Off Road Action Reader Russell Cook sent us a link of a custom 1:25 scale Ford Quadravan 4wd van model. The builder did a great job of keeping the vintage 70’s look. You have to love the blue shag carpet and wood paneling! Thanks for the email Russell!

Last year, we wrote an article with a few photos of desert Racer Dave Shoppe. He drove Class 8 in the 70’s and 80’s and won a handful of races against the factory teams. In that article, we asked for more photos and received some great replies. Above is another photo that we recently came across. Again, we are wondering if anyone else has more photos to add? Email them to weskibble@offroadaction.ca

A while ago, I wrote an article for our sister site, Off Road Race Canada, where I listed some of the truck trends that really annoy me. You know…stacks poking through the bed, Hummers in general, etc. The trend that got the most comments (and mostly negative ones) was that I think most people buy snorkles because they think it makes their vehicle look tough or it gives them that “expedition” look. I admit that there is a few times, like the one in the photo above, that a snorkle does come in handy.

John A. “Farmer John” Konitzer, 72, Abrams, died Saturday, July 09, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay following complications from atrial fibrillation which happened at home four days earlier. The 2nd of 15 children, he was born October 2, 1938 in Oconto Falls to George and Irene (Van Haren) Konitzer. John grew up on the family farm in rural Oconto Falls where he attended St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1957.

I am sure these Jeep J series and Comanche pickups are custom creations, but it makes you wonder about crew cab Jeep trucks. Why was one never offered from the factory. There was a few Forward Control FC crew cab trucks in the 60’s, but nothing in fullsize trucks. Do you have photos of any other crewcab Jeep trucks?

The note said “This is a picture of my Dad, Don Barlow racing in the Carrera 1000. How I understand it they only put on this race one time. I think it was around 1971 or 1972. The race started in Palm Springs and ran down to Mexico to the Bay of Los Angeles and then back up and ended in Mexicali. Bikes, Trucks and Buggies all ran together. He won overall despite the flat tire.”

Do you remember the Mickey Thompson stadium off road racing series that travelled across the nation bringing short course off road racing to thousands of fans? The late 80’s and early 90’s brought us new technology in suspension design that shocked the world. Take a look at the former Ivan Stewart driven Toyota off road race truck built by Cal Wells and the crew at PPI.

This photo is tagged “1958 FJ25”. What does the writing say? Does anyone have more information about this photo? It looks like it is a press photo of a 1958 Toyota FJ25, which preceded the FJ40.

Mark from SellaJeep.com took 8 pages of photos at the recent Great Willys Picnic in Lansford, PA. There was a number of beautiful Willys Jeeps, trucks and wagons, but the highlight of the show was “NellyBelle” from the Roy Rogers TV show.