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Syncronauts
The People Inside the Safari

At Syncro Safari, Oregon ‘07 we enjoyed the great company of fellow Syncronauts from both places nearby and those who’d traveled a long way to participate.  Here’s who attended:

Brian Smith and son Gregory (6) from San Diego, CA

Bill Langan from Carmel Calley, CA with brother Ted from Truckee, CA

Dan Fleming from National City, CA

Craig and Erin Spaeth, with girls Samantha (11) and Sydney (7) from White Salmon, WA

Joey Makabenta from San Diego, CA

Jonathan Rall all the way from from Bend, OR

Edward Newcomb and brother-in-law Peter from Martinez, CA

Jim Davis from Hacienda Heights, CA with girlfriend Deanne and her girls Teagen (10) and Tehya (8)
Brian Smith joined us this year for his first Syncro Safari with his son Gregory and their white ‘87 Syncro Westy.  Brian camps a lot and loves to travel. When he camps he likes to bring all the comforts of home and his Westy is really outfitted for this.  Not the lightest Syncro on the trail, but if you need something, Brian’s likely to have it!  Brian won the Syncro Safari “Save the Day” award for having just the right voltage regulator needed for a trail repair on Edward’s Westy.
 
 
Oregon ’07 was also Bill Langan’s first Syncro Safari. I’d previously met Bill at Syncro de Mayo earlier this year and could tell he loved to Syncro and wasn’t afraid to push his ’89 Syncro pretty hard. It’s equipped with 16” wheels powered by a Subaru motor. For some reason it didn’t have a working reverse gear.  Come to think of it, didn’t have a low gear either. Bill just approached everything with a running start and made it through!  Bill brought his brother Ted with him too. They were great company although they turned in too early to make it to our campfires.  Bill won the “Never Back Down” award because, well, he couldn’t back up (or down) with that transmission!
Our third Syncro Safari newcomer was Dan Fleming from the San Diego area. Dan sort of wisped through Safari arriving on Tuesday just in time to go on Wednesday’s Christmas Valley trip. He was still sorting a couple things out in his Syncro so he hitched a ride in another Syncro for the trip.  Thursday we were off to MogFest and didn’t see Dan there until Friday, so really we didn’t get to see too much of Dan. At least he was there for the group photo! Dan was awarded the coveted “Better Late Than Never Award”.  Hopefully we’ll see more of him on future trips. 
 
 
It was a real girl-fest between the Spaeth family girls Samantha and Sydney and Deanne’s girls Teagen and Tehya. I was grateful to have the other kids along on the trip and the girls had a ball. They loved being able to trade Syncros (and families) and travel along with Samantha and Teagen in one Syncro and Tehya and Syndey in the other.  It was great getting to know this 4th group of Syncro Safari first-timers from southern Washington. Craig’s & Erin have a marvelous machine in their 16” Syncro DoKa painted with left-over paint from the John Deere tractor factory.  Just kidding, though the Greene Deere did win the award for “Shiniest Paint”!  Sorry it was a little less shiny after Safari. Can’t wait to Safari with them again!
Other than myself, Joey Makabenta was one of only repeat Syncro Safari alumni in the group this year. Having attended Tombstone ’06, Joey couldn’t get enough and came back for more at Oregon ’07. His TryStar Syncro is immaculate and it runs and looks almost new, though it’s 16 years old. It’s powered by a bored and stroked GoWesty 2.5L boxer and had enough power to pull Joey’s little travel-trailer all the way from San Diego in style. Joey won the event’s “Best Navigation” award for his fearless midnight GPS following through dirt forest roads. I’m thankful he didn’t let that GPS lead him into that 50’ hole in the ground in his path! I’m looking forward to seeing Joey at Moab ’08!
 
 
Jonathan Rall pulled out all the stops and traveled all the way to Camp Syncro without a single pit stop for food or other necessities, denying himself for nearly an hour. Yes, being from Bend Oregon, Camp Syncro was virtually in Jonathan’s “back yard”.  Jonathan’s not much older than my own son and loves VWs. He’s got big plans for his Syncro including a new engine, and he’s already started with customization like a rear tire carrier of his own design. Jonathan got the “Best Dust Blower” award for the dust blowing angle of his Syncro’s tailpipe. We’ll see if we can’t make Jonathan travel a bit further for his next Safari!
I got acquainted with Edward Newcomb and his wife Julie and son Seamus at Syncro de Mayo ’07 and invited them to join us for Syncro Safari in Oregon. Edward took me up on the offer and brought along his brother-in-law Peter for the trip. Edward’s “go for it” attitude had him tooling up the steepest part of the biggest dune we could find at Christmas Valley teaching us a thing or two about the value of keeping the “pedal-to-the-metal”.  Edward was of course bestowed the “Go For It Dude!” award.  Looking forward to seeing Edward and family at a future Safari
 
 
Jim Davis wins the award for attending the most Syncro Safaris!  Yes, that’s me. Picture includes my wonderful girlfriend Deanne and her two great girls Teagen (10) and Tehya (8). Notice the cool matching Syncro Safari shirts??


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