I have followed this trip since its beginning in 1999. I had a subscription to the magazine from probably around 1996 until its last year in 2019. This used to be my favorite event they covered. Hell I couldn't wait for the issue to come in. Back around 2005 they started filming it, and releasing about a 4 hour full feature DVD on the trip. I ordered every single one, and still watch the one from Tellico a good bit to bring in the nostalgia.
Which leads me to my next rant. Motortrend, IMO, is absolutely ruining the automotive industry. They have taken over the coverage of the ultimate adventure since 2019 I have a subscription to their On-demand to watch Dirty Every Day, and the roadkill stuff which both have dramatically changed since big brother stepped in and started paying for it, and it left YouTube. But man have they ruined the off-road shows and production.
What used to be an almost cinematic experience has been reduced this year to five or six 10 minute long YouTube videos that show maybe 5 min of wheeling, and the other 5 is just product advertisement for $20,000 crate Dana axles. If I wanted to see this I'd watch some discovery channel crap. Its the same rigs every year, except for Dave Chappell who always builds something cool. It's just product manufactures bringing out company rigs. No more Suzuki sam, Tom Boyd in the bronco, even Fred Perry and Clemson 4Wheel is seem to have gotten the boot. No more reader's rides, nor the specific build for each trip each year.
I guess this is why my auto shows have turned more to the freelance independent guys on YouTube such as Vice Grip Garage.
sorry guys, rant over for now....
Which leads me to my next rant. Motortrend, IMO, is absolutely ruining the automotive industry. They have taken over the coverage of the ultimate adventure since 2019 I have a subscription to their On-demand to watch Dirty Every Day, and the roadkill stuff which both have dramatically changed since big brother stepped in and started paying for it, and it left YouTube. But man have they ruined the off-road shows and production.
What used to be an almost cinematic experience has been reduced this year to five or six 10 minute long YouTube videos that show maybe 5 min of wheeling, and the other 5 is just product advertisement for $20,000 crate Dana axles. If I wanted to see this I'd watch some discovery channel crap. Its the same rigs every year, except for Dave Chappell who always builds something cool. It's just product manufactures bringing out company rigs. No more Suzuki sam, Tom Boyd in the bronco, even Fred Perry and Clemson 4Wheel is seem to have gotten the boot. No more reader's rides, nor the specific build for each trip each year.
I guess this is why my auto shows have turned more to the freelance independent guys on YouTube such as Vice Grip Garage.
sorry guys, rant over for now....