Action Cam Comparison Drift HD vs GoPro HD ... By Chad DeMeyer

GoPro Hero 1080p vrs Drift HD 1080p:










Since I have owned both of these camera's
I will share with you my experience's with them
and why I like the Drift so much better.

The Drift has a remote control: excellent for mounting the camera in places you can't reach from the driver's seat
stopping and starting record mode,this way you don't end up with those "Is it on" moment's in your video and useless footage of everyone sitting around talking.

Audible beep when turning the camera ON (short beep) and OFF (long beep): So you can actually hear when your camera is ready to start recording or not.

LED light that changes color's for various modes (Green = Standby,Red = Recording).

4x digital zoom, Instead of far away or video's of your hood in every shot (mounting location) you get a closer more real sense of what your recording.

Easy MENU with symbol's and word's, No more of the EL,STL,DE,FF3 and all the rest of the hard to remember or understand codes of the Go-Pro.

Built in LCD screen for reviewing your video right on the spot,no more having to wait until you get to a computer to see what your video looks like.

Rotating lens,This means you don't have to use all those elbow's and various GP mounts just to get your camera at the right angle,just simply rotate the lens
and use the LCD screen to see if that is the angle you want.

Mini SD card just like your smart phone not a big clunky SD card.

Mini HDMI output's for connecting to a monitor in your vehicle or home.

External microphone and HDMI jacks so you can have a external microphone mounted where you want it and also have it hooked to some sort of monitor located in the vehicle,
all while the cover for the camera is in place (GP has to be out of it's case).

Night Mode,Works pretty good considering how hard it is to shoot video at night with no light,(since video and picture's are reflected light image's).

DRIFT HD Price:$235.00. 

GoPro Hero 2 Price:$299.00 and you still will need to buy the WiFi backpack with remote ($99.00 and good luck with a WiFi signal in the dune's to hookup your smartphone) 
just to get it to do what the Drift HD already does.Even if you buy the LCD,BATTERY or WiFi/Remote backpacks you can only use 1 back pack at a time.

In my opinion the DRIFT HD is a much better camera at a better price,The GoPro is a complicated hard to use camera in comparison,I'm not saying sell your GoPro and run out and buy the DRIFT HD,They both have about the same video quality and versatility only the DRIFT does it in a much more user friendly format.

      Tested and written By Chad J. DeMeyer 

Service ...Hallmark style

                                                   What ? Service with a smile -----
       In today's increasingly techno computerized, microwave, done now society, it becomes harder and harder to find any business that actually cares more about customer service than their website or Facebook.
        Well I found it!

       Nestled in on a cliff between South beach and Nye beach in Newport Oregon you will find The Hallmark Resort Newport , a nautical themed hotel with jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces in most rooms. Sure there is a string of corporate generic cookie cutter hotels and condos, planted on the same stretch of cliff overlooking the beach. But this is the place. This is the place for smiles, for good mornings, for how is your day, for how is your room, for what can I help you with, for good old fashioned genuine niceness, and that is the difference.
       Plain and simple, the entire staff, from maintenance techs , to house keepers, front desk personnel, bar tenders waiters/waitresses and Management have the same unified goal. Genuinely making you feel like an old friend and therefore happy.
       Sitting in the bar sipping a cup of coffee on a calm Sunday afternoon, the staff jokes with patrons, takes pictures of smiling customers sitting by the window with the glorious pacific rolling steadily in the background, and a hint of sunshine poking through the clouds and lighting up the waves like lighthouses. Yes I feel comfortable and happy.
      Talking to Mike Locke (front end manager) and Jeff Orn (house services Manager)  their goal is to be the most personal, friendly and customer oriented hotel possible. That dynamic is shared throughout the entire staff due to their lead by example practice.
       Citing that he was at a recent resorts management conference, Mike states "One of the highly pushed topics was letting people check in with their phones to save the front desk time and personnel". By the look on his face you would think they stabbed him in the temple with an icepick, "That defeats the entire purpose of why we are here, to be friendly people" ,  "To make their time with us memorable, and make them want to come back" chimes in Jeff. "We have an incredible staff that can see the big picture, and supports us in our mission".
      They do have an incredible staff, trying to keep track of how many staff members smiled at me and asked how my day was or how I was doing, or if I needed anything was next to impossible, I think I lost track in the 20's !

      The rooms are clean and modern, the view (Yes from every room !) is outstanding, through the sliding glass doors, and the lower level rooms are pet friendly. The housekeeping staff keeps your linens fresh, and beds drawn tight daily. Toiletries, kitchen needs, and coffee are replenished like clockwork.

       Back to the bar, or more importantly, the fantastic restaurant/bar  attached, Georgies is easily a 4 star restaurant with 2 star pricing, good old fashioned, treat you like a local, service. The food is Exquisite, and in a coastal town where practically every restaurant claims to have "award winning chowder". There is no boast at Georgies, just (in my opinion) the best chowder in Newport, OR. The seafood is fresh, The beef is outstanding, the preparation, Presentation, and palette are perfectly delicious, all the way to the deserts. The bar staff is friendly and as one staff-member confided, "I have worked in other places here in town, and I am here because they are good...period".

      Yes , folks in today's techno-computerized, microwave, done now, society there is a refuge from the stone cold corporate stay. I suggest you take time to check it out for a couple days, kick back, be comfortable, turn on the fireplace in your room, leave the slider open at night and be lulled to sleep by the mighty rolling pacific. The refuge is called The Hallmark Inn Resort, in Newport, Oregon.
      http://www.hallmarkinns.com/index.asp?property=3&rec_id=38

Spring Bash 2012... Experience of a LifeTime.

      The flight from Charlotte to Knoxville was beautiful, it was early AM. The topography below was incredible and I was excited to meet the group responsible for bringing me out to ride and cover this event - This was the People With Disabilities off road Spring Bash presented by Lucas Oil. This was huge, I was thinking, I was going to make contacts and friends united in Off Roading all the way across the country, and I had the opportunity to be involved in something good, Helping disabled kids get on the trails. I was imagining the surprised look on their faces when they saw the helmets from the HEARTS for HELMETS program, and how cool the helmets really were.
      Yes, I was filled with excitement and anticipation. My nephew picked me up at the Knoxville airport, and drove out to the Ride Royal Blue ATV park. We pulled in and met the People With Disabilities group, It was great to finally meet in person. There appeared to be some confusion as we attempted to get settled in, about the Loaner ATV and Cabin, but got the cabin settled for sure, and got my stuff moved in and organized.
      Late Wednesday morning we had the Loaner quad set up (it was a little disappointing, an older Polaris 400 4x4, but hey it was a quad right ? due to some technical and personnel issues the side by side I was promised was not going to be available at all, so I guess I would make do with what I had.) and headed out for a ride, approximately 5mi. into the ride we had to divert up the bank to avoid a couple downed tress across the trail. While climbing the bank I realized 2 things 1) the 4X4 was in-op,  and more importantly  2) Be familiar with your machine and it's limits. The latter I noticed as I was tumbling over backwards. NOT A GOOD start. Unfortunately the little sportsman 400 was damaged enough that we were not able to continue and headed back for camp.
                                                    ~ Know your equipment, wear your safety gear, be aware, and take extra time to evaluate the situation.
      To say that the beginning of The Spring Bash presented by Lucas Oil, was more turbulent than my flight from Seattle to Charlotte is an understatement. There were no more Loaner/ Rental quads available, and there were lots of meetings and backs and forths with my hosts. I helped set up the tent and raffle items and got to meet some amazing folks (Greg, Tracey, Dave, Ed and the little Fronks).
      Friday things changed, my host left the event and things were kinda awkward, as I helped my new friends man the tent and sell raffle tickets for trail therapy for special needs children. There were some tense moments but we all adjusted fine, Thanks in a bunch to the Straight-forwardness, honesty and intestinal fortitude of Greg and Tracey.
       By late Friday afternoon a big fella' (Luther) came by and invited us over to the mud pit, and gave us directions. After everything that went on in the morning we were skeptical, nonetheless we headed over to the Ride Royal Blue, Tennessee Gumbo pit.

      Upon arrival we  found Tracey stuck in the middle of  the pit with Dwayne, along with a RZR XP900 ... what a sight... the fences were starting to mend.  After taking 4 vehicles lashed together to get them out they moved on to the other RZR, an XP900, that was not only stuck, but had broke a belt attempting a self escape from the gooey sticky thick Tennessee muck. To no avail they tried 4 vehicles - 5 vehicles, different rigs - pulling on the back, pulling on the front, Getting the tractor -- NOPE he was freakin' stuck. Than we heard it,  my mind instantly went to Maximum Overdrive (a real classic for you younger ones) grind, clank squeek, squeek, clank, grind, clunk, squeek, squeek, (you know the sound). The fact that it was beyond dusk made it even creepier when the dozer cleared the top of the hill, long story short 2 tow straps, 2 winch cables and a dug out pit to about 4' finally released the maimed XP to hard ground. I can not explain the feeling of standing by the mud pit with the whole group, upstanding people dedicated to having fun and the cause, The people who would've just as soon shot us as looked at us that morning, all one big group taunting a poor broke down bastard stuck in the mud.

       Saturday morning, as we stood around and drank coffee and waited for the group to get together for the am ride (yes they were going to let me ride again LOL) things really started to come together, We were finally going to run some trails. The dogs and burgers were lined up (thanks to Dwayne). The band was lined up (thanks to Sheila) and we were going for a ride.

      Taking off Saturday morning with the MudBuddies, Greg, Ed and the Royal Blue rangers,   I reminded my self that it was a loaner quad (Recon 250 2x4), not designed for someone my size, or to ride the way I usually do, and off we went. Up the side of a mountain,  switchback to climb to switchback to mud to switchback to creek crossing , ect... ect. The country was beautiful, the trails were well maintained and had areas you could run faster, and rocky edges you had to be technical on, surprisingly for as warm as it was the dust was not overwhelming. We switched positions in line a couple times so I could get some different GoPro footage, and than I noticed Greg dropping back some on his can-am, turns out he was overheating due to the coolant being a little low. No worries though as one of the guys on the ride had a portable, 12volt pump system, just for this kind of situation. We stopped by a small stream and they pumped water from the stream to cool the radiator, and then top it off. Just as we were getting ready to continue JONNY LAW showed up ( A group of 6 rangers in three Side by Sides). Turns out  I forgot to get my trail pass that morning and got ticketed,  at least the Ranger (name omitted) told me how to get it dropped after I get home. Well by the time the rangers got done with the 7 of us, some of us needed to head back, we had ridden several miles and had to repeat it to get back. The trip back was going well until we ran up on the rangers, they were putting along and would not move over in any wide spots and at one time had us all stopped both directions as they checked for passes with an oncoming group.

      The rest of Saturday was busy helping with the raffle stuff ( there was some very cool stuff offered up for raffle- from winch ropes to Utility ATV rear packs), selling tickets and raising money for special needs kids to get Trail Therapy, THIS is why we are here , I remember thinking. A lot of people donated and bought raffle tickets, THANK YOU to all those who did for being so generous !

      That evening before the band (POIZEN WHISKEY) Started, Dwayne provided dinner for the whole camp, burgers and dogs and cupcakes, and  Greg pulled the raffle winning numbers, with the help of some excited young ATV'ers. The numbers were announced. A bunch of great people got some fantastic prizes. Then it was over to me, to present the HEARTS for HELMETS, Helmets to Mike and Susie from MudBuddies www.mudbuddiesfoundation.com ( PLEASE take the time to go to their website and see the amazing things they are doing). It was a very, very emotional time, and I felt blessed to be able to contribute to such a great cause.
                                                    ~ As a side note, due to the generosity of many, and with the incredible help, support, and backup from The MotoShop, FLY Racing, and Western Powersports we were able to present 16 Helmets to the MudBuddies Foundation, to be used as loaner helmets in their program...

   
      We did the presentation pictures, and talked and hugged and shook hands and cried, the band played, the music was good, the people were friendly and having a great time. It all came together because of good people , dedicated to a GREAT cause, and I am proud to have been part of it.
                                     ~ MAddOG Morrell Motorsports would like to thank :

The Fronk Family, Dave, Greg, Tracey and the "lil' Fronks".

Ed M.

Lucas Oil Products www.lucasoil.com

RideRoyalBlue

MudBuddies

The Motoshop

FLY Racing

muzzys.com

 






   

 

MAddOG Spring Bash T's available for a limited time

For a limited time only The PDW OFF ROAD  Spring Bash T-shirts are available to order.

You can purchase them on www.maddogsgarage.com

MAddOG Answers ....Why HEARTS for HELMETS ?

      The question was posed to me recently ... "Why HEARTS for HELMETS ? How did you get involved? " .        ......Truth is ... I'm not sure ...
      When PWD OFF ROAD liked the MAddOG Facebook page, I was curious, I went to their page and then their website (www.pwdoffroad.org) and read, yes every page , every write up. Their mission touched me and shortly thereafter I contacted their President, Darin, online. I think the first coversation went kinda like " Tell me more... fill me in".
      Darin and I became friends fast, and I was touched by his story, conviction and dedication to his cause. I can remember talking to my Dad and friends about my new friend and the incredible things he is doing through People With Disabilities OFF ROAD. The more Darin and I talked the more impressed with the PWD mission I became.
      I know .. by now you are going where is the "A-HA" moment. Well here it comes ... not sure what day it was, and not uncommon for me to wake up at 2am, This time though it was not insomnia, it was my heart screaming WAKE UP ! you need to help this group achieve their mission. OK I answered, HOW ?
      My mind skittered around, help PWD, have to hit the gym early today, hope the special order parts come in today, help PWD, the sheer logistics of making a riding trip, getting ATV's ready, tools, packing the correct gear ... wait ... what ? .... Gear ?
       How do you handle taking extra people on a ride ? Especially those who don't normally get on the trails ?  How do you outfit them safely ? Where do the helmets come from ?
                   A-HA !!!
      And there it was, I knew (being a huge safety advocate) that I could raise money for loaner helmets, I would use contacts I have been fortunate enough to made in the industry, to chip in and help out.
       I called Darin, and after kinda beating around the bush for more information , I asked  the question, "Is there a need for helmets?" , a simple but kind-of suspicious "yes" was the answer. "Well bud, I have an idea, I can't tell you yet , and need to talk to a couple people, but I will fill you in as soon as I can". "UM OK...." was His response.
      ~ Keep in mind, I am not a philanthropist , I am not a professional fundraiser, I don't get involved in causes "just to be involved". If anything I have been accused of not being involved in causes and being obnoxiously opposed to fundraisers. That being said I do have experience in creating successful businesses using planning strategy my grandfather passed on to me.
                     - rule 1 establish a need
                     - rule 2 put together a plan to assure success
                     - rule 3 set goals
                     - rule4 work hard to achieve goals
                     -rule 5 pray this works so you don't look like an idiot....
      Well rule 1 was satisfied.
      And on to rule 2.  I began to put the wheels in motion, I stopped in my local shop / sponsor and bounced the idea of donating helmets to this group PWD OFF ROAD off him, "that is a very cool idea how can I help?" was the response. "Which company is most likely to help us out in this economy ?"  I said.  " I will make a couple calls and see, I'll call you in a bit". Brandon at The Motoshop (Bend,OR)  made the calls, and the ball was rolling.
      Next step name the program and make it unique. I decided on HEARTS for HELMETS , because I was following the lead of my heart, and asking others to do the same. Promote donations through our website and on our blog and facebook, and, GET INVOLVED personally, by taking it to the streets wherever I go . Be committed to the program and to the cause.
                                       ~ we often take for granted loading up and going out for a ride -- we bitch about how much to do there is and how tough it is to get ready - Imagine doing that, not just for yourself, but for  a group of people that may have never ridden before. Talk about compounding the load.
      Rule 3. After getting an idea of how much the helmets were going to cost, I set what I thought was a good goal, $500.00 should equate to 10 Helmets. Enough to well outfit several new off roaders.
      Rule 4. Brandon (The Motoshop) loaned me a helmet to use, and gave me the idea to use an old pair of goggles and cut a money slot in the lens. Kendal (MAddOG co-founder) got to work helping make flyers and displays, and got the goggle lens ready. We started a MAddOG Media blitz on the blog , website and facebook. I started talking to everyone, I mean everyone, People at the gym, the bank, the grocery store , ect, ect....
      Rule 5. People began to respond, at first it was disappointingly slow and I was worried (not about looking like a fool though). I found myself disappointed because we weren't going to be able to get helmets for the cause. I was getting small amounts here and there, I had to adjust my thinking to "EVERY dollar counts". I kept talking and sharing the PWD mission with people, the HEARTS started to open and the donations began to arrive, from everywhere , back east, Canada, California, Washington and locally.
      We raised $700.00 in 2 months !!! That is 14 new helmets (thanks to the incredible deal from WPS/FLY Racing).
      The day came to place the order, I was overwhelmed to the point of tears from the generosity, and caring people had shown, Brandon asked if I was OK, "Oh yeah buddy I am awsome" was my cracked voice response, "I just can't believe we are doing this, this is so amazing and I am so blessed to feel involved..... Let's DO THIS !". The order for 14 helmets was placed and as we were talking and wrapping things up, Brandon informed me that he was donating the loaner helmet to the program... UH-O hear comes the tears again... "are you serious?", "Yeah Man , that was my plan all along".
      The weekend we were wrapping up the fundraiser was the weekend that Mountianeer Trail Riders was having their fundraiser for PWD OFF ROAD and The Mud Buddies Foundation. MTR put up a donation bucket and flyers that I had mailed them. They were able to raise some more money for the program, but most amazingly to me was a gentleman at their event brought in a NEW FLY Racing kinetic helmet and donated it to the program ! When Darin called and told me the tears started again.
      I have been so fortunate to be involved in this program, and to meet so many fantastic and caring people, and make so very many new friends during the HEARTS for HELMETS Fundraiser. I would like to thank everyone who has donated , helped, supported, and yes talked me "up" when I was down.

Very Sincerely, Lorin "MAddOG" Morrell

Come meet us at the Off Road Spring Bash 2012 Presented by Lucas Oil Inc.

      That is right ! MAddOG Morrell Motorsports will be attending the , Off Road Spring Bash 2012 Presented by Lucas Oil Inc.  
      We will be doing ride reports, facility reports, participating in some rides and bringing the HEARTS for HELMETS, Helmets to present in person.

      Swing by and say hi ! We are so excited to be involved in this event, and looking forward to meeting a lot of new , and old, friends.

       See YOU there. April 12-15 at Ride Royal Blue.

       The event starts on Thursday April 12th through Sunday April 15th, but you can arrive at anytime, you do not have to stay the entire event, of course we want you to, but it is not a requirement. The event coincides with Autism Awareness month, and we ask that you try to wear something light blue during the event to honor this. Along with us is our great friend The Mud Buddies Foundation. They will be on site providing free rides to those with Disabilities!

   

PRESS RELEASE ... Bend, OR. 4/3/12 HEARTS for HELMETS Incredible Success !!!

We are Pleased to announce the AMAZING Success of HEARTS for HELMETS !

When we started this fundraiser our initial goal was to raise enough money, to be able to supply 10 Helmets to the People With Disabilities (PWD) OFF ROAD Organization.

Our Initial goal was literally SMASHED ! Due to the generosity of  many awsome people, we were able to supply 14 !! And then Brandon at The MotoShop was kind enough to donate the helmet we were using for our donation display, and also A kind gentleman ( Bob Smith) offered up a Brand NEW FLY Kinetic Helmet to the cause at The Moonshine Run Sponsored by the Mountaineer Trail Riders !

                                                    YES THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO .... 16 NEW Helmets !!!! That we will be presenting IN PERSON at the PWD / Ride Royal Blue SPRING BASH Presented by Lucas Oil !!!!

We have had the opportunity to meet and deal with so many great people throughout this program, and would like to extend a very , very special thanks to ;

                                                                                          Brandon W. at The MotoShop (Bend,or)  Without you,This program would have never got off the ground

                                                                                              WPS/ FLY Racing , Thank you for caring and helping out so much.

                                                                                     Corporate level sponsors, El Rodeo          Restaurant (Bend,OR) and BIGDog(Donn) from OVMA(Thank a Veteran).

                                                                                              And every other person who donated / shared/ supported this program

                                                                                         Special Thanks to Michael our webmaster for making my ideas work.

And of course Last, but, perhaps the most important

                                                                                         MY Wife and family for supporting me and sharing my excitement.