The Annual MudChuggers Sno*Blind Run

Since 1994, the MudChuggers 4×4 club from the Detroit area has hosted an event called “The Sno*Blind Expedition,” which is a trail riding event in West Branch, Michigan. It’s in February, so it’s cold, and it’s snowy. But it looks like a lot of fun. For the past few years, Tim Alary, a sales guy here at Bestop, has driven out to join them.

Tim did not share exactly why this run is worth it for him to drive from Colorado all the way to Michigan. But he did share all the pictures he took. Is it possible that this photo gives us a clue as to why Tim hits this run each year?

What do we know? Tim’s not talking.

But we’ve got some more great photos of this run. I’m posting a few here - click on the “More” link for more. As always, click on each photo to see it full size.

That's Mr. Tim Alary himself!

Click here to read more

Race Day

Jim got out to see the rock crawling part of the race.

A little exploring in the Johnson Valley

The King of the Hammers event is crowded, but Johnson Valley is huge. There’s plenty of room to spread out to watch the races, and there’s plenty of room to explore the off road trails.  Joe Johnston, who is a regional sales manager for Bestop, got the chance to sneak away from the crowds and do some exploring in his personal JK Unlimited.

Snowpocalypse

Photo from a Jeep driving friend in Western Pennsylvania.

King of the Hammers - the real action is getting started.

Our boss Jim reports in from California, at the King of the Hammers event. “Last night as we left the event and headed into town for dinner, there was a steady, miles-long, stream of headlights heading toward the vent. This morning, the “City” was three times as big as it was yesterday. There are a lot of people here for today’s main event. Two vehicles leave the starting line every 30 seconds as they start the 135 mile race.

These pictures are of the “City” off in the distance.

How Do You Bestop?

How Do You Bestop. For over a year, it’s been our mantra. Our chant and our challenge. It’s a call to adventure, and evidently our call to weirdness. This is Joe, from Tarzana California, who stopped by our booth at King of the Hammers to chat about products, and to show off his Faux Fur Coat, impeccably lined with funny Monkeys. Because, hey, evidently that’s How He Bestop’s.  Stop by our booth. Say hi. And show us How You Bestop. As always, click on photo to enlarge.

King of The Hammers!

King of the Hammers is underway out in Johnson Valley, California.  It’s a 135 mile race that “challenges the will of the drivers and the strength of the vehicles.” Plus, you know, a big party! It’s a great place to get up close to the race action, and see some of the heroes of off-road racing. Plus it’s growing fast as part of the huge Jeep community, so Bestop is there!

There’s a “Downtown” section with a vendor area. Stop by and say hi to Jim and Joe - they’re manning the booth. They’re both very into desert racing, so if the booth is empty they might have just joined one of the events.

Here are a couple pictures Jim sent in. The first is the road into the event, and the second is our booth getting set up.

Sand. Hot Sand. Sigh.

This post is just a way to tease all of us stuck in places where it’s icy and cold. Here at Bestop, we haven’t been out on any trails in weeks. It’s been getting a bit warmer, but that just means the trails are closed due to mud.

But Andre writes to us and says that he’s enjoying the slightly cooler weather in Abu Dhabi. He joins with Jeep clubs to hit the dunes just outside the city. Enjoy his photos!

Up on the Yellowstone

“MultiSonic” shares this story from Montana about his Jeep, named Sally:

Blizzard, 100% white out conditions. ALL roads closed. What better time to go wheeling? So we gassed up and headed out to an area I had never been to before. I wanted to go snap some pics on a cool bridge that crosses the Yellowstone but we went there last night and wanted to try something new today. Only about 4 miles from home and whaddya know, I tried to drive Sally over what felt and looked like solid ground but it was an ice covered snow filled hole. I tried to hand dig her out for about an hour and a half. Once I was thoroughly soaking wet from head to toe and frozen like a human icicle I threw in the towel. I wish I had a towel actually, or a blanket. The jeep was sitting on its belly and no amount of standing, pushing, scooping, or jumping would budge it from it’s snowy bed. We called for a tow out and in 20 minutes mom arrived with the pickup. Two good tow strap yanks later and we were free to wheel home with our tail tucked between our wheels.

Glad you’re safe. And that is a very nice looking Halftop that Sally is wearing.

4WD Magazine - Canada

There’s a Canadian magazine that we get here in the office. It’s got a nice mix of adventure stories and built up four wheelers. The current issue (Vol 11, issue 6) has a good story on how to use your winch. It’s got some great information, and is worth reading, if you see the magazine.

I’m posting it here because they are using two vehicles, one of which has our High Access Bumper on it.
They have several paragraphs on the winch bumpers in use. One is quoted below, and you can click on the image below to see it full size and read more.

A good bumper or mounting system is essential for the safe operation of your winch. Above is a bumper from Fab Fours, and below a bumper from Bestop. …. While both of these bumpers are excellent, the Bestop below offers more fender protection for the stock Jeep fenders, while Fab Fours is designed to keep the bumper out of the way of the tire for more extreme rock crawling.”

Click to see full size