The Muddy Buddys Jeep Wrangler Club

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 12:26

Meeting with Muddy Buddys in Englewood, OH

Sunday night (August 26) my friend Paul Elbiser was nice enough to put me up at his house for the night (thanks Paul), which also allowed me to spend a bit of time catching up on email and BRC business related work on Monday morning.

Monday afternoon (August 27), I headed up to Englewood, OH to meet up with the Muddy Buddys Jeep Wrangler Club on Monday evening. This group has it going on with around 50 different event activities a year, each hosted by a different business sponsor. They are pretty creative with their events that range all the way from a fundraiser rodeo type event at a local Church to full-on trail rides, unfortunately, often out of state since there is very little full-size OHV opportunity in Ohio for them. But they are working on it. It is pretty amazing to me the affiliations they have developed around the country with other groups and extensions of their club in many other states. Hopefully, I can meet with some of them as well as I continue around the states on the Tour.

Over the weekend with Paul Edude

Submitted by sharetrails on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 10:13

Saturday afternoon and Sunday (August 25-26) were a great ride through south eastern Indiana along the Ohio river. Paul told me about how another friend of mine, "Frydaddy" Chris Fryman, was at the Whispering Beard festival in Friendship, Indiana. Chris is from Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. Now when you hear about the Whispering Beard Festival, and Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, ya just gotta go see what up...

My bud Paul shared some miles with me

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 09:26

Lest you think it all work and no play...

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 09:24

They don't just have cars at the Indy HOF Museum

Charlie, waiting patiently while Paul E. and I drool over everything

Like I said, not just cars that go roundy roundy

I had some extra time after the meeting with ABATE and DIRT at Indy and Saturday (August 25). Since, my next meeting wasn't until Monday up in Ohio with the Muddy Buddys, I had the rest of the weekend. An extra bonus is my bud Paul Elbiser rode his Kewl Buel up to ride a ways with me. Turned out, he ended up riding well over 300 miles, more about that later.

While we waited for Paul to arrive, Charlie and I had a very good discussion about everything and then some at the restaurant over at the Indy Speedway. Great Porkloin sandwich, which was about the size of the whole pig. Then, always the good host and all around good guy, Charlie Williams treated Paul and I to a trip to the Indy HOF Museum. Wow! Awesome! Cool! That's about all I have to say about that. If you get the chance, it is a must do in Indy.

Charlie and Wilma, YOU ROCK!!! Thank you for the awesome hospitality.

Indiana... the suprised me state. Learned a bunch and saw a lot.

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 08:42

See the blog for a left to right introduction

Well, it was a long night on the bike to get to Indy, but I am glad I did. Thankfully, when I arrived at about 3 am (several stops to stretch and avoid fatigue), my good friends Charlie and Wilma Williams left the light on for me. Very gracious of them to open their house to me and Charlie is not a half bad breakfast chef either. After the previous night on the hard old ground in a tent, I slept like a log.

Charlie, writer of all things motorcycle, entrepreneur, and known by everyone (including the Pope ;) ) had set up a meeting for me with folks with DIRT (Discover Indiana Riding Trails) and, as it turned out, some of the leaders from ABATE of Indiana. In the picture adjacent, Roy Garrett (w/ABATE of Indiana), Rick Dorfmeyer (w/Tucker Rocky), Charlie Williams, yours truly, Gary Williams (Operations Director with ABATE of Indiana), and Al Pivonka (President of DIRT.)

Met with the Mudchuggers in Troy, MI... None of them like mud--the name, like the namesake, just stuck.

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 07:51

After spending the morning and part of the afternoon of Friday (August 24) in camp catching up, it was time to head to Troy for the meeting with leaders of BRC's longstanding member organization, the Mudchuggers 4-Wheel Drive Club. The discussion was full. Justin Reeves (President) and Bill Habercamp (Vice-President) and Jerry DeHondt (described himself as the elder statesman of the club) shared the history and activities of the club, as well as, some very good feedback on their concerns and suggestions for BRC.

From the Forests to the Farmland to the City... Michigan has a lot of diversity.

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Tue, 08/28/2012 - 07:13

Look who discovered the self-timer on the camera... not as dumb as I look :)

Thursday morning, August 23, I set out in a southerly direction toward Lansing, Michigan, only to have to turn back to get the phone charger I had left behind at Dick and Patty's. Since that phone is an essential piece of gear, it was good that Dick called before I had gone too far. Saved me the bucks and time to have to stop and buy another. It was a bonehead move on my part that I am sure to repeat again, but it was pretty nice of them to meet me half way back to their house to save me time. Thanks yet again Dick and Patty.

Back on track and headed in the right direction again, I was struck by what diversity there is in Michigan. From the Forests in the north to the farmland I was now passing through and the cities I was heading toward, Michigan is a beautiful and industrious state.

Another night with enthusiasts in Michigan.

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 21:59

The "town hall" session in West Branch, MI

On Wednesday night (August 22), I was fortunate enough to have another session with enthusiasts in a "town hall" type meeting, this time in West Branch, Michigan. The meeting went for over two hours and many of the folks had come from an hour or more away, which I appreciate. Thanks to all for taking the time out of your day to share with me.

A day with Dick Ranney

Submitted by Greg Mumm on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 21:02

Some people just set a standard and Dick Ranney is one of those people. I have long known of the work Dick is doing in Michigan on behalf of the OHV community, even from before I was the Executive Director of BlueRibbon Coalition. The ripples extend well beyond Michigan. And, I have long wanted to have the opportunity to meet and spend a little time with Dick, picking his brain. This tour seemed the perfect time to avail myself of the opportunity and I am glad that I did.