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From Tennesseeeeee to
Texas
If you're thinking this is
just another slice of Americana, you're right. But, these "Southern
boys" is the pride of the south. We're sure you'll see more of them
in Thursday's coverage, when they take ORC on a ride in Brad "The
Wheelie King" Johnston's YJ, aptly named PUCKER. |
Short version: He did a little
shopping while I cruised the ORC Toyota to the nearest trail head,
Fins And Things, where a mass of onlookers settled into to their
six-packs as Nate Holm of St. Hellens, Ore. dug into the mechanics
of his CJ's Dana 44 front end with the agony of a busted-up U-Joint
before'em. "I'd been up it six or seven times before, and I figured
I'd go up it one more time for the magazine guys," says Holm as he
smacks on the faulty nuckle before the crowd and vertical wall that
saw to his rig's demise. "It seems like some oil was laid-out on
the trail and that was it. Here I am," he said as his partner added
another smack to the rig for good measure. "The thing is, I don't
have a spare axle, and I'll be three-wheeling it all week long."
Some guys know when to quite. Others learn the hard way with a
broken axle, cold wind blowing, sleet in their eyes and the sun
setting on the cloudy horizon. Meanwhile, Ryan Taylor of Gunnison,
Col. airs down his TJ. The first few bunny-hops and throttle stabs
at the slick rock weren't anything less than a crowd pleaser, bunny
hops, smoking rubber and a wheelie in for the hell of
it. |
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Eco-Establishment
These are
the freaks who were camped outside the Eco-commune, the Restorie
Creamerie. This faction of Eco-Fascist are on the loose and seeking
all you've got, including the right to enjoy the land that our
forefathers fought, bought and paid for. Remember them when you dig
deep into your pockets on April 15. They're the homeless Eco-Nazis
you're likely to be supporting. |
"How far do you think you're
gonna' go with that?" I asked'em. "Whatever it takes," he says as
his tire lets out its last gasp. "At least something less than 30.
All its got is a lift and a set of 33s. And uhhhhhh?" He continued
into oblivian, shrugging his shoulders with that thought to ponder.
"If that's your rig, what the hell is this chump sitting captain's
chair?" "Why!" Yelled driver Jason Navidi. "I built it." "Well,
because he's got more ability than I do," said Taylor. Navidi
fired-up the I-6 and crept the rig onto the face of rubber-marred
slick rock - to no avail, no more progress than the amount of gas
he lumped into the throttle body. With tires smoking, burping,
whining and churping, the crowd called-out for more. "Take it to
the top! We need some more oil on there! You're almost there!"
Tomorrow: We've got Norm set-up to head-out with a set of Unimogs.
Will he make it? Well, he's just received a call from a few Toyota
guys who are looking to take their project rigs up to Prichett
Canyon, a place where Breckenridge, Colorado's Tyler Tatro and
brother Chris Tatro (driver) lost their 98 XJ's front end to a
little too much throttle. |
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Until
Tomorrow
When Norm's getting shut
eye, the world sleeps. |
"We're all about finess," says
Chris of their behind-the-wheel approach to the sick and slick
rocks of Moab. "I sheered the yoke nut on the Dana 30, and now the
air locker is giving us trouble up front." The brothers, along with
a few buddies, spent last night rebuilding the Dana 30. The Jeep
stands upon a set of 33s and a Rubicon Express suspension, which is
shackled-up high enough to climb six-feet above terra firma. As for
me: It looks like I'll be heading out early tomorrow morning with
Craig Stump in his Commando(the guy who ran over his kid during
ARCA's Johnson Valley event featured in our March issue). We'll
eventually hook up with the new and improved Currie Fire Ant to run
the wrath of the Spanish Trail. Oh, and don't forget breakfast at
Slick Rock Campground's Coyote Cafe for a $6.95 grub-out. Bacon,
scrambled eggs, sausage, Lucky Charms, Cherrios, Honey Combs, hash
browns, milk coffee and orange juice. Damn I'm
hungry.
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Denny's of Moab -
Thanks from the staff and the readers of Off-Road.com. If not for
your service, our stomachs would be empty and our readers would be
reading a blank page.
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