The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is set to kick off on Friday, June 14 all the way until Sunday June 16. The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is an event that commemorates the father of all jeeps, the history behind it, the people who created it, and its birthplace, Butler, Pennsylvania. The main event is at Coopers Lake Campground while the Jeep Invasion takes place in Downtown Butler.

The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is organized by the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau with support from the Butler County Historical Society, Butler Downtown, other local organizations as well as a group of committed volunteers and Jeep enthusiasts that help put together the whole event. The annual event celebrates Butler, Pennsylvania’s role as the birthplace of the jeep.

The inaugural event in 2011 attracted more than 1,300 Jeep participants from 25 states. Festival activities were attended by more than 30,000 spectators.  The Festival was awarded a Guinness World Record for the Longest Parade of Jeeps.  

New this year is a great opportunity to "Roll Your Jeep." Players who want to try their luck have a chance to win a new 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4. To win, a player must roll seven dice that spell out the word "BANTAM!” Each roll is $5 and a limited number of rolls are permitted.  Stop by the Roll Your Jeep tent near the Festival Merchandise and try your luck at becoming the new owner of a 2013 Jeep Wrangler!

For more information on the 2013 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, please visit: http://www.bantamjeepfestival.com/

The City of Toledo, the ancestral home of the jeep, which was no doubt one of the most significant technological advancements for mankind, is finally getting serious about building a Jeep Museum and an associated Off-Road Trail Park for all jeepers to flock to.

Willys-Overland Newsletter is seeking advice and information from Jeep clubs around the country about what the exhibits should convey. It’s nice to see that our beloved Jeeps will have a place for many generations to come and enjoy their rich history. The coolest thing is that if the associated Off-Road Trail Park is opened along with the museum, future generations will not only have the opportunity to see the history of Jeeps, but also experience it in its natural setting – wheeling up and down some cool trails.

The Willys-Overland Newsletter will post updates of the Museum’s progress. 

For more information on the Toledo Jeep Museum, please contact:
Jay Margolies
info@willysoverland.com

The folks that fill up the east side of Knott's Berry Farm every year are doing it bigger than ever this time around, celebrating 110 years of Ford Motor Company with a ton of amazing vehicles that represent their rich history.

Additionally, there's over 2,000 cars already registered coming from 13 different states, and even some from Canada, eh! The show will have many vehicles covering 55 classes of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks, plus several displays of the latest and greatest from Ford as well as Ford Racing. Some of the celebrities on hand will include the guest of honor: celebrated Formula Drift Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr, who will have his latest competition Mustang on display along with his RTR Mustang stable.

In case that's not enough to get you're blood pumping, the lovely Linda Vaughn will be in attendance with a team of legendary 1960's drag racers of California fame. 

If you're in the SoCal area and want to see the largest display of Fords on the west coast, check out www.fabulousfordsforever.org

The Petersen Automotive Museum is celebrating fifty years of Off-Road Racing in Baja by hosting a Baja tribute dinner on May 2 at 6:00 p.m to honor the heroes and legends who have helped make off-road racing in Baja what it is today. 

Legendary racers Parnelli Jones and Dave Ekins will answer audience members’ questions at a tribute dinner that kicks off the Petersen’s one-day Off-Road Show and summer exhibition, Braving Baja: 1,000 Miles to Glory, presented by American Honda Motorcycle Division. 

To prove the durability of its motorcycles, American Honda sent a CL72 Scrambler on a 950 mile trek through rocks, sand washes, dry lake beds, mountain passes and paved roads. Fifty years later, that 1960's run is remembered for initiating the most significant off-road race for both two and four wheeled vehicles in the world - the Baja 1000!

Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr. will be honored for their daring, first timed run down the Baja peninsula with American Honda. Parnelli Jones, a renowned racer of all genres will be honored at the tribute for his off-road racing success, including multiple Baja 1000, Baja 500 and Mint 400 wins in his famously fabricated Bronco, “Big Oly.” Both Ekins and Jones will answer questions from the audience. Tickets for the evening of food, drinks and legends are available at www.BravingBaja.org

The Baja Day Off-Road Show will take place on Saturday, May 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The off-road show is included in the daily museum admission rate for spectators and participation is open to anyone with a vehicle that is off-road capable, including trucks, buggies, motorcycles, sand rails and more. Vendors will also be on-site as well.

The Braving Baja: 1,000 Miles to Glory exhibition will run from May 4 through Sept. 2, 2013 and will feature artifacts of all kinds including significant motorcycles, trucks, buggies, clothing and memorabilia. This never-before-seen collection of historic off-road racing vehicles will show where it all began and how it has evolved. 

Go to www.BravingBaja.org to purchase tickets. Proceeds from the Tribute Dinner and the Off-Road Show benefit the Petersen Automotive Museum’s educational programming. 

For more information, please visit www.BravingBaja.org

We need your help to save the Bonneville Salts! The Bonneville Salt Flats are a national treasure that have mesmerized gear-heads for almost a hundred years. It's a place so flat, you can actually see the curvature of the planet. This has been considered sacred ground for many of us who are die hard speed junkies since the first speed record attempts in 1914. Hundreds of records have been constantly set and broken in various automotive and motorcycle classes.

There was a time when the Bonneville Salt Flats spanned 96,000 acres but unfortunately it only covers 30,000 acres today due to salt mining. For over six decades, the land has been managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) but if we don't act to save Bonneville, future generations may never be able to bask in the Salt Flats' glory. 

The racing community has partnered with the mine owner to restore salt to the Bonneville Salt Flats but we need your help. Save The Salt Coalition is raising funds to restore the Salt Flats to it's former glory. Any money contributed to this cause will be used to return salt to its home. This process will require equipment and resources to transport salt from the mining area and will include a supplemental program to pump and spread salt brine from collection areas.

For more information, please visit: Save The Salt Coalition at 
http://www.savethesalt.org/Save_the_Salt/Save_the_Salt!.html

 Every year Jeep has a bunch of cool concept and custom vehicles at the Moab Easter Safari, they just revealed this year's batch of six cool cookies.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept

The recently introduced new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel V-6 has instantly delighted off-road enthusiasts across North America. With the introduction of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept, Jeep designers have taken the most awarded SUV ever and created the most extreme Grand Cherokee yet. Powered by the new clean EcoDiesel engine, this Grand Cherokee has mountains of low-end torque to power over any obstacle. From its blood-orange paint, to its massive 35-inch off-road tires, there’s no mistaking this Grand Cherokee and its off-road prowess.

The 2014 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept – the third Grand Cherokee created for Easter Jeep since 2011 - features 35-inch Mickey Thompson off-road tires on Wrangler Rubicon 17-inch aluminum wheels, enlarged wheel openings with custom fender flares, custom front and rear skid plates, dual rear tow hooks and modified Mopar rock rails.

Custom design cues include a Grand Cherokee SRT hood, SRT front and rear fascias that have been modified for extra ground clearance, a black front grille, a matte black roof and one-off custom roof rails. The body is finished in a vibrant, non-metallic blood-orange hue that also manages to draw attention to the larger wheel openings and off-road tires.

Mopar slush mats and rear cargo liner enhance Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept’s interior.

Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon

The Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon features a gray exterior and a little extra firepower with a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 crate engine from Mopar. The 470 horsepower engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and Dana 60 front and rear axles with 4.10 gearing. The axles are suspended by a 4.5-inch prototype long-arm lift kit and roll on Jeep Performance Parts prototype forged eight-lug beadlock wheels with 39-inch off-road tires.

The Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon includes a number of Mopar applications externally, including front and rear half-door and window kits, front and rear off-road modified “Stinger” bumpers, Warn winch, high-clearance flat fenders, rock rails, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary hood, prototype LED headlamps, a canvas soft top, swing-away rear tire carrier and body-color rear corner guards, taillamp guards, locking fuel door, and a Jeep Performance Parts badge.

The interior of the Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon includes Mopar slush mats, black door-sill guards, a locking below-floor storage box, side sun visors, grab handles, trailside winch kit and a custom seat made from Navy blankets and Navy camouflage material.

Jeep Wrangler Stitch

One of the past Easter Jeep Safari concepts still loved today by enthusiasts is the light weight Pork Chop. For this year’s Safari, Jeep has created its first follow-up vehicle with the new Jeep Wrangler Stitch. Based on the 2013 Wrangler Rubicon, the Stitch has been lightened to a parse 3,000-lb. curb weight, giving it a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

Jeep designers shaved weight where ever possible: the frame, axles, body and interior. The audio system and all heating and air conditioning components have been removed. The front seats are taken from the new 2013 SRT Viper and the rear seats have been removed. Sections of the body have been cut out, the doors have been removed, and the hood is a custom carbon fiber version of the one found on the Jeep Wrangler 10th Anniversary Rubicon. The standard roll cage has been replaced with a chrome moly unit, and the Full-Traction lower control arms, floor pan and GenRight fuel tank are made of aluminum. Even the frame and axles were modified to remove weight.

Off-road hardware consists of a Mopar cold-air intake and Mopar exhaust kit, Mickey Thompson 35-inch off-road tires on lightweight 17-inch aluminum wheels, custom DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 axles with 4.88 gears and ARB front and rear lockers, King shocks with pneumatic bump stops and Tom Woods drive shafts .

Unique design details include a windshield that has been chopped two inches, a clear yellow vinyl soft top, black leather SRT Viper seats and center console with a yellow instrument panel and seat backs, Truck-Lite LED headlamps and the previously mentioned carbon fiber hood. The black body panels are wrapped in a unique, see-through silver architectural fabric that hides the cut panels at some angles, and makes them visible at others.

Jeep Wrangler Sand Trooper II from Mopar

After the popular Sand Trooper made its debut at SEMA in 2012, Mopar upped the ante with the Sand Trooper II to get it ready to take on Moab. The Sand Trooper II features a legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 to give it 375 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission sends the HEMI power to Mopar eight-lug front and rear Portal axles for added ground clearance. Jeep Performance Parts prototype forged beadlock wheels carry 40-inch off-road tires, giving Sand Trooper II its menacing stance.

Mopar exterior enhancements include a satin black grille, hood lock, front and rear half-door and window kits, front and rear off-road “Shorty” modified bumpers, Warn winch, Mopar flat fenders, rock rails, a vented hood, LED off-road lights and headlamps, Rubicon 10th Anniversary swing away rear tire carrier, trailer-tow hitch receiver, black taillamp guards and locking fuel door, and a Jeep Performance Parts badge.

The interior features a rear back-up camera display, Mopar slush mats, black door-sill guards, under-seat and center-console locking storage, locking below-floor storage box, trunk storage box, side sun visors, grab handles, Trailside winch kit and leather seats.

Jeep Wrangler Flattop

The Jeep Wrangler Flattop is a paradox of sorts. Its highly styled and refined body and interior completely belies its phenomenal off-road capability. Jeep designers took special care to give the Wrangler Flattop an upscale appearance inside and out, but bolted some of the most hard-core off-road gear available to Flattop’s chassis.

Featuring a custom one-piece, windowless hard top, the body is finished in a metallic sandstone with copper and brown accents. The top and windshield were chopped two inches, and the b-pillar was removed creating a massive opening from front to rear. The door and hood hinges, tow hooks, grille slats and headlamp surrounds are finished in a copper tone, and the bumpers, side rails, side mirrors and hood decal are dark brown. The bumpers are customized versions from the Wrangle Rubicon 10th Anniversary model, as is the hood. Custom high line fender flares, Truck-Lite LED headlamps, LED rear taillamps and side markers, a massive Warn Zeon winch and TeraFlex spare tire carrier round off the exterior enhancements.

The interior features dark saddle Katzkin leather seating, copper accents on the steering wheel spokes, vent rings and passenger grab handle and Mopar slush mats.

Under Flattop’s rich exterior is some serious off-road gear such as a Mopar cold-air intake, Mopar exhaust kit, aluminum five-spoke wheels that carry 37-inch Mickey Thompson off-road tires, the DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles feature ARB air lockers and TeraFlex sway bars, and Full-Traction control arms. All of this is hardware is bolted to King shocks with pneumatic bump stops.

Jeep Wrangler Slim

The Jeep Wrangler Slim offers maximum performance that is significantly lighter in weight. The Rock Lobster color exterior of the two-door Jeep Wrangler Slim features full doors and a hard top. Powered by a 3.6-liter V-6, the Jeep Wrangler Slim has a 3:73 anti-spin axle. Rolling on prototype 17-inch Jeep Performance Parts forged beadlock wheels with Rock Lobster beauty rings, the Jeep Wrangler Slim features a special 10th Anniversary Rubicon front bumper, which complements the rear bumper, and is the lightest weight rear bumper that Mopar offers. The Jeep Wrangler Slim also sports lightweight rock rails, black grille, black hood decal, LED headlights, locking gas cap and Rubicon tires.

The black interior features leather seat covers and a CB radio, as well as Mopar all-weather slush mats and a hard-top headliner.

Jeep Performance Parts on the Jeep Wrangler Slim include a prototype Mopar 2-inch lift kit. A Mopar cold-air intake is also featured on the Jeep Wrangler Slim.

Del & Stacie, Team Albright and AreaBFE have just announced that Team Albright of Mokelumne Hill, California has signed on as an Official Landuse Ambassadors of the AreaBFE Off Road Park near Moab Utah. Team Albright will work closely with the group that established the park in 2004 to ensure the private land remains open to all, 365 days a year. In addition to helping promote AreaBFE’s world class venue year-round, Del & Stacie plan to be on site for the annual Easter Jeep Safari.

"We are committed to helping preserve the outdoor recreation activities offered at AreaBFE, and honored to join the ranks of off road organizations such as BFGoodrich Tires, Superchips, Full-Traction Suspension, MasterPull, Yukon Gear & Axle, KC Hilites, Epic Addictions, and Advance Adapters. Stacie added, “The great folks at AreaBFE support landuse and keeping all our trails open, and we plan to commit our time to helping them spread the landuse word.” said Del Albright

“We are honored that Del & Stacie, Team Albright have stepped up to support our efforts here at AreaBFE!” said Olaf Kilthau, Managing Member at AreaBFE. “We host numerous events throughout the year, catering to variety of outdoor activities, and having Del & Stacie on our team brings a unique credibility and knowledge to our operation.” Olaf went on to say, “We want our recreational park to serve as a national example of responsible and fun outdoor activities, where everyone is welcome to have some fun, yet also help us keep our outdoor sports alive, and our trails open. We support landuse and access wholeheartedly, and are thrilled to have Del & Stacie join our team.”

Serving in their Official Landuse Ambassador capacities, Del & Stacie will provide environmental conservation, education, and landuse advice and assistance to the park, and be available to help promote the outdoor activities available at AreaBFE. Team Albright will orchestrate and manage the staffing of the annual Landuse Team Booth at AreaBFE during Easter Jeep Safari.

AreaBFE is a 320 acre recreational park that facilitates many different outdoor activities. The park was developed by a group of guys who had a vision in 2004; “Create a place where people could go without the threat of being kicked-off of a fun little playground and insure that people will always have a place to recreate!” Since then, the AreaBFE staff and volunteers have been working to make trails, camping areas and many other fun destination points on the property. This project has reassured faith in the OHV community and the values these people hold close to their hearts. Learn more about AreaBFE at AreaBFE.com

For more information on Team Albright, please visit http://www.delalbright.com

The t-shirt tent was extremely busy as the event opened at noon on Friday and as expected, it eventually sold out the most popular sizes and styles quickly with over 2950 pieces provided between what was pre-ordered and sold onsite. The design was awesome and we love seeing the old and new shirts around the event.

Saturday evening’s raffle was a total success with over $120,000 in raffle donations (thanks to all the vendors) divided into 88 prize packages with an average value of $1172.00. ORW and Baja Designs donated products for the active duty military raffle that kicked off the evening. In addition there were eight bucket raffle prize packages including one whose value was over $4000. It should be noted that the vendors and sponsors are the ones who make the raffle possible as well as all those that work behind the scenes to make it look so effortless.

The evening continued after the raffle with fireworks made possible by a very special sponsorship from BF Goodrich. You haven't seen a fireworks show until you've been to TDS Desert Safari - there's just no comparison. Fireworks America put on the greatest fireworks show any of us have ever seen and had the crowd mesmerized for almost 20 minutes with a relentless amount of colorful pyrotechnics.

Just a few food facts from some of the food vendors, “The Empanada" lady prepared 1,716 empanadas.....that's 143 dozen of those tasty little gems.

Hector from Casanova Fish taco’s made over a thousand fish taco’s as well as 100 super delicious burrito’s.

Coffee Cart Mike went through 16-tubs of Ice Cream, 20-gallons of Milk and 10-pounds of Coffee.

Beachin’ Boba provided 85-gallons of fruit slushies, 8-gallons of lemonade and 200 churro’s.

The Kettle Corn guy used over 200 pounds of popcorn seeds.

SDORC provided 805 brats/dogs and 156 breakfast burrito’s as well as sixty servings of chili.

Tierra Del Sol is a not-for-profit family oriented 4x4 club located in San Diego, CA that continues to use proceeds from the Desert Safari to fight land closures and keep trails open.

For more information on Tierra Del Sol and the Annual Desert Safari, please visit www.TDS4x4.com

If rock crawling and mud-slinging sound like your idea of a fun weekend and you’re in Southern California, you should definitely check out Azusa Canyon Off-Road Park on April 13 – 14! The Azusa Canyon Off Road Association (ACORA) has put together an action packed off road event at the San Gabriel Canyon OHV Park, known to most as Azusa Canyon.

It will be two days of fun in the sun with lots of rock crawling action, plenty of RC crawling for kids and the kids at heart. There will also be a raffle, a poker run, and lots of parts, swag and food to keep you entertained throughout the weekend. If that’s not enough, an amateur rock crawling competition will be held on Sunday that is sure to make for a great time for the whole family.

For more information, please contact Mike Bishop, President of ACORA, at acora12@yahoo.com

If you like wheeling through mud or water crossings, you're U-Joints have likely seen better days. Breaking U-Joints is never fun but at least you now have a better choice of replacement U-Joints now that Mopar has just announced the launch of it's new line of greasable U-Joints for Jeep vehicles and Ram trucks!

The greasable U-joints feature cold-formed bearing cups that are case hardened, use flush lube fittings in the bearing cups for wheel axle joints for easy access and increased cross strength. The wheel axle joints also feature a Microshield coating to protect against rust and corrosion for those who venture out into mud. 

The Mopar Greasable U-joints are designed with radial grease grooves that are formed in the bottom of the bearing cups to ensure even grease distribution to the needle bearings. For heavy duty applications, Mopar also includes cross trunnions with enlarged grease reservoirs, a thrust washer design that absorbs axial loads as well as anti-drainback features to help prevent dry start-up – which is perfect off road enthusiasts since we all likely go through U-joints at least every other year if not more. 

The Mopar Greasable U-Joints also use O.E. quality and performance needle bearings, snap rings and steel forgings made in the USA!

March 1-3, 2013 at the Truckhaven Hills area of North Ocotillo Wells SVRA

The Tierra Del Sol Four Wheel Drive Club of San Diego will be hosting their 51st Annual Desert Safari on March 1-3, 2013 at the Truckhaven Hills area of North Ocotillo Wells SVRA.

There will be raffles for prizes, food, drinks, and plenty of offroad vehicles at the event so feel free to bring your whole family and spend some time with other enthusiasts.

For more information, visit http://www.tds4x4.com/

 Yesterday Fox news posted a story about something that Car and Driver posted in early December, so I thought I'd jump on the band wagon and propagate rumors and ideas.

 Basically Fox said C&D said that some Jeep person said that next year (aka this year, 2013) Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

“we’ll give our customers the opportunity to do something very special with their Wrangler that they’ve never been able to do before.”

hmm, so what does this mean?

a custom body kit to make it look like an old truck?

the ability to fill it with diesel fuel?

an outboard motor so it can be used as a boat?!

only time will tell

until then, check out this photo of my new Jeep truck, I call it Pugsly

 Is it cold and snowy where you live? We've been thinking about a trip to the south for some sunshine and swamp wheeling!

 Nothing like heading to the gulf states for a sloppy weekend when winter hits.

 It's 2013 and time to get out in the shop wrenching or in the dirt 4-wheeling.

We finished up 2012 by mounting a Come Up winch on the front of our Cheap Burban project, read all about it in the May or June issue.

Toyo Tires has taken on the world's toughest roads, the planet's craziest terrain, plus nature’s most brutal conditions -- and they've always come out on top. That was just a warm up. Today, Toyo Tires is going public with an all-out, winner-takes-all challenge to the Mayan prediction of a world-ending apocalypse.

It's pretty simple: Toyo Tires believes that the world is made to last, just like their all-new Open Country A/T II tire.
 
The Mayans, on the other hand, believed the world would end December 21, 2012.
 
Toyo Tires is so sure the world is made to last, they're making an incredible offer: The entire planet gets free tires if the apocalypse actually happens. And if the world doesn't end, 10 fans will win great prizes including a custom 4x4 vehicle.
 
The supposed end of the world is fast approaching. So, Toyo Tires is asking dealers, customers and fans to choose a side at facebook.com/toyotires.
 
Support the ancient Mayan prediction, and start building your "apocalypse" shelter. Or, side with Toyo Tires for the chance to win a slew of incredible prizes that will come in handy once the world DOESN’T end this December.   
 
Here’s how it works: visit the Toyo Tires Facebook page at facebook.com/toyotires.  Like the page if you aren’t already a fan, and then click the Toyo Tires vs. The Mayans tab to enter the sweepstakes.  The challenge runs now until 11:59 pm on December 20, 2012.
 
One lucky fan who sides with Toyo Tires will win the grand prize: a custom, two-door 4x4 vehicle equipped with a set of Open Country A/T II tires and much more. The first place winner will receive a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula, where they can see the Mayan Ruins for themselves, and eight weekly winners will each receive a set of Toyo tires.
 
Attendees of the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas will have the first and only chance to see the custom 4x4 vehicle up close. It will be displayed just outside the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from October 30-November 2.
 
Those who believe the world is going to end, can side with Donny Doomsday, the star of Toyo Tires' new web series.  Supporters of both sides can follow Donny at youtube.com/toyotires as he prepares for December 21.
 
Go to facebook.com/toyotires now for complete details and official rules of the Toyo Tires vs. The Mayans Sweepstakes.  To learn more about the long-lasting Open Country A/T II and the full line of Toyo Tires products visit toyotires.com.
 

Would you run gold wheels? 

 We saw these gold bead-lock wheels at Off Road Expo this past weekend, would you run them on your ride?

Yesterday I caught a VW Amorak running down the 101 in California.  This is the diesel Volkswagen truck that we don't get here in the US.  here is the UK site about the truck

It had Baja, California plates so I'll assume it was a visitor from down south.  It sure would be nice to see this truck come to the USA.  We need some small diesel trucks for efficient commuting and work.

 Whether for your 4x4's cooling system or your own body, water is important.

 How do you haul water when you're 4-wheeling? disposable water bottles? reusable water bottles, camel back, water jug, Jerry can?

The editors of Four Wheeler are in the process now of building this Jeepster for the 2012 SEMA Show in affiliation with eBay Motors. Working with Mel Wade of Off-Road Evolution, they not only sourced the rollbar-less Jeepster, but every single last part needed to make it the ultimate high-speed JK-chassis’d in existence, and did it exclusively with parts found on eBay Motors.

 While they would love for you to vote for them, the key to this campaign is that you can be the winner. Vote for your favorite, even if it isn’t this rig and at the same time enter to win a $5,000 Dream Garage.

The world of off-roading is no stranger to the Jeep family. But this Commando, the Jeep's redheaded step-Jeepster, might need a reintroduction. Manufactured for only a short period of time, it's as rare as it is bizarre. Once the crew at Off Road Evolution gets their hands on it, the Jeepster will roll, crawl and roar its way back into everyone's memory.

So whether you’re into rally, racing, off-road, or showcars, this competition has everything to offer so join in the fun and pick your favorite. See the entire video series now at www.builtfromebay.com.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE The editors of Hot Rod, Lowrider, european car, and Four Wheeler are in the process now of building SEMA projects sourcing not only the car, but every single last part needed exclusively on eBay Motors. Best of all, you can vote for your favorite and at the same time enter to win a $5,000 Dream Garage.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE The effort is BUILT from eBay® – A web series that takes four automotive magazines and their selected garages and creates a competition to showcase eBay Motors amazing selection. Each team starts with the purchase of a niche-enthusiast vehicle, and then searches out and purchases each and every part to go with them. Whether those parts be new, retro, performance or new-old-stock, these four teams are being tested to pull it off.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE So whether you’re into rally, racing, off-road, or showcars, this competition has everything to offer so join in the fun and pick your favorite. See the entire video series now at Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 http://www.builtfromebay.com/?utm_campaign=si_digital&utm_medium=si_bonus_links&utm_source=si_bonus_links&utm_content=homepage" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.builtfromebay.com>.

A few months back we ran this feature on a Jeep/buggy.  What do you think? is it a jeep or is it a buggy?

What makes the difference? it has a tube chassis but it also has a jeep body. 

Beginning in... now, Maxxis will give away a set of tires each month to the lucky winner of its Tire Tuesday Giveaway. Entry is free, and the contests will run from the first through the last Tuesday of the month, when the winner will be chosen at random.

Prizes will rotate from month to month among Maxxis’ high-quality bicycle, automotive, ATV and motorcycle tires. August’s lucky winner will receive a set of automotive tires to be chosen by the entrant from the following options: MA-Z1 Victra, MA-Z4S Victra, HT-770 and AT-771.

For the chance to win, a user simply has to like our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/maxxis) and then enter our Tire Tuesday Giveaway, which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/maxxis/app_459859024046102. (Some exclusions apply, and prizes are subject to availability. Check the link above for a complete list of rules.)

This month’s Tire Tuesday Giveaway begins August 7. And if you don’t win in August, don’t worry: Maxxis’ Facebook fans can enter a new contest each month.

Maxxis will announce even more promotions and giveaways in coming months, so be sure to check the Maxxis Tires Facebook page often for the latest info. Good luck!

The U.S. Marines are seeking to expand their base at Twentynine Palms, California to include nearly 189,000 acres of adjacent land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The land is a designated off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation area and site of “King of the Hammers” and other OHV events throughout the year. The Marines would provide the OHV community with limited access to 40,000 acres for 10 months a year. The proposal is included in a long-awaited final environmental impact statement (FEIS). Any land transfer requires Congressional approval.


We Urge You to Submit Comments to the Marines Supporting an Alternative to the Base Expansion
    •    The Marines only need access to Johnson Valley for two months a year for large scale training maneuvers. Rather than taking ownership of the land, the Bureau of Land Management can issue special use permits to the Marines, as is done for OHV events such as “King of the Hammers.”
    •    The BLM permit solution guarantees shared access to the land by the Marines and the OHV community. The Marines are also relieved of the burden of managing the land for the 10 months a year they don’t need it.
    •    Congress is in the process of enacting legislation that will require the Marines to study alternative ways to share the land with the OHV community, such as with special permits.
    •    The Johnson Valley off-road area draws at least 200,000 visitors annually and may generate as much as $191 million annually into the economy.
Click here to submit comments: https://extranet.cardnotec.com/29Palms_FEIS/



DON’T DELAY!

The public comment deadline ends August 27, 2012.

For more information on Johnson Valley, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Photo credit: Will Wissman courtesy http://savethehammers.org/sth/

Feedback from Jeep owners online, Omix-ADA, a leading manufacturer of high-quality Jeep accessories, announced the availability of the new, patent pending Rugged Ridge Modular XHD Snorkel System for two and four-door Jeep Wrangler JK models from 2007-2011 with the 3.8L engine.

The new Modular XHD Snorkel System from Rugged Ridge is available in easily interchangeable high and low mounts and relocates the vulnerable stock air intake through an internal duct system just below the windshield. This new design provides optimum performance and protection as well as a great, integrated look. Installation requires only minor modifications to the internal fender flange and avoids the major cutting that other kits may require.

Featuring the option of a high-mount ‘ram’ design or the standard low-mount intake, JK owners can easily customize the installation and functionality of their new Rugged Ridge snorkel system to best suit the needs and off-road conditions they may face, including tackling harsh dusty trails or deep water fordings.

The standard Modular XHD Snorkel System comes with a low-mount intake that is located away from the front of the vehicle, a safer position that prevents dangerous exposure to water during fording of rivers and streams. An optional high-mount ‘ram’ accessory moves the air intake up an additional 21-inches to the top of the windshield for deeper water crossing. The new design also benefits from the ability to draw cool air from outside the hot engine bay.

Rugged Ridge’s snorkel is manufactured from durable, heavy gauge plastic, mandrel bent aluminum and high temperature silicone connecting hoses. A built-in valve allows owners to clean and drain a catch basin, preventing water from entering the intake system while out on the trail. Because this system retains the use of factory style air filters, it is not compatible with other aftermarket cold air intake kits and snorkels.

"When JK owners were asked online what they would like in a snorkel design, the response was overwhelming,” said Matt Stanesic, Director of Engineering at Omix-ADA. “Feedback poured in, starting an amazing interactive process between JK owners and our engineers to work together on a totally new concept. After extensive research and development, the new Modular XHD Snorkel System is finally a reality, delivering on the best of these ideas and creating a revolutionary new product.”

Rugged Ridge Modular XHD Snorkel Systems are covered by an industry leading three-year limited warranty and are available online and through select Jeep and off-road parts/accessories retailers nationwide, starting at $319.99. For more information on Rugged Ridge’s complete line of high-quality Jeep and off-road products, or to find an approved retailer, please contact Rugged Ridge at (770) 614-6101 or visit their website at http://www.RuggedRidgeOffroad.com.

UA is here...

Check in is all finished and we are hitting the  trail next. Here are a few snap shots from around the hotel.