Graves Mountain Trailrides in VA Sept 1-5, 2011

[CGarbee]

Well, it's that time again! We are putting together the 3rd Annual Graves Mountain rally up at the farm in Virgina. We're looking for folks who want a nice family-oriented get-together, lots of outdoor activities at the Lodge, as well as trail rides, vending for anyone who wants to sell stuff, etc. We had a great time last year, maybe 30 people and 15 or so trucks, open to everyone from 1/4-ton trucks to 10-tons, there is something here for everyone!

We have had a few work weekends this year and have managed to create a bunch of new trails ranging from really tough (rock garden up on top of the ridge, steep, use a built jeep and be fearless...) down to some mild ones on the side of a mountain and down in the valley by the river (great for the deuces and five ton trucks).

The event is also open to all trucks that are civilian in nature, 25 years old or older.

The info (design) for this year's shirt should be updated sometime this week (waiting for the graphic from the designer--it features a photo of a M151 fording the river that we took year before last...).

September 1-5, 2011 are the dates.

See http://www.gravesmountaintrailrides.com for info.

[m-37Bruce]

Thanks for the heads-up, I don't think I can make it, but I did mark it on the calender.

[maddawg308]

Cabell is right, this is a great event. It's a great way for those to enjoy the end of the summer in a country setting, kick back and relax, enjoying friends, vehicles and just good-ol-fashioned camping outside in the open Virginia air.

Wanted to let everyone know about the event coming up, please visit the website for lots of pics of past events and more info at:

http://www.gravesmountaintrailrides.com/

Also, check out the Facebook page for the event at:

Facebook page for Graves Mountain Trailrides and Rally

Hope to see some of you there!

[Glenn]

Beautiful! Someday I'll get out of Florida and visit up there. Is the lodge open year round?

[CGarbee]

Graves Mountain Lodge is only open from early March through Thanksgiving weekend. The MV Trailrides and Rally will be held on Labor Day Weekend (Thursday before Labor Day through the Tuesday after) for the foreseeble future... (the folks told me I could have it on this weekend "forever..." )

For more info on the Lodge itself and the other events that they host or that are available in the area, see:
http://www.gravesmountain.com/

[xm708]

Cabell,

Any progress pics of the xm708 ???

Ed

[CGarbee]

I trashed the home computer last night (fatal drive error), so it'll be a little while before you see any of the "in-progress" photos...

However, all I have to do to get the truck ready for the rally at Graves is to rebuild the fuel pump, swap out the tires, install the windshield and the top, and drive it around...

I still need to replace the PTO and rebuild the hydralic pump...

So, I should have photos of it on the trails soon...

[CGarbee]

Still plenty of time for folks to get registered... But the event is fast approaching (it's next month)...

We added about five more miles to the trail system last week, so that brings us up to eight or so more miles of trails than we had last year... All of what we did last week is very M37 friendly.

We have three M37's registered so far in addition to the other vehicles attending: one stock, one with a big block, and a dumptruck varient...

Hope to see some of you there.

[CGarbee]

The trailrides and rally are almost here

I'll be on site Wednesday night so that I can put up signage and open some gates before folks start to roll in on Thursday.

In addition to the M37's listed above, we just had a guy register who plans on driving his up from Raleigh, NC to the rally in Syria, VA (it's going to be about a six hour drive for him if nothing goes wrong...).

Even though the website has a registration deadline on it, you can still drop in and register at the gate (although we won't be able to guarantee that you'll get a shirt...)...

Reports from the area are that neither the earthquake nor the hurricane did much damage, so all we have to do now is cross our fingers for smooth travels for everyone.