Sierra Trek
Dec. '95
Since 1966, the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs has produced Sierra Trek, described as "the Rubicon with tons of trees." Now the biggest Cal 4 Wheelers event, the crème de la crème is the Fordyce Creek Trail, a tight grabber with about five winch spots, making it limited to the short-wheelbased. But Sierra Trek also boasts trails for bigger 4x4s, a night run called Star Trek, plenty of tire-up action, and weather that can bring snow even during this summertime event. It's held in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and draws swarms of daredevils from all over the United States.
Smoky Mountain Trek
Aug. '91
The name has changed to Great Smoky Mountain Venture but the locale remains North Carolina. It's a 10-day deal that's been held for about a bizillion years in the Upper Tellico ORV Area in the Nantahala National Forest. Spare Tire Runs signify easier 'wheeling; Spare Parts Runs mean hold onto yer young 'uns. Trails rate from a 2 to a whopping 11, so everyone finds something to do, whether it's mud and pebbles or cliffhanging and hanking rocks. Trail-maintenance projects are also held during the event.
OBD-III is being discussed for model-year 2000 vehicles-that law will require onboard transmitters that broadcast your vehicle's speed, location, and faulty emissions equipment to the government.
-4xForward, Mar. '96
Pre-'74 Vehicles Exempt From Smog Inspection in CA.
-Drive Lines headline
Jan. '98
The New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles may make it illegal to perform many standard tire, wheel, and suspension mods.
-Drive Lines, Oct. '97
Suzuki is fighting charges from the Center [For Auto Safety] that the Samurai is unsafe due to a high center of gravity that causes it to roll easily.
-Drive Lines, June '88
...Isuzu [has] filed a lawsuit alleging defamation and product disparagement by Consumers Union. The suit claims Consumers Union manipulated the testing to show that the Trooper was prone to rollovers.
-Drive Lines, Nov. '97
As it stands, there are currently no airbag standards for light trucks.
-Drive Lines, Jan. '92
Studies...show that airbags were responsible for the deaths of 32 children and 20 adults as of January 6, 1997.
-Drive Lines, Apr. '97
ABS isn't producing overall safety benefits....
-Drive Lines, May '97
Innovations
The most exciting news involves cassette decks, which have now become the number one setup by surpassing the sales of the ol' standby eight-track deck in 1978.
-Traveling, May '79
Toyota was really onto a good idea when they made a single key to fit the doors, gas cap, and electric rear window.
-"Family Fun Wagon,"
Nov. '78
The XJ-series Jeeps...will represent an entirely new idea of what Jeeps are all about.
-"Sneak Peek: 1983 Jeep XJ,"
Mar. '82
Mitsubishi's New High-Tech Montero.
-Cover blurb, May '83
Not to be left behind by the likes of Chrysler Defense Corporation, AM General Corporation has delivered 11 prototypes of its 1 1/4-ton High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle to the U.S. Army for testing. The same company that came up with the original Jeep has dubbed its new version the Hummer.
-Tailgate, Sept. '82
The mini-truck not only survived but also evolved. It took Chevy 10 years to build its own little pickup-the S-10. And the truck world hasn't been the same since.
-"Muscle Madness," Mar. '88
Detroit's 3-Ds are downsize, diesel, and dynamite (performance). They're new enough to make us excited about new 4x4s for the first time in years.
-"Detroit in 3-D," Oct. '81
What is the Scrambler-a pickup, mini-truck, Jeep, or none of the above?
-"1981 Jeep Scrambler
Vehicle Test," Aug. '81
New For '80-Factory Turbo Scout.
-Cover blurb, Dec. '79
Taking a cue from Lamborghini, Chrysler is working on a high-performance V-10 engine.
-Drive Lines, June '88
Beginning next year, Ford will start offering driver-side airbags as an option on its light-duty trucks.
-Drive Lines, Jan. '92
Wow! The excitement at Chevy seems to be about the new Easy Access System third-door option....
-"'96 4x4 of the Year"
Feb. '96
Other Bests
•All 4 Fun Week
•Carlisle All-Truck Nationals
•4x4 Off-Road Jamboree (formerly New London 4x4 Off-Road Jamboree)
•Mile High Jeep Club and Our Gang Ice Races
•Minnesota Go-4-Wheelers Shows
•New England 4x4 Jamboree
•Michigan's Silver Lake State Park Sand Dunes
•Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association Summer Convention
•Sand-o-Rama
•Hank's 4x4 Jamboree