MESA Park Jeep Show
January 2001
Alarm Clock time: 4:00 a.m.
House departure time 5:00 a.m.
Met at Wildwood
6:00 a.m. Amazing!
Arrived at
9:20 a.m.
The
road trip was great, hardly any traffic at 6:00 a.m.
The humming of the tires and the wind rattle will keep you awake.
Jeff was pulling Scott Allen’s jeep in front, Ray flat towing his jeep
and Paul and I keeping up the rear. It
took us about 3 ½ hours to get there. Paul
Worthman was behind me when we came upon some road construction. He noticed I
was pulled to the right a little and he figured he better hold on cause he still
was disconnected from the campout trip last weekend.
Well it was a good thing he was paying attention cause he said he just
about had a rolling experience.
We
can’t seem to go on a trail ride anymore without the famous phrase “Hey guys
we gotta turn around”. This
time it was out of Jeff’s mouth. Only
about a 20 mile horseshoe detour back to our exit.
Mesa
Park is a large attraction area with lots of food venders and grandstands.
The swamp buggy track is one large pond with a figure eight track.
There were 35 Jeeps entered in the show, which was held right at the main
entrance and in front of the venders. Seven
clubs were present. Scott Allen’s
Jeep received a trophy for People’s Choice Best of Show.
Ray Woo received a trophy for the longest traveled.
The big Green CJ-7 that was at our campout received the tallest jeep
award. Jerry Therrien received best
rock prepared. Other awards
included cleanest Jeep, Best Street prepared, muddiest and best dent, which was
an old jeep pick up, not a straight panel on it.
Carl Rieche did an excellent job on the show.
They ended up putting $200. into the FL4WDA
treasury. We had 75
people and 37 Jeeps parked around the lake at the entrance to the Park and got
lots of positive comments by spectators on the show. Other clubs
attending were Interstate Four Wheel Drive Club, Jeepers Jeep Club, Legendary
Jeeps, Mud Monkeys, Orlando Jeep
Club, Palm Beach Off Road and Adventure, Spacecoast Four Wheelers, Suncoast
Flatlanders and Jeepers Jeep Club who had the Best Club Particpation Award with
17 Jeeps!
The
Buggy Races were a lot of fun to watch in person.
Once they go around the track all you can see is muddy water spray.
If you had the right set up you would skim right over the big hole in the
beginning of the track. If not, you kind of just sunk in the water hole.
The 4 cyl. Jeep buggies were more interesting to watch as they just
puttered around the track with water just waving across the hood.
They would really sink in the big hole.
Most of the drivers were wearing wet suits. I wonder why? In
closing, it was a great trip and I’m sure that if there is another one, it
will be even better.
The
Ocala Jeep Club of Florida 
