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GenRight: Official Fenders
1987 Jeep Wrangler YJ
Driver: Tony Pellegrino
Co-Driver: Corey Osborne
Stomping Grounds: SoCal, Johnson Valley, CO
GenRight Off Road is a newcomer to our UA antics, but they fit right in with our crew. Tony Pellegrino and Corey Osborne enhanced our Jeep lineup with a well-built YJ, although most of the YJ bits have been twisted, tweaked, or tossed for even better off-road performance. Pellegrino’s racing background and Osborne’s experience driving in last year’s UA quickly had them lining up for any hard line we came to. Other than an annoying starter issue, the YJ clambered its way over most of the hard stuff. With a combination of skilled driving, lightweight GenRight aluminum parts, and solid, well-tested machinery, the GenRight YJ worked awesome and looked good doing it.
Drivetrain
Engine: 4.2L I-6
Transmission: Built 999 3-speed automatic
Transfer Case: Atlas 5.0:1
Front Axle: Currie Rock Jock 60 2009 with Super 60 ring-and-pinion, high-pinion, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker
Rear Axle: Same
Steering: AGR hydraulic ram assist
Suspension
Springs & Such: GenRight Legend long-travel coilover 4-inch kit
Tires & Wheels: 42x14.50 Goodyear MT/Rs on 17x8 Walker Evans Racing beadlock wheels with 33⁄4-inch backspace
Other: GenRight rollcage, GenRight tube fenders, GenRight gas tank, GenRight 7075 aluminum Belly Skid, GenRight tire carrier, GenRight Mini Boat Side Rockers, GenRight corner guards, King Air bumpstops, 7075 aluminum control arms, PRP seats, Griffin radiator
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I-6 Blazer
2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Driver: Steve Carroll
Co-Driver: Kaleb Black
Stomping Grounds: Salt Lake City area, Moab, Boise
We like seeing something different on the UA. Although we have had plenty of Blazers along before, this is the first TrailBlazer to make the trip. Steve Carroll and side-pilot Kaleb Black had no problem cruising the UA in this straight-six–powered wheeling wagon (even with a hole in the oil pan!). The factory 4.2L pushed the truck over plenty of obstacles (the oil pan hole is factory installed, mind you; it’s where the previous IFS axleshafts passed through), and swapped-in 1-ton axles did the dirty work. Carroll and Black came home with a few ding and dents, some busted driveshafts and brake issues, and minus one window, but they were blazing trails for new and unusual 4x4s on the UA, something we love to see.
Drivetrain
Engine: Chevrolet 4.2L I-6
Transmission: 4L60E
Transfer Case: NP231, NP241, via Box 4 Rocks Doubler
Front Axle: ’88 Dana 60, Drivers drop, kingpin, high-pinion, 4.56 gears, Spartan Locker, Reid Racing Knuckles, Yukon 35-spline shafts, Warn 35-spline hubs, BTF covers
Rear Axle: ’04 AAM 101⁄2-inch 14-bolt, full float, factory discs with parking brake, 4.56 gears, Detroit Locker
Steering: Ram assist with stock TrailBlazer pump, flow-modded, smaller pulley, Toyota gearbox, 1.5x8 PSC ram
Suspension
Springs & Such: 52-inch Chevy rear springs all around, about 12 inches of lift
Tires & Wheels: 40x13.50x17 Nitto Mud Grapplers on 17x9.5 Raceline Monster aluminum beadlocks with steel rings
Other: 1-inch body lift, Trail Gear sliders, CO2 tank, custom bumpers
Old Crony
Ol’ Wrinkly
1987 Suzuki Samurai
Driver: Tim Hardy
Stomping Grounds: Northern CA
The red Samurai owned by Tim Hardy is always a favorite among the spectators when we roll into a small town for fuel. “Was anyone hurt in the accident?” is heard every year. Then when we hit the trail it’s not uncommon to hear, “Don’t dent it, Tim!” or, “I think you scratched the dent in the ding in your tub.” Hardy takes all the ribbing in stride, and then pulls the valve stems, shifts into low range, and chugs through obstacles like a walk in the park. If the old carbureted 1.3 stumbles he simply drives forward by cranking the starter, and before you know it Wrinkled Red has shown us all how it’s done. Of course you never know… He may just surprise us one day by showing up to UA with all the body panels straight and a fresh coat of paint.
Drivetrain
Engine: 1.3L I-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Transfer Case: factory transfer case with 4:1 gears
Front Axle: Samurai axle with 5.12 gears, chromoly axleshafts, and EZ Lockers
Rear Axle: Same
Steering: Stock
Suspension
Springs & Such: Custom leaf springs in front, quarter elliptical leaves in rear, Rancho shocks
Tires & Wheels: 35x13.50 BFGoodrich Krawlers on 15x10 American Racing wheels
Other: Brand-new Warn VR8000-S winch; custom smashed-tube front and rear bumpers; custom rollcage, rocker guards, and spare tire carrier