Want to Take Your SUV Off the Urban Path?
Actually take your off-road vehicle off road? Given our current fascination with the sport-utility vehicle as people mover (and grocery hauler and errand runner) of choice, it’s unclear how many SUVs actually ever leave the highway.
But if you bought your SUV or other four-wheel-drive vehicle for its originally engineered purpose, here is a quick guide to two courses and one event that will take you off the beaten urban path:
Off-Road 101: This introduction to safe and sane 4x4 driving is conducted by Harry Baker, chief instructor for the California Assn. of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs. Classes, at the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area near Gorman, are scheduled for Aug. 21, Oct. 16 and Dec. 18.
The safety clinics, open to all four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles, draw everything from luxurious Lexus RX 300s to hulking Hummers. Most participants, Baker says, bring more conventional sport-utility vehicles--Explorers, 4Runners, Rodeos, Monteros, Cherokees and the like.
Baker tailors the course to account for the capabilities of each participant’s vehicle and starts by putting students through four hours of classroom training. Then it’s off to four hours of drive time on a series of courses, where they meet half a dozen obstacles designed to offer exposure to the most common types of problems they may encounter while off-roading on their own.
Classes accommodate 25 students and fill up fast. Fee: $65.
For reservations or information, call Baker at (818) 705-3930.
EVOC Classes: The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for covering a lot of serious terrain and has established a national reputation for off-road expertise. The department’s Emergency Vehicle Operations Center trains drivers from fire and police departments around the state.
Since 1992 it has offered boiled-down versions of its off-road training classes to the public. The classes are held at the EVOC facility (18958 Institution Road, San Bernardino) and in the mountains just beyond.
The program is open to anyone with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. It consists of a 90-minute classroom session, several hours of work on the skid pad and an accident-avoidance course before moving to an afternoon of rock “walking,” hill climbing and a mountain drive that covers steep uphill and downhill driving in rugged terrain. And, yes, there are gentler fire roads available for students who wish to opt out of a section of the drive they find particularly challenging.
Sessions are scheduled whenever the department gets enough reservations for a group of four to 10 students, on average once a month. Because dates are not set in advance, you must call for a reservation. The fee is $250.
Information: (909) 887-7550.
Sierra Trek ‘99: This off-road version of the 18th century fur trappers’ rendezvous--a huge gathering to swap stories, show off skills, trade, play and eat--takes place Aug. 19-22 in Meadow Lake, 30 miles north of Truckee.
About 2,000 people are expected to take part in four days of back-country drives and view manufacturers’ exhibits of the latest in four-wheeling goodies. There will be dances, dinners, games and activities for children and adults. Though several of the drives are already booked solid, there are still openings for a special trip designed for SUV drivers.
Cost: Adults, $85 to $115 a person, depending on the number of days attending; ages 7-12, $20 to $30.
Information: Bob Reed, (925) 447-3142. E-mail: rkreed@aol.com.
*
John O’Dell can be reached at john.odell@latimes.com.
