Better late than never...GSMTR is upon us again. This year it is really important to the Southeast TLCA that we have a good attendance since the profits go to keep Tellico open. Yes, some of the more challenging trails will still be closed, but some of them are still open too. It's a wonderful time to wheel with your Toyota brethern and the Toyota Trail Team. Even if you are a newbie and need some coaching, don't be intimidated, come on out.
I am going to try to figure out how to post the registration form, but until then, email Roger Theurer at
rgrtheurer@aol.com and ask him to send you one!
Here's the info:
The Southeast Toyota Land Cruiser Association’s Great Smoky Mountain Trail Ride (GSMTR) will be held May 12-17, 2008. The GSMTR is held in Nantahala NF’s Upper Tellico OHV Area between Tellico Plains, TN and Murphy, NC. STLCA’s main camp is at Crawford’s Campground outside Murphy, NC. Although this is a six-day event, you may arrive any day you wish. If you arrive early you may camp at Crawford’s and pay for the non-GSMTR days. Come prepared to have fun camping, trail riding and making new friends around the campfires, a time you won’t soon forget.
Again this year we will give you five raffle tickets for each bag (at least 20gal.size) of trail trash you bring back to camp. Bags will be available at the registration desk. The driver receives a dinner Friday night. Extra meals are $14.00, the meal is BBQ. We order the meals first thing Thursday morning, so if you need extra meals please buy them early. Camping at Crawford’s is included in your GSMTR registration for Monday through Sunday and is first-come first-served. We will allow those who arrive early and camp at Crawford’s to stay in their space, however Crawford’s space layout is very generous so for the GSMTR there may be more than one camper per space, please keep this in mind when you set up camp.
TLCA rules require all vehicles be registered and insured. Registration and Proof of Insurance will be checked at the safety inspection make sure you bring registration and proof of insurance.
Registration/Vehicle inspection will be open from 9 am until 7 pm Monday and 9 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm Tuesday thru Thursday and 9 am to Noon on Friday.
The trails are all rock and dirt-based and they change with time. One locker and 33” will get you a good look at most of the area, although you may have to take a strap or cable ever now and then. Any Toyota 4WD in good mechanical shape virtually guarantees a good time. Plan to enjoy yourself! We promise an event you will want to revisit next year. The trails in the Upper
Tellico ORV area have become more and more challenging and even the” Easiest” trails may scratch or dent running boards/rocker panels on stock vehicles, heavy bumpers and rocker panel guards (sliders) are recommended for all vehicles. There are several scenic gravel/dirt roads outside the ORV area. If you have a stock vehicle and want to see the “hard Core” trails ask around camp there is usually someone with an empty passenger’s seat.
The weather is not predictable. Prepare for everything from 35-degree nights to 85 degree days, wet or dry. One thing is for sure; there will be great scenery, tremendous four wheeling and lots of friends new and old. Drive carefully and I’ll see you there at the “Southeast Beast”, the 15th Annual Great Smoky Mt. Trail Ride.
Trail ride Procedures:
Because many of our participants are veterans of this event, we do not formally assign ride groups or departure times. If you’re unfamiliar with the Tellico trails, we recommend that you seek out a truck or two that’s equipped similarly to yours, and team up for an outing. The members of the committee will be happy to assist you, if you can’t get hooked up on your own. Stay off of trails 11, & 12 if you do not have a Hard-Core rig and an experienced group leader. There are a number of hard obstacle/sections of trail that are heavily used during events, if there is a line of vehicles waiting to try them, be courteous, if you can’t make it in 3 tries pull a cable and go on, let the next guy have a chance.
GSMTR Schedule
All Times are EDT
Monday - Check-in/Safety inspection- 9am to 7pm
Tuesday – Thursday: Check-in/ Safety inspection- 9 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm
Tuesday- guided easy ride.
Wednesday- White Water rafting group meet at 8:30 AM at the pavilion.
Thursday- 9 AM guided easy Trail Ride- 10 AM to ? Rock Crawling competition at Campground Rock Garden. Free Refreshments in Metal Tech pint glasses at the Pavilion 6:30 pm ‘til?
Food provided by the FJ Cruiser Trail Team
Friday- Check-in/Safety inspection- 9 am to 12 pm - Rides be back at camp by 6:30pm for the Dinner (we eat at 7:00), awards, and raffle. .
Saturday-Campground will be open to visitors.
Sunday- Most folks pack up and hit the road. You may ride trails but you must be out of Crawford’s campground by noon Sunday unless you pay for additional days.
Thurs.-Sat.- The FJ Cruiser Trail Team will be in camp to show you the Cruiser and other Toyota FWD vehicles and answer your questions. You all are invited to ride with them on the trail and slide behind the wheel and tackle a portion of the trail.
GSMTR Camp Rules and Ride Regulations
(You must know these things)
Check in time is any time after 9:00am on Monday.
Check out time is no later than noon on Sunday, unless you want to pay for additional days
Quiet time is 10:00 pm to 7:00 am. Those that want to stay up late come join us at the campfire by the pavilion.
No Generators there is electricity at the campground.
Camping will be on a first-come first-served basis.
Car Trailers must be parked in designated area.
Pets must be leashed.
No ATV riding in camp.
Around camp, keep vehicle speed to 5 mph or less... DON’T MAKE DUST!!
Campfire areas are pre-defined. Do not make new fire rings or put cans or bottles in fire rings.
Shop use is $20/hour and includes air tools. Welder and torch are charged on a per use basis.
Vehicles on the road between camp and the ORV area must be licensed.
Always stay on designated trails. Do not take undesignated detours around any trail section.
No alcohol will be permitted on the trails. The Forest Service personnel may and do conduct inspections. Save it for camp!
Re: Great Smoky Mountain Trail Ride (GSMTR) May 12-17
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