The Master-Pull 4405 Team             

While the Pakistan and American governments are currently at odds over recent events in Pakistan, off road enthusiasts from both countries are working together.

Through the largest 4x4 website in the world, Pirate4x4.com, Dr. Ehsan Kiani of the Islamabad Jeep Club began following the work of the 4405 “Land-use” off road race team (www.ovrocksports.com) which competes in races such as the famed King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley California.

The 4405 “land-use” team’s mission is to not just race, but to preach responsible off road recreation and volunteerism to insure continued motorized access on public lands. In order to raise awareness of environmental and land-use issues, the 4405 race vehicle is also often seen on display at businesses, events, schools and 4x4 trail cleanups and work parties.

In May of 2010, the 4405 race car was completely lost in a structure fire. Due to the importance of the land-use team’s mission, companies and individuals began donating parts and funds to rebuild the car.  In an effort to be a part of the rebuild, Dr. Kiani donated hand stamped, metal 4405 plates that have been welded onto the new vehicle. A lost art in the United States, hand stamping metal is still practiced in Pakistan.

In August of 2010, Pakistan was ravaged by floods, claiming 1,200 lives, wiping out entire villages and forcing nearly 2 million Pakistanis to flee their homes. Not only has the Islamabad Jeep Club been involved with relief efforts, inspired by the 4405 land-use team’s efforts in the United States, Dr. Kiani and his brother Suhaib began building an off road vehicle to raise awareness of the issue and the work being done by the club in the Swat Valley in Northern Pakistan. Dubbed the “Concordia Relief Racer”, the vehicle will be used in much the same way as its sister vehicle the 4405, but for a different cause on the other side of the planet.

Dr. Kiani says "We got tremendous support from all around for the Flood Relief Initiative started by the Islamabad Jeep Club. When the massive floods hit Pakistan, Suhaib and I were in the middle of building a 4x4 vehicle (named Concordia) for use in off road rallies. Inspired by the 4405 we decided to use the Concordia to raise awareness about the relief work. I am sure that the partnership between the 4405 and Concordia will go a long way."

 According to Kurt Schneider of the 4405 “Land-use” team, “We are ecstatic that our team’s efforts are recognized by a 4x4 club from across the globe, and honored to know that we have become the inspiration for the Concordia relief racer. Despite different ideologies and cultures, we are bound by a common love of off roading and vehicle fabrication. I think many Americans would be surprised that Pakistanis build 4x4’s, head up to the mountains, then four wheel and camp much like we do here in the United States.”

In addition to this partnership, the 4405 team and Team Concordia are currently working on several projects to exchange fabrication skills and knowledge between Pakistani and American 4x4 enthusiasts. 

4130 Clothing (www.4130clothing.com) and the 4405 “land-use” Team (www.ovrocksports.com) have partnered for the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers (www.kingofthehammers.com and www.ultra4racing.com). The partnership will focus on getting land-use issues into the eyes of younger OHV users, who normally are not involved with keeping public lands open to the public. According to 4405 team manager and promoter Kurt Schneider, “If you were to attend a trail work party or land-use meeting, you will see that most of the people in attendance are over 35 years of age. In order for our sport to survive, we need to get the younger generation aware of land-use issues, active in trail stewardship and educate them in responsible use. Teaming up with 4130 clothing will give us a way to reach out to that younger generation. Furthermore, 4130 clothing is very active in the land-use realm, so we are excited to partner with them.”

4130 Clothing is geared towards the younger set of OHV users, especially desert racers, weekend wheelers and garage fabricators. The style has stemmed from the Southern California desert and has spread throughout much of the West Coast with the younger generation of four wheeled, off highway vehicle users. 4405 driver Travis Carpenter states, “4130 clothing reflects my lifestyle, so I, as well as many others on the 4405 team, wear it on a regular basis. Because of that, we actively pursued 4130 clothing as a sponsor. We can’t identify with the motorcross apparel that the dirt bike crowd wears, but I can identify with 4130. It’s what we like to wear. It is who we are.”

The 4405 “land-use” buggy driven by Rock Zombie club member Travis Carpenter has become land-use’s flag ship. Modeled after BlueRibbon Coalition Ambassador Del Albright’s “war machine” Jeep, the 4405’s mission is to raise awareness of land-use issues, promote responsible OHV recreation, trail stewardship and trail awareness, especially with the younger generation of OHV users. Currently, the 4405 team is holding a fund raiser at the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers with a “race-a-thon” for the BlueRibbon Coalition. The team is asking people and companies to “pledge per mile” at www.sharetrails.org/4405 

Evan Serling, President of 4130 Industries, is excited to partner up with the 4405 “Land Use” Team for the 2011 season. He states, “4130 is experiencing a lot of growth right now and we’re actively looking to expand into other areas of the off road racing industry. Since 2007 our focus has been on Baja style desert racing but now we are working on branching out into other areas such as 4x4 rock-crawling. When Kurt approached me about a partnership, I was immediately interested by the message they were promoting and for the fact that it would be a solid entry point for 4130 to step into the 4x4 off road world.” Currently 4130 Clothing can be bought online at www.4130clothing.com or at retail stores across America such as No Fear.

For the second year in a row, Rock Zombie 4x4 club member Travis Carpenter of the 4405 “land-use” team is racing in the famed King of the Hammers off-road race on February 11th to generate funds for land-use. Held by HammerKing Productions (www.kingofthehammers.com) and billed as the toughest off-road competition in the United States, the King of the Hammers is a mix of desert racing and hardcore rock crawling. The grueling 120 mile long course is split into two laps, and many competitors are not even able to finish the race. In only its 5^th year, attendance at the race is expected to draw well over 30,000 people to the southern California desert.

The 4405 “Land-use” team is asking people to make a “Pledge per mile made” by Travis Carpenter to the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Individuals and companies may make a pledge at www.sharetrails.org/4405.  The amount of the final donations will depend on how far Travis is able to travel in the event. A flat rate may also be pledged.

With the Blue Ribbon Coalition working nation wide to preserve access to motorized use on public lands, this race-a-thon comes at a key time when funds are sorely needed.

In 2010, the 4405 “land-use” team (www.ovrocksports.com) raised nearly $20,000 during the race-a-thon, which included major donations from the Tin Benders 4x4 club and 4Wheel Parts.

The iconic 4405 “land-use” buggy competes in off-road races and events such as the Best in the Desert and the Ultra4 series. Its mission is to raise awareness of land-use issues, promote responsible OHV recreation, trail stewardship and trail awareness. Often seen on display at businesses, events and parades, the 4405 is also used to raise funds for land-use organizations.

In 2010 the 4405 “Land-use” buggy was completely lost in a structure fire, but with the help of individuals and companies as sponsors, the vehicle is being rebuilt in order to race once again in the King of the Hammers. Major sponsors of the 4405 “land-use” team include: Fishmouth Fabworks, Artec, Pacific Fabrication, BF Goodrich, CRAWL Magazine, Hooker Harnesses, Raceline Wheels, Performace Steering Components, Reid racing, Ruffstuff Specialties, Pirate4x4.com, Wrapconcept.com, 4130 Clothing, Blue Torch Fabworks, The Rock Zombies4x4 club, Yukon Gear and Axle, PRP Seats, Bulldog Winch and Heavy Metal Concepts.

Please make a pledge today: www.sharetrails.org/4405 

October 25th, 2010

Driver Travis Carpenter and the Ultra4 4405 Land Use rig have been awarded a “Merit Entry” by Hammerking Productions into the famed 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers race. The merit entry is based on the team’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible land use, raise awareness of land use issues, and to generate funds, volunteers and memberships for various land use organizations.

Billed as the “Land Use” buggy, its land use outreach program has had the 4405 on near constant display since its inception in 2008. The vehicle has been seen in many magazines, on trails all over the West Coast, in parades, on trail work parties, and at many schools and businesses. It is used as a centerpiece to talk about responsible OHV use and to promote the sport as a whole.

In the 2010 King of the Hammers, the 4405 team held a Race-A-Thon to raise badly needed funds for land use organizations. Despite only completing 98 miles of the race, the team managed to raise nearly $20,000, the majority of which was pledged by members of the Pirate4x4.com website. Additional substantial pledges came from the Tin Benders 4x4 club and 4 Wheel Parts.

Sadly, three months after the 2010 King of the Hammers, the 4405 burned to the ground in a structure fire. There has been an overwhelming positive response to hearing this news. Many companies along with members of Pirate4x4.com have begun donating parts and cash in order to rebuild the vehicle so it can continue its mission. Master fabricator and co-driver Dan Trout of Fishmouth Fabworks has been bending tube and feverishly building the new 4405.

According to Manager/Promoter Kurt Schneider, “Our original plan was to run the 4405 in the entire Ultra4 Grand Slam series in 2010. We wanted to earn our spot outright for the 2011 King of the Hammers. Points-wise, all we would have to do is attend each race and we would have qualified, but with the 4405 burning down, that could not be accomplished.”

For the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers, the team will once again hold a Race-A-Thon for land use. Driver Travis Carpenter states, “We learned a lot from last year, and with the help of Del Albright, Pirate4x4.com and CRAWL Magazine, the 4405 team is planning on making this Race-A-Thon massive. It is our goal to make this the largest single-day fundraiser for land use ever. We are hoping that companies and OHV enthusiasts help donate to keep our public lands open to the public.”

Billed as the “toughest one day off road race on the planet,” the Griffin King of the Hammers (www.kingofthehammers.com) has quickly become one of the biggest events in off-roading. With a mix of go-fast desert racing and hard-core rock crawling, the endurance race has attracted 100 of the most accomplished drivers in Rock-sports competitions, and literally tens of thousands of spectators.