AND THE WINNER IS..
In 2017 I really wanted to take the Pinzgauer down to Overland Expo West. The problem was I couldn’t get as much time as I would need to pack my gear into the Pinzgauer and drive all the way down to Flagstaff, Arizona at the limited top speed that SARPINZ can manage. I had also maxed by budget building it and the cost of gas, lodging, and entry fee was really not something I should have been considering. However, my industry friends all encouraged me to enter the Cool Ride Contest, so I did.
I made a quick YouTube walkaround video showing the build so far and I WAS CHOSEN as a finalist 😀. That meant my entry fee and camping was covered by Overland Expo - now I just needed to get there. That weekend I happened to stop by Mule Expedition Outfitters in Issaquah, Washington and they made me a deal, let them put a Mule decal on the side of the SARPINZ (they built the custom roof rack, winch bumper, and rear tire carrier) and they would cover my gas. That sealed the deal and I was off to Flagstaff.
The only remaining challenge was time off.. so I contacted my good friend Gaylon, we loaded SARPINZ onto a flat bed trailer I borrowed and we set off to Flagstaff at Ford Raptor speed (details withheld for obvious reasons 😏). It was a very long two day push but we rolled into the Cool Ride event in Downtown Flagstaff right as the contest was starting.
Overland Expo was an amazing event, I met so many amazing friends who I still stay in contact with (and who have helped me to evolve the SARPINZ over time) and then at the end of the show they had the announcement. I WON..! wow, I was blown away. There were so many incredible rigs there, I was just excited to get to go and had no expectation on winning. They awarded me $500 that I could spend with vendors and was able to stock up on:
Outer Limit Supply “Outback First Aid Kit and mount” – to replenish first aid supplies
Tribe One Outdoors “Rack Net” – for tying down up to 8 SAR packs and other rescue equipment on the roof rack
Rugged Radios “Ultimate Headset” – to more easily communicate with a team leader when transporting a team in the back of the Pinz.
Overall my first trip to Overland Expo is one I will never forget.
Original story here: Cool Ride Contest Grand Prize Winner — Overland Expo®
