Archive for December 4th, 2009

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Posted by Jason Hulsman on December 4, 2009

JASPER Co-Sponsor’s SoCal Charity Event

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Earlier this year, on February 21st, the Southern California branch held its First Annual Charity Desert Fun Run for Children’s Hospitals. This event raised over $3000.

Open to all off-road vehicles, 121 official participants made the dash ranging from Motorcycles, Quads, Jeeps, Trucks, and Buggies.  The Poker Run was a 42-mile loop through the Ocotillo Wells Recreational Vehicle Park next to the Salton Sea.  The weather was perfect and the southern California desert was full of wild flowers.  Jasper Engines & Transmissions provided a 32″ flat screen TV, Baja Designs provided a pair of Fuego lights and Off-Road Warehouse provided $200 in gift certificates as winning prizes.

JASPER Outside Sales Representative Rob Keenan coordinated the event and laid out the loop with five checkpoints participants had to reach.  Each checkpoint took participants by fascinating desert scenery and interesting landmarks.  The site known as ‘Gas Domes’ is a volcano-like bubbling pool of gray liquid and mineral rich mud.  Another attraction was the ‘Pumpkin Patch’, a unique landscape of globular sandstone concretions that look like big pumpkins.  ‘Shell Reef’ is a huge reef over one million years old with fossilized shells and little sea creatures.  ‘Devils Slide’ is an ancient 200-foot high granite and sand mountaintop with challenging hill climbs and jumps.  After reaching all the checkpoints, participants were dealt five cards with the option of purchasing additional cards to make their best poker hand. Larry Tales, owner of Jeeps R Us in Laguna Beach, was the flat screen TV winner with a full house.

Throttlejunkie.com brought Bryant Layton with Rock Star Energy Drink along to announce and keep everyone laughing. After the long day, all were treated to BBQ beef brisket, with cole slaw and pinto beans.  Thanks Angie and Carmen (Rob’s wife and mother in law)!
 
Our guest of honor was Cody Day, a 12 year-old young man who has survived a brain tumor through chemo treatments at Children’s Hospital Orange County.  While in treatment, his father used the dream of building a jeep together to help motivate Cody and take his mind off the illness.  Cody is now in full remission and enjoying life to the fullest.  Cody and his father plan on using the Jeep to deliver wheelchairs, with the Free Wheelchair Mission, to remote villages in Mexico later this year.  Cody was a big help handing out all the prizes, and his story inspired and touched everyone.

Special Thanks to this year’s Sponsors and checkpoint hosts; Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Off Road Warehouse, Throttlejunkie.com, Baja Designs, Temecula Motorsports, North San Diego County House of Motorcycles, Performance Motorsports in San Juan Capistrano, Hemet Jeep Club (the oldest Jeep Club in the US), Rock Star Energy Drinks and Sports Clips.  Check out more pictures of the event on throttlejunkie.com under the photo store.

Filed under Jasper Events
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Posted by Jason Hulsman on

The Weekly Friddle

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Friddle: Which automaker was the first to introduce a hybrid gasoline-electric car to the United States marketplace?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Which car company’s logo depicts the historical landing of a ship? Its passengers celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: The Plymouth logo features a rear view of the Mayflower ship, which landed at Plymouth Rock.

Filed under The Friddle