Anything can show up here… life gets a little crazy but we manage to get through it. These are the stories of when the SHTF or something just pisses us off or just stuff we think is high on cool factor.
Another Baja 1000 (the 41st to be exact) is now complete and as we mentioned before this is the desert race to end all races. This years race set records for the ratio of starters to finishers with nearly 68% of the rigs completing the race.
In the coveted 4-wheel class Norman/Roeseler powered their way to the top of the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division and took home the victory. And while we couldn’t be there, this video by Norman Motorsports captures the race from the winners perspective.
Toyota came up with a great marketing plan… Put together a couple of teams of guys (remember gender neutral term use) in FJ Cruisers, send them out to hold workshops, run trails and give away some really cool swag that can only be had when you attend an event they show up for… Really, you can’t buy the stuff (eBay excluded), they just give it away!
The Toyota Trail Teams have been making appearances at events all over the country for a couple of years now. And in 08 Toyota even came out with a special FJ Cruiser Trail Teams (TT) edition. Besides the swag, they also give away good advice, holding workshops on driving, recovery and treading lightly.
I had the opportunity to meet up with them and they are great ambassadors. They really want to help make your off-road adventure experience a good one. They work hard… on the road for months… and they play just as hard. These are young guys so they have the stamina to drive all day and close the bars that night.
And for 2008, those hard day’s nights are over. This year’s Toyota Trail Teams season has come to an end. But worry not they are already planning for 2009.
In the mean time if you need your Toyota Trail Team fix, visit the Toyota Trail Teams site and check out the pictures, videos and stories.
Maybe next year they will give away those GORE-TEX® jackets of theirs. It would go so well with the grill badge I have.
Please join us in thanking and paying your respects to the men and women of our armed services. These brave individuals and their families have made tremendous sacrifices which enable us to enjoy the freedoms of this great country. They serve 365 days a year and deserve our gratitude each and everyone of those days.
Growing up I did not know any military families and never appreciated what it was like to be in the service. After moving back to the Northwest and locating next to a number of Naval bases it became clear. Fathers and mothers we called friends would leave their families for six months to carry on without them. And when they returned from their tour they still faced the same problems as all of us, doing the best they can to raise a family.
So thank you, to all the men and women in military service for the sacrifices you make to keep us free. Our prayers remain with you and your families always. Matt, this includes you!
The Internet has spread more urban legends like no other other media outlet before it. You know what we’re talking about, those stories that continue to surface every year or two, such as McDonald hamburgers are made with worms, 10 foot alligators living in the New York sewers feeding on rats or how Vegas prostitutes are drugging their johns, removing their kidney and selling them on eBay.
For years rumor have been circulating through the Internet that Toyota is secretly discontinuing their FJ Cruiser. Oddly enough this rumor has been fueled by user discussions on Toyota’s own FJ Cruiser Forum, known as the Blue Room. When we first heard this back in 2009, we quickly went to the source, Toyota’s Open Road Blog to get the facts. According to Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road, in his post, The FJ Cruiser Reality: It’s Alive! That’s just wrong. False. Not true.”
But alas the day has come when in 2013 Toyota has made it clear… 2014 will be the last model year for the FJ Cruiser. This news comes after Toyota has been quietly encouraging aftermarket vendors to shift focus on new products from the FJ Cruiser to the 5th generation 4Runner which has become Toyota’s flagship 4×4 for the off-road adventure community.
We are glad that so many individuals have had the opportunity to purchase one of the best built rigs available today. The Toyota FJ Cruiser has continued the long line of the cruiser legend. We will see what happens in the years to come in both the USA and world markets.
Ruby red lips, shapely hips and nails that shine like justice she can make an honest man lie, a rich man beg, a good man steal and a strong man cry.
It didn’t start out that way. She began life as a fabulous dashboard icon. Those who remember back to the Arctic Circle adventure, recall when Hula Betty joined the team and started appearing in the photos. You may also remember her mysterious disappearance. Although no charges were ever filed, rumors of her death continued to circulate on the Internet and grocery story tabloids. There was even talk about resurrecting Molder, Sculley and the Lone Gunman based on a Hula Betty government cover up conspiracy.
I am happy to report that the stories of Hula Betty’s death have been highly exaggerated. In fact Hula Betty has started her own website dedicated to celebrating diversity and promoting tolerance. Hula Betty’s Twitter page and Facebook, chronicle her micro road trips around town and the Northwest with text snippets and pictures.
Like so many iconic Bettys of the past, Hula Betty has evolved. Once a simple bobble doll perched atop the dash, she has taken on form and flesh that often only live in the letters to playboy. But don’t hate her cause she’s beautiful… She lives in the now, turning a drive to the supermarket into an road trip adventure and looks at a traffic detour as opportunity to explore the unknown. Hula Betty lives her life to the fullest, taking every chance she has to meet new friends and encourage others to put an adventurer’s lens on the simple things in their own lives.
Hula Betty tries to bring out the best in all of us and we hope that we can live up to the standard she has set for us.
BTW: Those of you with a discerning eye were obviously drawn to Hula Betty’s little tattoo and yes… it was inspired by the lore of the blue bunny. She wears her blue bunny for Boy and his willingness to explore the world around him as well as his ability to live on a diet of ice cream, chips and Mountain Dew.
And if you think Hula Betty is just another pretty face… It is with her help that we are able to bring you our off-road adventure videos. You can see her work on her off-road adventure video channel on You Tube or off-road video Vimeo channel. In her own words “It is all about the people. They have stories and I want to tell them.”
As a boy I explored the woods, lakes and creeks around the neighborhood pretending it was the jungle of the Amazon, the deserts of the Sahara or the plains of Mongolia. This spirit of adventure grew when I passed my drivers test and began to explore further out in my Baja Bug, which I held together with duct tape and chewing gum. It was about that time that one of the most famous overland adventure competitions came to my attention, the Camel Trophy known to many as the the Olympics of 4X4.
History shows the British have always left their little island and explored the unknown (to them) areas of the world. They also began their adventures with big fan fare and the Camel Trophy was no different. Pulling teams from various countries and putting together some of the most adventurous locations and difficult terrain, the Camel Trophy threw British Land Rover onto the worlds stage for their go anywhere off-road adventure vehicle. A category they owned for decades. Think safari and I dare you to not picture a gear laden Land Rover with nation geographic photographers pointing cameras in every direction.
And you really gotta like that cross between the BBC and Wide World Of Sports commentary that accompanies a British adventure. They make even a trek through the swamps sound like they are discovering the cure for cancer.
The Camel Trophy hooked me on off-road adventures. All that adventurous adrenalin addiction, teams working against the elements and an Indiana Jones sense of style. What’s not to love! I’ve come a long way from those back woods in my little VW Baja Bug but that same desire to see what is around the next corner still exists.
And with big tobacco out of the picture any ideas on lead sponsors… What do you think about the “Google FJ Trophy”? Maybe we can get the guys from Top Gear involved to keep that British flare.
Sitting at a four way stop and Blam! Right in front of me two cars demonstrate my favorite law of physics with both of them trying to occupy the same intersection space at the same time. No injuries, just enough of an accident to scare the drivers and leave broken turn signal plastic all over the road.
After several minutes, it became clear they were not planning to move their vehicles as they looked around and sat back in their cars. That is when it happened again Blam! This time it was from my rig. After making sure no one was hurt we pull off into the parking lot.
We won’t go into details, affixing blame is such an ugly game and my attorney has advised me to exercise my right to remain silent. But I can tell you the other driver, we’ll call her Sally was not happy. The rig… you guessed it, no damage… Sally’s Mercedes, well not so much.
Sally and I exchanged insurance information and all seemed amiable, that was until, her husband showed up. We’ll call him Bob. Bob started out polite enough, making sure no one was hurt and then took on a subtle change as he looked at me, the rig and the tattoo. I clearly matched the red neck, trailer trash profile in Bob’s mind, although the iPhone threw him. As I said we had exchanged all the insurance information and Bob wanted more. “Is there another phone number for you”, “Is that your home number”, “Let me see your driver’s license”, “I think we should file a police report”.
The police were across the parking lot for the other accident, which until the officer arrived, still sat in the intersection. Bob pulled the officer over to us and began the inquiry. The police officer explained no report was required since no one was hurt and we had exchanged information. It was at that point Bob asked to have the officer take a report anyway, since he “didn’t know me”. This meant we would all be hanging around for another hour. After a little persuasion Bob backed down but not before hearing the story one more time and taking the officer’s picture. If you ever want to raise an eyebrow, point a phone camera at a police officer and click away. Not the way to win friends and influence people.
That would have been a cap to a bad day but as Bob and Sally left, the officer turned to me, smiled and said, “I’ve read your blog and that looked like a really cool trip”. So we talked a few minutes about fishing at Haines, Alaska before the grizzly ran us off, work on the tattoo and a few other high points of the adventure. Still having to go talk with the other accident folks, the police officer wished me well and I climbed back into the rig.
Accidents are never any fun and thank goodness no one was hurt. In the middle of all this mess, finding someone who has read our Arctic Circle Adventure and enjoyed the stories, makes for a pretty cool silver lining. Hats off to the great job the Poulsbo police force does everyday. It has to be the most thankless job, somebody’s always mad at you for their mistake.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is just one more evolution in Toyota’s a rich off-road history. A quick look at the time line and you’ll see, Toyota has been in the truck business for decades and continues to build on that rich tradition with the FJ Cruiser. Can’t wait to see what is next.
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER TIMELINE
1935 – Toyoda initiates manufacturer of trucks with the G1
1937 – Toyota Motor Co. founded from its roots in Toyoda Automatic Loom Works
1939 – G1 becomes the GB, with 75-hp Type B engine
1950 – Development begins on 4×4 AK10 utility vehicle using the Type B engine
1951 – BJ sold to Japan’s National Police Agency
1953 – Large-scale BJ production begins
1954 – BJ named Land Cruiser
1955 – F-Series 3.8L Six adopted, FJ25 introduced
1955 – BJ discontinued
1958 – Land Cruiser introduced to the U.S. in September
1960 – 40 Series introduced, replaces 20 Series
1961-1965 – Land Cruiser 40 Series is the best-selling Toyota in the U.S.
1967 – 55 Series station wagon introduced
1968 – 100,000th Land Cruiser sold
1972 – 200,000th Land Cruiser sold
1973 – 300,000th Land Cruiser sold
1975 – 4.2L engine, four-speed transmission introduced
1979 – 55 Series production ends
1980 – 60 Series, second-generation wagon, introduced
1980 – Millionth Land Cruiser sold
1983 – Final year of 40 Series sales in the U.S.
1984 – 40 Series production ends
1984 – 70 Series introduced
1989 – 60 Series production ends
1990 – 2-millionth Land Cruiser sold
1990 – 80 Series, third-generation wagon, introduced
1991 – Full-time four-wheel drive introduced
1993 – 4.5L DOHC six-cylinder engine introduced
1993 – 90 Series introduced
1997 – 80 Series production ends
1998 – 100 Series, fourth-generation wagon, introduced
1998 – 4.7L i-Force V8 introduced
2002 – 120 Series (current Prado, Lexus GX 470) introduced
2003 – 4-millionth Land Cruiser sold
2007 – FJ Cruiser introduced
2014 – FJ Cruiser production ends
Like so many legendary trucks, Toyota continues to evolve its line of land cruisers. Can’t wait to see where it will go.
Getting information from the Internet can be like drinking from a fire hose. The internet can bring you some of what you want and so much junk that you give up and throw out the baby with the car seat. One good source of refined information for all things Toyota is @Toyota Behind the Wheel.
This past Saturday Toyota brought thousands of volunteers together across America to clean up National Public Lands. It is nice to find a company working to protect and enhance thousands of miles of off-road trails to ensure all of us have a place to wheel and enjoy time with friends and family.
It was Behind the Wheel that let us know about this event a few weeks back. They also keep us up on the Trails Team, race schedule, new model year and just about anything else Toyota is up to.
UPDATE: The down side of the Internet is resources tend to disappear to easily. @Toyota Behind the Wheel like so many good sources of information has been retired.
We’ll keep looking for publications that bring information to you like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day… so you can plan for your next off road adventure.
Today is the TENTH anniversary of Backroad Drivers Northwest, a decade of discussing, driving and reporting on all kinds of back roads throughout the Pacific Northwest. Led by Jerry they have taken folks on tours of the northwest, exploring the roads less traveled across the Northwest.
This birthday also signifies the changing of the guard. Jerry has recently announced he is handing over the reigns to Steve from Parkland, Washington as the new owner/moderator of Backroad Drivers. Steve is an active back road and overland adventurer as well as the owner/operator of the PNW Backroad Adventures Forum.
So Happy Anniversary and best of luck to Steve. I know we all look forward to an other ten years of exploring pacific northwest back roads.