VOLUME 07.02.09 THE HUMMER CLUB, INC. ®

Photo by Roger Robohm

Features08 A Weekend At RAusch cReek Rausch Creek 2009

10 sedonA And snoW Snow Run!

14 hole in the Rock My Summer Vacation

20 gRAy Rock chAllenge Mount Olive, Alabama

24 spotting Rules Be a Great Spotter and a Great Driver

32 oops! Things Don’t Always Go As Planned

Departments05 pResident’s messAge Looking forward to Kinzalow

06 club neWs Join the Board of Directors

30 tech tip Checking Your Brakes

CONTENTSM AY 2 0 0 9

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COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN BYRON

Photo: Chris Blood

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Marshall HendersonDirector - President289 Rolling Hill RoadMooresville, NC 28117704-663-6510 (home)704-309-9427 (cellular)marshall@thehummerclubinc.com

Bob DeVoreDirector - Events/Land Use8390 Cappy LaneSwartz Creek, MI 48473810-691-5087bob@thehummerclubinc.com

Manny MacMillanDirector - Azimuth manny@thehummerclubinc.com

Hal DilworthDirector - Secretaryhal@thehummerclubinc.com

Glen PeckDirector - CFO/Membership/HOPEglen@thehummerclubinc.com

Mike MorrisDirectorPO Box 2288 South Bend, IN 466802500 Green Tech DriveSouth Bend, IN 46613 574-232-6000 (work) mike@thehummerclubinc.com

Rick GruczDirector - Ambassador Program6446 Sober Rd.Fowlerville, MI 48836517-223-4885 (home)517-223-8551 (fax)rick@thehummerclubinc.com

Club Directors

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The HUMMER Club, Inc. is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation organized under the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law.

We are a national organization dedicated to promoting the safe use of the HUMMER in a family oriented atmosphere. We emphasize responsible four-wheeling and are serious about safety and environmentally correct off-roading. We encour-age our members to be active in land use advocacy and community service and to use both vehicles and land resources safely along the guidelines set forth by Tread Lightly! and the United Four Wheel Drive Association.

Both regional and national events run by member volunteers are sponsored throughout the year where members can drive trails with levels of difficulty ranging from moderate to extreme. These events, our website and the publication of a quarterly magazine also offer an opportunity for exchange of information to develop a better understanding of the HUMMER vehicle and its safe use.

As the only recognized national HUMMER orga-nization, the Club enjoys excellent relationships with AM General and HUMMER/General Motors Corporation and frequently has factory technicians and parts support at major events.

The Club welcomes all HUMMER vehicles. It is a strong, established organization that will only get better with your help. Join in, support the HUMMER Club. With your participation, the Club will contin-ue to grow for the benefit of HUMMER owners. H

©Copyright 2009 - The HUMMER Club Inc.

All Rights Reserved for all original material herein. HUMMER trademarks used with the written permission of General Motors.

For membership information visitwww.thehummerclubinc.com

For Advertising information contactSean Hunter at The Field Group

(800) 446-4718.

Azimuth is designed by: The Field Group 1402 West Yakima Ave. • Suite 102 Yakima, WA 98902

www.thefieldgroup.net

For permissions and reprints of this magazine, contact The Field Group.

Photo: Hole In The Rock

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Photo by Brad Mellon

PRESIDENT’S

MESSAGE

P. Marshall Henderson

Ahh Kinzalow’s, the East Coast’s Mecca for HUMMER off roading. It is about two weeks out and I am really looking forward to getting out and enjoying some wheeling. I hope you are one of the members signed up to come and visit eastern Tennessee. They have some great trails, great scenery, great times and everyone has a lot of fun.

If you did not make it to Kinzalow’s, I hope you will sign up for one of the other upcom-ing events in Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, or Michigan. Save time this fall for Moab or Windrock, two of our staple events. New members, you need to try to make an event or you are missing one of the main reasons we have a Club.

In addition to the National Events, we have sev-eral Member Events lined up. If you want to have some fellow trucks over or want company to go to a favorite off road spot, let us know. We can help advertise your event and you can use the club contact search to find trucks in the area. Be sure to reach out to new truck owners in your area to help teach them the fun of using a HUMMER. We all had to start somewhere and can all think of a few drivers to thank for the guidance along the way.

One of the smartest things you can do before off roading with your truck is follow the club’s guideline to review your truck’s condition and preparedness. Check fluids, look for leaks or worn parts, and make sure you have spares, re-covery gear and water. Check the HUMMER Club website for more details.

The Club board has appointed a nominations committee to find candidates to run for board election this Fall. Rick, Glen and my terms all expire this year, but we need additional help from volunteers willing to contribute their time and efforts to helping the Club. If you can help out, or know someone who is willing to help,

please contact the nominations committee of Bob DeVore, Manny MacMillan and Hal Dil-worth. You may email messages to nomina-tions@thehummerclubinc.com.

New members continue to join each month, but we need more of you. Recently I received a phone call and emails from a new H3 owner that was ecstatic about her new truck. Abso-lutely loves driving the truck, but is still in that “avoid the mud puddles stage” versus the “out looking for some mud to play in” stage most of us got into. I still love that hat Vince “Thumper” Gable use to wear – “Mud Is Good”.

Also last week I meet with an H2 owner who just took delivery of a 2004 yellow H1 open top. His kids love the truck and he is going to start outfitting the vehicle for off road events. He has driven the H2 on several dealer “Hap-penings”, but has yet to experience the fun we get into at Kinzalows, Windrock or any of the other great event locations.

So get out there and find the new owners (might be buying used trucks) and get them to join the Club. Let them look up the Facebook page or give them Azimuth after you are done. It is great to see our trucks in use. I am so ready for Kinzalow’s. I think I will go home and pack early.

Take care, be safe and I will see you on the trails,

Marshall

marshall@thehummerclubinc.com

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CLUB NEWS

BOARD OF DIRECTOR POSITIONSInterested in applying? The HUMMER Club, Inc. has three members of the Board of Directors whose terms are expiring at the end of this summer. If you are interested in applying for one of these posi-tions, please email to indicate your interest to the Nominations Committee and find out more about the application process:

nominations@thehummerclubinc.com

Members of the Nomination Committee this year will be current BOD members, Bob DeVore, Hal Dilworth and Manny MacMillan.

YES. The HUMMER Club, Inc.is hosting an eventnear you this year…More being added to the schedule all the time thanks to the tireless efforts of our Ambassa-dors, volunteer Club Directors, and Members who have stepped up and gotten involved. Thanks – see you at an event soon!

For registration details and the latest up-dates about the events listed below, please visit our website: http:://www.thehummer-clubinc.com

Kinzalow’s - Dayton, TennesseeMay 14 - 16, 2009

Colorado Rocky Mountain (Member Event)

Golden, ColoradoJune 12 - 14, 2009

Northeast Hummer Run (Member Event)Mohegan Sun, ConnecticutJune 13, 2009

Badlands - Attica, IndianaJune 18 - 20, 2009

Canadian EventSaint Sauveur, QuebecJuly 20 - 24, 2009

Rausch Creek - Rausch Creek, PennsylvaniaJuly 23 - 26, 2009

Drummond IslandDrummond Island, MichiganJuly 31 - August 1, 2009

AM General Off-Road Course and Silver Lake Sand DunesSouthbend, Indiana and Mears, MichiganAugust 28 & 29, 2009

Moab - Moab, UtahSeptember 20 - 24, 2009

Windrock - Oak Ridge, TennesseeOctober 15 - 17, 2009

Penn’s Cave - Centre Hall, PennsylvaniaOctober 24 & 25, 2009

Country Roads - Beckley, West VirginiaDates TBD

AZIMUTH SUBMISSIONS and ADSWe still want your stuff! We are looking for members’ stories about wheeling, modi-fication, and even a full feature on your rig. You don’t have to be a professional writer or photographer to share some cool HUM-MER experiences with the rest of the club, so send in your content today!

We also have new low advertising rates which will allow your business to reach our members – you can buy an ad, or sponsor one of our events; drop us an email to find out more.

azimuth@thehummerclubinc.com

The HUMMER Club, Inc.is on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/hummerclubIf you have an account, follow us.

Twitter is a free social networking service that enables its users to send and read oth-er users’ updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by de-fault, allow anybody to access them.

Account holders can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Mes-sage Service (SMS) or through a number of external applications available on mobile devices.

The service is free to use over the Internet, but using SMS may incur phone service provider fees.

For more information,visit: twitter.com

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CLUB NEWS

Photo by Brandon Michaels

By Dan LaForgia

Army PFC Joseph Dwyer was perhaps best known for being featured in newspapers and on TV throughout the country in 2003, carrying a baby Iraqi boy to safety dur-ing small arms fire. After returning home from Iraq, he started suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.) This is a very common battle that soldiers face when they come home – the injuries sus-tained in battle are not always visible, and not always physical. Soldiers see things during war that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately this disorder took a heavy toll on Joseph, which led him to take his own life.

Joseph’s family wished not only to honor him, but all the other soldiers suffering from this disorder. Joseph had always loved cars and motorcycles, so a classic car and mo-torcycle rally fundraiser was scheduled. HUMMER Club, Inc. member Dan LaForgia heard about the cause when his band “But-tered Soul” was asked to play at the event. Dan contacted fellow club member Jerry Moller and some other local HUMMER owners, and asked them to join the rally as a way to show appreciation and support for today’s soldiers.

The turnout was much greater than anyone had expected. Over 800 motorcycles met at the Riverhead County Center in Riverhead NY, and 7 HUMMER H1’s and a 1985 M998 HMMWV joined from New York and New Jersey. A police es-cort accompanied the convoy from the County Center to Venetian Shores Park in Lindenhurst NY where the Barbecue lunch and classic car / motorcycle show was held, where an estimated 2000 people attended the event.

The coordinator of the event was very ap-preciative of the HUMMER owners joining in on such short notice, and all of the HUM-MER owners were honored to be a part of this worthy cause.

REMEMBER, FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!

For more information about this event,visit: www.heroarmypfcjosephdwyer.com

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HUMMER CLUB, INC. MEMBERS SUPPORT PTSD FUND RAISER

Photo of Dan Laforgia

Photo of Jerry Moller

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Written by KEN GANDER | Photos by CATHY PANAZZOLO and KEN GANDER

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A group of HUMMER Club, Inc. Members get their act together and make yet another trip to Rausch Creek the weekend of Friday, March 27th through Sunday, March 29th -- and then take a few minutes to tell you about it. Friday afternoon a few of us rolled into the Hampton Inn in Pine Grove, PA. This time we made a weekend out of it (as op-posed to a day trip which it is for most of us). We had folks from NY, NJ, PA, and even MD. I brought the barbeque out this time and we set up “camp” in the parking lot. THCI members rolled in throughout the afternoon and evening. Great food and cold beer was plentifull! We BBQ’d and basically hung out unti l the wee hours of the night (well, at least some of us!) We had a surprise vist at 4am from one of our newest wheelers; Ashley in her H3! The late night made for a late start for some of the group -- but we all made it onto the trail eventually.

The trails at Rausch Creek offer a lot of varied terrain and fun for all kinds of trucks and drivers -- and this week-end was no exception. A few minor problems with a CTIS line slowed things down a l itt le bit , but it wasn’t about to extinguish the fun of wheeling with good friends.

We hit some really great techincial and rocky Blue Level trails. Everyone made it through without major incident. Ashley lost one of her skidplates after a rather rocky trail (which certainly couldn’t have had anything to do with me forgetting my thread-locker when I put it back on for her a few weeks ago.) A tarp and a wide array of tools, plus Glenn Panazzolo, equals: remaining bolt was pulled and we were back on trails! We played in Lake Christy, the Quarry, and some other Blue Level trails – a great day!

Most of our group departed for home on Saturday night, but I stayed with my H3, as did a couple of Jeepers, Mike and Sal. On Sunday it was raining, fog-gy, and brutal. We should have known when I slashed a sidewall with a hole big enough to put your fist before we even made it out of the comp area, that trou-ble lay ahead. After a not-so-quick tire change, we were rolling again. We hit a few more Blue Level trails that we hadn’t the day before, and managed a pretty good pace considering how slick it was. We were doing ok until Sal’s Jeep got a flat. We changed that tire and started heading back.

We all made it back to the gas station where we aired up and left for home our

separate ways. That was probably the biggest mis-take of the weekend, since Sal and Mike got hopelessly lost for a while before they eventually made their way down to I-78. Shortly after, Mike’s Jeep decided to spontaneously grenade its transfer case and driveshaft. They left the Jeep and tr ied to get home in Sal ’s Jeep, which decided to quit with two broken wheels. The Jeepers eventually rented a car and made their way back to NJ.

We doubled back and recovered the downed rigs the following weekend - an adventure during which I lost a second tire to a second partial sidewall gash that decided to give way on the high-way - when I was not carrying a spare, of course. Yet another rescue was re-quired, when Yianni brought down a wheel for my rig.

In the end, after all of the rigs had been rescued from ON the road and OFF the road, we had a great time and it was well worth the all the hassle. This is why we don’t go out wheeling alone, right? Plans for our next Rausch Creek adven-ture are already in the works. H

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Article and Photos by Larry & Laraine Coplin

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It’s Thursday evening in Sedona;

known for red rock, vortexes, good food, and

especially for us -- miles and miles of national forests

with off-road trails. Paul and Josie Phillips have driven over from

the San Diego area in their yellow H2, while Laraine and I hauled

our brand new H3T up from the Phoenix area behind our RV. When

Marc Balocco called to say that he was putting together a snow

run, we had jumped at the opportunity to get some one-on-one

driving tips. After all, Marc owns Sedona Offroad Adventures and

has been part of the desert racing circuit for over a decade. The

opportunity was just too good to pass up.

We are gathered on the patio of a fabulous French restaurant to enjoy the moderate tem-peratures at this elevation before heading higher into snow country tomorrow. The wine, martinis and scotch are served, and cigars lit. As the clock ticks forward the stories grow longer and the tales get taller. All is right with the world.

Sedona is located in central Arizona and is surrounded by mountains. Over millions of years, layers of sandstone and lime-stone were covered with iron oxide and rust formed. The beautiful red rock moun-tains are the result.

After a drivers meeting on Friday morning we head up to the Cinder Hills OHV Area north-east of Flagstaff where there are reports of snow. Flagstaff sits at the center of the little-known San Francisco Volcanic Field. With over 600 volcanoes it is one of the most densely volcanic regions in North America. The 13,500 acre OHV site sits at an eleva-tion of about 7000 feet and is similar to sand dunes, but is actually made up of black volcanic ash. As we line up at the bottom of a huge cinder hill there are only a few

patches of snow. Marc takes the opportunity to teach us some finer points of driving in sand, snow or mud. With his H1 parked half-way up the hill we get directions over our CB in English, with his heavy French accent... or was it French with an English accent? I can’t remember which, but before long each attempt brings us closer to the top.

Then we head around to the north side where there is more snow. We spend the afternoon traversing cinder hills and forg-ing trails in the meadows. Hummer “Snow Angels” are left behind as the competition begins to see who can make the smallest donuts. Our circles get smaller and smaller as Marc teaches us the proper balance of brake to accelerator ratio. In the end we have carved out about fifteen acres of cir-cles in the snow that can probably be seen from outer space. Then it’s off to the best Mexican restaurant in Sedona for more sto-ries and huge margaritas, Ole!

The next day we are joined by Rudy Bowen from the US Forest Service. As we head even higher into the mountains many of the roads have not been plowed, but thats no problem

for Hummers, right? The snow gets to be over three feet deep and today’s lessons involve the proper use of winches, straps, hooks and clevises. At times we stood in snow almost waist high while pondering the use of a re-mote control to extract our bodies from the “white quicksand.” Eventually we come to a tiny mountain village near Mormon Lake and stop for bowls of chili and some hot coffee. On the way back into town Marc even point-ed out the infamous “Monica” rock formation known only to the locals.

This weekend we have been fortunate to learn driving skills from a veteran of several Hummer Racing teams. We also learned that he taught Special Forces teams to drive a Humvee, conducted tire workshops and even drove a Mini-Cooper in “The Italian Job” while working as a stunt driver. We thank you Marc for a fun weekend filled with great experiences and new friendships. For us, “Se-dona and Snow” was priceless! H

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By L. Keith Farrand

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It’s dark. It’s cold. It’s pouring rain. I really should be working in our beautiful greenhouses here at Farrand Farms, but instead I find myself dreaming about southern Utah. I am recalling my most memorable H1 vacation of all time. It is a pure and simple pleasure to share my story with you. So here goes…

It all began innocently enough when one handsome trail leader, affectionately known as “The Master” (that would be me, of course) a few old timer H1 buffs and a couple of young bucks decided it would be in their best interests to tackle a wilderness trail in southern Utah known as the “Hole in the Rock.”

It is remote, barren and empty but absolutely beautiful. The Hole in the Rock trail was first used by the Mormons in the late 1800’s. It is the only trail in America that begins in the west and travels east. On a 5 scale of difficulty it is rated a 4.5. It is thirty-three difficult miles in and thirty-three difficult miles back. It requires three non-stop driving days and two nights of remote, primitive camping to complete. Yes, I’ll be the first to admit that it is pure H1 paradise—a virtual Hummer Heaven, if you will.

Please join us as we begin our travel in early September of 2008. It’s important that you buckle up and remember that The Master doesn’t always adhere to the facts. Bits of color have been added here and there to enhance your reading pleasure.

As The Master, I put myself in charge of assembling the most talented and skilled team of H1 drivers ever to gather in one spot. I would choose only the best of the best. I immediately began in earnest to contact those talented few.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, all those guys were busy. I then went to Plan B. Gee, those guys couldn’t make it either. Third and fourth choices were also unavailable. I continued to relax my standards until my wife, Nancy, sensing my frustration, suggested I recruit at the local Twilight Hills Senior Center. Wow! What a great suggestion! I hit the jackpot there.

H1 relics like Linda North, Bill Thompson, Bob and Jack Davis, Marc Balocco and his friend Gary, Mark Sanders, David Polito, Dan Eakins accompanied by his young lover Judy, and George and Maria Juno were all there. I found Paul Stueber and Mike Boswell playing shuffleboard out back. Who even

knew these folks were still alive, let alone willing to wander again in the wilderness? Turns out, Hole in the Rock was on all their “Bucket Lists.”

But before allowing these ripe, decaying seniors weekend passes, the administration of Twilight Hills insisted we take young nursing assistants, Brent Rickert and Jarek Charvet, along for safety reasons. The Master quickly agreed, and the Hole in the Rock expedition was set.

It wasn’t the greatest team ever assembled, but it wasn’t the worst either. Yeah, they were rusty, wild and uncivilized—maybe even a little bit savage. That didn’t concern The Master, though. He knew that under his watchful eye, these renegades would transform into a respectful and cohesive group. Before the journey’s end, they would come to know the meaning of common courtesy, how to sit quietly and listen while others spoke and even to extend a helpful hand when needed. Heck, some would even come to use the words “please” and “thank you.”

Let’s get going. On September 17th, our H1 contingent would meet near Hall’s Ferry on Lake Powell. At the Hole in the Rock

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trailhead, The Master explained the rules—he would lead and everyone else would do exactly what he said. (O.K., that didn’t really happen.) Introductions were made and a trail briefing was given. Bright orange dress shirts and bow ties were issued for the evening meals. The bow ties were your meal ticket—if you showed up for dinner without it, you wouldn’t be allowed to dine. Each participant was also allowed one fine Cuban cigar to enjoy, compliments of The Master. Other gifts and pleasantries were exchanged and it was time to go.

The Master was leading brilliantly when our “Director of Latrine Safety,” Mike Boswell, decided to nearly lay his truck over in a small sand sluice. Mike’s a nice guy and we liked him, so we decided to help him get the truck right again.

Lunch was taken and we were again moving toward our destination camp. That is, I say, until “Liaison to The Master,” Bob Davis, and his brother Jack, our “Hole Expedition Historian,” decided they would have a flat tire. No one wanted to help them change it because, well, you know…it’s Bob.

After an hour or so, we were moving again. We were traveling along quite nicely when…Oops! The Master lost the trail. No, no…it wasn’t his fault at all. He was only a victim of someone else’s negligence to better mark the trail. He quickly backtracked and we weren’t long arriving at camp.

You know, as I was standing back watching my team set up camp, I felt right proud. Many were helping French “Chef in Charge,” Marc Balocco set up his kitchen which he had trailered in. Others were building the fire and setting up the dining area. And much to our delight, “1st and 2nd Directors of Fluids,” George and Maria, were busy mixing their special concoctions for the cocktail hour.

Before we knew it, it was time to dress for dinner. Everyone donned their bright orange dress shirts and put on the black bow ties. The Master chuckled as he knew these fools were in his complete control—after all, who else could get them to actually put on formal dress shirts and bow ties in the middle of the desert! It was truly a sight to see.

We continued to enjoy George and Maria’s offerings while Linda North, “Director of Hygiene,” insisted we wash our hands before dining. We were all surprised and pleased to see how nicely “Floral Director,” Paul Stueber, beautified the setting with

native sage and weeds. And Wow! Marc had outdone himself preparing ribs, side dishes and fine deserts. No wonder he is considered one of the best French fry short order cooks in Arizona. Dinner was superb and most of us continued to chat and imbibe well into the evening.

We were up early the next morning. Our “Personal Services Valet,” Bill Thompson, was told to see that all members were prepared and lunches packed for a particularly long and difficult journey to the trail’s end. Bill did a pretty good job, and we were all impressed that he did exactly as he was told.

The Master was pleased at the progress we made while enjoying the awesome scenery and terrific views of this lonesome place. Everything was going according to plan and moving smoothly. We reached the end of the drivable trail and shared a leisurely lunch. Marc wanted to leave early for camp so he could begin the evening meal. He would take Mike and David Polito, our “Adult Care Supervisor” with him. At the last moment, “Special Events Chairperson,” Jarek, and “Internet Services Technician,” Brent, decided to join them as they left. We sensed they might be traveling a bit too quickly for the level of their experience.

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It wasn’t long before our group was also heading back to camp. About twenty minutes into our return, we heard a distress call from Mike that something terrible had occurred ahead of us. We continued to await further details as we drove toward the forward group. It turned out the group was not responding because they were in emergency response mode. I was stunned by the intense scene that lay before me. The first thought that went through my mind was someone has to be hurt and hurt badly.

Apparently, Jarek had forgotten The Master’s instructions to please be careful and not turn Brent’s truck over. Well, it was too late now to go over the details again. An airlift emergency team was called by satellite and quickly canceled when it was determined that no one was injured or required emergency assistance. Jarek received a spanking from Brent, and the recovery team went to work.

The Master now realized that he had indeed recruited the best of the best. There was absolutely no panic. You could only witness calm and calculated action to achieve a successful recovery. Marc, Bill and Paul quickly positioned Mike and David for the recovery flip of the distressed H1. Maria, Linda, Dan, Judy, Bob and Jack quickly went to work picking up the pieces and calming the driver and passenger. Paul went to work completing a detailed truck inspection and finally restarted the truck.

Paul had the touch, man. Although it looked a bit awkward and crooked, the truck was running perfectly. We cleaned up the trail and were soon headed back to camp. It felt good driving back! The Master was pleased that disaster had been averted and that new lessons had been learned. He felt good about how his team stepped up to the challenge. Yeah, he had picked a great group of explorers. After patting himself on the back a few more times, The Master reached base camp.

You can’t imagine how his heart swelled when he heard his team saying “please” and “thank you”. He was near tears when he realized that over the past few days he had witnessed the rare and complete transformation of raw talent into fine and civilized folk. Heck, some of them even looked a little bit younger- even Linda North! She looked at least six months younger (maybe it was just the fact that she had her teeth in.) Anyway, it had been a great day of fun and challenge. The Master smiled as George and Maria continued to fill his cup

throughout the evening. If you thought Marc’s food was great last night, it was even better tonight. As far as The Master was concerned, it was the perfect evening shared with near perfect folk.

Well, I see the rain has let up, so it’s probably time for me to go back and tend to my flowers. Although I’ll miss sharing my Hummer thoughts with you, I don’t think I could be in a more beautiful spot than right here at Farrand Farms. You see, I love it here too.

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By Ken Morgan

The Mount Olive, Alabama ORV Park held special meaning to me as a HUMMER enthu-siast. This would be my third trip to the park since I bought my first HUMMER, a 2006 H3. This trip had a different feeling though as I pulled out of my Mobile, AL driveway heading north. This trip had challenge writ-ten all over it. You could even say I was looking to pick a fight. My second trip to Gray Rock in 2008 left me with a bloody nose and some hurt feelings and I wanted to set things right again.

My 2008 trip to Gray Rock was my first trail event in my brand new 2008 H3 Alpha. I was just itching to see what she could do in the rough. What happened was a lesson in how to get stuck when you do

not properly “think” an obstacle all the way through. The first time I got stuck, Tony, the park owner, was riding point. He quickly strapped me out with his modified Jeep on steroids. But, within five minutes, I was stuck again, and had to rely on Tony to pull me free once more. The third time, well it was just down right embarrassing. I watched other H1, 2 and 3’s navigate the same ter-rain with some difficulty but with success in the end. I knew I could drive better but the truth was I was out of practice and I had let my skills get rusty.

I was determined that Gray Rock 2009 would be a different run. I knew what my machine was capable of and I had been working to refresh and hone my off road skills. I also knew James Brewer would be the spotter on some of the more challeng-

ing trails. I met James at the 2008 Gray Rock event and realized he possesses a fine instinct to spot a trail route. All of the in-gredients for a good run were there and I was looking forward to getting my H3 out on the trail and start cooking up a weekend to remember.

Friday morning of the first run, the weather was absolutely perfect. Temps in the low 60’s, slight breeze, yellow sun blazing against a clear blue sky. 15 HUMMERS cruising convoy style down the highway. From the driver’s windows, 15 sets of white teeth greeted each passing motorist. For HUMMER enthusiasts, the convoy to the trail head is the appetizer before a fine steak dinner and I was feeling especially hungry today .

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We arrived at the pavilion inside the park and began airing down the tires. I was start-ing to feel a little anxious at this point. Then the call came from the trail leaders, Brandon and James. It was time to get dirty. Two groups were going out, beginning/interme-diate and advanced. Without hesitation, I signaled to James that I would be going out with the advanced group. I climbed in my truck, took a deep breath, popped in a piece of bubble gum (bubble gum helps me focus) and off we went. When our group cleared the pavilion, I counted four H1’s, three H2’s and one H3. I was the lone H3 going out with this group. I radioed the white stock H2 in my group driven by my good friend, Charles Hayes. He and his wife Barbara are also from Mobile and our families have been on several events together over the

years. “Hey Charles,” I said, “you know this is the advanced group?”. He replied that he “drove up here to ride the trails and not see the sights.” He was right. While Gray Rock ORV has some beautiful landscapes, I was here to test my truck and myself, and to put the failings of last year’s trip far behind me.

My first obstacle was a fallen tree. The H1 and 2’s were moving over it with little to no difficulty. I knew it was too big for my H3 but I was not about to be deterred by the first sign of trouble. I approached it us-ing the best angle I could. The front wheel climbed over with only a little coaxing, but as expected, the rear spring got hung and five minutes into the run I was stuck. How-ever, a quick tug from a tow strap and I was back in business. It was at that point that

I walked over to James and told him I may have bitten off more than I can chew coming out here with this group. The last thing that I wanted was to be strapped and pulled over every obstacle like a little brother tag-ging along, trying to keep up with his big brother and friends. However, James told me not to worry and that I was in for a good time. He was right. For the rest of the day, we navigated some very challenging terrain. Mud bogs, mud holes, rock gardens, stump gardens, creek beds, fallen trees, and steep hills. I was in the zone. Trail reading, tire placement, momentum, angling, and 2nd at-tempts. That day, it all came together for me. Our entire group exhibited some ex-ceptional driving. Earlier that day, we were also honored to have three members of a nearby Army National Guard unit join our

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group. They were conducting off road train-ing exercises with their HUMVEEs. It was a special treat to share the trail with these soldiers and the military predecessors of the HUMMER line.

The next day’s ride started off a little warm-er than the day before and with overcast skies blotting out the sun. My nephew, Chris from nearby Pinson, AL joined me for what turned out to be another great day of off road action. This was Chris’ first official HUMMER event and it was exciting for me to share this experience with him. He took a turn behind the wheel and saw first hand just how capable these vehicles are. However, all too soon, the day and the event came to a close. Gray Rock drew a line in the mud and my H3 Alpha stepped across it with me in the driver’s seat.

Gray Rock will never back down from a fight and we saw a fair amount of car-nage from some of those scraps on this trip. Mostly mechanical but a few new scratches and bends here and there. Gray Rock will challenge you and your truck. Make no mis-take about that.

Much thanks to Brandon Michael and James Brewer for their trail planning and spotting.

They are great guys to ride with and their families are some of the nicest folk that you will every meet. They worked really hard to make the event fun for everyone. If you rode Gray Rock this year, be sure to let these guys know how much fun you had.

With the sun now low on the horizon and my belly full of BBQ from the event ban-quet, I pulled my muddy, dust-covered H3 out of the park gates and headed for home. I left the ghost of Gray Rock 2008 buried deep in the Alabama mud, along with my Crimson Tide car tag that was separated from my truck by a rock or tree along the way. The smile on my face and the dirt on my HUMMER said it all. Good friends and good times...... like nothing else. H

AZIMUTH 23

24 AZIMUTH

Article by daniel strà

There are a lot of fine points to the art of spotting. Great spotting, truly refined exper-tise in this arena, is something that takes a lot of time and a lot of experience to learn. It comes from the experience one gains from watching others and applying what one has learned from watching.

It would not make sense, at least not for this article, to write about the finer points of great spotting. However, there are a few things that all spotters should know from the start that pave the way for a safer and more enjoyable trail experience for both the spot-ter and the driver.

Drivers, too, should be as knowledgeable about the basic rules of spotting as the spot-ters are. Drivers have a different set of spot-ting rules to follow, but the rules for drivers are just as important as those for spotters.

Very little has been written specifically for drivers on the subject of spotting. Hopefully that will change with this article, since the second section is dedicated to the driver.

When both sides follow the rules the trail becomes a much smoother place.

(Note to the would-be spotter: Reading this article does not make you a spotter. It is de-signed to help you understand the dynam-ics of spotting more fully. Any given trail-run might normally have one or more club as-signed trail leaders or spotters. You will be a lot more liked when you are on the trails if you acknowledge the hierarchy and organi-zation of a run and not try to subvert it.)

RULE NUMBER ONERule #1 of spotting, the first rule of ALL GREAT SPOTTERS is this...

* A good spotter will always look for an-other person who is already spotting the driver and will then do nothing but wait to be asked for help.

Think about this sentence for a minute. Vir-tually EVERYONE on a club run can, and should, be a spotter but only if they are all reminded of that rule. Following the Spotting Rule #1 will keep things a lot more orga-nized than those unruly times when EVERY-ONE is yelling directions.

AZIMUTH 25

Photos by Manny MacMillan and Chris Blood

RULE NUMBER TWOThis could be rule #1. Itís a toss-up. It is the only rule I see broken more than rule #1. It seems like we forget, many times, to bother to ask the driver if he would LIKE to have a spot. There are many drivers who will know their truck well enough to be able to just know where the rocks are. Then there are guys who just don’t want to have a spotter. Rule #2 is...

A good spotter will always ask the driver if he would like to have a spot before he starts issuing signals.

This is a golden rule. Never break it.

RULE NUMBER THREEA good spotter knows that there wi l l a lways be others ye l l i ng directions from the trail side and he knows that there will always be a newer driver who finds that confusing. This being the case, rule # 3 of great spotting is...

* Create a bond with the driver. Make sure he is locked on to you and only you.

This is done by taking the time to walk up to the driver and have a small drivers chat.... “Hey, I am going to spot you through this. I want you to focus on me and tune everyone else out, OK?”

It is funny but dive instructors do something very similar to this when bringing a student down un-der water for the first time. They use two fingers in the shape of a V and move them from their eyes toward yours while locking in your gaze to theirs. For some odd reason they have learned that doing so actually helps a new diver get through the initial anxiety of being under water and being able to actually breath.

Creating a bond with the driver goes a long way to help him get through those times when there are a lot of people trying to spot. It helps him block them out and it places you as the point person.RULE NUMBER FOURWhen we are four wheeling there is a lot going on. There is engine

26 AZIMUTH

noise, other vehicles moving around, people talking and sometimes a lot of distance between the spotter and the driver who may be in the middle of an obstacle. In such situations verbal signals are not always the most effective way to communicate.

With that in mind, rule #4 of great spotting is...

* A great spotter will make sure that the driver understands the hand signals he uses. You can do this while you are having your little drivers chat.

Here are a few examples used in our club...

STOP: We use a closed fist for a stop.• TURN RIGHT OR LEFT: We point with • the index finger (or thumb) to the left or the right when we want the driver to turn the wheel and, if he is not turning far enough we point and push the finger in that direction at the same time.ADVANCE: We extend an open hand • so that the palm is facing AWAY from the driver, we then fold the thumb in so that it is not confused as a direc-tional signal, and, keeping the fingers together, we wave the fingers inward a repeating manner.REVERSE: Using one or both open palms, • FACING the driver, we make a pushing motion in a repeating manner. When doing reverse we may go to the back of the vehicle to help the driver back up safely.

DRIVER RULES FORGREAT SPOTTINGAt this point the article has been mainly about spotters but DRIVERS can have a HUGE part in how organized or disorga-nized spotting is around his vehicle. Oddly enough, drivers can do a lot to encourage great spotting. In fact, when a driver knows great spotting he can do certain things that can force a spotter to follow the rules with-out ever saying a word.Neat, huh? The question is, “How?”

DRIVER RULE NUMBER ONE

Whether or not he will be spotted is up to the driver and the driver should be the one who decides if he wants a spot or not. The means that drivers rule #1 is...

* Ask for a spot or specify that you do not want a spot.

If you do NOT want a spot it is sometimes helpful to say it loud enough to be heard over all of the noise of the run (or, really, to make sure everyone hears you). “I’m ok with-out a spotter for right now, thanks!” does the job well and no one gets their feelings hurt. Saying, “right now”, leaves the door open in case you change your mind.

DRIVER RULE NUMBER TWOThe spotter may not instinctively know that if he stops moving you should stop moving. In fact, he may even ask you why you stopped moving. Here rule #2 comes in...

* If spotter is not moving or directing you in some way then don’t move. It should always be like this... if the spotter directs you, you move, if the spotter stops directing, you stop moving.

DRIVER RULE NUMBER THREEIn the event that a spotter does not practice Spotter Rule #3 — the rule about creating a bond between driver and spotter - then the driver can make it happen all by himself. Driver rule #3 is...

* Lock on to your spotter and tune everyone else out.

This accomplishes another effect. With the driver locked on to the spotter, observers (would be spotters) quickly learn that the driver is not listening to them, but rather lis-tening only to the spotter. Once they catch on to this they will start yelling at the spotter and not at you.

IN SUMMARY

For the record, a lot of these issues would

not need to be brought up if more folks just backed off spotting and focused on watch-ing the spotter and learning from him.

Fortunately, it is a lot easier to teach driv-ers how to pay attention to spotters and to teach spotters how to get drivers to focus on them than it is to teach every person on every trail-run to not try to help with spot-ting. It is just human nature to help out. (non-spotters, are you getting a message here?)

This being the case, our expectations of spot-ters and drivers needs to be set correctly. When both the driver AND the spotter are on the same page all the yelling in the world won’t make a darn bit of difference. H

Ed. Note: Daniel Strà is the Founder of The JonFund 4X4 club <http://www.jonfund.com>, one of the strongest and largest 4 wheel drive clubs in the US. He has been involved with off-roading in one form or another since 1990. Comments should be addressed to jonfund@jonfund.com. Article used by permission. © Daniel Strà

AZIMUTH 27

Description

The Brake system should be checked as part of the “A” Service.

Related Tasks

Halfshaft Bolt Check

Tools and Supplies

Pry Bar

Special Tools

No special tools are required for checking the Brakes. See “Tips on Brake Pad Replace-ment” (later in this section) for special tools used when replacing the Brake Pads.

Notes / Special Instructions

When checking Brake pads, make sure • wear is close to even between Pads on a Brake, and between Brakes on an Axle. Uneven wear may indicate sticking Guide Pins or other problems.

When replacing Pads, be sure to use the • same type of Pad (i.e. lining material) on all brakes.

When replacing Pads, replace all 4 Pads • on an axle at the same time.

I• t is not unusual for the Rear Brakes to wear faster than the Front Brakes on the Hummer.

DOT 5 Brake Fluid usually contains some • type of dye (e.g. yellow or purple). DOT 3 usually does not.

DO NOT MIX DOT 3 and DOT 5 Brake • Fluid (except in emergency).

Brake System Symptoms

Warped Rotors may cause Low-speed • Surging.

Air bubbles in the brake lines may cause • Soft Brake Pedal feel.

Dirt or debris may cause Brake Squeal. • (Some slight squealing is normal for disk brakes.)

Sticking or Misadjusted Parking Brake • may cause excessive Rear Brake Wear.

Procedure

Check Pad Wear

1. Visually Inspect Brake Pads.

Illustration 1 shows the (passenger-side • front) Brake Caliper area. Illustration 2 shows the details of the Brake Pads.

The Pad Lining is located between the • Brake Rotor and the Brake Pad Backing Plates.

If any Brake Pad Lining is less than 1/8” • thick (about the thickness of 2 US pen-nies) all the Pads on that axle should be replaced.

If Pad Lining wear (on a Brake) is more • than slightly uneven, the Guide Pins may be sticking. Illustrations 4 and 5 show the guide pins.

Check Brake Rotor

1. Visually check the Rotor

Check the surfaces where the Pads press.•

Check for scratches, scoring, or cracking.•

Brake Fluid Level Check

1. Do Not Overfill.

Do not top off the reservoir. As the brakes • wear, the fluid level drops. When new pads are installed, the fluid level is raised. If the reservoir does not have enough room for this extra fluid, it will spill out.

Metal Brake Fluid Reservoir should al-• ways be at least 2/3 full.

Plastic Brake Fluid Reservoir should al-• ways be in the marked range.

28 AZIMUTH

TECH TIP BY DAVE BREGGIN

BRAKES - CHECKING

Illustration 1 – Brake Caliper

Illustration 2 – Brake Caliper Detail

Brakes – Checking

Description

The Brake system should be checked as part of the “A” Service.

Related Tasks

Halfshaft Bolt Check

Tools and Supplies

Pry Bar

Special Tools

No special tools are required for checking the Brakes. See “Tips on Brake Pad Replacement” (later in this section) for special tools used when replacing the Brake Pads.

Fluids Required

Type Specification Quantity

Brake Fluid – non-TT4 Hummers DOT 5 (Silicone)

Brake Fluid – TT4 Hummers DOT 3

Guide Pin Lube Teflon

Fasteners

Fastener Wrench Size Loctite TorqueNotes / Special Tools

Brake Adapter to Differential 15/16” Blue 110 – 140 lb ft

Caliper Yoke to Adapter 9/16” Red 40 lb ft

Caliper Guide Pins 7mm Hex Key Red 30 lb ft

Brake Caliper Bleed Screw 3/8” - 6 – 15 lb ftProtective Rubber Cap

Brake Line Fittings 3/8” & 5/8” - -Flare fitting

Notes / Special Instructions • When checking Brake pads, make sure wear is close to even between Pads on a Brake, and between

Brakes on an Axle. Uneven wear may indicate sticking Guide Pins or other problems.• When replacing Pads, be sure to use the same type of Pad (i.e. lining material) on all brakes.• When replacing Pads, replace all 4 Pads on an axle at the same time.• It is not unusual for the Rear Brakes to wear faster than the Front Brakes on the Hummer.• DOT 5 Brake Fluid usually contains some type of dye (e.g. yellow or purple). DOT 3 usually does not.• DO NOT MIX DOT 3 and DOT 5 Brake Fluid (except in emergency).

Brake System Symptoms• Warped Rotors may cause Low-speed Surging.• Air bubbles in the brake lines may cause Soft Brake Pedal feel.• Dirt or debris may cause Brake Squeal. (Some slight squealing is normal for disk brakes.)• Sticking or Misadjusted Parking Brake may cause excessive Rear Brake Wear.

Brakes – Page 1 of 5

Illustration 3 – Parking Brake Arm

Illustration 4

Illustration 5 - Brake Yoke and Guide Pins

2. Check Owners manual for specific checking procedure.

Parking Brake Cable Adjustment

1. Check tension on Parking Brake Cable.

I• llustration 3 shows the passenger-side parking brake arm. On the Hummer, the Parking Brake activates only the rear brakes. Cable should be checked on both rear brakes.

Check should be performed with the Park-• ing Brake released (off).

Cable should be tight enough that there is • no free play in the clevis. If it is too loose, the brake may not be fully activated when the lever is set.

Cable should be loose enough that it can • be deflected by hand. If the Cable is too tight, the brake may not be fully released when the lever is released.

Parking Brake Arm should rest against the • housing.

2. The Parking Brake is adjusted by rotating the end of the Parking Brake Lever near the Driver’s seat. Refer to the Owners Manual for specific adjusting procedures.

Check Brake Adapter Mounting Bolts

1. Visually Check Brake Adapter Mounting Bolts.

There are two mounting bolts, one above • the other.

Illustration 4 shows the location of one of • these bolts.

2. Use Pry Bar to Check Brake Adapter Mounting Bolts.

Gently pry between the Differential and • the Brake Adapter. There should not be any movement.

Check Brake Yoke Mounting Bolts

1. Visually Check Brake Yoke Mounting Bolts.

There are two mounting bolts, one above • the other.

Illustration 5 shows the location of one of • these bolts.

Tips on Brake Pad Replacement

Rear Brake Caliper Piston must be rotated • as it is compressed. This is necessary to compress the parking brake auto-adjustment mechanism. Illustration 7 shows a special tool used to perform this operation. The socket is fitted over the end of the piston. The tool has two hex locations for turning with a wrench or socket, one for turning the piston and one for compressing it. The tool is used to alternately compress, and then turn the brake piston.

Upper Brake Yoke Mounting Bolts are • difficult to reach with ordinary hand tools. Illustration 8 shows a special tool used to remove and install these bolts.

Before compressing brake pistons, check • the condition of the rubber boot. If the boot is torn or melted, dirt may get into the brake mechanism and cause it to freeze up. Rebuilding the caliper is recommended if dirt contamination is suspected.

When compressing the Brake Caliper • Pistons, Brake Fluid will be forced out of the system and into the reservoir. Make sure there is enough room in the reservoir for this fluid.

Brake guide pins (Illustration 6, previous • page) should be cleaned and lubricated with a Teflon Guide Pin lubricant.

Sometimes, after changing brake pads, • excessive vibration or shuddering may occur when stopping. This is usually caused by a slight misalignment between the brake pads and the rotor. This is normal, varies somewhat from one truck to another, and is not adjustable. The simplest treatment for this condition is to perform two or three “hard stops” with the truck. From about 55 or 60 mph, use the brakes to quickly slow down to about 10 mph. Do not lock the tires. (Do not to this more than two or three times without allowing the brakes to cool down first.) Be sure to perform this procedure where you are not a hazard to other traffic.

Tips on Brake Rotor Replacement

Replacing the Rotors required removal • of the Brake Caliper and Pads as well as disconnecting the inboard end of the Halfshaft.

Where to Find…

This article is an excerpt from the Mainte-nance Manual available from BlueHummer Outfitters. The tools mentioned, as well as brake pads and other repair and replace-ment parts are available from many sources, include BlueHummer Outfitters. www.Blue-Hummer.com 303-798-5518

30 AZIMUTH

Illustration 6 - Brake Yoke and Guide Pins

Illustration 7

Illustration 8 - Brake Yoke MountingBolt Tool

TECH TIP BY DAVE BREGGIN

WOODFIELD HUMMERSCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS

WWW.WOODFIELDHUMMER.COM1-847-882-2200

BERT OGDEN HUMMER CREST HUMMERHOOVER, ALABAMA

WWW.CRESTHUMMER.COM1-205-979-7979

MISSION, TEXAS

WWW.BERTOGDENHUMMER.COM1-956-581-1111

NUCAR HUMMERNEW CASTLE, DELAWARE

WWW.NUCARHUMMER.COM1-302-322-2438

HUMMER of KNOXVILLEKNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

WWW.HUMMEROFKNOXVILLE.COM1-865-970-0067

HURRICANE HUMMERHURRICANE, WEST VIRGINIA

WWW.HURRICANEHUMMER.COM1-304-562-3005

The dealers listed above purchase club memberships for new owners or provide event mechanical support to the Club.

The next time you are in one of these dealerships, extend a thank you to them for their participation in making our club great!

Our thanks go to the followingdealerships for their support:

Bergstrom HUMMER, Madison, WIBergstrom HUMMER, Milwaukee, WIBergstrom HUMMER, Neenah,WIBert Ogden HUMMER, Mission, TXCapitol HUMMER, Greenbelt, MDCapitol HUMMER, Lansing, MICentral HUMMER, Cleveland, OHClassic HUMMER, TXDimmit HUMMER, Clearwater, FLGalles Davis HUMMER, Albuquerque, NMGerry Lane HUMMER, Baton Rouge, LAHarvey HUMMER, Grand Rapids, MI

HUMMER of Columbus, OHHUMMER of Naperville, ILHUMMER of Sacramento, CAHurricane HUMMER, Hurricane, WVIndependence HUMMER, NCJim Jard HUMMER, TXLockhart HUMMER, Indianapolis, INLynch HUMMER, O’Fallon, MOQuirk HUMMER, Manchester, NHRizza HUMMER, Tinley Park, ILRon Carter HUMMER,TXSchepel HUMMER, Merrillville, INScott HUMMER, Emmaus, PATyler HUMMER, MIJerry Seiner HUMMER, South Jordan, UTMoore HUMMER, Vienna, VAWeil HUMMER, Libertyville, ILWoodfield HUMMER, Schaumburg, IL

WITHOUT DEALER SUPPORT WE COULDN’T KEEP HOSTING OUR GREAT EVENTS.LET THEM KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THEM!

AZIMUTH 31

32 AZIMUTH

THINGS DON’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNEDThis was hands down our “OOPS!” moment for this issue... you can see and read a little more about it in the write-up from “Hole in the Rock,” but here is one more look:

“Apparently, Jarek had forgotten The Master’s instructions to please be careful and not turn Brent’s truck over. Well, it was too late now to go over the details again. An airlift emergency team was called by satellite and quickly canceled when it was determined that no one was injured or required emergency assistance. Jarek received a spanking from Brent, and the recovery team went to work.” - As told by L. Keith Farrand

For the record, the truck was recovered, and proceeded to wheel for the rest of the event without additional incident!

Please send us your stories and photos

about getting stuck, breaking your truck, or otherwise

getting your HUMMER into a bad situation...

Send submissions to AZIMUTH@THEHUMMERCLUBINC.COM

with “OOPS” in the subject line.

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