"Canadian Four Wheel Drive Magazine"

WROTE AN ARTICLE  FOR THE CANADIAN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MAGAZINE ON WOMEN THAT WHEEL. IT APPEARED IN THE MARCH ISSUE. HERE IT IS.

CANADIAN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MAGAZINE ARTICLE IN MARCH 2001 ISSUE
WOMEN OF FOUR WHEELING
By Theresa Huarte

I have been wheeling for two seasons now and the one void I have noticed in my travels is the lack of coverage there is on women who wheel. This deficiency of exposure compelled me to do something about it. I have been told that yes, I have met ladies on the trail but they are usually sitting in the passenger's seat. Let me assure you, there are ladies out there who own modified 4x4's and know how to drive them. This piece is focused on four of these ladies.

Lisa Hodges- owner- 1985 Jeep CJ7-Ford independent suspension with custom coil springs in rear.
1981 Full size Bronco Frame, Ford 9" differential with Detroit locker, Chevy small block 355, fully rollerized, open headers, turbo 350 tranny, 208 T case, 36" swampers
aka Still Misbehaving

Lori Hryniuk- owner- Suzuki Samurai- sprung over, fully trussed axles, front and rear Lockrites, 3" body
lift ,Rocklobster transfer case (81.1 gear ratio), 32" swampers,


Kathy Wills- owner- 1980 GM Sierra Classic, short box fleet side, 350ci engine bored over 30,205 T case,
Dana 44, Ford 9" Front Detroit True Trac, rear detroit locker, 456 gears, 35" swampers. aka Airborn

Theresa Huarte( yah that's me)-owner- 1987 K5 Blazer, Locked Front and rear Dana 60's, 12" suspension lift, 205T case,
M465 tranny, 44" Boggers on 14" Bart wheels, 468 big block w/ dual tunnel ram
(1200 cfm), 1 ton frame. aka white knight. www.whiteknight.ca

I would be safe in saying that we all got introduced into the sport by someone else. Yes, a man, as the sport is dominated by men. But once we got the taste of the places that can be reached with a 4x4, the sounds of the engines and the challenges you need to overcome (rock crawling, bogs) there was no turning back. I know as a mud fan I love to hit those bogs and rooster it up. I laugh when I get out of the truck and watch the guys dumbfounded to see it was a chick that stomped by them. Then you get the approval nod where they are telling you that's all right. Lisa races her jeep beating out a lot of the guys. She is a serious contender as the trophies on her sleeve prove. Kathy Wills is known as the Bitch Driver . A nickname she picked up after beating out her group going up a nasty shale hill. Lori is greatly respected by her club the IRC as she has probably wheeled a lot longer than many men out there.

How do men treat us on the trail? An overwhelming "AWESOME" was the answer. The men jump at the chance to be chivalrous to a woman on the trail. But then again, that is also the attitude of the four wheeling community. To offer a hand to a fellow wheeler. Some of the guys I spoke with mentioned they wished their wives/girlfriends would go along with them to share the experience. They should. They don't know what they 're missing.

As for working on our trucks, to some extent we do, but we are not mechanics. As many of you guys do (and please don't lie) we rely on our network of 4-wheeling friends learning as we go along.

I also noted that women tend to get more involved in groups that promote maintenance and education of responsible wheeling. We want to keep those trails and are willing to put the time to do so. I am not saying that men don't partake in these same projects but it seems that women usually spearhead the actions. The four of us certainly do.

Would we recommend other women to try wheeling?. Absolutely. It's a blast. And as an added bonus you meet a lot of men!!

The wheeling is where it started but it doesn't stop there. Lisa doesn't wheel as much anymore as she is too busy competing in tough truck races. Kathy is president of the Rocky Mountain Big Wheels in Cochrane , Alberta so she gets out there quite often. Lori has been at it for 10 years and has traveled through much of southern BC, WA state, California and Utah with her 4x4. As for myself, I'm just getting started. New mods are happening to the White Knight. I intend to continue wheeling and racing those mud bogs. Watch the truck as it will go in the bog white, but it always comes out mud J

Just remember, next time you're stuck on the trail, the truck that might be pulling you out might be a lady four wheeler.

LISA'S JEEP                         KATHY'S RIDE