Member: Scott Fitzpatrick
It all started with a Baja Bug at the age of 15. Sure, I had dirt bikes and ATV’s before that, but that was with family and friends, and could not go any time I wanted without them. Then, that Bug changed everything. I held on to that bug for about 10 years before I sold it. Then the Jeep came. I decided on a Jeep since my buddy Tim had this beat up 74’ rusted out body CJ5, which was nicknamed “The Beastâ€. It was a retired forest service Jeep. Man we took that Jeep everywhere we could. I thought that was just it! J No top, No doors, and getting sunburn! So, like I said, I purchased my current Jeep in 92. It was this “almost pristine†1984 CJ7. I was the lucky 4th owner. Well I started wheeling with my buddy Rich Ross, and we found this club On-The-Rocks. They had 4 or 5 members at the time. We met at Chuy’s in Moorpark for the meetings. Well we joined the club that night. Rich and I had already planned a trip to Big Bear, so we invited the whole club to go with us. Well, by the time we went to Big Bear, we had 12 or 13 rigs going. We had a blast that first trip. That was one trip that I will never forget.
Well between Rich R., Andrew, Kevin H, Sam, and me, we got the club off the ground and running. I think we had 15 club members by the end of that first year.
One thing that we all had in common was that none of us had enough money to have a shop work on our rigs, so we had lots of garage parties. Most of the time, the parties were at Rich’s house. Well, the club has grown considerably since those first years. People have come and gone. I have shared many campfires and stories. The best thing about the club and all those people is that everyone, regardless if they are the least experienced to the most experienced in our sport, has something to share. Each one of those people has left some sort of knowledge and an imprint on my memory, and I hope I left something with them.
So, like I said, I have this CJ7 that has slowly been built up to what it is now. I intend to do more, if I could only find the time and money too.
Vehicle:
1984 Jeep CJ7
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Pictures:
(Click a thumbnail to see the full-size image)
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Rubicon 2003
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2004 Rubicon
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