Don Brown in his 1955 Willys...
Don Brown in his 1955 Willys pickup
What is Four Wheeler Magazine's Top Truck Challenge?
Top Truck Challenge (TTC) is the ultimate display of man and machine vs. a grueling series of natural and unnatural obstacles designed push the envelope of four wheeling technology. One team will win the Top Truck Challenge and earn bragging rights until the next year's winner is crowned.
When is the Top Truck Challenge?
The Top Truck Challenge takes place this June, and a sample of the events can be found on this web site. Look for a full write up on the 2005 TTC in Four Wheeler magazine in the months ahead.
Jay Albrecht in his 2000 Jeep...
Jay Albrecht in his 2000 Jeep Wrangler
Who are the Top Truck Challenge competitors?
TTC teams come from around the USA and Canada, and from all walks of life. Each team submits its entry to the magazine, and you, the readers, decide who gets to participate.
How do I get involved?
You can get involved by reading the pages of Four Wheeler to find out information on next year's event and how to submit your entry. If you're not quite ready for The Top Truck Challenge, you can cast your vote to determine who will participate, and follow the action as the plans for the event unfold. We look forward to hearing from you.
What are the TTC tests?
There are a number of tests, objective and subjective criteria, our team of judges tally to determine the winner. Below is a list of the driving and action tests.
Jeff Gotz in his 1976 Ford...
Jeff Gotz in his 1976 Ford F-150
Hillclimb: A short timed run up a sinuous, steep and heavily bermed and plowed piece of two-track dirt.
Trail Fix: New to the TTC this year, teams must be ready for anything because the judges are keeping the details a secret until just before the timer starts.
Tow Test: Four Wheeler hooks 'em up to a 40,000 pound cement mixer truck, points them up a short but steep hill, and then tells them to drop the hammer. Fastest full pull wins.
Frame Twister: Rocks, water, mud, unevenly placed logs, all done for time. It looks hard, and harder than it looks.
Mud Pit: A timed run though a deep pit of gooey, nasty 50-yard stretch of mud pit specially concocted to a special Top Truck Challenge recipe by Hollister Hills' rangers.
Mini-Rubicon: Named for the famed Rubicon Trail in Northern California, the Mini-Rubicon is a short, sharp section of huge granite boulders over which each competitor must crawl while being timed. Fast run wins. You break, you lose.
Obstacle Course: Specially constructed by TTC judges using heavy equipment, this includes water, ruts, mudholes, sidehills, straight stretches, uphills and downhills, and anything else the judges can think of. Again, fast time wins.
Tank Trap: A steep, deeply rutted uphill canyon about 1/3 mile in length. Time limit is 30 minutes. Each competitor must negotiate 7 mudholes. And did we mention that the final section is too steep to drive? Winching is a necessity.
Who won this year's Top Truck Challenge?
Here are the results:
Place
| Name
| Truck
| Total Points
|
1.
| Jerry Duffy
| 1981 Jeep CJ-8 "Scrambled"
| 72
|
2.
| Don Brown
| 1955 Jeep Willys Pickup
| 51
|
3. (tie)
| Jay Albrecht
| 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ
| 45
|
| Phil Bargmann
| 1976 Toyota FJ-40
| 45
|
5. (tie)
| Jeff Gotz
| 1976 Ford F-150 "Fordzilla"
| 44
|
| Nick Devlin
| 1972 Chevy Blazer
| 44
|
7.
| Tom Lawlor
| 1967 Kaiser M-715
| 41
|
8.
| John Cappa
| 1973 Jeep J-2000
| 40
|
9.
| Jason Weidhuner
| 1970 Chevy Suburban
| 39
|
10.
| Josh Tippit
| 1979 Ford F-150
| 18
|