GDR#3

Trails, tents, flatfenders, and alot of Go Devilengines

- Verne Simons

Without vintage Jeeps there's a strong argument that offroading as we know it wouldn't exist. Flatfenders have been going off-road for over 75 years. These capable and iconic little vehicles were integral in winning World War II and afterwards made for the first readily available four-wheel-drive vehicles, which gave birth to the off-road aftermarket.

The earliest mass-produced Jeeps were powered by the 134ci Go Devil engine, a flathead four-cylinder. It's a simple, relatively torquey little engine that to this day still proves its mettle and is a recognizable stock part for enthusiasts. As you know if you love old Jeeps, wheeling these rigs in stock form is currently undergoing somewhat of a resurgence, and the fact is that while modified Jeeps are fun, mostly stock vintage Jeeps are also an absolute blast in the dirt. That's part of what inspired the first Go Devil Run (GDR) in 2020 and what continued it for the second annual Go Devil Run in 2021, and now the third for 2022.

The idea behind the Go Devil Run is to reproduce the vibe, look, and feel of the first vintage off-road trips from the late 1940s and early 1950s. The rules are simple and firm (unless you know how and who to bribe). You need to be in a fairly stock flatfender Jeep, namely the MB, GPW, M38, CJ-2A, CJ-3A, CJ-3B, or DJ equivalent. Sure, you could also show up in a prototype jeep older than those models, but there doesn't seem to be many of those left that folks still use. Other rules are that you need to dress in vintage or period-correct clothes and bring a chill and relaxed attitude. Also, your flatfender Jeep must have bias-ply tires and, you guessed it, a Go Devil engine.