Chevrolet won't enjoy the payday, though. It donated this SSR to the SAE Foundation, which put the truck up for auction. The proceeds from the sale will be used to benefit the Foundation's Heinz C. Prechter Award for Automotive Excellence. The award was established in memory of Prechter, who founded ASC Incorporated, a global specialty vehicle and systems company. The Chevy SSR was among the last vehicles with which Prechter was involved.
Coolest Reading Places Special
The Middle East is still a dangerous place for the men and women of our armed forces, yet those brave and selfless 4Wheel & Off-Road fans keep sending us cool reading submissions. Here are a few more of their words and pictures from the world's hot spots.
Greetings from sunny Iraq! I thought I'd send a pic of me reading my favorite mag in my least-favorite country. Between jumping from location to location and following the 3rd ID sweep across the country, we often find time to sit down and catch up on some reading. It's a great way to take your mind off the surroundings and the stress of what tomorrow's mission may hold. This harsh and rough desert terrain is prime four-wheel-drive territory. Often I'll see a great off-road spot and think, "I wish I had my truck out here." About that time, we'd pass a blown-up Iraqi tank and I'd think, "Eh, maybe not."1st Lt. Travis ChapmanOn the road to Baghdad
I read my husband's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine while he is away in Kuwait with our USAF. He has been gone since January 9. With less than three hours' notice to pack I think one of the few things he remembered were his 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazines. My husband and I both drive 4x4s-he drives a Ford Ranger with a 6-inch lift and I drive a new Dodge Ram four-door shortbed 4x4. I have attached a few duty pics that he has sent recently. Thank you for your support of all our troops! God bless America.Mrs. Jared TermanTravis AFB, CA
Political & Environmental Watch
*Members of the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) recently visited California state lawmakers in Sacramento to discuss off-road recreation and the growing number of land closures in the Golden State. The group told state Senate and Assembly members that while OHV registrations have increased 144 percent over the past 22 years, the land available for off-road recreation in the California desert has decreased by 48 percent during that same period. "We are upset that hypocritical anti-access organizations have been influencing what the politicians will do and how they vote without input from off-road groups," said ORBA president Roy Denner. The group met with positive response from several legislators. "I not only support more OHV parks in California, but I want you to know that I am on your team to secure a site for off-road enthusiasts in San Diego County for an OHV park," said Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego): "I fully support your efforts to secure an OHV park for off-road enthusiasts in San Diego County. I supported recent legislative budget action to fund an OHV park in Riverside and other areas of the state, and I will work hard to preserve access to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Off-roading is great family recreation and I fully support it."