For the first time in months, the San Gabriel Valley Offroad Highway Vehicle playground was open Saturday in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa.

The area near the East Fork Road and Highway 39 intersection had been closed since it was damaged by winter rains, forcing aficionados to go elsewhere to roar their trucks through the water and mud.

For the past five weeks, some of the 200 members of Azusa Canyon Offroad Association poured an estimated 1,200 hours into cleaning up the San Gabriel Canyon OHV area.

It was either wait a year for the U.S. Forest Service, or do it themselves.

"They really cleaned it nicely,' said Hector Ruiz, 48, looking at the area from above nearby East Fork Road.

Although Ruiz is a first-time off-roader, he was sad to learn the area was damaged by weather because "there aren't many places like it to go off-roading.'

The area is open on weekends. All trucks and four-wheeled motorcycles, commonly called "quads,' must be registered with the state and follow environmental restrictions before entering the area, forest officials said. The entrance fee is $8.

As of early Saturday afternoon about 20 trucks were parked in the area, which was dry. Some even got stuck in sand and were pulled out by other trucks with chains. Others trying to cool off from the heat rode through the fast-moving waters.

Officials expect more people up at the OHV area today.

For Jorge Martinez, who drove from Van Nuys with his 8-year-old son, Jorge, the opening of the area was good news because it's the closest off-road location to his house.

Usually the 25-year-old travels to Pismo Beach or Glamis, but when he doesn't feel like driving that distance he loads his two quads onto his truck and heads to the Azusa foothills.

"I'll go almost anywhere to get my adrenaline going,' he said.

He usually rides his quads because he is teaching his son to ride, but when he gets a chance he also rides in a "rig.'

"It's a bigger adrenaline with bigger trucks because you can tip over, so it keeps you on your toes,' he said. "You fix your rig and expect a certain performance.'

His son enjoys the dirt in his face and the bumpy roads when he drives his four-wheeler.

"It's fun to get dirty and go fast,' he said.

But others, like Kenny Fullerton, 38, of Rancho Cucamonga, prefers to stay clean and safe, and still enjoy the adrenaline rush.

"You have to be careful out there,' he said as he was getting ready for a safety class with his son. "You can fall and when you do it hurts.'

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