johnmeister.com/jeep/sj
The Ouray Chronicles
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The story begins in November, 1962, the 14th day.
Across the nation viewers of the Lloyd Bridges TV show
were treated to commmercials that announced the
new J-series Jeeps: the Wagoneer and the Gladiator.
Almost forty years later, a group of fans gathered
in Ouray, Colorado on August 15-17, 2002 to celebrate
the Jeep SJ model line.
The SJ model line was terminated with the
1991 model year for the Wagoneer, 1987 for the J-trucks
and 1983 for the Cherokee. Of course we know with
absolutely certain that four Grand Wagoneers were
created in 1992. The last Wagoneer, a Hunter Green model,
has been documented in "Four Wheeler" magazine and
is preserved in the National Auto Museum in Reno, Nevada.
Persistent, but unsubstantiated rumors still exist of
1988 J-truck models.
The total production of the SJ models represent almost
30 years. Plenty of time to gain a following.
In 1995 on the internet newsgroup "rec.autos.4x4" a
handful of Wagoneer fans began meeting. Mike Lacher
from North Dakota, John Meister from Washington state,
Ken Wetherall from California and Michael Baxter from
Nevada. Others of course followed. But these four
began to assemble what now consists of hundreds of
Full Size Jeep fans on the internet subscribed to
several "FSJ" lists.
In 1996 or early 1997 on the "original" FSJ list a discussion
began concerning the upcoming 40th Anniversary of
the Full Size Jeep. The list was already quite familiar
with "regional" FSJ gatherings. So the discussion began
of having a large gathering for the anniversary.
With list members scattered literally all over the world
the question was where. Where indeed as the geographical
center of the continental United States offered little in
the way of interesting scenery or 4x4 trails. Of course
the West Coast has the scenery, the space and the trails,
but list members felt it unfair to the folks on the East
Coast, especially since parts of the East Coast also has
some wonderful scenery and some fine trails.
So, the list decided to move the gathering point just a
bit West of center, and of course Colorado came up as
a wonderful location. One of the list members, Mark Wallace,
suggested a beautiful location in Colorado that he'd been
to before, a place where there were many excellent trails
and much scenic beauty. The place Mark suggested was
Ouray.
The discussion carried on for months and other list issues
and life in general put it on the back burner, almost forgotten.
But then the regional FSJ groups began to get more serious
about meeting and organizing events. The folks in Colorado
formed the Colorado FSJ Association and while not even
being around when the decision to meet in Ouray was made,
took the inititiative to organize the event, reconnoiter
the trails and provide information to other FSJ owners.
Which brings us to the joyous gathering of a flock of faithful
FSJ owners and enthusiasts.
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Sunday, August 11, John was driving east on I-82 when his
cell phone rang.
John was driving with his wife in their '99 Grand Cherokee (WJ)
because his '83 J10 Stepside, "SuperDawg" wasn't ready for
the trip to Ouray.
It was Paul Kershner, Paul had departed the Seattle area the day before
with his two sons heading for Denver to pick up his wife and daughter
and then head for Ouray. Paul was driving his 1984 Grand
Wagoneer with a new engine. Paul had just redone the headliner,
installed a sunroof and built an oak shelf above the visors. He
was ready. His FSJ was ready. He was loaded to the rafters,
and beyond, with camping gear to sustain two adults and three children.
Paul sounded concerned. He asked John why his transfer
case sounded like it was ratcheting and why he wasn't going
anywhere. He had made it into a rest stop. John mentioned
that it sounded like the transfer case had failed. The
'84 had an NP229 which uses a viscous coupler. Paul had stopped
and had it checked when it was making noise and the mechanic had
filled it up with Gear Lube. The transfer case requires ATF.
John called Curtis Kelly in Washington to verify the diagnosis.
It didn't look good. Paul was towed to Baker City, Oregon.
In the morning a transmission shop would confirm the total destructive
failure of the NP229.
Curtis was stuck in Centralia, his '86 Grand Wagoneer, "Rocky"
sitting in his driveway because there was no vacation time.
Curtis sprang to action and posted to the FSJ lists to verify
the condition and begin a search for another NP229 in Eastern
Oregon.
John called JC Jones in Colorado, JC was part of the CFSJA and
heading to Ouray in a few days in "Max", his '84 J10. JC confirmed
that a number of NP229's were present and they'd be happy to
fix Paul up with one... if he could get to Colorado...
Jim Blair had an NP119, but he was held up finishing up repairs
on his Jeep Comanche (MJ), his '84 J10, "BlackJack" wasn't ready for the
trip to Ouray so Jim was taking his '86 Comanche. Jim offered to
bring it in a couple of days, but Paul had found one the next day
about 75 miles away and with the Transmission shop owner's pickup
went and got it and had it installed.
Meanwhile, John made it to Ontario, Oregon by nightfall after stopping
to console Paul in Baker City. John uploaded pictures from the Hotel,
a regular routine during the event.
The next morning John and Paul kept in touch via cell phone. John
would touch base with Curtis and keep posted on other folks making
preparations and departures.
Vince Orr was in Chicago trying desperately to get the new motor
to work properly in "Rez Runner". He posted furiously to the lists
in a valiant effort to get to Ouray. In the end, he gave up and
stayed home.
An FSJ owner coming up from Arizona got 100 miles from home and
had electrical problems, turned around and went home and got another
vehicle. He made it to Ouray, also in a non-FSJ.
Al Metzel arrived in a non-FSJ, as did a handful of others.
RJ Baynum had prepared for years to make it to Ouray in his
'80 Jeep Honcho. The motor was only a year old, everything was
in place, and then not long before Ouray one of the cylinders
went bad and he decided to arrive in a passenger car instead of
risking a journey from Alabama to Ouray with a bad engine.
The group from the Bay Area swept across the Sierras and gathered
up some FSJ types in the Reno area. Super Ken Wetherall drove
his '66 (I still say it's a '67) Super Wagoneer. Michel drove
his '74 Wagoneer. Mac drove his J3000. Michael Baxter drove
his '79 Cherokee and Phil drove his '76 Cherokee. The group
also brought an FSJ list member from across the Atlantic. Frank
Aalma from Norway.
John departed Boise on Monday morning and arrived in Salt Lake City.
John called Michael Baxter and found that the group from the
Bay area was about 90 miles west of Salt Lake and playing around
out in the desert.
Tuesday found John and his wife in Moab. Near 100 degree temperatures
and strict orders from his wife not to go four wheeling offered
the a chance to drive through the Arches National Monument.
Meanwhile, back up the road a piece, Paul was now making his way
eastward across Wyoming. He was only about a day behind schedule,
but back on the road.
Jim Blair was planning on leaving, but was delayed. The group
from the Bay area arrived in Salt Lake City.
Wednesday found John at high elevations heading east through
mountains toward Telluride and Ouray. Cell phone access was
rather limited and spotty.
John arrived in Ouray Wednesday night in time for registration
and to meet up with several FSJ owners.
John called Paul, he was in Denver. He'd be there the
next day, or so he thought. John called Curtis, Jim
wasn't going to leave until noon on Thursday.
By now Vince had given up and resigned himself to staying home.
John checked into the hotel and was unloading the Jeep when
he came to the terrible realization that the hotel didn't have
air conditioning!!! About this time RJ and friend drive up.
They'd made it.
John wandered over to the next hotel and found that the group
from the Bay area had recently arrived. They made the run
from Salt Lake City to Ouray by way of Grand Junction.
Pictures were taken and acquaintances made. For years we'd
been exchanging email, but now we're face to face.
Hey, I didn't know you smoked... Other shocking realizations
were made like, your voice doesn't sound anything like your
email, or you don't look anything like what I pictured.
Of course most of us weren't looking at the FSJ owners, we
were looking at the FSJs. Almost a hundred were there.
Lifted FSJs, stock FSJs, beautiful FSJs, ugly FSJs, beat up
FSJs, immaculate FSJs. Dark ones, light ones, dirty ones
even. It was a feast for FSJ lovers. There wasn't enough
time. There wasn't enough space for all to gather. There
wasn't enough memory cells to record all the glorious details
of each FSJ and owner.
Wednesday evening we stood outside the registration hall long
after it closed and examined FSJs.
Thursday morning we gathered again at the registration location
and then at more or less designated locations for more or less
trail runs. The official part of the trail runs being elminiated
because the insurance company said that the CFSJA couldn't
officially have them.
John and his wife decided to take this opportunity to take
the '99 WJ over the Million Dollar highway, Rt. 550 to the
south, head down past Durango and explore the Four Corners
and Mesa Verde, only recently reopened after the fires. Along
the way they passed Engineer Pass, Black Bear Road, the infamous
off-road trail, and they even managed to head up it a way and
enjoy the scenery and some pasteries purchased before leaving
Ouray. The drive was splendid with three very high passes
along the way. The Grand Cherokee's fuel injected 4.7L engine
had little trouble, but a lot less power then usual.
While coming back from Mesa Verde John received a cell phone
call from Paul, he was stuck on one of the passes heading
up to Ouray, vapor lock. He was going to make it to Ouray,
but not until Friday.
When John got back to Ouray later Thursday night and met up with
Michael Baxter and Ken Wetherall he learned that many of the
FSJs were experiencing severe vapor lock and other forms
of altitude sickness.
Friday morning, the day of the picnic up by Silverton. John
headed over to Michael and Super Ken's hotel to meet up with
the group. About this time John gets a call from Paul, he's
in Ouray.
The group heads into town to shop for supplies for the picnic.
Michael and the others decide they're heading to the car wash
to clean up their FSJs from the day before.
Paul heads south toward Silverton on 550 ahead of John in
case anything else goes wrong. John follows, snapping pictures
of Paul's fully laden FSJ navigating some of the highest passes
in the US.
They arrive at the picnic grounds and park. John tries to
camoflauge his '99 WJ by placing an '81 Cherokee grille on
the front, hoping the officials won't notice.
