being accurate here would help navigate some of the future obstacles. I need to practice this some more. Also a very practical reminder to ask for a spotter when needed.
2. Driving the Red Trail
This was a nice drive through some of the Upper Ranch area with varied terrain to get comfortable on. Daryl, Chris and Joanna used the radio to inform us and keep the group banded together. Poison oak was everywhere! Also, while there there few a side-by-sides zipping around pretty fast which was a bit unnerving, all drivers on the trail were courteous. A few times we got out of our vehicles to walk ahead to learn what the best line would be. Daryl helped us out by demonstrating how to take a certain line or navigate a particular obstacle.
3. Obstacle Course
Here we started with the stair steps. The advice to use just a little momentum paid off and everyone did really well. Big confidence booster!
The frame twister section was well explained by the crew manning it, and we had enough time left for everyone to run through it twice.
4. Driving the Blue Trail
This was another chance to get more practice and see more of the park. We got to test ourselves on a couple of three-point turns in narrow spots.
The ravine was a fun obstacle with helpful tips such as don't be concerned about letting your tires ride on the sidewalls a bit.
Finally we came upon a short but steep hill climb where we needed to stay far to driver's side on dirt while the passenger side went up over a rocky area... a little intimidating due to the lack of visibility, but in the end no big deal.
5. Hill Stop and Reverse
This was a very different exercise. Accurately backing down the hill around a corner and on an angle was an odd experience. I was glad to be able to repeat it to really understand the correct technique. After the hill obstacle we all aired-up and assembled for a group photo before heading out of the park at about 5:30pm.
Take-aways:
The driving skills sessions were invaluable. Lots of wisdom/guidance along with plenty of support was offered generously!
Learning to trust my spotters was not difficult, as all staff were very supportive and helpful— they boosted my confidence
A felt a real sense of camaraderie among the club members and students
Looking forward to more off-road experiences with the club!
Jim Stratton, prospective member