Crawlin Column #16
By Rich Walker, Photo by Kelly Walker
I don’t know about you, but fall is one of my favourite wheelin’ times of the year. The temperatures are perfect and the scenery is fantastic. With all we have to explore in this world and our means to get to places less traveled, I highly suggest you get out there and enjoy what most people will never get to experience.
These experiences are what I have been craving lately. With all the competitions and racing we have been doing, I have decided to get back to the basics and do what got us to where we are today. The 1994 4Runner I recently acquired is quickly becoming my favourite vehicle and I use every excuse I can to take it out. From doing the Whipsaw with the Crawlin’ BC crew, to weekend day trips around BC, to quick afternoon trips to local lakes for something to do after work, this vehicle reminded me what I didn’t realize I missed about wheelin’. Enjoying all aspects of 4x4ing is something I am fortunate enough to be able to do and I am very excited to be able to share my travels with you guys!
As I mentioned, we did do the Whipsaw trail a while ago with the most amazing group of people from Crawlin’ BC. Stay tuned for more details about this trip, as I will get something down for next issue for sure.
By the time this issue appears on the shelves we also will have completed the Tough Truck Challenge. In conjunction with the North West Mud Racing Association, there will be a fun-for-all tough truck competition for everything from stock to buggies out at the Kamloops Off Road Racing site in Kamloops. Baja North and Family Glass were generous enough to donate a ton of cool off-road related goodies to the competitors and winners.
On the racing front, we will have just completed something big. As I said in the last column, the Ultra4 National Championship, presented by Nitto Tires, was in Las Vegas on September 26 and 27. This issue is going to press before I’ve been, but I have recently seen some spy photos of the race course and I think it is safe to say that this will one will be ‘off the chain.’ There will be over 90 teams racing for number one on land that has never been driven on, let alone raced on. Canada will have a good showing at the event with up to 4 cars ready to give it all they have got. I fly out on the Wednesday before the race so I will be sure to give you a full report - after I collect my thoughts, of course (a week in Vegas is never good for recollection, trust me on that).
What else?
The WERock Grand Nationals brought to you by PSC steering components happened in Cortez, Colorado on September 28 and 29 (yes, the same week as the Ultra4 Nationals). Being a rock crawler at heart, I find the GN’s are always one of the best events of the year. The East meets West shootout is always entertaining and shows some truly technical abilities in driving. The courses are made to push these guys to their limits and Cortez hosts a venue that will be sure to make the last event of the year the most anticipated. Unfortunately, because I was in Vegas, I missed it, but I will still let you know the standings as soon as I can. We will see if the West coast guys can put the hurt on the East coasters like they did last year.
I am excited for the next few weeks and I can’t wait to share the results with you in the next issue.
Stay safe and see you on the trails (look for my 4Runner!)