OCR Text |
Show THE ZEPHYR APRIL 1 990 over PAGE 25 of Zedldlah Knowles, who was heard to utter vehemently the vilest of epithets ... "Jeep," he declared angrily, In spite of Abigails blushes. As the rest of the mud settled, old Levi apologized and removed his spattered gloves and goggles, brushing scrambled eggs from his overalls. Honest Brigham McElhaney, who liked watermelon and chewing tobacco, strode manfully over to Inquire as to why old Levi was towing the Hupmoblle. Old Levi wiped the mud and worse from his wrinkled face and his eyebrows shot up. He Jerked his head toward the offending Hupmoblle, declaring furiously "That consamed Jeep wouldnt start up. A chorus of gasps was heard to escape members of the fair sex assembled nearby. But now the aforementioned "Jeep" had stopped sputtering and backfiring and began to hum to life with a smoothly syncopated pop ... wheeze ... putt, putt, putt ... wheeze ... pop ... wheeze ... putt, putt ... pop In such threatening Irregularity that the horses, eyes wide with fear, danced dangerously, ready to bold. And the small crowd drew back apprehensively. Just then handsome Heber Mouton tooled smoothly around the comer with a large named Yogurt watching the lacy trailing road spray from the back seat The crowd dog ooowed and aaahed as the wooden spokes of his 48 inch wheels caught the sun which was now breaking through the mist He threw his machine Into a side-slid- e, stopping just short of old Levi, drenching him further and provoking him to Issue another "Jeep." "Get that blasted Jeep away from here, he rejoined angrily. Meanwhile back In the crowd, heckling Hyrum Corwin sniggered to humorous Horace Balling and Ell Dordaller. "Looks like old Levis having more problems with his Jeep, fellers. Haw, haw. Balthasar Berry, carrying a perfectly good six day old dead armadillo by the tall, drawn by the merriment of the other teamsters, chuckled and encouraged Hyrum. "Dont get any dirt on old Levis Jeep. "Yeah, his Jeep, Intoned smiley Nephl Mlley, who had gravitated over to see what the excitement was about "Look," expostulated youthful Ephraim Young. "Here comes ol Spencer Broxs steam Jeep. The assemblage, picking up the chant, "Jeep, Jeep, Jeep, guffawed gustily. Off to one side stood a dark little group of malcontents, objectors to hazardous machine-power- ed transportation which they perceived to be wasteful and destructive Melchlzedek Stiles, towering under this small group, glared venomously at the folicators. "If the Lord God wanted man to have machines, he would have given Adam a horseless carriage, he Interposed petulantly under the putts and wheezes of old Levis concatenous contraption. All eight machines were now lined up for the run over the "Devils Backside trail, the drivers alight with fun and enthusiasm, the dissenters scowling disapproval "Recreation should be performed on ones knees with the Good Book In ones hands. If we must have machines, they shouldnt be wasted on useless expeditions, tearing up the land, smoking up the air, endangering wildlife. And Its obviously sinful, growled Mel, suspiciously eying the large Jugs of beverage clearly vlsfole In each auto, knowing that the rumors of naughty deeds done In the hills by the were true. Look at them, he too happy to be doing anything good. thought, Imagining necrophilia and satanlsm. Theyre ly took the joshing of the others and the black stares of the Old Levi dissenters. "Lets get this Jeep Safari going before my Jeep dies again," he on word the commanded, picking up "Jeep. And thats the story of how the trail Bump and Grind came to be called the "Jeep Safari many years ago. high-wheel- ed easy by john sensenbrenner well-polish- When clouds of gnats and mosquitoes are gaily flitting about, calling us to Join them on the trails, we can be sure that spring Is here. Clouds of bicycles have already come out with spring break at the colleges to warm up the trails for us. And the upcoming 24th annual Red Rock Four Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari, granddaddy of all the trail running events, Is near and a larger turnout than ever Is anticipated. The Safari has been hosted In Moab since the first machines appeared here around the turn of the century. Early Safaris have had a colorful history that has been passed down by word of mouth from year to year. Ah, yes, If I concentrate I can penetrate the mist of time and hark back to those early Safaris, back to a crisp, misty morning In April, 1907, the year that the Safari got Its name. An excited small group of pioneer was gathered on muddy Main Street, Moab, preparing for the annual running of the Easter trail Bump and Grind, as It was then called. It was a welcome diversion for local farmers from the boring customary use of their machines to plow the fields. They were excited not so much about the Bump and Grind ... that Is not to say they weren't excited about that ... they were ... but they were more excited about' the rain that had fallen overnight, the first In 16 months... a blessing for their bedroughted farms. They stamped around In the wonderful muddy puddles In the street like children. Suddenly two shots rang out around the comer from the schoolhouse. And old Levi Levron burst Into view, whipping a team of horses onto Main Street towing his cantankerous contraption, backfiring bursts of flame and smoke. The 1906 Hupmoblle slewed left and right, Its wheels throwing huge rooster tails of street slop high In the air. And old Levi, his long, tangled white beard caught to his suspenders, reined In his team and hobbled to the street out of breath, late because his cat, a scruffy, ragged old tom named Tom, had slept on his alarm dock, turning off the switch. When he woke up, old Levi roared and kicked Tom In the ribs. And old Tom screamed and leaped out Into the kitchen startling Levis cheerful wife Into dropping a pair of freshly cleaned overalls she was holding Into old Levis breakfast plate of freshly scrambled eggs, knocking them to the floor. Old Tom promptly pounced on the eggs. "Jeep, shouted Mrs. Levi, kicking Tom smartly In his tender ribs. Finally old Levi arrived on Main Street with old Tom pouting In the back seat of the Malachl Mick, who opposed the Idea of the Bump and Grind because It Hupmoblle. promoted drinking, wantonness and other ungodly behavior, was standing ankle deep In the ooze In his size 15s. As he watched the spectacle, the last of the airborne slop from old Levis wheels, predictably following the law of gravity, whomped Abigail Akens on the left side of her new bonnet a few Inches forward of center near a small silk primrose. Fearing an Infection, she was seen to prance In alarm, knocking over the sidewalk plowshare display off-road- ers ed self-indulgen- off-road- ers good-natured- gol-dang- ed A & B AUTO 405 N. Main 259-518- 0 all foreign & domestic custom exhaust work all work guaranteed FAX 5 (801)259-593- 0 Acre minimum size parcels, ranging from $6,000 to $14,000 Jot Kingsley 690 South Main Moah, Utah (801) WELCOME JEEPERS H iS.42 259-569- 3 Outside Utah Convenient Financing Great Investment Opportunity Retirement Properties Quiet Relaxed Pace Recreation Sites Spectacular Vistas ce. |