Get Bent
"Jeez, it feels good to stretch after that ride."
Photo by Bob Flink, July '86
If at First You Don't Succeed
Here are some pictures from the great Pacific Northwest. They were taken in the Cascade Mountains, Washington, where there's mud year-round. This is my '86 Samurai. I've always wanted my truck in your magazine, not in the shined-up and show-truck section but all muddy in the Whoops! section, since off-roaders spend their quality time there!
Brian Gwaltney, Puyallup, WA, Dec. '88
...Try, Try Again
Please tell me where I can get some outriggers for my Samurai! In December 1988 you featured my Samurai in Whoops!, thank you. I have since moved to Indiana. This happened in the hills of Brown County near the small town of Beanblossom, while four-wheeling with the 4 Wheels to Freedom club. There were no injuries and only minor damage was done to the truck. The funny thing was, I installed the skidplate the night before. Heck of a way to use it, huh! It took an hour to right it. I drove it out of the creekbed and went four-wheeling for two more hours!
Brian Gwaltney, Anderson, IN, Aug. '90
Worst Caption Ever
"Only three more weeks together, darling, then it's back to civilization and my wife."
Photo by Ron Cirigliano, July '86
Are They Biting?
My boyfriend, John Duball, and I wanted to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon in the country, four-wheeling down Brush Run Creek near Claysville, Pennsylvania. Our '79 Chevy Scottsdale seemed ideal until the creek proved deeper and the bottom softer than we thought. The truck became immovable, and a nearby farmer's tractor had to be borrowed to drag the Chevy to solid ground. While waiting for the tractor, John took advantage of the situation by pulling out his fishing pole and trying his luck in the hole that "caught" the truck.
Cheri Simms, Washington, PA, Dec. '90
Sideways
"Nothin' wrong. She's just resting."
Photo by Giles Berrier, July '86
Geometry Lesson
We were traveling along a nice, peaceful little cutline, minding our own business, when we suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Now I know what they meant all those years in school about 45-degree angles. It must have taken us about two hours to winch, dig and prod our way out, but we wouldn't have changed it for the world.
Roger Hopkins & friends, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Apr. '91
Nice Try
On a nice Sunday afternoon, Ron (the owner of the Nissan) found out that there are places that my '76 K5 Blazer will go, and there are places that his truck will not go. I do have to give him credit, though. He'll try any trail I take my Blazer on, whether he makes it or not.
Richard S. Roger,
Vancouver, WA, Apr. '91
We Called It "Big-Time Whoops"
Mike Elder took this wild photo of a mud bogger doing a headstand at a stadium event. It ran in our Aug. '86 issue.
New to Stunt Driving
I'm a new four-wheel-drive owner. This scene is three miles west of Garden City, Kansas, on the Arkansas River. Any hints on how to cross a river? I have yet to make it into the water.
Steve Elam, Garden City, KS, Jan. '88
I Spy a Whoops!
This photo of my '84 Toyota 4x4 was shot by my brother, who was riding in the bed just before it happened. Since no one there would give us a hand, it took me five hours to find help and get out of the canyon. It cost $270 for the tow truck to put the 4x4 on all fours again, but then I couldn't get it off the dirt mound under its own power. I paid another guy $20 to pull me off backward. All in all, a very expensive day.
Randy Lindsay, Fountain Valley, CA, Nov. '91
Stuck, Yank, Stuck
This is my friend Dave's Suzuki. He's got 27-inch snow tires on it, and he goes nuts. This time he got stuck in some goo. The second picture is my friend Mike's new Dodge. Mike got it stuck after pulling Dave's Suzuki out of the mud. We got the Dodge out with manpower and lumber.
Alan Abbett, Groton, CT, Apr. '91
We Don't Know Why We Do it, Either
This is the result of four-wheeling at night while the ground was still very wet. I got stuck in a rut that led to a canyon. My wife, Jeanette, stood in the truck bed wondering why her husband does the things he does. We pulled it out 1 1/2 weeks later when the ground dried.
Tony Smith, Tipp City, OH, Apr. '91