Florida

[Popeye304]

All quiet here. :(

[gunnersmac]

No way bud... Just south of Cocoa Beach here, live on Patrick AFB, and work on Cape Canaveral AFS. Doesn't seem like there are a lot of us in FL though, at least not yet.

[miljeep]

Heading down to Patrick AFB area in June for a family reunion. Forgot the name of the pizza place down there that has that huge pizza, but they have to cut it and put it into two pizza boxes it is so big. Gonna hit that joint while down there.

[WFTW]

There will be a WFTW charity event in Ocala on June 21-22.

Saturday: We will be marking approximately 80 miles of trails in the Ocala National Forest with signs. This is a HUGE deal. Tread Lightly's Executive Director will be in attendance and it's being funded by Hummer, who will have representatives from their corporate office there. Yes, Hummer knows I drive a Jeep, but they are still supporting this...which I think says a lot about them considering I've contacted Jeep several times and didn't get even 1 response.

After marking the trails we'll be going to Hard Rock off-road park for a large dinner, raffle, etc. Camping is available there for $10 or you can leave and go stay in a hotel (I can give you the names, addresses, and phone numbers for about 7 nearby hotels if you like).

Sunday we'll be off-roading at Hard Rock for only $15 (10am - 5pm)...it's normally $25 a day, but they're giving us a discount.

A multi-media company from Illinios that recently started Trailride TV will be filming the event. Once edited, the video will be available for FREE download via the internet. I'm in contact with Four Wheeler magazine, and they may be attending the event as well.

If you'd like to go, I'll just need to know how many people you'll have with you (to better plan for food needs).

Should be fun...hope to see some fellow Military Jeepers out there. :)

[gunnersmac]

I'd love to go, and have family about 30 minutes from Ocala... bad news is with my Jeep in its current state, I'm not sure how far I'd be able to take it on these trails. I've yet to test its abilities off road.

[WFTW]

I'd love to go, and have family about 30 minutes from Ocala... bad news is with my Jeep in its current state, I'm not sure how far I'd be able to take it on these trails. I've yet to test its abilities off road.

What's its current state...stock? If it's stock, you can still run the trails in Ocala...stock Hummers (H3s) do it all the time. Hard Rock will be a little more difficult, but it will give you an idea what needs to be done to your Jeep. Worse comes to worse, we pull you out of wherever you're stuck.

[gunnersmac]

Well, its as close to stock as it gets... Its got a 2" lift, and its sittin' on 31x10.50's. Other than that, all stock. If you say it'll go, I'd give it a try. I've got no winch, and only a 4 banger, but I'm confident it will do good. Either way, as long as someone's there to pull it/me out, I'd be willing... oh yeah, no recovery hooks ATM either. lol.

[WFTW]

A small lift with 31's shouldn't be a problem for the trails we'll be on in the Ocala National Forest. Plus, there will be a lot of people there, so you'll have plenty of help if you get stuck (never leave a man behind :) ).

F*CK...sirens going off...incoming...gotta run!

[gunnersmac]

Thanks, I will keep an eye on this thread for sure...


Now go, and keep your head down bud.

When are you coming home from the Sand box?

[WFTW]

Back...odd for the alarms to go off at almost 1:30am. I didn't hear a "boom", so either it hasn't come yet or was a false alarm.

I'll be getting back to FL on June 12th, staying for a few weeks, then returning to Iraq.

[gunnersmac]

Well, stay safe bro. This means you will be there for the Ocala trip then? I'm starting to really look forward to this already... it will be my first run with my new/used TJ. Where do you live/stationed in FL when not deployed?

[WFTW]

They just gave the "all clear"...guess whoever was going to launch against us changed their minds.

Yes, I'll be back there for the Ocala event...it's my event...have to be. :)

I grew up in Jacksonville, but lived in Naples for 5 1/2 years before coming to Iraq. I'll go back to Jax when on vacation, with a short trip to Naples. Other than that, once I've finished my work here, I'll most likely move out west (Utah, northern Arizona maybe).

I'm no longer in the military...did 12 years in the Army and then got out and worked as a deputy sheriff for a while. I'm a private contractor for the State Deparment now assigned to Marine and Army units in Fallujah. I've been here for a year and have another 7 to 9 months to go.

I'll keep you updated on the Ocala event. We should have the time and place of where we'll be meeting soon.

[gunnersmac]

Were you a Deputy near JAX? My father is FHP and has been for about 27 years... mainly in the Flagler County area, but also Volusia, W. Volusia, and Orange. He knows a lot of the County guys too.
Your event huh? Well listen... I can only imagine how much work this must take. So I'd really like to help you with this. I am very new to trailing, and I'm very willing to learn from damn near anyone willing to teach me a thing or two. Is there anyway I can assist you with any of this? I wouldn't want a thing, 'cept maybe some pointers along the way. This sounds like a great event, and I'd just like to help if at all possible. Also, is there a cost for this event, like an entry fee, etc.? Money is very tight right now, but would be willing to help in any other way.

[WFTW]

Well, kind of my event. :) It's a charity event for Wheelers For The Wounded (www.wheelersforthewounded.org (http://www.wheelersforthewounded.org)), of which I am the Founder.

Trail riding in Ocala is free on Saturday. Saturday night there will be a dinner, raffle, and just plain good fun at a private off-road park called Hard Rock. We'll camp there that night (it's $10 to camp) and run trails there Sunday ($15 to trail ride...it's normally $25, but their giving everyone a discount).

So, the total is only $25...pretty cheep for a full weekend of fun in our 4x4's. Raffle tickets for prizes will be a couple bucks each and there's a "suggested" donation of $10...but neither of those are mandatory. 100% of the money raised will go towards the main WFTW FL event next April.

The event is being organized by a few people already (would be difficult for me to put all that together from here).

If you'd like to help, the best thing you can do is help spread the word about the event and encourage others to go. It's for a really good cause and the more people there the merrier.

The main website has a forum if you'd like to sign up on that. There's a FL section there that has more info about the event.

[Crazy_Jeeper_7]

Well, I am not in Florida physically but my roots, better half, and offspring are all in Florida while I'm over in Iraq. I was raised in Polk County and I'll be down in FL in October once my tour is over for a couple of weeks. Then it's off to Fort Benning, GA to be an instructor and take a knee from the sandbox for a while.

[gunnersmac]

There will be a WFTW charity event in Ocala on June 21-22.

Saturday: We will be marking approximately 80 miles of trails in the Ocala National Forest with signs. This is a HUGE deal. Tread Lightly's Executive Director will be in attendance and it's being funded by Hummer, who will have representatives from their corporate office there. Yes, Hummer knows I drive a Jeep, but they are still supporting this...which I think says a lot about them considering I've contacted Jeep several times and didn't get even 1 response.

After marking the trails we'll be going to Hard Rock off-road park for a large dinner, raffle, etc. Camping is available there for $10 or you can leave and go stay in a hotel (I can give you the names, addresses, and phone numbers for about 7 nearby hotels if you like).

Sunday we'll be off-roading at Hard Rock for only $15 (10am - 5pm)...it's normally $25 a day, but they're giving us a discount.

A multi-media company from Illinios that recently started Trailride TV will be filming the event. Once edited, the video will be available for FREE download via the internet. I'm in contact with Four Wheeler magazine, and they may be attending the event as well.

If you'd like to go, I'll just need to know how many people you'll have with you (to better plan for food needs).

Should be fun...hope to see some fellow Military Jeepers out there. :)

Anything new about this?

[Popeye304]

I'm a member of the Sons of Bantam Jeep club but we're slowly dying off... no place to ride legally and gas prices and all. When I returned to Orlando after the Navy the wife and I joined the Orlando jeep Club but that didn't work out... internal politics.

Some of our members have sold their Jeeps and moved to 1/4 mile racing. I'd like to do that too... but I have always wanted a CJ5... I have that now... 11/gallon and all... going to keep it.

Lou

[miljeep]

I am down in Florida now, just got here today and will be here for a few more days. The wife's family is from around the area near Patrick Air Force Base. Nice weather and lots of jeeps.

[korisu56]

Glad you guys got there safe. Let us know if there's anything needed on either end.

[gunnersmac]

I am down in Florida now, just got here today and will be here for a few more days. The wife's family is from around the area near Patrick Air Force Base. Nice weather and lots of jeeps.

Lemme know if you need anything while you're down here bud. I live on PAFB, think you knew that already.

[WFTW]

Anything new about this?

Hey...sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I've been back in the States for a few days now but have been bustin' my tail trying to get the Jeep ready for the Ocala event.

The details are in this thread...
http://wheelersforthewounded.org/forum/index.php/topic,298.0.html

I think the meeting place for Saturday is listed on the second page of the thread.

There's a few of us who are going to Hard Rock late afternoon on Friday, set up camp, go to Hooters for dinner, then back to Hard Rock for the night. We'll then go to the rally point in the forest for the Saturday portion of the event. Then it will be off to Hard Rock again for dinner and camping Saturday night. We'll get up Sunday and off-road at Hard Rock that day until 5pm or whenever.

Hope you can make it...should be a really good time.

[Rodger D Davis]

Sarasota wiil be bring four jeeps and will need three camp sites needed with hook ups. We should be arriving eary Saturday morning. Looking forward to this event.

[gunnersmac]

It's not looking good for me bud... I'm gonna kick my own ass for not going, but the TJ just isn't running right. I'd hate to get all the way over there just to break down and ruin a good time. I'll keep you posted, but it needs to get resolved first.

[WFTW]

Sarasota wiil be bring four jeeps and will need three camp sites needed with hook ups. We should be arriving eary Saturday morning. Looking forward to this event.

We'll all be camping at Hard Rock. Don't know how many campsites they have w/hook-ups, but I can't imagine that many people needing that. Cool that Sarasota will be represented. It's looking like it will be a GREAT turn-out, which means it should be lots of fun.

gunnersmac...understandable. Although, there will be some guys there with crazy talent when it comes to fixin' a Jeep, so you might want to show up and see if a few of the guys can help ya out. You could always just hang out and not wheel the TJ hard. Up to you. If not this time, then perhaps another.

[gunnersmac]

Wish I could've made it... really kind of pisses me off too. I've been looking forward to doing this since the first post... ugh. Just figures ya know. Any chance of getting a few together to wheel the same area sometime? Let me know... or if there's any place else around central FL.

[Ingen28]

Well, not related to the above info but i thought I would drop a line. Im am in Ft Myers, FL and I just ran across this forum so I thought I would join. I go out riding ALLOT but it is mostly mud and some light hills, no rock crawing stuff as we have no rocks where I am.

[miljeep]

Well, not related to the above info but i thought I would drop a line. Im am in Ft Myers, FL and I just ran across this forum so I thought I would join. I go out riding ALLOT but it is mostly mud and some light hills, no rock crawing stuff as we have no rocks where I am.

Welcome man, post an intro and let everyone know you are around. Someone may be signed up near you.

[EXR8D]

I know this thread is a few months old, but wanted to jump on here. I'm going to be transferring to Mayport in March, so I'll definitely be attending the WFTW weekend in April '09. I am just learning about this charity and am very happy to get involved with it. I also look forward to meeting some local Jeepers around the Mayport/Jax area and get the goods on where the local wheeling spots are. See ya in March!!

[Jeffb_79]

Is there any info on the '09 WFTW event in FL?
I'm stationed in Northern VA, but grew up in central FL and travel down there often. This might be a good excuse for me to drive home, visit family and friends, and do a little wheeling for a good cause.

[Moho]

Hello floridians, new to this site, anybody from the pinellas, hillsborough, pasco, polk area.

[gunnersmac]

Welcome aboard... I'm stationed South of Cape Canaveral as of now. Been in FL most of my life though, from Daytona Beach. I really wish we had more FL-Jeepers here, it would be great do have a get-together and do some wheeling. So far nada. Kind of sucks.

[madmax79]

Figured I'd revive the Florida thread. There's a ton of stuff happening in North Florida. If you're in the area, check out our website: www.matanzasjeepclub.com (http://www.matanzasjeepclub.com)

And, we are on board with the WFTW event so maybe we'll see some of you there.

[WFTW]

Is there any info on the '09 WFTW event in FL?
I'm stationed in Northern VA, but grew up in central FL and travel down there often. This might be a good excuse for me to drive home, visit family and friends, and do a little wheeling for a good cause.

Wow...sorry for the LONG delay in answering this. Since I'm not in FL at the moment, I don't often check this section of the forum.

Anyhow, the main WFTW for Florida will be held the weekend of April 4-5 at Hard Rock OHV Park (located near Ocala). If you'd like to assist with any aspect of the event, you can contact Mark at florida@hummerxclub.com. Mark is the guy in charge of the event. If you plan on attending, you may want to email him just to give him a heads up...I'm not positive, but if they end up only letting "x" number of people/rigs participate, you wouldn't want to miss out. The last event we had there went really well and everyone had a terrific time. Hard Rock is, by far, the best spot I've been to in Florida when it comes to off-roading.

[Popeye304]

I'm going to be transferring to Mayport in March

I was station at Mayport twice, long time ago. Back in the eighties there was a huge piece of land on Southside Blvd it really was an awesome place to play. Mud, water, hill, sand, and trails. It really was a fun place. Now, it's an office park.

I believe Pecan Park is still open... North of Mayport.

Later,

[1982donald]

Hey there is a great Jeep Club on the west coast just above Tampa www.citrusjeepers.com

[78GOLDENEAGLE]

X2 Check them out.^