Our Signature Event For This Magazine Is Called The Ultimate Adventure. Unless you have been living under a rock or are relatively new to this magazine, it's the trip of a lifetime for a few lucky readers who apply, sponsors, and your humble 4WOR staff. Since its inception in the last century, the past eight years have seen our ever-changing group travel Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, then California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada, followed by Utah and Colorado. The Southern Tour of North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas was followed by a cruise up the heartland through Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The next year we travelled to Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. After that, we travelled to Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Last year's trip was entirely in the monster state of Texas, and this year's trip promises to be even better.
But how does this event come about? Quite simply, I choose an area where we haven't been and then I fly in, rent a 4x4, and start driving. It's as simple as that. I've done some preliminary work with friends, readers, and other contacts before I go and I make up a loose schedule trying to tie wheeling locations together with interesting road trips. I try to find that roadside attraction like the World's Largest Ball of Lint as well as historical activities, all the while concentrating on the best wheeling found in that particular area. I often run into readers along the way who show me some killer stuff, and that turns into part of the Ultimate Adventure. This Prerun Fun is the basis for our grand trip, so if some sandal-wearing stranger accosts you in the parking lot of Wal-Mart and says something like "nice truck!," it just might be me scouting for a new location.
Of course, this isn't just a simple road trip in 4x4s. The whole idea is to eat, sleep, drive, wheel, and live out of your own rig for a week. That means no trailer queens as we drive up to 500 miles a day between carefully chosen 4x4 trails guaranteed to be a challenge. And since we camp in the most out-of-the-way places, all your gear and spare parts and food need to be hauled along. Think expeditionary jungle treks with no support, and you'll get an idea of what's involved. If you break your ride on trail or track, you have to fix it on spot so our merry band of 20 rigs can mosey on through the trail or into the next trail. While the magazine doesn't pay your way on the trip and you are responsible for all expenses and of course yourself, we give you the satisfaction of a lifetime, coverage in our November and December issues, and a spot on the DVD. Sound interesting? Look for our upcoming coverage in the November issue, and also read in this issue about our Ultimate Z71 we're building for the trip. Look forward to an application to join our crew in the mag as well as on the Web at www.4wor.com as soon as coverage hits. Until then, see ya on a prerun!