Te Muddslingers, a four-wheeling club from Sonora, California, began as most do, with a few friends. Head 'Slinger Damian Macleod teamed up with V.P. Shawn Ambler for off-road adventures and friendly competition. Damian eventually coined the group's name, and had windshield stickers made. "We had 25 stickers on 25 trucks," he explained. "We decided we'd better do something with this group."
Much more than just a sticker, the "something" reaches beyond the mud pits, truck pulls, and sand drags that are the focus of the group's off-road passion. "If there's anything that benefits our community, we like to do it," Wendy Macleod told this writer. During the past year, the Muddslingers have kept themselves busy. Habitat for Humanity is among those benefited by the group's eye for good causes. Muddslinger members sold raffle tickets for a Habitat for Humanity drawing. Proving that those who like to play in the mud can also clean up, 'Slinger members held a 4-hour car wash and donated the proceeds to High Country Sports Arena, allowing underprivileged kids to participate in ice hockey. This past Christmas, the Muddslingers adopted two families for the season, providing trees, decorations, and presents beneath. It's not all warm and fuzzy; Muddslingers have used their aggressive tires and high-horsepower engines to pull disabled cars off of the track at a demolition derby, a source of fun as well as saving wear and tear on the tow trucks usually employed at the 'derby.
We think the Muddslingers are onto something good. Something that's not only good for Sonora, Califorina, but something that could be good for every community. It's no secret that those who like dirt and trucks are usually seen by outsiders as wild-eyed, or crazy, or at least as people who lack regard for others' well-being. From the inside, we know that those perceptions are far from correct; we're simply people who are passionate about off-road fun and adventure. Helping with community causes not only directly benefits the community, it can also prevent trail closures as perceptions change and off-roaders are cast in a more positive light. Trucks, mud, and charity are a great combination.