Those in attendance at All-Pro Off-Road's 2007 Jamboree are sure to remember one thing above all else: It was cold! January temperatures in the Mojave often dip below freezing, and landscapes normally famous for scorching mercury readings take on a frigid personality. Last year's event in Johnson Valley was highly successful despite the chill. For 2008, All-Pro's Jon Bundrant decided a change of venue would give participants access to more creature comforts after a long day on the trail. Stoddard Valley got the nod. The Stoddard Valley OHV area is a veritable hop, skip, and a jump away from Johnson Valley. Stoddard's trails aren't as famous as the selection of Hammers found at Johnson, but hard core, mettle-testing terrain is still on the menu.
FJ Cruisers were out in force....
FJ Cruisers were out in force. Smooth suspension, a powerful engine, and a trail-friendly wheelbase add up to a rig that takes naturally to the trails. Visibility is admittedly difficult.
The Slash X Ranch Caf is on the Stoddard Valley menu too. The Slash X backs right up to the desert playground off of Highway 247. On busy weekends, expect to see dirt bikes, ATVs, side-by-side UTVs, rockcrawlers, and prerunners filling the Slash X parking lot. Inside the caf, you'll find a variety of liquid refreshments and homestyle cooking, both of which are welcome items after a tough day on a frigid trail.
The All-Pro Jamboree offers registered participants three trail runs: hard-core, intermediate, and "easy." "Easy" is a relative term. What's termed "easy" in the world of trail riding and rockcrawling is a far cry from a mere divot-riddled dirt road. The intermediate and hard-core runs were tougher yet, proving that Hammers aren't mandatory for inflicting body and drivetrain damage.
As of this writing, the details for next year's Jamboree have yet to be worked out. Information will be posted on the All-Pro Off-Road website as soon as it's available. Two things are certain though. You'll need a well-prepared rig and a warm jacket.
 The easy and intermediate...  The easy and intermediate runs crossed paths at the bottom of a sand wash. Take a clean stocker on enough tough trails, and it's bound to end up on the intermediate and hard-core runs before long. Why? During a truck's metamorphosis, running gear gets stronger, tires get larger, and factory-straight sheetmetal goes the way of the dodo bird. |  Here's the gamut that the...  Here's the gamut that the participating vehicles run. Pepe Palomo's Kawasaki-green Tacoma bristles with hard-core hardware and extensive custom fabrication. On the flip side, Brent Akers' FJ Cruiser is a street-friendly, trail-capable rig built using slam-dunk bolt-on upgrades. Both the rigs (and their drivers) enjoyed the day. |  The easy run had well over...  The easy run had well over 30 rigs on the Achy Breaky trail. Even with a large group, the pace was good, and trail traffic flowed well. Achy Breaky's route isn't marked; it's a medley of stand-alone trail segments. Stock rigs are likely to suffer, but bypass lines can be taken around the worst obstacles. |