In the fall of 1976 I found myself in Cortland NY. That winter I started working at a local ski area to support my skiing addiction. Back in my senior year I had bought a 1946 jeep, I later sold that for a four wheel drive Scout that became my daily driver. Next vehicle up-a 1974 CJ-5 that I drove to Louisiana to take a job working oil rigs in the Gulf and the swamps around Lake Charles, LA. Coming back to NY I took a job at Sitzmark ski shop in Pearl River to again support my skiing habit. Wheeled the crap out of my jeep, and ended up selling that for a 1972 Toyota FJ-40. I was getting really good at breaking stuff on my trucks at this point.
To support my new addiction of breaking shit, it was time to learn how to fix my broken rigs, I started working at gas station/ repair shops. It was about that time I also took a job working at the Fulton Fish Market in NYC. Now, that place was an education in human behavior!
Along the way, a skiing buddy of mine sold me his Land Rover. Well, I never would have imagined that car would change my life forever.
I ended up owning my own repair shop specializing in Four wheel drives in Piermont. Getting married, moving my shop to Cape Cod, having my first son. All that by 1988.
In 1990 I ended up getting selected to represent the USA in a international off road driving competition across Easten Siberia driving a Land Rover. A 20 day event covering 1000 miles all off-road against 16 other teams from around the world.
It was in 1990 #2 son was born.
The following year I was asked back as a support driver for the convoy and drove 1000 miles across East Africa (in the rainy season), and then in 1992 form Manaus, Brazil to Georgetown, Guyana all off road as a convoy mechanic, all sponsored by Land Rover.
The Twins (boys) showed up in 1993. I declined future invites on those type of trips.
With 4 boys things stayed pretty busy. I took a “normal” job working at a Land Rover Dealership and back living in Tappan.
Then in 1997 I got offered a job working as a consultant for Land Rover NA as a member of the mobile event team. This job ended up taking me all over the world doing various off road driving events and programs. I’ve been off roading in Asia, Africa, Europe, South and Latin America, Canada and almost every state in the lower 48.
In 2000 we moved to Schoharie, NY and that’s really where the boys got raised.
As well as the driving programs for Land Rover, they got me involved with their Heritage fleet of vehicles doing restorations. I’ve had the honor of having vehicles on display at The Pebble Beach car show and various international cars shows around the US that i help restore.
I’ve also done off road programs with Toyota, Porsche, Audi, and more recently Ford (the new Bronco). Over the years I can honestly say I’ve built hundreds of miles of off road trails.
As 2020 sucked for a lot of us, it pretty much sucked for me, not for health reasons, but almost no work that entire year, or 2021 for that matter.
In 2023 we moved to Lexington, NC and I took my “retirement” job working at a Land Rover restoration shop. I still do some corporate programs with Land Rover and Ford now and then. I make my own hours and do more teaching than wrenching.
I’ve got 4 great sons, and 2 grandsons. Remarried last year, we have 7 sons between the 2 of us.
I still go fishing, camping and off-roading as often as I can. Looking forward to seeing everyone next month.