Copperopolis and Beyond

September 1997

(additional pics, with copper borders, courtesy of Steve Harwood)

   The trip began with lively get together of members and guests in the Burger King parking lot at Metro Center. Early Bronco Mailing List members Big Al, and Mike Mileski were both there from Tucson. When Todd (club prez) Zuercher finally managed to pull enough people out from under other people's hoods, we fired up and hit the freeway north. Members Kyle and Holly (didn't catch their last name) brought the beautiful brown truck seen above (toward right side of pic with hood open) out for its first run with the club and it drew lots of attention.

The first stop was to meet Mike McCarthy and his kids out near Cave Creek.

Then the column rolled westward to swing north again around the Lake Pleasant area toward Wickenburg.

   The going was easy on this run, with paying attention to the trail in all the scenery being the only obstacle.

Investigating the Copperopolis mine.

Lunch Break!

Mike Mileski's "HAF CAB"

Steve Harwood's very nice, uncut machine.

The last truck in line here, Kyle and Holly's, was running electric fans (no engine driven fan) and struggled with the heat.

Todd Z.'s BRCITS truck (left) with Protofab hood.

   After stopping for lunch at the Copperopolis mine and various other sites of historical interest, we made an ill-fated journey looking for a new route toward Wickenburg.

Bradshaw's grave, for whom the Bradshaw mountains are named.

When we hit a gated ranch property, Todd went off in search of permission to cross and found out we were waaaaaay off course.

End of wrong-way excursion; a private ranch.

Going back the way we came, Todd soon had us on the right path.

No shortage of opinions as Todd replaces a lost shock bolt.

   Once arrived in Wickenburg the group enjoyed the hospitality of the local McDonalds and then broke up into smaller groups heading home by various routes.