Most of the people we meet out on the trail usually have a winch, shackles, recovery ropes, and all sorts of other fancy recovery equipment. The total dollar amount of all this equipment starts in the hundreds and can easily reach into the thousands, but most people don't even read the instruction manual that comes with all their fancy gear. Off-road driving is inherently … [Read more...]
I4WDTA – TFC Day 3
The previous 2 days of the International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers Association (I4WDTA), Training for Certification (TFC) had been nothing short of a whirlwind. The periods of classroom instruction covered dozens of topics at a breakneck pace, and the practical portion had pushed all of the candidates far outside of their comfort zone. Needless to say, everyone was ready for the … [Read more...]
I4WDTA – TFC Day 2
Day 2 started on a rainy and damp morning, but there was nothing but energy in the air. The candidates had their feet put to the fire on Day 1 and expectations for their performance had been set. Yet while all of the candidates had a clear understanding of what it would take to succeed during the Training for Certification (TFC), the instructors had a few more curveballs … [Read more...]
I4WDTA – TFC Day 1
“Check your ego at the door.” At 6 AM I woke up bleary eyed and exhausted, although much to my surprise all of the staff and candidates had already packed up and were down at the community center. Quickly, I was reminded that this wasn’t some bush league event, so I grabbed my gear and hauled it down the road to make the 7AM start time. When I walked into the … [Read more...]
I4WDTA – TFC Day 0
I left DC mid morning and started heading south not really knowing what to expect over the next few days, but I'd packed enough underwear and SD cards to handle whatever this trip decided to throw at me. The 6 hour drive down to the Uwharrie Off-Road Training Center in Uwharrie, North Carolina gave me plenty of time to mentally prepare myself to cover the International … [Read more...]
