Tierra Del Sol

TDS with Dave Stall KUSI 2019

admin-tds-2015 — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:18:15 +0000

2017 Tierra Del Sol – Day One

admin-tds-2015 — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 23:51:40 +0000

Celebrating its 55th year, the 2017 Tierra Del Sol is one of the largest and most highly anticipated 4×4 gatherings in the desert Southwest, bringing off-road enthusiasts from hundreds of miles around. Finally back at its traditional location of Truckhaven, TDS brought out the usual assortment of enthusiasts, vendors, and some of the best-known names in the off-road industry, including BFGoodrich, Dynatrac, Nitto Tire, King Shocks and many others. The Ocotillo Wells OHV area also had a booth set up with wildlife specimens, and the unfortunate casualty of one of the infamous flash floods that can occur in the area.

Food vendors offered everything from tacos to tri-tip, gyros and boba milk tea, as well as plenty of commemorative apparel. Of course, the Four Wheeler Network and Jp magazine were well-represented at the event, with Jp tech editor Verne Simons bringing his Mopar big-block-powered Jeep pickup by the Four Wheeler booth, attracting plenty of attention from attendees. Check out our gallery below of the vendor area of one of the desert Southwest’s most well-known off-road events!

View the original story and photos at Four Wheeler.com

Jeep Wrangler Off-Roading at Tierra Del Sol, Malibu and Pancake Rock Motorz #90

admin-tds-2015 — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 00:56:06 +0000

Chris Duke takes the completed Jeep Wrangler project vehicle off-roading, and Alan Taylor visits the Dodge SRT Experience at the Bondurant Racing School.

2016 Tierra Del Sol – By Bower Media

admin-tds-2015 — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 20:08:37 +0000

Bower Media Adventures – TDS Desert Safari 2016

admin-tds-2015 — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 00:10:58 +0000

Original post located at Bower Power Hour

It started off with a long week, not feeling well, a recording session the night before and a wedding rehearsal on Friday night, let’s throw a little dirt into the mix on Thursday with a quick trip to Tierra Del Sol. Well, that was the plan, but even the best laid plans don’t always work out. I ended up getting really sick and had to flip a coin and focus on my health for a day. If I can’t be well, I really can’t do anything well. So I asked forgiveness for missing the wedding rehearsal dinner on Friday night and stayed home Thursday with a one-day adventure planned for Friday.

For those that think this is a glamorous life, I may change your perception after this story. It consists of 10 hours of driving for 8 hours of being at the event. I wouldn’t trade those hours for anything. Up and out the door by 5am, I cheated and dropped down into the seat of my Mach1 Mustang to make the drive a little more under the radar, if you want to say, than in the big truck. We all know how I feel about the truck, less miles on it cuts the variables for 6.0 problems!

I arrived a little before 11 and was greeted with a smile from Bo Neece who happened to be at the new gate. Everything was brand new this year – Tierra Del Sol forced into moving locations because of a BLM permit issue that had challenged the event. Like everything new, it may be different, but I think it was great. The new location was literally just on the other side of the highway from the old location. Folks were able to drive their vehicles on the road or up the wash to see the vendors.

I drove up the road this time… Bo led my little car to a safe parking zone and scooped me up in the Polaris Ranger for a drive around the vendor area. I think it was awesome. There was plenty of room for all the vendors, and more! I think I heard there were over 80 vendors present, and when I say vendors, I really mean industry leaders all circled up and ready to talk to folks.

Bo dropped me off at the main stage that set right in between the registration booth and Raceline Wheels. I hung a right to visit with Greg from Raceline Wheels and all the folks from BFGoodrich Tires that was right next to him. We chatted for awhile, the plans for this year are amazing! So much fun to come!! Then I wandered towards the registration booth, beer garden and the event clothing area. All were packed with people, a great turn out for a Friday. I was love the response – it doesn’t seem like the folks minded the change. From the beer garden, which I want to say I did not have the opportunity to participate in this year, we could see the RC Car area, mud pit and obstacle course that folks could play around in. We could also see where the BFGoodrich Tires had a area to test the new KO2 tires by driving either Ruby or Brute.

Unfortunately for time, I didn’t get to wander too far out of the main vendor area. I did sweet talk the guys into driving off the course for a minute and down by the Salton Sea to take a couple of pictures. What an awesome adventure that was until I stepped out of the jeep into a whole bunch of broken up sea shells and fish bones in my flip flops…that hurt. Speaking of flip flops, it was gorgeous out there all day – nothing like California March in Flip flops and a tank top!

After saying my hellos and my goodbyes it was time to load up the little car and head home. I left right around 6:30 and was home by midnight. You know that sensation you have when you have been on a boat all day and then get off and it still feels like you are moving? Yeah, that’s how I felt when I got into bed that night. I was really glad that I was able to go to this year’s Desert Safari, and the wedding on Saturday was amazing too. It was here in Arizona at the Falcon Field Commemorative Air Force Museum that is packed with amazing old planes. Matt and I actually successfully pulled off a black tie getup, we were fancy. I am glad that I was allowed the opportunity to do both.

Wheeling With Sol: The 54th Annual Desert Safari

admin-tds-2015 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 01:09:54 +0000

Written by: Lori Carey, March 10, 2016

http://www.drivingline.com/articles/wheeling-with-sol-the-54th-annual-desert-safari/

The 54^th Annual Desert Safari, hosted by the Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club of San Diego, took place at a new venue this year, which offered lots of new and exciting off-road activities for attendees. As one of the longest running off-road events in the nation, the Desert Safari helps raise funds to fight land closures and keep our trails open. The reason for the venue change this year is a perfect example of why it is so important for off-roaders to get involved and support the cause. The previous location at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (OWSVRA) is 80,000 acres of open riding, adjacent to 500,000 acres of protected Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Environmentalists have been filing lawsuits since 1993 seeking to end the open riding policy, claiming that is damaging natural resources.

“TDS Four Wheel Drive Club decided to actively fight the lawsuit”

The activists have again filed seeking protective status for the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard ((Phrynosoma mcallii), despite being told three times previous that, “In conclusion, OHV activity does not appear to be a significant threat to flat-tailed horned lizard habitat throughout its range at this time, nor is it likely to become a significant threat in the foreseeable future” (Federal Register, Volume 76 Number 50, Department of the Interior, 2011). Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Desert Protective Council (DPC) have filed suit against California State Parks, claiming that they are violating the Public Resources Code by allowing open riding in a designated open riding area. California Fish and Wildlife agreed to study the request again, and no permits were to be issued during the study period which ended in February. The TDS Four Wheel Drive Club decided to actively fight the lawsuit and partnered with CORVA (California Off Road Vehicle Association) and Ecologic Partners for the long and expensive battle.

Rather than cancel the long-running event, Tierra Del Sol was able to find a new venue capable of hosting the large crowd of off-roaders. The Desert Safari headquarters was ultimately relocated to the West Shores Marina and RV Park, a short distance away on the Salton Sea. Palm Wash and Anza Ditch provide off-road access from camping locations in Ocotillo Wells, or attendees could camp on the beach. TDS then undertook the daunting task of finding a new home for the trail run. They met with the owners of the nearby Red Earth Casino, and the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians agreed to allow TDS to build new trails on their privately owned property. Unfortunately, after all of the back-breaking work put into creating the new trails, the environmental review could not be completed in time for the trails to officially open for the event.

Remember. If you don’t fight for it, you are going to lose it.

The obstacle courses were made of boulders, huge tires, and concrete tubes. It was a little extreme for stock 4x4s, but moderately modified rigs had no trouble navigating the course.

The tube obstacle course named Dale’s Drive was extremely difficult. We watched a few people decide to back off after only going a few feet. We were surprised that we didn’t witness any breakage, a fact that’s largely contributed to the level of rigs and drivers attempting to complete the course.

The mud pit was a popular attraction and had a large crowd of people throughout the event.

“Remember. If you don’t fight for it, you are going to lose it”

It’s not often we see mud in Southern California, especially after a few years of drought. So, it was a real treat. The kids were especially digging the wet dirt.

There was even a fun obstacle course for RC cars.

Icon Vehicle Dynamics was showing off some beautiful truck builds in the vendor area. This overland-themed Toyota Tacoma on Nitto Trail Grapplers was one of our favorites.

There was a large mix of vehicles on hand at the show. This nicely modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited caught our eye over the weekend.

Johnson’s Landing Café had a beer garden where attendees could relax while watching the fun and Vendor Row was set up adjacent to the obstacle courses. Over 100 industry vendors were in attendance, and Polaris offered demo rides in their 2016 RZR XP Turbo and Polaris ACE 900 SP models.

Keeping with tradition, after the $150,000+ raffle Saturday night, the event wrapped up with a fantastic fireworks show over the Salton Sea. TDS deserves many kudos for their hard work to make this a successful event despite facing many challenges. The new venue brought many great additions to the event, and everyone we talked to had a fantastic time. We’re looking forward to seeing the new trails open next year!

Gunslinger Grand Opening @ Corral Canyon – 911 Trail – Trails Part II

admin-tds-2015 — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:18:44 +0000

These are videos from the 911 trails just opened at Corral Canyon

Gunslinger Grand Opening @ Corral Canyon – 911 Trail – Trails Part I

admin-tds-2015 — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:17:27 +0000

These are videos from the 911 trails just opened at Corral Canyon

TDS Desert Safari Continues Generous Support of BRC

dorys — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 21:51:05 +0000

Announcement by Del Albright

POCATELLO, ID, (06-15-2015) — Fifty-three years strong, the world-famous Tierra Del Sol (TDS) Desert Safari once again proves how a great club and an awesome event champion responsible family recreation with a generous $5000 donation to BRC.

“Our club puts together a weekend packed full of adventure, excitement and fun for the whole family,” said Bill Kassler, President, TDS Four Wheel Drive Club. “From an epic trail ride, a vendor show, a world famous opportunity drawing and a fireworks show, I’m sure you will have a great experience. Our event has been showcased as one of the top 10 events to attend by Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine.”

Desert Safari is the largest four wheel drive event on the west coast, and the longest standing event that supports numerous charities with hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations over the years. Charities include veteran groups, local fire department and volunteer organizations, land use/access organizations galore, the California 4 Wheel Drive Association (CA4WDA), the fight for Ocotillo Wells and Truckhaven, 4Wheel to Heal, and of course, BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC).

“I’ve been attending TDS Desert Safari for BRC for over 15 years,” said Del Albright, BRC Ambassador, “and this 50 member, family-oriented club, has a special place in my heart. No other club in my 35 years of land use work has done so much or contributed so greatly to the fights to keep our lands open and our access alive and well. Stacie and I have taken our Jessica to Safari since she was about 5 years old (she’s now almost 15) and her comment to me at that tender age still lives in my mind as we approached a slippery hill climb that had a simple bypass: “We don’t take no stinking bypasses.”

Every year the vendor area features some 100+ vendors that have just the right part to upgrade your 4×4. Trail rides offer a challenge to all experience levels of wheelers, from mild to wild. The world famous opportunity drawing features over $100,000 dollars in prizes, and uniquely, each prize package is pushing $1000!

Bo Neece, club member and long time event organizer pointed out: “Our club has a long tradition of making sure you have a great time in the desert while helping us keep our recreational lands open and supporting worthwhile charities.”

“BRC is a national land use charity that relies on clubs and events like the TDS Desert Safari,” said Martin Hackworth, BRC Executive Director. “We cannot do what we do without this kind of generous and dedicated support. Thank you, Tierra del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club.”

For more information about Tierra Del Sol’s Desert Safari the first weekend of March every year, and to register, visit www.tds4x4.com.

###

The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) is a national non-profit organization that champions responsible recreation and encourages a strong conservation ethic and individual stewardship, while providing leadership in efforts to keep outdoor recreation alive and well — all sports; all trails. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education and collaboration among recreationists.1-800-BLUERIB – www.BlueRibbonCoalition.Org.

Mission Accomplished

admin-tds-2015 — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:48:06 +0000

[metaslider id=1330]

Thanks to a generous grant from the Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club (TDS) of San Diego the 4×4 trails are now safer and more user friendly in the Inyo National Forest and surrounding BLM area. The TDS supplied the money and the Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club (ES4WD) supplied the leg work and muscle to get the job done.

It started in the summer of 2013 when the TDS announced that due to a very successful Jeep Sweepstakes they would fund ground-level projects to benefit 4×4 trails. At that same time the ES4WD Club was having preliminary discussions with the Inyo National Forest about how to distribute the new California Trail Users Coalition (CTUC) maps. They are terrific maps and they need to be in the hands of the four wheelers exploring the area. One of the primary goals of the map is to keep the OHVs on the legal roads and not create new ones. Furthermore, some of the information on the map, such as “Most Difficult” and “Difficult” sections of the trails needed to be on the ground in certain locations. The problem arises when a driver encounters a difficult trail and it is very hard to turn around or back out.

The mission had three parts to it. First, the Inyo National Forest had to agree to allow for “Difficult” and “Most Difficult” signs to be placed on the trails and for the installation of a kiosk with the map information. Second, the TDS Club needed to approve a grant to pay for the project. Third, the ES4WD Club would have to get all the materials and install everything. By the end of 2013 the Forest Service approved the project and the TDS issued a check for $4,247 to the ES4WD Club to pay for it. During 2014 the BLM also approved a kiosk and the ES4WD club installed everything on the trails.
A big thank you also goes to everybody that bought Jeep Sweepstakes tickets. You probably did not win a Jeep but you helped to make four wheeling a fun experience in the Eastern Sierra.