Groveland Twp.- Mud, snow and plenty of Jeeps.
On Saturday and Sunday about 300 contestants participated in the Dixie Gully Run, at 14300 Shields Road. Located just north of Groveland Oaks County Park, the 35-acre demonstration off-road vehicle course was created on former gravel mining ground. The professionally designed track is made to test the skills of drivers and abilities of machines at slow speeds, in a safe, legal environment.
From rock crawling to hill climbing to rumbling over a pile of logs’the weekend event tested drivers and machine.
‘A few Landrovers and Hummers, sometimes pickups, an occasional Nissan all the rest are Jeeps,? said Paul Hittie, a Burton resident and Jeep owner who provided tours of the facility.
‘But it’s all about the Jeep. The short wheel base is probable the biggest reason for Jeep’s superior off road capability. Not to mention the after market parts available is just far more effective. Safety is also a factor even though we drive at slow speeds the danger factor is always there. One of greatest concerns is breaking tow ropes’the whip-back can cause serious damage.?
The off road facility may be here to stay. In July, Bob DePalma, township supervisor announced an extensive plan to reclaim some gravel mining property and create a multi-purpose outdoor recreational facility encompassing about 350 acres along the western fringes of the township. The project is in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources along with the Oakland County Parks and Recreation.
‘The event went well,? he said. ‘Most importantly’no one got hurt. The members of the off-road clubs were active in the design of the facility. So after the engineers outline the plan they four-wheel groups did their part and drove over it and adjustments were made. Many factors are involved including weather conditions and temperatures’especially the mud. What’s drivable one day may not be the next day.?
On Oct.15, DePalma, along with Dan Stencil, executive officer Oakland County Parks Department, and Paul Yauk from the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division, formally applied for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant in a meeting at Lansing Community College.
‘At this point we can only wait and see if the grant is approved in December,? he said. ‘After that lawmakers will need to approve the grand then we’ll negotiate a deal for the gravel pits. The three separate parcels of 112, 115 and 33 acres will then be apprised.?