DIESEL WORLD MAGAZINE

BY ADAM BLATTENBERG

The first vehicle I owned was a 1998 Ford Ranger. I still remember the day I got it: Halloween 1999. I took it home and immediately started modifying it. I did a lot of stupid stuff with that truck, but I learned a ton. That’s the truck that solidified my obsession with pickups. It had a huge impact on the direction of my life.

I drove it for three years before I did what all parents fear their kids will do to their first ride: I totaled it. I did it right, too. I rolled it while going so fast the back end flipped straight over the front before coming to rest. I still have the scars from that accident. It happened on a barely maintained dirt fire trail up in the mountains. I came around a corner just a bit too fast. Needless to say, I learned to slow down going around blind corners—especially off road.