Blue Thunder Tribute Page

 

My trusty old 1991 Toyota 4x4 pickup truck and I have seen many adventures together over the past 15 years. When it came time to purchase the Mustang, I had the option to trade in or sell the truck to help with the down payment. But considering our history together, the usefulness of owning a truck, the need for a rugged off-road vehicle for microwave contesting and record setting, and its longevity (it will probably outlast the Mustang!), I just couldn’t do it. This page documents just a few of the cool mountain expeditions I’ve had with the truck. More to come in the future!

 

Quick History:

  • I drove it all over Shenandoah Mountain Range for camping and VHF/UHF radio when I was working in the Washington DC area. 1991 - 1996
  • I got stuck in knee deep mud on a powerline road in Pittsburgh, PA. Should have been studying at Navy nuclear engineering school! 1992
  • I drove it across the US fully loaded in 3 days from PA to CA when I came out to Stanford. 1996
  • It became a grocery getter while I was at Stanford. 1996 – 2003
  • Since 2004, I’ve been off-roading quite a bit during the yearly 10 GHz and Up Microwave Contests
  • Many more untold stories…

 

Rest stop on I-5 during 10 GHz and Up Microwave Contest

September 2004

 

Microwave radio roving in the San Joaquin valley

September 2004

 

Microwave radio roving in the San Joaquin valley

September 2004

 

Shuteye Peak during 10 GHz & Up Microwave Contest

The path to the top was an insane 4x4 route!

I was lucky to make it to the top, and out again

September 2004

 

Shuteye Peak during 10 GHz & Up Microwave Contest

September 2004

 

Weather getting bad on Shuteye Peak

September 2004

 

Blue Thunder rescues 3 women stuck in a Pathfinder

September 2004

 

Dang!

Sharp Rocks on Shuteye

September 2004

 

Returned home from 10 GHz & Up Microwave Contest

September 2004

 

Off-roading in the CA Sierras

February 2005

 

Snow in the CA Sierras (almost didn’t make it out of here!)

February 2005

 

Resting at a high spot in the CA Sierras

February 2005

 

Mt. Frazier during the 10 GHz & Up Microwave Contest

August 2005

 

Mt. Oso during the 10 GHz & Up Microwave Contest

September 2005

 

Pilot Peak during the 10 GHz & Up Microwave Contest

Incredibly dusty roads

September 2005

 

50 MHz and Up Group Microwave Tune Up

August 2005

 

High speed water run

Unstoppable!

January 2006

 

Blue Thunder gets a new timing chain!

April 2006

 

New water pump also

April 2006

 

Engine is put back together

Truck is running great now!

Quiet engine, very stable timing and idle speed, increased

power and throttle response - fun to drive now!