I posted this on the TDS website;
I just wanted to make a few comments about TDS Safari 2006. I have been attending your events for several years, just as a spectator. I chose not to sign up because I do not go on any of your runs (too many rigs, have a group of friends that I wheel with, etc.) but I love to watch all the people. I already contribute to several groups who lobby for our rights as off roaders for land use. I also activly write emails and letters to political types who can help our cause. And, I have been going to the Truckhaven area since I was a baby. What I am getting to is this;
On Saturday in the early afternoon, we (my group of six rigs, a few of which signed up for the Safari) were out in the hills. We were going up a steep, unmarked canyon trail towards the fire hydrant. We came head to head with one of your "Officials" who was less than ten feet from the top and heading downhill. He shouted out of his Jeep that he was a TDS official and we had to back up for him. He refused to follow any trail etiquite and back up the ten feet. He stayed blocking the trail and refused to budge, forcing all of us to back down the canyon to find a place to pull over. I remind you that the trial was unmarked because the other Officials had already pulled up the markers, so we had no idea it was a TDS trail. Otherwise we would not have gone up it to avoid conflict with your group. He then drove up to us and called us "freeloaders" several times, as if he bought and paid for the Truckhaven hills. I tried to explain to him the trail was unmarked, but only got belligerence in return. He was a complete jerk, and on some sort of power trip, acting like King for a Day. He was a horrible representation of your proud club. The only reason he did not get his lights punched out, was that some of my group, including me, are law enforcement officers and did not want to push it further than he already had. I have had nothing but good contact with all other members of your group throughout the years, and even thought of joining (even through I am not the club type). Now, forget it, it will never happen. Most of the people in my off roading circle think the same way now (I am a member of a web site with 17,000 members, mostly off roaders "x...explorer4x4.com").
Also, these Safari's are attracting a element of serious drinkers and show offs. We went over to the ditches north of Palm wash on Saturday night and it was the usual zoo. All sorts of giant "Azusa" type monster rigs climbing out of the canyons, simply tearing up the walls. On Sunday morning we returned to that area and it was covered with empty beer cans and rubbish. It was totally trashed! I am aware that a clean up is done on Sunday by your group. I am not sure if these Safari's are helping our cause in keeping the land open to use for off road vehicles. If someone from any so called "evironmental" group videotaped Saturday nights activities, and the aftermath, it would look real bad for off roaders. Also, usually this area is not saturated with vehicles and RV's. This oversaturation causes people to park their RV's in places not usually used, creating more damage to the local terrain, flora and fauna. I also understand your group does not have any control over these types of activities, but something needs to be done if we want to keep this land open.
Please do not take this as a complaint about TDS. I think your group is one of the best off road groups in the nation. I just want to make your group aware of a few concerns. Maybe you could tell your "Official" people to lighten up just a little.
Thank You;
Brian Kennedy
San Diego, California
I thought the flex looked cool from my angle, but that is unreal.
