There's a saying that goes: An editor is one who separates the wheat from the chaff and prints the chaff. This is truth in its simplest form. As an editor, I am responsible for sifting through the sand to find the gold. A year has gone by since I took the wheel, so it's time to reflect on this past year's content. Have we improved our circulation numbers over last year? How about ad revenue, has that gone up? What do the readers think?
These are thoughts that flow through my brain everyday, not only at the end of the year. When I took over as Editor of OFF-ROAD magazine I said that I didn't want to just keep the seat warm and collect a paycheck. I'm an off-road enthusiast, first and foremost, and that passion is what drives me to keep the magazine fresh. By the response on the newsstand and with the feedback of the off-road industry, our magazine is climbing steadily and has earned respect and credibility over the past year. Big thanks go out to you, the readers, without whom, it wouldn't be possible. I would personally like to thank you for making the hard work worthwhile. Thank you.
In keeping up with the momentum, we will carry on the formula that is making OFF-ROAD work, but not to settle in and get comfortable. That's when things get old and stagnant. We'll keep it real. We'll keep it fresh. We always welcome reader response, as well.
One area we will be focusing on is project vehicles - purpose, form, and function - starting with this issue. So here is a heads up on what's to come. The thing that I've learned this year is that OFF-ROAD readers are a smart and diverse crowd. Different regions in the country have purpose-built off-roaders for that specific geographic area. We have mapped out five project vehicles that will offer enough variety for all of our readers to get meat out of. This is just a start. We'll have more 411 on up-and-coming editorial as the year goes by - with a few surprises along the way. As the magazine continues to grow, so will every department between the covers. The focus of OFF-ROAD is to be consistent in every issue. Thanks again for making OFF-ROAD magazine so coveted on the newsstand.
| PROJECT TRUCKS: 2001 |
| Project: | Basic Brute |
| Vehicle: | '79 K1500 CHEVY |
| Concept: | Take a good ol' solid-axle GM 1/2-ton and trick it out using bolt-on parts chosen for their reliability and heavy-duty nature. A project buildup with a traditional focus. |
| Status: | Superlift suspension installation in this issue; more to follow in future issues. |
| Project: | CHASE TRUCK |
| Vehicle: | 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC |
| Concept: | To be a workhorse for off-road events and races. Quad cabs are the wave of the future for prerunning and chase truck duties. |
| Status: | Ongoing buildup with a Mastercraft seat installation in this issue. We will also feature a suspension installation and more. |
| Project: | '78 BRONCO |
| Vehicle: | '78 FORD BRONCO |
| Concept: | Affordable hop-ups; trail-worthy 4x4. |
| Status: | Ongoing: We will have a featured suspension lift, hubs, and front sheetmetal upgrades, as well as front and rear bumpers. |
| Project: | PREMIUM PRERUNNER |
| Vehicle: | '94 C1500 FULLSIZE CHEVY |
| Concept: | This is our prerunner buildup for 2WD Chevy fanatics where we will focus on a high-performance prerunner that's outfitted with a lot of features to make it a capable daily driver. We are installing a long-travel suspension, a heavy-duty axle, a rollcage, custom-built prerunner bumpers, a supercharged small-block engine, and a leather-trimmed, electronically stout interior. |
| Status: | We've installed Glassworks Unlimited prerunner fenders and bed sides along with Pro Comp wheels and tires in this issue; coming up, we'll install the front long-travel suspension. |
| Project: | THE REAL DEAL |
| Vehicle: | '92 FORD F-150 4x4 |
| Concept: | This project is just what the name says. Full race technology into the suspension and chassis with equal-length dual traction beams, equal-length steering, a four-link rearend, and all the amenities for desert assault. This will be the ultimate off-road machine that will work anywhere, anytime. |
| Status: | In top-secret location being hand-fabricated. |