On the third day we spent a lot more time driving around the
course. We learned how and when to use the throttle and when to
use the brakes to lock up the Torsen limited slip in the front
end (the 2003 models we used had the Eaton ELocker in
the back).
|
|
Winding thru the trees |
A few muddy climbs |
|
|
Water crossings |
Woodsy tracks |
|
|
Test areas for learning throttle modulation |
Rocky climbs |
This is where I discovered that the staff has a great sense of
humor as my instructor told me to take a certain line through
a pit on a trail and I immediately plowed the front end under
and into a mud hole that sucked the Hummer down like the Titanic.
As I looked around and witnessed the grins on all the instructors’
faces I realized that I was setup and simply had nothing
else to do but laugh along with them!
There was no way out without winching, so we uncoiled the cable
and got to it. The instructors offered suggestions and kept an
ever-watchful eye to make sure that everyone did the rights things
– the experienced and the inexperienced.
|
|
Should have read the sign! |
Getting the winch ready |
|
|
Pulling cable with a little help |
Securing the tree strap |
After we got off the muddy trails we headed over to the mini-Rubicon
course. Driving over slabs of rock, I felt at home. In addition
to working with each person as a driver, the instructors took
time to work with each person on their spotting technique. From
the earlier classroom lessons, we were now putting what was taught
to the test.
|
|
The Rock Garden - Mini Rubicon |
Spotter giving instructions |
|
|
The length of the course |
37" tires |
|
|
Cresting the rocks |
Sliders doing their job |
While many of you reading this may think these rocks are
pretty small, imagine what the Hummer owner who has never been
off-road must be feeling as they crested the top of that boulder
for the first time or heard the metal of skid plates gnashing against
the rock and not really knowing what it was. Do you remember what
it felt like? This is what keeps people coming back to our sport -
the feelings that these people are feeling, in many cases, for
the first time.
|
|
Tentative line |
Dropping in |
|
|
Instructing the spotter |
Bringing it home |
Once the field work was done for the day we gathered in the training
room for lunch and a class on off-road preparation. This class
covered many details including how to prepare your vehicle, proper
gear to pack and how to prepare yourself for the trail.
The class also discussed organized and recreational 4-wheeling
and the benefits of joining local clubs and national organizations
like Tread Lightly!, the Blue Ribbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Association.
After the class we left the Driving Facility and returned to
the Hummer Technical Center where we were handed over to one of the
Technical Instructors. He took us back to the classroom that
had the cut-away Hummer. He spent a lot of time showing us how
the different components under the skin worked with one another.
After this short review we exited to a shop bay where a Hummer
was up on a rack.
|
|
Cut-away Chassis Rear View |
Understanding the underside components |
|
|
Notice the steel skeleton |
Solid protection |
Using mostly hand tools (with the exception of the rack) the
students proceeded in taking apart a half-shaft and removing various
skid plates from under the vehicle. At each stop the instructor
made sure the entire class had hands-on the repairs. He showed
us the easy ways and the hard ways to do things and spent a lot
of time talking about what someone might actually see on the trail.
He walked us through quick fixes and extended issues alike.
|
|
Explaining what's next |
Removing the tire |
|
|
The idler arm assembly |
Pulling a half shaft |
After the technical stuff was over the staff took us all out
for some local food and we returned to the hotel exhausted from
the day’s events but looking forward to Thursday.