Overland Challenge

[ericbphoto]

For those of you not following me on Facebook, I am at the Overland Challenge in Uwharrie National Forest, NC. Sponsored by Overland Xpeditions, BFG and others. It's a 3 day event with 15 teams of overlanders competing in many events including trail rides, skills tests and even a few silly games.

Today, I am manning the tire repair event - instructions below.

The teams all had to drive in in their Overland vehicles, no trailering. We woke up this morning to 30 degrees and heavy frost. Drivers meeting and tech inspection are happening now. There are a bunch of vendors arriving, too.

 

[ericbphoto]

Right next to my station, is the "drunk camp setup" event and the "water balloon launch" and "hatchet throwing" events. I also have a good view of the blind driver course, where the co-driver is supposed to drive blindfolded, taking directions from the driver. I'll try to do a video walk-thru of that later.

 

[dvdswan]

looks like its going to be a great weekend of memories.

 

[ericbphoto]

 

[bbbc3]

What is the drunk camp setup? That would be fun to watch!

 

[Dirtman]

What is the drunk camp setup? That would be fun to watch!

Hopefully not next to the drunk driving course...

 

[97RangerXLT]

Right next to my station, is the "drunk camp setup" event and the "water balloon launch" and "hatchet throwing"

that hatchet throwing event next to the tire repair station... are they trying to create a synergy of sorts for the tire repair?

AJ

 

[ericbphoto]

At the drunk camp setup event, they had what they call "drunk goggles". Team members put on the goggles that created blurry, and "just plain crewed up vision" and had to set up a tent, collapsible backpacking chair and portable toilet with pop-up enclosure. I put the goggles on and still can't describe what they did. They messed with your depth of field and messed with lighting and produced glare and blurred everything. As I walked over to the tent on the ground, I ended up kicking it before I thought I was even close. It was weird.

 

[ericbphoto]

Just had a good talk with a rep from BFG about a navigation app they developed. It's cool. I'll try to post more info and a QR code for the app. If you buy it before the official roll-out on May 12, you get 2 years for the price of one. $34.00 hundreds of top notch maps and, when you choose a trail, it opens Google Maps or Apple's version of Google maps to give you directions to get to the trail.

On another note, it appears that I am the only Ford truck driver at this event. It would be cool to fix that at future events. (Hint, hint, hint)

 

[ericbphoto]

Just walked around this rig. Pretty awesome. Would be nice to outfit a 2021 Ranger with this equipment.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Any Ford trucks there?

It would be fun to go to this event with an old Ranger and ground rent and beat these guys with their new trucks and expensive gear. LOL.

FYI, we're going to expect more from you at Attica this fall. LOL.

 

[ericbphoto]

I haven't seen any other Fords.


Here is the QR code to get the Navigation/ trail map app early. The guy told me this app has loads of trail maps including several hundred that normally cost a bunch of money in another fancy more expensive app. (Can't remember the name right now. I dipped into my special moonshine cook's lubricant.)

Special thanks to Adam Caldwell at BFG

 

[ericbphoto]

Aaahh. Sunshine in the night.

Beautiful sky tonight.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

We are building a 4x4 Sprinter van. We are looking for some shows to market the van. Do you see any there? Do you think it would generate any interest at a place like that

 

[Jim Oaks]

Overland Expo West, or the Overland Expo in Colorado. I've been. Anyone that likes any kind of camping or adventure travel should go at least once.