The Krawlin' 4 Kids benefit event was held at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park in Joliett, Pennsylvania, on October 21 and 22, 2006, and was sponsored by the KGB 4-Wheelers Club of Frederick, Maryland. The club puts on these benefits to help those in need in and around their community. This year's fund raiser was held specifically for Faith Jackson, a young girl afflicted with cancer, and her family. The event generated over $7,000 in donations to help this brave little girl.
Over 75 vehicles and 125 participants were in attendance for the event. After a short safety meeting, everyone lined up and rode out to one of the 30 organized trail runs. The two days were spent skipping from rock formation to rock formation, trying them from different angles with various levels of success. Some drivers were on their game and made it all look easy; others found the terrain challenging.
Rausch Creek is a beautiful park set within the Appalachian woodlands, and this weekend was especially enjoyable as the leaves were still changing colors and beginning to fall. With outcroppings of rocks every few feet along the trail runs, the action was never far away. Though the action was plentiful, attendees spent the entire two days of the event on less than 10 percent of the park's total area. Park operator Lynn Ehrenfeld tells us that another 700 acres were just acquired, and new trails are being developed monthly.
Events like this inevitably see their fair share of breakage and technical problems. Broken parts included a few axleshafts, one tie rod, one driveshaft, one hub, two flat tires, and a power steering pump reservoir. For many of us, however, part of the fun of being on the trail is tackling trail repairs.
All in all, it was a great time on the trails, and at about 4 o'clock on the last day everyone headed back to camp to get ready for the night's festivities. But no day is complete at Rausch Creek without having some fun on the rock piles in and around the staging area. Several of the brave of heart (and those who merely succumbed to the peer pressure) tried a few of the hair-raising obstacles and hillclimbs, including Jotters Way, the Stair Steps, and the Ledges. All of these climbs draw a crowd at the events, as the people who attempt them normally end up trying to ascend at full throttle. From the steep climbs and slick rocks combined, they tend to create lots of tire and engine smoke. Many of these guys have a "make-it-or-break-it" attitude - and lots of both happen.
The KGB Club received tremendous support from the vendors who sponsored the event, with a total of $5,000-plus in raffle and door prizes. Among the prizes were two sets of tires from BFGoodrich and Pit Bull Tires.Faith Jackson and her family would like to thank everyone involved. The event brought in over $7,000 worth of donations from vendors, attendees, and even people who didn't come. A big thumbs-up to Rausch Creek Off-Road Park's own Lynn and Bruce for giving a portion of the entry fees directly to the cause.
The 4th Annual KGB Benefit Run for 2007 will be held around the same time (late October). Everyone did a great job putting on an event that was not only loads of fun but also very meaningful to a special young lady and her family.If you would like to participate in next year's event or make a donation, please log on to www.kgb4wheelers.com.