BFG Nation of GO Tour
To promote the launch of BFGoodrich Tires NationOfGO.com we set out on a cross country tour to introduce the new community site to its users. We met up with off-road enthusiasts, drifters, tuners, hot-rodders, you name it. We converted a stock van into an off-road machine complete with a mobile editing station in the back. From San Francisco to Richmond, we filmed, edited, and uploaded content daily for 20 straight days.
Director / DP / Photographer / Editor
NationOfGO.com
Our Off-road Mobile Editing Suite
We worked with Quigley Motors to turn this stock van into a very capable off-road work station complete with beefed up suspension, powertrain, engine, BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tires, and a full editing suite. We put over 4,000 miles on this machine in 20 days.
NationOfGo.Com/Tour
In addition to posting daily on all of BFGoodrich's social channels, we maintained a realtime blog of our adventure. We even allowed users to follow and contact us directly which led to several unscheduled stops to meet and hang with fellow gearheads.
Here are a few highlights from the tour:
Austin Speed Shop
Austin, TX
Austin Speed Shop was founded in 2005 and builds world class Hot Rods and Kustoms. Specializing in high end metal fabrication, chassis, and mechanical work. Simply put, they build some of the coolest cars on the planet.
Brizio Street Rods
San Francisco, CA
Roy Brizio made his name hot rodding 1932 Fords. He estimates that icon of the car culture, the Deuce Coupe, accounts for about half rods his shop has turned out. Looking around today, though, Brizio could never be mistaken for a one-trick pony.
Desert Dingo Racing
Felton, CA
We caught up with Jim Graham and the Desert Dingos race team in Felton, CA, outside of Santa Cruz. The team fields Class 11 Beetles in the SCORE Baja 1000, one of the greatest off-road racing challenges on Earth. Jim and the team use their Beetle to raise awareness and support for the International Diabetes Federation.
Team Honda Research
Raymond, OH
Honda Research & Development has a vast facility in northern Ohio that’s used to test vehicle dynamics and reliability. We met up with James Robinson and Justin Chiodo, Honda engineers who work on research and development by day and use nights, weekends and vacations to go racing.
Ol'Skool 4x4 Club
El Paso, TX
Duane Shaw and Rob Hyde of OL’Skool 4X4 are retired U.S. Army Sergeants First Class who spend their free time off-roading in the desert around El Paso, TX. They both work in civilian roles for the Army now at Ft. Bliss, where they stay connected to the military community through their hobby. We spent a day four-wheeling with OL’Skool and found out that Duane and Rob use their Jeeps to help support local soldiers and their families.
Rich Evans Designs
Huntington Beach, CA
We made a stop at Huntington Beach Bodyworks. Owner Rich Evans had a few friends over for brats and burgers, including Speed Channel’s Gordon “Lugnutz” Stewart and D & P Classic Chevy, who have their shop in the neighborhood.
Rad Rides by Troy
Monteno, IL
Troy Trepanier is one of the most well known and respected names in the custom automotive business. In addition to building cars for many of the top Automotive collectors in the country, he has been featured on Discovery Channel’s “Rides”, participated with Chip Foose on two “Overhaulin” episodes, and been highlighted in several Documentaries concerning his efforts in Bonneville land speed racing.
Quigley Motors
Manchester, PA
The Nation of GO Tour stop at Quigley Motor Company was bittersweet for the Tour crew. We were sad knowing that we’d soon be sending our trusted 4X4 van back home. But while we were there, owner Mike Quigley and his friends took us out for some four-wheeling fun in, among others, a conversion van that still had curtains in the windows.
Gateway Classic Mustang
Bourbon, MO
Founded by Ronnie and Jason Childress, Gateway specializes in world-class Mustang restorations and he manufacture of high-end suspension systems.
Spoon Motor Sports
Orange, CA
Spoon specializes in engine tuning and aftermarket parts designed to make Honda cars high performing vehicles. The company was founded in 1988 by Tatsuru Ichishima, who previously worked for Honda as a race car tester and driver.
Expeditioneers
Phoenix, AZ
We caught up with Todd Pope and his Expeditioneers club in Phoenix. We didn’t know a lot about off-road expeditions. Brian McVickers from Overland Journal came out to meet us too, and help explain this unique brand of wheeled adventure.
Works Motor Sports
Sonoma, CA
WORKS is an engineering company, manufacturer, retailer, and service facility dedicated to automotive enthusiasm and performance. They are located on-track at the world famous Infineon Raceway / Sears Point in Sonoma county California. They invited us out to Infineon for a day with the tuner crowd to show off their rides and get out on the gymkhana/autocross course.
RideTech
Jasper, IN
Ride Tech’s Bret Voelkel has a heavy right foot. So when you ask to him to bring out a few cars from the company’s “toy garage,” as they call it, you’re not going to see pampered trailer queens. Bret and his crew were more than willing to burn some rubber.