CA4WDC Celebrates 50 Years at the Forefront of Four-Wheelin'
by Jack Raudy,California Association of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs
The Early Years
1959 was a momentous and pivotal year. Fidel Castro became prime minister of Cuba. Alaska was admitted to the Union as a U.S. state (with Hawaii soon to follow). Rock'N'Roll was heating up the airwaves, and the California Association of Jeep Clubs was formed in April in Tulare, California.
Steve Morris, a member of the Sacramento Jeepers, was elected as the first president of the Jeep Association, an organization that would retain that name until 1962, when it officially became the California Association of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs.
The effect of Jeeps on the world of recreation is very similar to the effect of the automobile on transportation. Both opened up new, previously unthinkable worlds of possibilities.
"We weren't very large in the beginning, however, we were well-organized," said Morris. "With the U.S. Forest Service threatening to close our forests to motorized travel, we knew immediately that we needed a strong organization with statewide clout."
Founded as a non-profit organization, the Association was comprised of member clubs, individuals, and business firms. This group of diverse individuals was united under a common objective the betterment of fou-wheel-drive oriented outdoor recreation.
It was called a Jeep Association simply because sport utility vehicles (SUV) hadn't yet arrived on the scene and owners were driving WWII surplus Jeeps known as the MB and GPW, which became popularly known as the Jeep; followed by the CJ-2A (civilian Jeep 1946-49) and the CJ-3A (1949-53) and CJ-3B (1953-65). Then in 1955, improved versions of military Jeeps were in production the CJ-5 and CJ-6. During those early days, rigs did not have differential lockers and all the other add-ons we have today, so they were exploring the deserts and the out-of-the-way locations by pushing, pulling, and sometimes winching by hand.
Morris explained that the first year of the Jeep association was productive. "We established rules for cross-country travel that included not crossing meadows, avoiding wheel spinning, not climbing hills with loose soil, not crossing streams unnecessarily, and not disturbing livestock and wildlife. We also fought land closures in the Eldorado National Forest and Los Padres National Forest."
By 1964, the Association had grown from its original 14 charter member clubs to 32 clubs. In addition, dealers and manufacturers were accepted in 1964 as associate members. During 1965, plans were being drawn up to divide the Association into three distinct districts and in 1966 it became official that there would be a Northern, Central, and Southern District, each with its own officers and fund-raising events. It was also during this period of time that the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs became the 13th Chapter of the California Wildlife Federation and provided a representative at each of its meetings.
By 1971, manufacturers were marketing all sorts of four-wheel drive vehicles, including all of the predecessors to today's ever-popular sport utility vehicle. Californians were becoming more and more interested in being able to drive directly from their home to access hunting areas, fishing holes, primitive camping areas or simply sightseeing off the pavement in the backcountry.
CA4WDC 50 Years Later
Today, the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC) has a membership of more than 3,600 members. If you consider family members in addition to paid members, the total membership is well in excess of 8,000. CA4WDC has two full-time, paid Natural Resource Consultants who cover State and Federal issues. One consultant represents the north and one the south. They monitor legislation and the State's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
CA4WDC Winter Fun Fest. Some of the early major environmental issues and concerns included the Natural Communities Conservation Program (NCCP), RARE I and RARE II, the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Program (SNEP), and proposed Wilderness Areas. Current environmental issues include BLM and U.S. Forest Service Travel Management Plans, Southern California desert lawsuits, and continuing proposals for additional Wilderness areas.
One of the major wilderness issues tackled by CA4WDC consultants was the Desert Protection Act. In concert and direction of the Natural Resource Consultants, clubs took active stands, writing letters and attending public meetings in opposition to the Desert Protection Act. Although they did not succeed in fighting this act entirely, they were able to make a stand and question the issues behind establishing wilderness areas and the impacts on four-wheel drive opportunities. A good number of opportunities were saved because of the user involvement.
"The CA4WDC has now been active for 50 years and we are still going strong," said current president Don Spuhler. "We have learned many lessons from our predecessors which have been invaluable as we develop our long-range plans for the next 50 years. We listen to our members and from their suggestions, we continually improve our CA4WDC events.
Major Association Events
There are seven major CA4WDC sponsored events held all over the state during the year. They are Winter Fun Festival, Molina Ghost Run, Hi Desert Round-Up, Sierra Trek, Operation Desert Fun, Panamint Valley Days, and High Sierra Poker Run.