The 2011 Overlander of the Year Award. 

Mac Mackenney

Opinions aside, It would be fairly easy to decide the best sports player of 2011. The people who decide that sort of thing have more statistics on points scored and completed plays than the government likely has on Botswana. This is the difficulty with saying what quantifies someone to be the best Overlander. We can’t measure that person by the amount of strike-outs they’ve achieved, nor can we ethically measure the person by the media coverage surrounding them. How would you feel if Ewan McGreggor was named the Overlander of the Year, solely by mention of Long Way Down program? It had to be someone who's philanthropical efforts were also considered alongside their expeditionionary achievements. Someone who strived to make a change in our community, and helped to educate and foster the idea that true exploration happens outside of your television set and computer screen.

Not sure where your next adventure will take you? AltRider has a suggestion: Dakar. Most of us will never race the real Dakar, but this February 24-26 during AltRider’s “Taste of Dakar” ride, riders will have the opportunity meet, train and ride with one of only two Americans to ever finish on the podium of the Dakar, Jimmy Lewis. All skill levels are welcome. The $225 entry fee includes guided rides, a techniques clinic, five meals, (adult) beverages, entertainment, camping, and a special opportunity to get the inside scoop from Jimmy Lewis.

New Wisconsin Race Tech Service Center

Corona, CA- MotoRider in Kenosha, WI has teamed up with Race Tech to offer Race Tech products and services in the Great Lakes region. MotoRider is the newest Center in the Race Tech network.

MotoRider specializes in Street, Dirt, and ATV suspension service and installation. By being an offical Race Tech Center; MotoRider is certified to service your suspension with the same quality and care as you would receive from Race Tech's headquarters in Corona, CA.

Day One [Adventure]

Spirits soared. Or was it the apprehension & anxiety around embarking on this grand adventure? Time would tell. I was departing my parents’ house in my hometown, bound for the Patagonia in South America. But before arriving there, I would need to start in Patagonia, Arizona. Just to the southwest of Tucson lies the small town of Patagonia, nestled in the Santa Rita mountain range. What perfect way to start out a drive to southern Chile & Argentina.

Getting Detained by the Iranian Secret Police

Iran regularly features in the media, but never in a good way. When you say you’re going to Iran, most people’s reaction is comparable to telling them you’re going for a beach break and sailing excursion along the Somalian coast. However, although the government and its foreign policy supposedly presents one of the largest threats to ‘Western’ security, the country is safe, pleasant and it’s rammed full of some of the best sightseeing this side of the Seine.

A raised air intake is often a common modification performed to overland vehicles. It helps to ensure clear air reaches your engine in dusty or wet environments. Finally there's a solution from ARB and Safari Snorkel for the popular Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ model. Check it out.

Check out this recently restored 1955 Land Rover Series One for sale in British Columbia on eBay Motors! It was recently restored in 2004 when it was imported from England, here's what the seller has to say about the vehicle:

Arriving In Sydney

We were at the end of a 10 month odyssey, only a few days drive from the finish line and we had just discovered that we were off to the USA on route to circumnavigating the globe. Avid followers of this blog may have got the impression that our final few weeks in Australia were a haze of parties, beer, BBQs and beaches. And they would be right. There were beaches... and BBQs… and certainly beer, but they lacked that all-important ingredient that binds these wonderful things together. The sun. The coldest day everrecorded in Brisbane had just passed and it was grey, cloudy, and for the first time since we passed through the high plateaus of Tibet three months previously, I was cold.