Carolina Trailblazers Membership Information
Thank you for inquiring about the Carolina Trailblazers 4WD Club, Inc. We got started as a family oriented 4WD outing club in 1971 and were incorporated in 1973. The club has a reputation for welcoming everyone, young and old, single and married, novice or experienced. The club is a chartered non-profit organization and elects three officers and appoints one officer each year. All monies raised are used for charities, club expenses, and for projects in the National Forest areas. All issues are voted upon by the members PRESENT at meetings held usually during the monthly outings, which emphasizes the importance of your attendance. The Executive Committee meets quarterly or when required, and all planning items and proposals generated in that meeting are voted upon in the usual manner during the following monthly meeting. Members are encouraged to volunteer for certain club duties, and to become a delegate to the Southern 4WD Association.
MEMBERSHIP and CONDUCT - To be eligible for membership you must be at least 18 years old and own a 4WD vehicle. The club will not tolerate any form of illegal drug use or possession, alcohol consumption to the point of intoxication, obnoxious behavior, nor will we tolerate reckless driving habits that may endanger life and property of others. While the club discourages any alcohol consumption while driving on any trail, alcohol is forbidden by law in the National Forest areas and the club will not assume liability for possession or consumption of alcohol in these areas. Reasonable alcohol consumption in camp AFTER the ride is permissible.
DUES - Club dues are $60.00 per year for members plus a $5.00 initiation fee for new members or for dues paid after the due date. The club dues include your memberships in the Southern 4WD and United 4WD Associations. Renewal dues must be paid before October 15th. Failure to renew on time will cost you a $5.00 initiation fee. In addition to the monthly club newsletter, you will receive the quarterly newsletters from the Southern and United Associations (it may take a while for your name to get on their mailing list, so be forewarned).
OUTINGS - Club outings are usually the second Sunday of the month, or the weekend of the second Sunday, except in May. We ride the third Sunday in May so that members can observe Mother's Day on the second Sunday. In most cases, the club departs from the meeting point at 9 AM, so allow plenty of time to eat, fuel-up, socialize, etc., before 9 AM. All schedules, directions to the meeting point, difficulty rating, and any other vital info will be found in our newsletter. You are encouraged to invite friends and other enthusiasts, but you will be responsible for them. Also, riding with the club for long periods of time without joining is frowned upon. If your friends want to ride with us on a regular basis please encourage them to pay their dues and join. The scheduled trail rides include a mix of easy rides suitable for vehicles with few upgrades, and very difficult rides which require vehicles with all the goodies. Some rides are split up into easy(er) and hard groups though sometimes the easy ride gets to be a challenge! The trails we ride can also be close to home or they may be up to a 5 or 6 hour drive away (based on a home in Hickory, NC). The trails are in NC, VA, KY and TN. Our members come from a variety of backgrounds and own a wide variety of vehicles. You're sure to meet new friends on every ride.
VEHICLE INFO - Members' vehicles range from stock to heavily modified. Winches, 33 to 44 inch tires with proper gears to match, and locking differentials have become the norm. While we don't inspect vehicles before we ride, we do have some very strong recommendations:
The vehicle must be highway legal and registered; REQUIRED in Federal areas.
Do your maintenance BEFORE you come to the outing - we go to ride, not work on vehicles. If you break something, rest assured the club has never left anyone broken down in the woods, If your vehicle is questionable, leave it at home and ride with someone else.
Carry handbooks, a flashlight that WORKS, a first aid kit, and a fire extinguisher; REQUIRED in Federal areas.
Battery tie-downs are a must; REQUIRED in Federal areas.
Carry a USABLE, inflated spare tire, a USABLE jack and lug wrench, and a PROPERLY RATED towstrap;
REQUIRED in Federal areas.
Have a WORKING CB radio, The club uses channel 5 unless the situation requires another channel.
Tow hooks or some type of acceptable towing devices are recommended, front and rear, to avoid damage and injuries, and to speed-up the process of assisting vehicles-in-a-predicament. If you have no such devices, you will be responsible for attaching the winch cable, tow strap, etc. to your vehicle.
Winches should be equipped with RATED accessories, such as a tree saver strap, shackles, a snatch block, and a pair of GOOD-QUALITY LEATHER work gloves. Hardware store/bargain table junk is not acceptable from a safety standpoint. If you have a winch but no accessories, you are still considered winchless.
So, join up and ride with us!