As many of you know, we've been looking for a replacement body for our 4WOR staff since former Tech Editor David Kennedy left for Diesel Power more than a year ago. We've had many good applicants, and a few close calls, but until now no one could meet all of the requirements and fill the open slot. Luckily, we got more than just a random body coming on board the magazine as a staffer. In fact, we snagged a real enthusiast who can also write and show others his passion for the sport like the rest of the staff, and you'll see his byline starting next month.
We try to be as varied a magazine as we can, offering information for readers of any skill level or years of experience building or driving. That's also why we cover so many different types of events like mud running, rockcrawling, trail riding, and even some stuff from the competition scene. Likewise, our staffers come from varied backgrounds and experiences. Tech Editor Fred Williams hails from the middle of Pennsylvania, and has lived in North Carolina, Oregon, Colorado, and now California. Feature Editor Jerrod Jones is a home-grown SoCal boy, with roots in desert racing and bombing around in the dirt, and has lived in Idaho and the Northwest as well. Art Director Alan Huber grew up in the Midwest with dirt bikes and 4x4s in Oklahoma, and now calls California his home while still wheeling from the deep south to the far north and all points in between. As for myself, I cut my teeth on 4x4s in Alaska, and then moved to Arizona, with wheeling stints in Ohio, New York, and of course California. Our new guy, Ali Mansour, has started out in North Carolina working in a 4x4 and fab shop, where he also built trucks and traveled to hot spots like the Uwharrie National Forest and Tellico, and now has taken the plunge to drive cross-country and relocate to beautiful smog-filled Southern California.
This background and varied experience of the staff gives the magazine its special flavor (sort of like gas-soaked manifold burritos) that makes us the bestselling, largest 4x4 magazine in the world, and we're proud of that. The addition of the new guy means we have a full staff, and you'll be seeing more of us on the trail and at events. The addition of Mansour to the staff gives us a balanced East Coast perspective more than we have had, as well as a more youthful attitude and perspective to the whole scheme of things. Look forward to more interesting things on the Web as well, as Mansour and Web Editor Jason Gonderman plot and connive on all things electronic to help move us oldtimers into the 21st century with new widgets and doohickies. If you have any great tips, tricks, or even words of wisdom for the new guy, drop him a line at ali.mansour@primedia.com, and welcome him on board, as well as sending your Readers Rides' submissions to him as his first official job assignment at readersrides@4wheeloffroad.com.