BACK ON THE BIKES

Thought we would slip in a little fun before heading off this week to the CRAWL 4 CHRIST event. We had caught wind that there was going to be a very large showing of 2 wheelers in Oklahoma City this past weekend.

The national “H.O.G. RALLY” was holding it’s festivities at the Oklahoma State Fair grounds where they had over 4000 registered participants. With all the unregistered attendees the number grew to over 10,000 bikes on the streets of OKC.

As the sun started settling in the western skies of Oklahoma the bikers headed to Bricktown for the evening. The city officials had blocked off the streets of Bricktown early in the evening to car traffic and only allowed motorcycles in. The bikes filled every possible parking lot and lined the streets and even parked down the centers of the roads to allow the multitude of bikes a place to put down their kickstands.

After meeting my brother Rex and his wife Sara for a quick dinner we all headed down into the area. Even though myself and Judy were sporting a Honda Goldwing we were allowed into the festivities. They had bands playing a various locations and booths set up for all types of activities.

The display and sheer magnitude of the bikes lining the streets were most impressive as you could find about any type of bike that you wished to look at from decked out factory bikes to custom built and custom painted designs.

After myself and my brother were done drooling over what bikes we had time to inspect we chose to get out of Dodge before the vast amounts of alcohol being consumed started taking effect on its consumers.

We then enjoyed a nice quite ride out around the lake and then head on home, because 1100 is very late for this old 4 wheeler.

CRAWL 4 CHRIST Its about time. In 7 days Judy and myself will be heading east to Disney. Seems like it was just yesterday we decided to hold this off year event. We had decided to do a National event every other year but the interest has been terrific. We are sure expecting this years event to be much larger than our maiden event last year in Hot Springs. Maybe the $2.25 gas verses the $4.25 gas that we had last year. I think also that due the the setting of the Church Camp we will be able to enjoy much more fellowship.

The concert is going to be sooooo exciting and this year for the devotion we have a real preacher... THE PASTORNATOR (Guy Fredricks) from the Blue Grass State. WOW!!! is this going to be COOL!!!! I heard the TOPIC is going to be "NO FEAR"... And don't even get me started of the RAFFLE stuff that we have coming in...... And the EVENT T SHIRTS.....man did Creator Design do a great job on them. Its alright with me if nobody else buys any of the 2X larges. I can wear them though out the year. BUT OK, If you need a 2X I will let you buy it...

I am so excited that I can't hardly wait. Let's get loaded and get headed that way. We hope to see you there.

God Bless You and Yours
Wheels UP

PARTING IS SUCH SORROW!!!

Just the time you get them all raised up. Teach them how to behave. Get them direction in life and away they go. They never call, they never come and visit and they never even write. Yes a close family member has moved out of the nest. For the 2nd time now a well known ride that Brad Austin had built from the ground up, broke to ride, proven in the rough, has now searched out another place to call home.

The first was the famous Blue Beast which carried Brad across many trails and rock and finally across the finish line and into victory lane at Top Truck Challenge in 2004. Now the Blue Beast II, one he built with the capabilities to perform beyond ones own imagination. The one to climb the highest mountains and cross the deepest streams. Yes, the famed Blue Beast II climbed onto a trailer behind a strangers pickup last night and road off into the sunset.

Seams we always have the greatest timing when selling our rigs. With Nana’s little grey YJ we pulled the trigger just one week before the Tour de Sober run, leaving her to ride herd in a loaner, and now the BB II packs its bags 2 weeks before the Crawl 4 Christ run. Now Brad must mount up of his Project Black Jack Jeep. The little Jeep Wrangler TJ will have to carry the burden for this event.

Well, I guess that does bring up the question of what is next, now doesn’t it? I guess you will just have to stay tuned in C4X4, because even though you don’t know what the creation will be. You do know that it is coming and you do know that it will be unique and that by staying hooked up to C4X4 you will be one of the first to know and you can follow along as that story unfolds.

No doubt it will be a one of a kind and you can follow along step by step as it is all pieced together. So I know for a fact that you will not be drifting too far away from your computer.

So until the process begins, and it won’t be too long we will leave you wondering.

God Bless
Okie-Out
David Austin—Wheels Up

As reported we made our trip to Seymour, Mo. to the Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch and the 1st Annual Sho-Me run. We were pleasantly surprised by the excellent facilities and hospitality. The conditions were a little muddy from the rain on Friday night and again on Sunday morning but we had a great time. This place should be put on your must visit list.... Check out the story by Randy Putt in the current issue and be watching for the MORE SMORRS article in next months release.

Don't go too far away for next few months because there is a lot happening and a lot coming up..

God Bless You and Yours
David Austin Wheels UP

SMORR--- YES, I LOVE S'MORES....

Wiki encyclopedia describes S'more as

A s'more is a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker. The name "s'more" means "some more", as in: "give me some more!".

That's what my first response was when I heard of SMORR a few years ago. Then after getting educated up a little I learned that SMORR stood for Southern Missouri Off Road Ranch which is located just outside of Seymour, Mo. Ever since I learned that I have wanted to get over there and check it out. Since I was raised about 15 miles from there it naturally struck me as a real place of interest.

Over the time since I have learned about SMORR I have heard nothing but good things about the park and knowing a little about the terrain I knew that it should have great possibilities.

Anyway, I am finally going to get it worked into the schedule. Friday evening part of the Austin Clan will load up and head to Missouri to the 1st annual Sho- Me run that is being held on June 13th & 14th at SMORR.

You can't ever tell. Despite what my wife and my doctor tells me, I might just enjoy some S'MORES while we are wheelin at SMORR.

Keep watching for the report in next months issue as I am sure we will find some super wheeling judging from what the Christian Crawlers reported from their last month's run there.

Until Then-- God Bless You and Yours & OKIE_OUT

Granny does 100 +

I know that those of you that usually read my blog are expecting me to start into a story of my wife, Judy(NANA) and some story about her getting a ticket in her HEMI Charger or something like that, but this time you are wrong.

I'm am going to tell of our next trip that takes place this weekend and about an exceptional lady. We are traveling to Springfield, Mo this weekend to attend a party for Thelma (Mobley) Luttrel. This is my wife's grandmother and she is celebrating her 100th birthday this weekend. I fell in love with this lady over 37 years ago when I was just dating her granddaughter and she went to spoiling me then. With her exceptional perception for quality people.... myself & Nanny became very close right from the start. She sensed maybe even before we did that I was the one to marry and spend the rest of my life with her beloved granddaughter Judy. From that time on I have felt very close to Nanny as she has to me.

At the age of 100 she still lives at home by herself in Springfield. Though she receives a lot of assistance from he son Don and his wife Ann, she is still very self sufficient. We are really looking forward to celebrating this occasion with her and the rest of the friends and family.

This does though indeed instill a great deal of fear into my 3 sons when they see all the similarities between Nanny and my wife Judy. I think they greatly fear that they will have to put up with Judy's scrutiny for well over the century mark as well. Just kidding Nana.

Well, we must prepare for our departure but we will be talking back to you real soon as next week we prepare for a Jeep trip back to the Show-Me state and to the SMORR offroad park in Seymour, Mo. on June 13-14.

Until then. God Bless You and Yours
Okie-OUT