Northern California Rover Club

Northern California Rover Club - FAQ

1. What does NCRC stand for?
2. When was NCRC formed?
3. How many trips does NCRC organize a year?
4. Why aren't there more NCRC trips?
5. How many members are in NCRC?
6. What sorts of Land Rovers are in NCRC?
7. What is the ratio of older Land Rovers versus newer ones in NCRC?
8. Do I have to have a modified Land Rover to join the club?
9. What sorts of trips and trails does NCRC go on?
10. What type of trails does NCRC go on the most?
11. What is the trail rating system that NCRC uses?
12. I'm concerned about taking my vehicle on a trip, what should I do?
13. Can I bring my spouse/significant other/family/friends/pets on NCRC trips?
14. Is there a fee for the trips NCRC holds?
15. What do I have to do to attend an NCRC event?
16. What is a typical event like?
17. What are the rules of convoy driving?
18. What is a liability waiver?
19. How can I find out more information about NCRC events?
20. If I don't see a trip listed what can I do?
21. Can anyone lead an NCRC trip or just club officers?
22. I know of a non-NCRC event, can it be posted in the club calendar?
23. How can I suggest web pages for the NCRC links page?
24. I keep hearing about "Mendo", what is that?
25. What is the mendo_recce list?
26. Is the mendo_recce email list a part of NCRC?
27. How can I access the mendo_recce list?
28. What is a Lazy Bugger?
29. Does NCRC publish a newsletter?
30. How can I find out what has already been published in the newsletter?

What does NCRC stand for?

NCRC stands for Northern California Rover Club.

When was NCRC formed?

NCRC was formed in April of 1997 by Bruce Bonar, Morgan Hanniford, Jeremy Bartlett, Eric Cope and Jim Russel.

How many trips does NCRC organize a year?

NCRC tries to hold about one trip a month, although some months see more than one trip and others may not see any at all. Typically winter months are less frequently filled with NCRC trips while spring, summer and fall usually have many more.

Why aren't there more NCRC trips?

NCRC tries to hold about one trip a month, although some months see more than one trip and others may not see any at all. The number of trips is most closely related to the availability of members to plan and lead them, so ultimately if there aren't trips listed for a particular period it's because member committments may be limiting their ability to plan and lead events.

How many members are in NCRC?

As of April 2002 there were in excess of 200 Land Rover enthusiast families in NCRC.

What sorts of Land Rovers are in NCRC?

NCRC members own and drive a wide variety of Land Rovers, including Series vehicles of all shapes and sizes, Defender 90's and 110's, 101 Forward Controls, Range Rovers, Disoveries, and Freelanders. All U.S. specification Land Rovers are represented in NCRC as well as many specially imported vehicles. There are generally an equal number of vehicles that are non-modified as those that are. As Land Rovers are very capable vehicles stock, in many cases few if any modifications are required to enjoy a great number of NCRC trips.

What is the ratio of older Land Rovers versus newer ones in NCRC?

The ratio of late-model trucks to heritage vehicles is approximately 1.3:1, or about 56% late model and 44% heritage vehicles.

Do I have to have a modified Land Rover to join the club?

Although many club members at one point or another choose to make various modifications to their vehicles to suit their needs and tastes, modifications are not required to join the club or to attend events. There are generally an equal number of vehicles that are non-modified as those that are in NCRC. As Land Rovers are very capable vehicles stock, in many cases few if any modifications are required to enjoy a great number of NCRC trips. In all cases, NCRC trips will be specifically listed as to the types of vehicles they are best suited for.

What sorts of trips and trails does NCRC go on?

NCRC events range from mild scenic trail rides suitable for all Land Rovers to extremely diffiuclt routes suitable only for advanced drivers in highly modified vehicles. Each NCRC event posted in the club calendar will include a trail rating placing the event within the context of a 4-tier trail rating system of easy, medium, difficult, and extremely difficult. NCRC tries to offer events for everyone while recognizing that medium rated events appeal to the majority of members. Some trips are day long in length, others last a full weekend, and there is usually a longer duration trip at least once a year.

What type of trails does NCRC go on the most?

NCRC tries to offer something for everyone while recognizing that events rated as medium appeal to the majority of members.

What is the trail rating system that NCRC uses?

NCRC uses a 4-tier trail rating system of easy, medium, difficult, and extremely difficult to help members gauge the types of events being held. The NCRC trail rating system uses as a baseline the viewpoint of someone that has done minimal off-highway driving and that drives a capable but relatively stock Land Rover. This means that if this description fits you, you can follow these ratings closely, and if you have done considerable off-highway driving you can assume that each level will be that much easier for you.

I'm concerned about taking my vehicle on a trip, what should I do?

The first thing you should do before attending any trip is to read the trip description in the club calendar. The description will always describe the type of trail and the expected obstacles and amount of driver experience and vehicle modification required to attend. As most NCRC trips are geared towards intermediate trails, there is often very little in the way of previous experience or modifications that are absolutely required before attending. Intermediate trips have the handy ability to often be a challenge without pushing anything towards the more difficult side, making them the most fun for everyone. NCRC prides itself on having well prepared, helpful and patient members that are always willing to help guide a newer driver through any obstacle or section that may prove to be a challenge for any reason. Spotters are used on any section of a trail that may be a concern and our convoy rules insure that no one is left behind or forced to do anything they aren't comfortable with.

Can I bring my spouse/significant other/family/friends/pets on NCRC trips?

NCRC welcomes anyone and everyone to join us on every club trip unless special requirements are mentioned in the trip description (some trips may have a limited number of participants or may have other special limiting factors, although not very often). NCRC is a very social club and we always like to see new faces on our events! It's best to insure your friends and family will be provided for in terms of food, water, shelter and equipment as per whatever trip description is available in the calendar. We also recommend that friends and family that will be joining you in another vehicle do so in a Land Rover, but other makes are welcome as well as long as they are sufficently capable to tackle the trails in question.

Is there a fee for the trips NCRC holds?

Generally there are no fees for individual NCRC trips unless otherwise mentioned in the trip description found in the club calendar. Members pay a one time annual membership fee that covers the costs of nearly all events. From time to time NCRC holds special events that may involve an extra fee to cover the costs of special guests or other unusual requirements.

What do I have to do to attend an NCRC event?

Generally all you have to do to attend an event is to show up at the date, place and time listed in the event description in the club calendar. Sometimes there are special requirements that request you contact a particular person before hand, but not very often. Preparing for a particular trip is another thing. Depending on the type of trip and the trails in question (1 day, 2 day, week long, beginner, intermediate, gonzo, etc) you should always start with a minimum of supplies and equipment. Gas, food, water, and some form of communication for use between vehicles and with the convoy (a cb radio or ham) are the basics. Camping supplies, extra clothes, basic tools, spare parts, and recovery equipment is always a good thing to keep in mind as well. Although club members are a generous bunch, you should always try to bring what you can and whatever you think you might need to insure a safe and enjoyable trip for everyone. If you are less familiar with the basics of supplies and provisions for offroad trips, you'll learn them from fellow members along the way, so don't worry!

What is a typical event like?

Once you arrive at the designated meeting location for a particular trip the trip leader will generally gather everyone together for a brief pre-trail meeting. This brief meeting will often cover the route for the day, any particular points of interest along the way, an overview of NCRC convoy rules and spotting techniques, and will end with a tech inspection of each vehicle to check for properly working hand break, lights, seat belts, low range if equiped and required, etc. Lastly, a liability waiver will be handed out for each person to sign and return to the trip leader before heading out for the day. Depending on the number and capabilities of the vehicles in attendance, one or more groups may be formed to ease progress through the trails. If there are more vehicles in attendance, often a few smaller groups will be formed that will stay in general contact while traveling the trail. If there are fewer, everyone will stick together and drive according to rules of convoy driving

What are the rules of convoy driving?

The rules of convoy driving are simple. When conditions permit keep your lights on, keep the vehicle behind you in sight at all times and always wait at every intersection to insure that the vehicle following you knows where to make the turn.

What is a liability waiver?

A liability waiver will be handed out for each person to sign and return prior to each trip heading out for the day. A liability waiver is simply a form that you sign that expresses your understanding of the risks involved in offroad driving and that explains your rights and responsibilities therein. As an organized club with many members it is a requirement that each person sign a waiver before begining each trip.

How can I find out more information about NCRC events?

Details about each trip are posted in the club calendar that is found on this very site. They are also listed in the printed version of the club calendar that is sent to members in the mail from time to time.

If I don't see a trip listed what can I do?

If you don't see a trip listed and think you have a suggestion for an ideal time or place to have one, put your thoughts into a brief plan and send it to the club officers for consideration. All trip suggestions are reviewed by the officers to insure they do not conflict with existing trip plans or events. The single best way to insure a suggestion is put onto the club calendar as an offical event is to volunteer to lead the trip yourself. NCRC thrives best by running member led and club sponsered trips.

Can anyone lead an NCRC trip or just club officers?

Yes, anyone can plan and lead an NCRC trip. The officers of NCRC do not exist to plan and lead club trips. Although many club officers are by very definition heavily vested in the interests of the club, generally attend many if not all NCRC events and lead a great deal of club trips, officers are not defacto trip leaders. NCRC thrives best by running member led and club sponsered trips.

I know of a non-NCRC event, can it be posted in the club calendar?

Non-NCRC events may be posted from time-to-time in the club calendar as is appropriate. If you know of an event that you would like to have posted, send it to the club officers who will review it and determine if it should be placed on the calendar. All Non-NCRC events will be clearly marked to avoid confusion with offically scheduled club events.

How can I suggest web pages for the NCRC links page?

Members and non-members are welcome to submit non-commercial links to sites with information related to Land Rover vehicles for possible inclusion in this listing. Prior to posting, the links will be reviewed by the club officers for suitability. The club reserves the right not to post links it deems inappropriate. Submit links to this page by sending a URL and site description to webmaster@norcalrover.org.

I keep hearing about "Mendo", what is that?

Mendo actually refers to a number of things (such as the Menocino National Forest north of San Francsico and the Joe Lucas Mendocino Not-A-Rallye which is an annual non-NCRC sponsered event held in the Mendocino region) but most likely Mendo is in reference to the mendo_recce email list which was the original basis of NCRC in 1997.

What is the mendo_recce list?

The mendo_recce email list is a list of a few hundred Land Rover owners and enthusiasts mainly located in the Bay Area of Northern California, although other members can be found as far away as Hawaii, Wisconsin and New York. The mendo_recce email list was created in late 1994 to serve as the basis for commuication between a small group of people planning for a Land Rover Rallye in the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California. Since that time it has grown considerably and was itself the basis for the formation of NCRC in April of 1997. Prior to 1997 many Land Rover trips in the region were organized and planned using this email list. Since 1997 NCRC has increasingly served in this role. The mendo_recce email list still exists today. Due to the fact that many people using this email list are also members of NCRC mendo_recce has often served as a quick and easy way for the club to communicate online. The mendo_recce email list is not an extention of NCRC and remains an independent and free-form communication tool outside the control of the club.

Is the mendo_recce email list a part of NCRC?

Although the mendo_recce email list is used by many people that are also NCRC members, the list is not an extention of NCRC and remains an independent and free-form communication tool outside the control of the club.

How can I access the mendo_recce list?

The mendo_recce email list is currently being run by Majordomo. The address to send all requests to join is majordomo@fourfold.org. There are two ways to receive messages from the mendo_recce email list, realtime mode - each message that is sent to the list is immediatly relayed to the members in realtime, or digest mode - all of the messages for a period of time are bundled together and sent as one larger email generally sent out at least once a day.

To subscribe to the list, send an email to majordomo@fourfold.org with only the text of the message as follows:

subscribe mendo_recce
or
subscribe mendo_recce-digest

send the first line if you want to be in realtime mode and send the second line if you want to be on the digest mode. If you ever want to be removed from the list, send email to majordomo@fourfold.org with only the text of the message as follows:

unsubscribe mendo_recce
or
unsubscribe mendo_recce-digest

depending upon which version of the list that you are getting. If in doubt, send both.

What is a Lazy Bugger?

Although all Land Rover owners are in some way Lazy Buggers, the name Lazy Bugger specifically was given to many of the original members of the mendo_recce email list. Ironically not very true to form, the name has been immortalized in a world famous badge worn by a select few. There's a story that goes with how the name came about, but to tell it would truly defeat the purpose of the name!

Does NCRC publish a newsletter?

Yes, NCRC publishes a quarterly newsletter for its members that is generally between 10 and 25 pages in length. The newsletter is printed in color and contains trip reports, technical information and other Rover-related articles and activities. PDF versions of the newsletter are available on this site in the newsletter section.

How can I find out what has already been published in the newsletter?

Available in the newsletter section of this site are a master index of all articles published in every previous NCRC newsletter, as well as a master TOC listing the articles in each issue.