All the TV networks think big ratings come from year-in-review news pieces. So does Jp. The TV networks like to suck viewers in with heartfelt moments recaptured in a way that will make you laugh, smile, and grab a hanky. So does Jp. Therefore, grab your hanky, throw on some Michael Bolton in the background, and read on to remember the year that was 2002.
What the staff thought would be the most controversial/talked-about story in Jp for 2002:
May's Killer Trails, a look at 10 trails "you could die on," which included New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah. Only a few letters were received despite the magazine thinking it was a risky story. And of those letters, most wanted directions to the trails mentioned.
What was the most controversial/talked-about story in Jp for 2002:
March's first look at the '03 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon piqued a notable amount of interest, while May's "Race Your Cherokee" story, an introduction to JeepSpeed racing, generated a lot of feedback.
Favorite trip of the year:
Editor Cappa: TDS, Moab, and the Rubicon.
Verne: The two-state, week-long Cherokee Bash '02 "was a blast."
Worst moment of the year:
Editor Cappa: "When I was on 4-Wheel & Off-Road's Ultimate Adventure and I discovered that the steering box on the Panel (Panel Hack project Jeep) was falling off 20 minutes before we were to leave for a 150-mile drive over twisty mountain roads. That was a little spooky. Oh, and when Verne quit."
Verne: "Deciding to leave Jp."
Something learned that you didn't know before this year:
Editor Cappa: "Mating an Atlas to a TH400 without a spud shaft, and putting Holley fuel injection on a Flatfender 134 L-head. I wasn't even sure it would work when I assigned Verne the story, and then I couldn't believe when it started right up. I just kind of had a blank stare, thinking, 'Huh? That shouldn't be working that well.'"
Verne: "That the elusive Cherokee Dana 44 rear axle does exist."
Most memorable thing said to you by a reader all year:
Editor Cappa: "Cappa=Crappa. Hadn't heard that one since high school."
Verne: "How frightening the brake lines on the Flatfender were in the story 'Steering Power' in the May issue."