The Master-Pull 4405 Team             

The 4405 team's beginnings started from a chance meeting at the little sluice box on the famed Rubicon trail. While shooting for an issue of CRAWL magazine, and passing out land-use literature, Promoter Kurt Schneider was introduced to Travis Carpenter of the Nor Cal Rock Zombies.

The first version: The Friends of Eldorado Buggy

Three months later, when Travis Carpenter's club, the Nor Cal Rock Zombies attended the very first Friends of Eldorado National Forest work-party, Kurt and Travis began talking about how to raise awareness of land-use issues within the OHV community and with the general public. Early the next year, they deceided to use Travis's new buggy built by Dan Trout of Fishmouth Fabworks as the "Friends of Eldorado" buggy.

 The vehicle was so masterfully built, that it turned the heads of the general public and 4x4 enthusists alike. Dan Trout is an artist, and he built a masterpiece that people could not help but to be attracted too. Because of this, Kurt and Travis figured that the buggy would be a great centerpiece for discussion. Since the vehicle seemed to draw a crowd,  Kurt and Travis could turn the conversation from talking about the vehicle itself, to land-use, trail stewardship and responsible recreation.  Not only would the vehicle be seen at competitions that Travis entered, but they would put it on display at companies, trade shows, in parades, etc. to get the message out to the general public, and at trail workparties to reach their own crowd. On the trail, Travis could also pass out land-use literature from the vehicle

 "The 4405 being used to pull down an old forest service building at a Friends of Eldorado workparty"  Right away, the team began it's mission. The buggy was seen at workparties and even in a local parade. Travis also ran the vehicle in a CalROCS event and on the trail talking to OHV enthusists.   "A very cold Travis and Stephanie running in the Discovery Bay Lighted Parade 2008" The 2009 King of the Hammers
  Still under the Friends of Eldorado banner, the team ran the vehicle in the last chance qualifier for the famed King of the Hammers race in 2009. Dan Trout had to drive the vehicle becuase Travis was not entered, however Travis was the co-driver. Making short work through Backdoor, the team was running a fast enough pace to enter into the main race, unfortunatley, a lower control arm broke a mile away from the finish, and the team did not qualify for the main race. 
"Trout and Travis running through Backdoor in the 2009 KOH LCQ""Promotional poster taken at 2008 KOH with Spokesmodel Stephanie"  After the 2009 King of the Hammers, it was evident that calling the vehicle  the "Friends of Eldorado" buggy was not quite fitting, and it was out of the Friends of Eldorado's scope since the team had a much larger audience than just people in northern California. Therefore the team dropped the "Friends of Eldorado" from the name and changed it to the "Land-use" buggy.  The start of the 4405 "Land-use" Rig
 The next goal for the team was to race in a "Best in the Desert" Vegas to Reno race in Nevada.  With virtually no funds and just a few parts sponsors, the team was in dire straights. At the last minute, Travis's father, who is also the crew cheif for the team, managed to aquire a one race sponsorship through the company  HASA.  The buggy was re-wrapped with blue HASA wraps for the race. At this point in time, the Ultra4 series had just started it's 4400 class and the vehicle had taken the number "4405" which is now so Intricately  linked with land-use.   Just days before the race, the transmission broke down, and once again the team was in dire straights. Motorsports Fabrication Services (MFS) then stepped in, and helped the team get the vehicle running once again at the last moment.

Our Mission

The 4405's mission is clear: To Keep Public lands Open to the Public and wheeled motorized vehicle access. This is done through the team's land-use Outreach program, which is just as grueling as the 4405's race schedule.

The Fire

In March of 2010, the 4405 burned completely down in a structure fire.