The Rally
If you’re a long-time reader of ToyHauler Magazine, then I’m sure you remember reading about last year’s So Cal Rally at Dove Springs in the Mojave Desert. This year’s Rally is shaping up to be bigger and better still!

The So Cal Rallies started out in 2004 when two regulars at the RV.NET forum, Dave Guymon (“lacofdfireman”) and Eric Durkee (“diirk”) had the idea to get as many people together as possible. Some people were a little leery at first. After all, we tell our kids every day not to get together with people you meet on the Internet. At first it looked like there would be a dozen or so families meeting out there. But the headcount for these first two Rallies was actually somewhere in the hundreds. The Rallies in the past have been attended by people of all ages, from young kids to retirees. Although it’s called the So Cal Rally, it’s not just for Southern Californians. People come from all over the western region, such as San Diego, Arizona, Nevada, the Bay Area, and Northern California too. The So Cal Rally is an unbeatable way to meet the people you’ve “conversed” with on many of the best RV forums: RV.NET, IRV2.com, and ToyHaulerMagazine.com. There are active threads on each of these forums discussing the Rally.

If you’re wondering whether the group might be too wild for you, rest assured that most of the people with the group bring not just their own family, but their extended families too. We bring our kids, our in-laws, friends from work, and just about anyone we know who likes to camp and play with their toys. But don’t worry, just because I’m bringing my mother-in-law doesn’t mean we won’t have a great time! The camp is large enough that you can stay in the “inner circle” where the fire is huge, the music is loud, and the keg-o-meter pours you a perfect sized draught every time. Or if you have younger kids in your group who need to get to bed earlier, there is plenty of room in the fringe areas and the outer circles.

Location
The location for this year’s Rally is called Prospectors Camp in the Spangler Hills OHV area. It’s not too far off the beaten path, just a few miles off 395 between Johannesburg and Inyokern. The Spangler Hills area was chosen because of its huge variety of terrain. There’s something for everyone there—from bikes and quads to buggies, Jeeps, and Rhinos. Even better, the Prospectors Camp area offers a wide open space perfect for a large group to camp.

The Spangler Hills OHV area features hundreds of square miles of open riding. Very little of the area is restricted or limited to trails-only riding. However, make sure your registration is up to date—all toys require current red or green stickers or they must be street legal with current proof of insurance. With a group this large, you can count on a visit from the Kern County Sheriffs. They have visited our group in the past at Dove Springs and have always been very cordial.

The camp is on Searless Road, which is on 395 about 20 miles south of the 395/14 interchange or about 35 miles north of the 395/58 junction. Remember that you can also find complete directions and GPS coordinates on the official Web site: www.SoCalRally.net.

Dates
As usual, this year’s So Cal Rally takes place over Veterans’ Day Weekend (11/10 through 11/12). Although not everyone gets that Friday off work, there’s no harm in arriving Friday evening and spending the rest of the weekend with the group. This is also a terrific opportunity to shake hands and say “thanks” to many of the fine men and women who have served our country over the years.

Activities
With a group this large, it’s not always easy to have organized activities. The group photo was actually more successful the first year when the group was slightly smaller and more easily herded up. But this year we’re still planning as many activities as possible, including a Poker Run, group rides, a potluck, and an organized trash cleanup. (We’ve always taken pride in leaving our area cleaner than we found it.) Although the activities are still being planned, this year’s location means we’ll probably be able to ride to the mining town of Randsburg for lunch at the saloon.

As always, this trip promises to be an experience you won’t forget. Put in now for your time off work—the only way you’ll be sorry is if you don’t make it!

-Dave Edmiston