Here's a photo of us relaxing after hiking up and down the Great Wall in China. We wish we could have driven our '75 Blazer at least to the start. The Blazer resides in Southern California and sports a Chevy 383 stroker with TPI, a TH400, and an NP205 transfer case. If it would float, we would have tried to drive it across the Pacific Ocean for a chance to wheel the Great Wall!
-Craig and Jennifer Boone
How's it going? I thought I would submit this picture from the Arctic Slope in Alaska. I just got done spending a month riding around in Rolligons all over the tundra. My brother, Cole Wininger (far right), Moe Lambdin, the Rolligon driver (middle), and I (left) thought it would be cool to get a picture of us reading the newest issue in front of the beast.
-Frank Wininger
* As a way of promoting its all-new '07 Silverado, Chevrolet is looking for personally owned Silverado pickups with 200,000 miles or more on the clock to join the Silverado 200,000 Mile Club. Chevrolet will acknowledge the top trucks and their owners at a major event at the Texas State Fair in Dallas in late September, where the Bow-Tie guys will unveil the new pickup.
* Some makers are seeing a slip in vehicle sales in the wake of ever-rising gas prices, but Chevrolet experienced a surprising lift in truck and SUV sales in April. Car sales fell nearly 18 percent, but truck sales were actually up 1.3 percent, due in large part to sales of the new Tahoe and Yukon SUVs. Will it last? We're not holding our breath.
* Nissan has donated 50 Titan pickups to Habitat for Humanity to aid the organization's rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast in the wake of last year's devastating hurricane season. This isn't Nissan's first goodwill gesture for the people in the Gulf. Nissan has already donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross; donated 50 vehicles to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency; established the "Nissan Disaster Relief Fund" to aid affected Nissan employees, dealers, and affiliates; matched employee donations dollar-for-dollar to various relief organizations; and had employees donate items to benefit victims and evacuees nationwide.
* Toyota will sponsor NBC television's Sunday Night Football halftime show and use the air time to show off the all-new Tundra fullsize pickup to football fans, which Toyota sees as key potential buyers. Toyota is calling the Tundra's launch "the most important new model launch in Toyota's history."
Good news: SEMA tells us Interior Secretary Gale Norton issued an order that could eventually open thousands of miles of roads and trails to "right-of-way" claims brought by state and county governments under an old mining law known as RS 2477. RS 2477 claims are based on the fact that the subject road or trail has been in continuous use since before the land was designated as federal property. At issue is a dispute over the definition of "continuous use." The federal government had argued that such lands must have been mechanically constructed. Utah and other states or local jurisdictions have a more liberal definition that is based only on use. The federal government will now defer to state or local law. The order applies to the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies within the Interior Department and could lead to more claims on roads and trails in national parks, wildlife refuges, national monuments, and wilderness areas.
More good: Kansas legislation to allow qualifying military vehicles to be registered and operated on public roadways as "antiques" was approved by the Kansas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Kathleen Sebelius. The new law defines an "antique military vehicle" as a vehicle, regardless of the vehicle's size or weight, which was manufactured for use in any country's military forces and is maintained to represent its military design. The law excludes fully tracked vehicles from this definition.
Now the bad news: In a blow to Southern California off-roaders, a federal judge struck down a plan by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to allow off-roading on large sections of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area that were originally closed in 2000. The court ruled that the BLM violated the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws in proposing to reopen approximately 49,000 acres in four areas of the desert dunes to OHV use. In its ruling, the court stated that BLM relied on a flawed report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that concurred that the dunes could be reopened without "jeopardizing" the existence of the Peirson's milk-vetch, an abundant desert plant which was placed on the endangered species list in 1998.
Bret Lovett, President & CEO, Superlift Suspension Systems
Drivelines: How has Superlift's business changed in the last five years?
Bret Lovett: The most notable change has been our ongoing efforts in product development and manufacturing. About five years ago we made some major staffing moves, plus we are continuously investing in technology to help keep us at the top of the food chain in terms of product quality and functionality. Everything is product driven. The consumer has tons of information available, and those that do the research can cut through the marketing B.S. and discover what products actually perform as advertised. We actually want the masses to be informed; not all suppliers can honestly say this.
On the technology side, an increasing number of new vehicle manufacturers now make their computer modeling data available to certain aftermarket manufacturers. Fortunately we have the expertise required to actually utilize this information, which greatly improves each design and considerably speeds up the concept-to-market process.
DL: What's your most popular product right now?
BL: The fullsize truck market remains strong with Dodge and Super Duty diesel applications leading the pack. Also, our 1/2-ton GM line continues to thrive.
DL: Can you tip us off to any new products on the drawing boards?
BL: Yes, but then I'd have to maim you. Well, OK, since you've assured me that this is strictly confidential. We have a new long radius-arm front/leaf-spring rear system for the Jeep YJ and TJ (yes, a TJ). This system, called the X2, along with a more conventional long-arm TJ lift will be shipping about the time your readers see this. Our '07 Tahoe/Yukon lift should be shipping by then as well. We're already working on the '07 Wrangler lift too; there is never a dull moment.
DL: How has activity been at the Superlift ORV Park in Arkansas?
BL: The Park continues to enjoy steady growth. The 1,254-acre trail system caters to all experience levels, and the combination of a trail map, signage, trail rating system, and the gorgeous scenery provides a truly unique experience. We're also continuously adding new trails, features, and services. The latest additions are ATV rentals and a large open-air pavilion which will be a gathering spot during events. We're now planning a spectator-friendly competition area. Jeep has added us to its Off-Site Proving Grounds List, which is flattering. In fact, the '07 Wrangler development group has made a couple of outings to the Park.
DL: Biggest pucker-factor moment while you've been off-roading?
BL: I've experienced my share of rollovers, both the tame "flop onto the side" and the more intense "turtle" varieties. Most don't really bother me since they generally happen so quickly, and damage is normally minimal. I consider those a part of a healthy adrenaline-release diet. Obstacles in terrain that's unforgiving spook me. Farmington, New Mexico, comes to mind. I do not remember the specific trail, but years ago there were a couple of places where, if you did get out of shape, you could easily launch off of a ledge. Situations that pose potential catastrophic carnage concern me.