2004 Coal Mine Cruiser Classic

The annual Coal Mine Cruiser Classic (CMCC) is a 3-day four-wheeling fiesta at Paragon Adventure Park near Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Hosted by the Gotham City Land Cruisers of New York, CMCC began five years ago when members of the club were hungry for a nearby four-wheeling event. Since the inaugural run in 1999, the CMCC has grown in popularity, reeling in Toyota enthusiasts from as far away as Colorado. This year's Classic included more than 70 vehicles with some 100-plus participants. Seasoned trail veterans as well as newcomers found plenty of challenging obstacles throughout the weekend.

With the majority of its participants coming to Paragon from the eastern states, the CMCC has evolved into a family-friendly weekend of trail rides, camping, product giveaways, and four-wheel-drive camaraderie. The Classic is not limited to Land Cruisers or Toyotas. Although Toys are the majority, a mixed lineup of vehicles made the action-packed weekend interesting and fun.

Paragon Adventure Park covers around 15,000 acres of diverse terrain, making it suitable for the variety of vehicles that show up for CMCC. There are currently more than 50 four-wheeling trails that provide both stock and heavily modified vehicles plenty of opportunity to test their limits. For more information on next year's Classic, check out the Gotham City Land Cruisers' Web site at www.gclcny.com or e-mail Mike Kear at president@gclcny.com.

Most of the trails in Paragon favor short-wheelbase rigs. This FJ-80 owned by John Embrey of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was out to prove differently.	In his clean FJ-40, Fred Lamb paused momentarily to rethink his line while onlookers heckled him from the sidelines.	This tan FJ-40 owned by Fred Lamb of Williamsburg, Virginia, was unstoppable on Paragon's Rock Gardens.
Even late-model 'Cruisers tackled Paragon's trails. There are currently more than 50 four-wheeling trails in the park that provide both stock and heavily modified vehicles plenty of opportunity to test their limits.	Outnumbered, but well-respected by the 'Cruisers, this CJ-7 helped lead a group of 'wheelers safely out of the trail system during an unexpected downpour at the end of the first day's trail ride.	It's not all rocks in Paragon. Rain early in the week filled up some sizeable mud holes on the trails, and this chopped '88 FJ-62 found its way through plenty of sloppy goop.