Author Topic: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?  (Read 3414 times)

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Offline stan98tj

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Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« on: December 01, 2014, 12:45:58 AM »
New series on History.
1 Jeep (built willys with a nice t-case set up)
3 'Yotas (moderately built)
1 Diesel Land Rover (moderately built)

Thought it was going to be a cool show, but it seems as though History Channel found the most bizarre, backwards folks to be in the show for shock value. Gives off roaders a bad name. Pretty much all tread lightly rules were broken. Lastly, why would anyone show up to an event like this on open differentials?? The Rover is open/open, some of the others have limited slip and few have lockers at all. For an event like this, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the mediocrity in the builds. I wheel with dudes who are avg Joes with normal jobs who have waaaay better built jeeps than these guys. Then again, if they were too well built, less stuff would break and it wouldn't be as entertaining to viewers.
98 TJ 35"Maxxis Trep.Old Man Emu 2.5""+1"BL,IronMan Fab control arms,4.56gears,Ford 8.8+ARB,Currie/IronMan steering, WARN VR10,HP D30 sleeved+ RCV,Body Armor Rock Rails WISHLIST:TDi.Girlfriend hates it :) If you can read this don't flip me over i dont have any $$ left to fix it

Offline Jeffy

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2014, 01:54:07 PM »
Nope but I looked it up.  http://www.history.com/shows/alaska-off-road-warriors

Looks like the first ep is up.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2014, 01:54:13 PM by Jeffy »
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Offline sharpxmen

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2014, 07:38:25 PM »
after reading your comments (Stan) I am more inclined to give it a shot - I am used with a lot of bs in these but by what you say sounds like they have just regular vehicles, only thing I don't know is if they do a lot of editing to make it more dramatic (which is what I hate about these shows in general along with some added drama for the ratings I assume).
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Offline stan98tj

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2014, 04:43:46 PM »
after reading your comments (Stan) I am more inclined to give it a shot - I am used with a lot of bs in these but by what you say sounds like they have just regular vehicles, only thing I don't know is if they do a lot of editing to make it more dramatic (which is what I hate about these shows in general along with some added drama for the ratings I assume).
They aren't just regular vehicles, they're just not built that well. The Jeep is ok, the rest are just whatever. The biggest issue I have is that none of them spent any money on a good set of lockers, but they spent money on other stuff. They all have aftermarket suspensions, some have been regeared (so why didn't they lock them up then?) and then the drivers are all idiots for the most part.

98 TJ 35"Maxxis Trep.Old Man Emu 2.5""+1"BL,IronMan Fab control arms,4.56gears,Ford 8.8+ARB,Currie/IronMan steering, WARN VR10,HP D30 sleeved+ RCV,Body Armor Rock Rails WISHLIST:TDi.Girlfriend hates it :) If you can read this don't flip me over i dont have any $$ left to fix it

Offline BoringDave

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2014, 06:16:56 PM »
Carl's rig super Jeep is far from under built. He is the owner operator of http://www.jantz4x4.com/jantz.php.

 If I remember super Jeep has some of Carl's crazy hybrid Jana 76 axles that he builds. Dana 70 gear sets stuffed in hp60 cases with ARB lockers and all alloy axles sets. Granted the rest of the Jeep looks kinda hillbilly but the drive train is most likely top notch. Carl is pretty well know here in the pacific north west.

I'm pretty sure the running over of the trees were to drama up the show and to make the outsiders look bad.
And yes a few of the others just look like plain scuz balls.

Offline stan98tj

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2014, 11:44:17 PM »
Carl's rig super Jeep is far from under built. He is the owner operator of http://www.jantz4x4.com/jantz.php.

 If I remember super Jeep has some of Carl's crazy hybrid Jana 76 axles that he builds. Dana 70 gear sets stuffed in hp60 cases with ARB lockers and all alloy axles sets. Granted the rest of the Jeep looks kinda hillbilly but the drive train is most likely top notch. Carl is pretty well know here in the pacific north west.

I'm pretty sure the running over of the trees were to drama up the show and to make the outsiders look bad.
And yes a few of the others just look like plain scuz balls.
yeah, but he's the only built one it seems. Defender got stranded on first sand climb- had to break out the winch cause he was open/open. The 'yotas seem to be mediocre on their builds as well, except perhaps that older 'yota, but then again i didn't see anything special
98 TJ 35"Maxxis Trep.Old Man Emu 2.5""+1"BL,IronMan Fab control arms,4.56gears,Ford 8.8+ARB,Currie/IronMan steering, WARN VR10,HP D30 sleeved+ RCV,Body Armor Rock Rails WISHLIST:TDi.Girlfriend hates it :) If you can read this don't flip me over i dont have any $$ left to fix it

Offline jfrabat

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2014, 02:38:04 PM »
I just watched the first wpisode... It was enterteining.  Yeah, there are some true hillbillys in the show, but that's for drama!
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Offline jagular7

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2014, 09:01:01 AM »
You can see its a 'follow the producer direction' type of show. Who talks like that on the trails while 'competing'.

The producers are no where close to understanding Tread Lightly aspects of wheeling, nor are the teams...that Rover driver complaining about the ruining of the trees....come on, really. Trees were not driven over off the trail. That's what that is all about. Trees do fall in the woods and do happen to cross the trail. If you are in a race, and you make the 'drive' easier for everyone else, you are exceptional but in terms of the race, really? Race car driver's don't pull over to help another driver with their car, why would you do anything different in the natural world?

It appears to be a timing race as well, similar to the Dakar type race, which is quite different than expected but I'm guessing its due to the location and relativeness to wildlife (both harmful deadly and not). Imagine how the cameras are setup outside the vehicles on the trails. Where they are, who man's them, etc.

I wonder why History channel is presenting this out on their channel. Wouldn't history of poor performing shows in the 'wheeling' activity prevent this? Whatever happened to that Jeeper (Hiawiian) and his co-driver that get dropped off in the wilderness with a 4cyl TJ have to make it back to civilization show?

I'm watching it but with disappointment in the comments, the showing of the obstacles, the showing of the driver's skills, etc. The preview of the next show clearly shows drama as the rednecks of AK don't wear seatbelts and it will show.

The expedition overland on youtube has a much better show of wheeling in Alaska. Same for Motortrend's Roadkill. I think this History channel 'offroad race' is similar to the 'Scary movie'(s)....just ridiculously and stupid for entertainment.
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Offline stan98tj

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Re: Anyone watch that Alaskan Off Road Race on History Channel?
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2014, 08:01:22 AM »
You can see its a 'follow the producer direction' type of show. Who talks like that on the trails while 'competing'.

The producers are no where close to understanding Tread Lightly aspects of wheeling, nor are the teams...that Rover driver complaining about the ruining of the trees....come on, really. Trees were not driven over off the trail. That's what that is all about. Trees do fall in the woods and do happen to cross the trail. If you are in a race, and you make the 'drive' easier for everyone else, you are exceptional but in terms of the race, really? Race car driver's don't pull over to help another driver with their car, why would you do anything different in the natural world?

It appears to be a timing race as well, similar to the Dakar type race, which is quite different than expected but I'm guessing its due to the location and relativeness to wildlife (both harmful deadly and not). Imagine how the cameras are setup outside the vehicles on the trails. Where they are, who man's them, etc.

I wonder why History channel is presenting this out on their channel. Wouldn't history of poor performing shows in the 'wheeling' activity prevent this? Whatever happened to that Jeeper (Hiawiian) and his co-driver that get dropped off in the wilderness with a 4cyl TJ have to make it back to civilization show?

I'm watching it but with disappointment in the comments, the showing of the obstacles, the showing of the driver's skills, etc. The preview of the next show clearly shows drama as the rednecks of AK don't wear seatbelts and it will show.

The expedition overland on youtube has a much better show of wheeling in Alaska. Same for Motortrend's Roadkill. I think this History channel 'offroad race' is similar to the 'Scary movie'(s)....just ridiculously and stupid for entertainment.
Expedition overland is leagues ahead of these guys. Much better group of guys, ton more competency/intelligence. But they've unfortunately become sponsor whores now. Although I still love their stuff
98 TJ 35"Maxxis Trep.Old Man Emu 2.5""+1"BL,IronMan Fab control arms,4.56gears,Ford 8.8+ARB,Currie/IronMan steering, WARN VR10,HP D30 sleeved+ RCV,Body Armor Rock Rails WISHLIST:TDi.Girlfriend hates it :) If you can read this don't flip me over i dont have any $$ left to fix it