California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc.
8120 36th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95824-2304
916-381-8300

Story and Photos by:
Jack Raudy (530) 389-9154 or jraudy@foothill.net

GRASS VALLEY (Nov. 13, 2006) -- The 25^th annual Winter Fun Festival, a major four-wheel drive event hosted by the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, has been scheduled for Friday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.

According to Shawn Sidener, chairman for the event, this year’s Winter Fun Festival will offer three exciting historical and narrated sport utility vehicle (SUV) trips and ten separate four-wheel drive runs in the high Sierra for experienced drivers. Sidener said the Frostbite Extreme trip is billed as the most difficult with the anticipation of unlimited snow depths. Participants on this run will be required to have front and rear lockers and at least 35-inch tires.

"We fully expect that we will have more than 600 enthusiasts joining us this year," said Sidener, "so I highly recommend that people register as early as possible. In addition to the various trips in the snow, we will be providing great meals beginning with Friday night dinner through lunch on Sunday. In our Main Street Hall, we will feature indoor entertainment and recreation for children and adults."

Two historical SUV trips are scheduled for Saturday, Jan 13 and one additional SUV trip is planned for Sunday, Jan. 14. Additionally, the event features a Friday night moderately difficult run that begins after dinner and nine other snow runs on Saturday, Jan. 13 that range from the Blizzard Brigade in moderately deep snow to the Frostbite Express.

Sidener explained that SUV owners would not require any special equipment and stock vehicles should have no difficulty in the snow using four-wheel drive and low range. "Our experienced trail guides have selected routes that are historically significant, interesting, scenic and very safe for all makes and models of SUVs and other four-wheel drive vehicles," he said.

The Saturday SUV Historical Tour will take participants to a number of significant locations in Grass Valley, through the town of Rough and Ready to the famous Bridgeport covered bridge, and tour the historic towns of Goodyear’s Bar and Alleghany. Another Saturday SUV trip affords participants the opportunity to learn about the Empire Mine, tour many of the old hydraulic mining sites, dine at the historic Washington Hotel and the tour ends at the Malakoff Diggins State Historical Park.

Sunday’s SUV trip permits guests to explore the middle fork of the Yuba River, visit the historic town of Alleghany and ends at the Graniteville Road.

Citizens Band (CB) radios are encouraged for all SUV trips, but are not mandatory.

Cost for any of the SUV or other four-wheel drive trips is $75 for adults, $40 for children age 8 through 14 and children under seven are admitted free of charge. The cost includes all meals beginning with Friday dinner through lunch on Sunday.

Camping facilities with RV hookups and hot showers are available at the fairgrounds. Interested participants should call (530) 273-6217 for reservations. Motels and hotels are available throughout Grass Valley and Nevada City.

To obtain a registration package for Winter Fun Festival or for more information, contact Pat or Mike Bashore at (530) 878-1414 or patnmikeb@inreach.com  or Shawn Sidener at (916) 257-6168 or ssidener@jmchomes.com  or go to the Winter Fun Festival Web site.

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California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs Inc
California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs Inc. Conservation & Education Foundation

CA4WDC, INC.
8120 36th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95824-2304
800 - 4x4-Funn
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