The LR4 — Crossing America Offroad with Tom Collins at the helm!
- Thread starter Dendy Jarrett
- Start date
LAND ROVER EXPEDITION AMERICA: UPDATE 2
August 2, 2013 at 9:33pm
Sam Correro, a Mississippi pharmacist with a passion for off-road motorcycles, began mapping a route across the U.S. using only dirt roads.
Three decades later, his legacy to the world of adventure is the 5,000-mile Trans America Trail, a network of trails across America.
“I just kept heading west, finding outback roads that linked to other outback roads. I arrived into Oklahoma and then Colorado from my home in Mississippi. At that point, I figured maybe I had a shot at reaching the Pacific,” noted Correro, perched by the side of a mountain road near Oark in Arkansas.
This week, Correro has been the honorary leader of Land Rover Expedition America (LREA), an attempt to make the drive on dirt from North Carolina to Oregon on the trail. On his trusty off-road motorcycle, he has guided the convoy of Land Rover LR4 vehicles on his favorite section of the trail east of the Rockies – from Mississippi to the Oklahoma border.
Expedition leader and legendary 4x4 driver Tom Collins welcomed Correro to the team as it passed Sam’s hometown of Corinth, Missouri. “Land Rover Expedition America could not have happened without Sam and his thirty years of research. It is an honor to have him join us for a few days,” said Collins.
With Correro leading the Expedition, the group bisected Mississippi, on picturesque farm tracks, on route to the Mississippi delta town of Clarksdale, a historically significant site in the development of blues music.
Clarksdale’s Ground Zero Blues Bar is part owned by actor Morgan Freeman, who met some of the Land Rover Expedition America team as they passed by.
They also met blues musician James ‘Super Chikan’ Johnson. He makes his own guitars from gasoline cans just like the ones being used by the LREA team. “If you give me one, I’ll make you a guitar in time for the end of the trip,” he offered.
Driving behind Correro, the expedition team crossed the mighty Mississippi River in 100-degree heat and oppressive humidity into Arkansas at Helena. This was the most southern point on the journey, just hours north of the Gulf of Mexico.
Within a day, the expedition had climbed on precipitous tight switchbacks up into the 3000 ft Ozark Mountains. As with the Smoky Mountains, where the event started, the challenging mountain roads were the development grounds for some of America’s early racing drivers. Their skills were often honed while out-running the authorities during the Prohibition era.
Every day is an early start to keep the expedition on track for a 30-day crossing of America. The only other creatures awake so early are the local wildlife. Deer, coyotes and turtles have been spotted so far. Farmed Bison have also been seen along the trail.
The last few miles of Sam Correro’s time with the LREA team was spent negotiating treacherous washouts leading into Alma Arkansas. He balanced like a tightrope walker riding down the gullies. Behind, using the LR4 vehicle’s Terrain Response system, the four wheelers edged from hole to rock and under fallen trees.
“That was a taste of what is to come,” Correro said with a smile as he waved us goodbye. “Just wait and see…”
August 2, 2013 at 9:33pm
Sam Correro, a Mississippi pharmacist with a passion for off-road motorcycles, began mapping a route across the U.S. using only dirt roads.
Three decades later, his legacy to the world of adventure is the 5,000-mile Trans America Trail, a network of trails across America.
“I just kept heading west, finding outback roads that linked to other outback roads. I arrived into Oklahoma and then Colorado from my home in Mississippi. At that point, I figured maybe I had a shot at reaching the Pacific,” noted Correro, perched by the side of a mountain road near Oark in Arkansas.
This week, Correro has been the honorary leader of Land Rover Expedition America (LREA), an attempt to make the drive on dirt from North Carolina to Oregon on the trail. On his trusty off-road motorcycle, he has guided the convoy of Land Rover LR4 vehicles on his favorite section of the trail east of the Rockies – from Mississippi to the Oklahoma border.
Expedition leader and legendary 4x4 driver Tom Collins welcomed Correro to the team as it passed Sam’s hometown of Corinth, Missouri. “Land Rover Expedition America could not have happened without Sam and his thirty years of research. It is an honor to have him join us for a few days,” said Collins.
With Correro leading the Expedition, the group bisected Mississippi, on picturesque farm tracks, on route to the Mississippi delta town of Clarksdale, a historically significant site in the development of blues music.
Clarksdale’s Ground Zero Blues Bar is part owned by actor Morgan Freeman, who met some of the Land Rover Expedition America team as they passed by.
They also met blues musician James ‘Super Chikan’ Johnson. He makes his own guitars from gasoline cans just like the ones being used by the LREA team. “If you give me one, I’ll make you a guitar in time for the end of the trip,” he offered.
Driving behind Correro, the expedition team crossed the mighty Mississippi River in 100-degree heat and oppressive humidity into Arkansas at Helena. This was the most southern point on the journey, just hours north of the Gulf of Mexico.
Within a day, the expedition had climbed on precipitous tight switchbacks up into the 3000 ft Ozark Mountains. As with the Smoky Mountains, where the event started, the challenging mountain roads were the development grounds for some of America’s early racing drivers. Their skills were often honed while out-running the authorities during the Prohibition era.
Every day is an early start to keep the expedition on track for a 30-day crossing of America. The only other creatures awake so early are the local wildlife. Deer, coyotes and turtles have been spotted so far. Farmed Bison have also been seen along the trail.
The last few miles of Sam Correro’s time with the LREA team was spent negotiating treacherous washouts leading into Alma Arkansas. He balanced like a tightrope walker riding down the gullies. Behind, using the LR4 vehicle’s Terrain Response system, the four wheelers edged from hole to rock and under fallen trees.
“That was a taste of what is to come,” Correro said with a smile as he waved us goodbye. “Just wait and see…”
There are more great pictures (like the ones below) here:
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/lrexpeditionamerica
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/lrexpeditionamerica
overlander
Expedition Leader
It's awesome to hear that they are doing this, and with Tom to boot! Maybe there is hope after all!
They can kill time by the campfire pontificating the 2015 Defender in the right setting.
They can kill time by the campfire pontificating the 2015 Defender in the right setting.
1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
HAHAHAHAHAHHA
To funny to read how they try to "epic" it up...
The TAT is no harder than the Continental Divide trip I did from Canada to Mexico...it is a dirt road drive that someone in a RAV4 could do following these guys.
Great that they are having a fun mega media adventure. But stop with the drama...."farmed bison were seem along the trail"....REALLY, wow how did they survive?
This isn't the Canning Stock route where you have to plan fuel, this isn't even Trans-Africa where you might get robbed/kidnapped/killed by Toureg or other group. No Congo crossing here folks...this is a east-west DRIVE across the USA where food, fuel and cell coverage are plentiful.
Tom Collins is an amazing guy and I really have enjoyed watching the Rover Great Divide video from long ago....but this is too much.
Oh and for that thought that they will need all that gear when crossing the Rockies......REALLY? Gosh how have I ever survived my trips here in the West without rotating driver schedules, tons and spares and Land Rover of North America?
Lastly for any of you buying into the "epicness" of it all.....jump on Advrider and read all about the many many folks who have done the TAT on a huge variety of bikes.
Cool road trip on dirt? Absolutely....
Land Rover's attempt to achieve one of the world's few remaining untouched epic automotive adventures – to drive across America on dirt road ....HAHAHAHAHA
To funny to read how they try to "epic" it up...
The TAT is no harder than the Continental Divide trip I did from Canada to Mexico...it is a dirt road drive that someone in a RAV4 could do following these guys.
Great that they are having a fun mega media adventure. But stop with the drama...."farmed bison were seem along the trail"....REALLY, wow how did they survive?
This isn't the Canning Stock route where you have to plan fuel, this isn't even Trans-Africa where you might get robbed/kidnapped/killed by Toureg or other group. No Congo crossing here folks...this is a east-west DRIVE across the USA where food, fuel and cell coverage are plentiful.
Tom Collins is an amazing guy and I really have enjoyed watching the Rover Great Divide video from long ago....but this is too much.
Oh and for that thought that they will need all that gear when crossing the Rockies......REALLY? Gosh how have I ever survived my trips here in the West without rotating driver schedules, tons and spares and Land Rover of North America?
Lastly for any of you buying into the "epicness" of it all.....jump on Advrider and read all about the many many folks who have done the TAT on a huge variety of bikes.
Cool road trip on dirt? Absolutely....
Land Rover's attempt to achieve one of the world's few remaining untouched epic automotive adventures – to drive across America on dirt road ....HAHAHAHAHA
overlander
Expedition Leader
my take on their purpose was to tell people to get off the pavement and get out there exploring this great country. I haven't read the article yet, but I wasn't perceiving that they were pitching this as some enduring trial of man and machine like camel trophy or as mentioned, the canning stock route.
It's just a great road trip. the challenge is in staying on dirt, not getting through the dirt.
It's just a great road trip. the challenge is in staying on dirt, not getting through the dirt.
LR Max
Local Oaf
I'm in the same boat. I'm kinda like, "Ok. When does the cool stuff start..." It started like, 2 weeks ago? Yeah they are cruising a dirt road in a super plush luxury SUV. I mean, I'd do the same and it sounds like fun but don't hype it.
Still waiting for the "$h** to get real" on this.
Scott Brady
Founder
Having rode the western half of the TAT and driven most of the Divide, the TAT is far more difficult, particularly in Utah and Nevada, and especially if you avoid the bypass loops. Black Dragon Canyon is no joke and will be a serious crux for the stock vehicles (unless all of the washouts have been repaired since I was last there). I believe their most significant challenge will be tires - the trucks will be fine. It will also be difficult to cover so much ground in 30 days. Brian Dearmon and I took nearly a month to do just the western section of the TAT, and on motos. The trucks will be slower on everything but the gravel road segments.
We are fortunate to be involved with Land Rover and Tom on this trip, including providing some logistics support. We have a team member participating in the drive and the adventure will be featured in Overland Journal and here on ExPo starting in the next few weeks.
We are fortunate to be involved with Land Rover and Tom on this trip, including providing some logistics support. We have a team member participating in the drive and the adventure will be featured in Overland Journal and here on ExPo starting in the next few weeks.
LR Max
Local Oaf
That is what I'm waiting for! When the going gets REALLY tough. I think right now they are covering a ton of ground as quickly as possible, because you can and why wouldn't you. Hopefully they will hit it in the next few days and we can see some REAL wheeling.
Scott Brady
Founder
That is the nature of the TAT. The Eastern section is primarily dirt roads and open country until Colorado. The East does have a few slick and muddy trails, but a 4wd does better on those in most cases than an enduro.
overlander
Expedition Leader
Also keep in mind, that having grown up in the West, but now living in the East, I can tell you that this story is going to be of interest to all of us in the East, as just getting to something dirt is a challenge in the East. The Eastern seaboard is the land of private property and excessive management of the limited public use outdoor spaces. Any dirt road that is not your local knowledge or part of a limited National Park site would require a lot of research. I hate it after growing up in the vastness of BLM territory but there it is. So all you folks in the four corner states please consider how fortunate you are, and appreciate that any articles that illuminate untapped outdoor resources (like the Eastern sections of the TAT) are breadcrumbs for those of us Easterners that are less fortunate.
That said, if there is ever an opportunity to get the hell out of the East and get back to the four corners region, I'm taking it. Don't fence me in.
That said, if there is ever an opportunity to get the hell out of the East and get back to the four corners region, I'm taking it. Don't fence me in.
I was in Black Dragon Canyon on our very similar trip last year (with 1, 4 and 6 year old children in tow). Though we did some harder trails/roads in Colorado and Nevada that was the only place we did damage to our vehicle and it will be interesting to see if they can get through without trouble. There are some steep rock steps with tight turns to negotiate. I hope they post video our shots of that section.
thanks Dendy for the updates. Please keep them coming!
cruiseroutfit
Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
Excited to hear of their travels here locally. As noted Black Dragon can vary greatly, I've not been thru in a few months but it was fairly tame earlier this year. I've guided hundreds thru the canyon, sometimes you can 2wd solo it in a bone stock FJ60, others you have to winch through a spring runoff washout. Will be watching for pics.