Turtle Ridge Off Road Park - Mad Michigan Wheeling

In the far Northeast corner of Michigan's Upper Peninsula lies a 4x4 sanctuary that gives wheelers a chance to hit some of the best trails in the state. Turtle Ridge Off Road Park on Drummond Island has been growing in popularity since it opened just a few years back. Due to land closures and ORV regulations in the state it's one of the few places you can come to hit the rocks. We joined an invitation-only trail run put on by the Williamsburg Welfare Wheelers and local sponsors Griztek, Northwest 4x4, and Inner Air Lock. Judging by the turnout it will definitely become a growing annual event for terrain-desperate Michiganders.

This wasn't your average rockcrawling competition we covered. Missing were the stringent judges counting down the seconds before you have to keep your forward momentum, and the maniac crowds egging you on to hammer down and give them a show. There were time limits and penalties for hitting cones, but it was a lot lower key. These are people just doing what they love to do for the pure and simple fun of it. It was a good showing of some seriously built rigs that you wouldn't expect to see thrashed at a competition. From flatfenders to fullsizes, nobody was afraid to beat their machine into the side of the mountain.

For more information on the park and their upcoming events visit www.turtleridgeorv.com.

Drummond Island is full of...        read full caption Drummond Island is full of an amazing array of flatfender Jeeps in great condition. After 13 years of ownership, Abe Thiessen ended up with this well preserved CJ-3B. The F-Head motor was traded for the ever-popular 350 and it's backed up by a T-19. Scout springs are over the Wagoneer running gear with a spool and a Lock-Right.	On this obstacle Jason Hull...        read full caption On this obstacle Jason Hull demonstrates the proper way to do what the club calls a Canadian tree turn. It makes tight corners easy if you have the tube in the right spot. The Jeep was built two years ago and runs a propane-powered 350 with a 465 transmission. A Dana 20 turns the Dana 60 and 70 axles with 39-inch Iroks.	Steve Hanna showed the young...        read full caption Steve Hanna showed the young guys how to do it in his CJ-2A. A 4.3 Vortec, 700R4, Dana 300, and Dana 44s power it now. It's abnormally low center of gravity and Steve's 40 years of driving skill took him up just about every obstacle with ease.
They don't call themselves...        read full caption They don't call themselves the Welfare Wheelers for nothing. Jason Grzesikowski from Griztek Off Road built this YJ by frugally parting out vehicles and selling off the things he didn't need to make it almost free. The Jeep has a 4.0L, a 3-inch stretched wheelbase, and Dana 44s with 5.38 gears. The 2-inch lift springs sit spring-over and clear 36-inch Iroks on homemade bead-lock wheels.	Like most people in this sport,...        read full caption Like most people in this sport, Josh Pettijohn got hooked on four-wheeling when he was young. He's done his TJ up right, keeping the 4.0 and adding a Dana 300 that feeds ARB'd Dana 44s with 4.88 gears. A 5-inch lift with long arms up front, and a four-linked rear usually keep all four 37-inch MTRs on the ground.	This '88 4Runner was a project...        read full caption This '88 4Runner was a project that Cam Leuenberger threw together in a few days for a trip a while back. It worked so well that he has only finessed a few things since then. It must be the wealth of knowledge in his two subscriptions to 4WOR that helped him put together such a bulletproof vehicle. Not to mention it was his 10th vehicle build. It sports a small-block 350, a TH400, a welded 14-bolt, and a Dana 60 front.
Ryan Quinn, better known as...        read full caption Ryan Quinn, better known as "Q," battled the last rocker-panel-eating obstacle of the event in his tubed-out '89 Toyota pickup. This took him into first place and on to win the trophy he helped concoct from broken parts. Beyond the Longfield axles, exo-cage, and welded rear end, this rig is stock-a true testament to the older Toyota truck's strength.	This off-camber 6-foot dropoff...        read full caption This off-camber 6-foot dropoff caused a few near rolls, but Tim Hull navigated precariously through it with some three-wheel motion. Both the Hull brothers have been building 4x4s since they were quite young and their vehicles are built on the same 1-ton platforms for the ultimate in strength.	Traversing this sidehill caused...        read full caption Traversing this sidehill caused a few rollovers. With help from the crowd, Jeff Mills got righted and finished the obstacle with minor body damage and a broken windshield that he finished the event with. Jeff refers to his vehicle not as a Chevota, but instead a Toylet because of its Chevy 4.3L powertrain. A new cab with an exterior rollcage is next on the list of mods.
Ford Rangers were plentiful...        read full caption Ford Rangers were plentiful at this event. Chris Paiva built this one up simply because it was the vehicle he had. Although mostly stock, a Dana 44 with an ARB took the place of the IFS, and 36-inch Iroks were mounted up for some wheelin' on a budget.	Sometimes you just have to...        read full caption Sometimes you just have to punch it. Even the Boggers wouldn't grip after these two rocks were bathed in slop from the mud bog below. Tad Dowkers overcame the slippery mess with a little right foot which got him a Second Place finish in the event.	Clark Cole from Northwest...        read full caption Clark Cole from Northwest 4x4 shoehorned this diesel-powered Wagoneer through everything out there, making more room for competitors down the line. The rig runs a 4BTA Cummins Motor, an NV4500, an Atlas transfer case, and 5.38-geared Dana 60s with 40-inch Iroks.