Everyone who is considering leaving
the pavement to head for the distant horizon should read
Slaton L. White's new book. The Field & Stream
Sporting Vehicles Handbook is like a perfect set of
"Cliff's Notes" for mechanically-challenged
off-road wannabes. Unlike most 4x4 enthusiasts, who count
their off-road experiences in days or even weeks each
year, we have been fortunate to live for nearly seven
years in the Phoenix One.
Although only a portion
of that time would count as being truly off-road, it
has afforded us plenty of hard lessons and driver-induced
break-downs. Many of those lessons might have been prevented
if the editor of Field and Stream magazine had
published his book in 1994 instead of 2000, (and if
I had taken his message to heart).
I found his explanations about the effects
of heat on engine performance very helpful and look
forward to being able to speak to our mechanic as if
I know what I'm talking about. More importantly, Slaton
provides plenty of real-life experiences that all weekend
road warriors can use to enhance their own off-road
enjoyment and safety.
The author has included a series of black
& white and color photographs to augment the valuable
lessons in this book. This is the first field guide
I have read that held my attention as tightly as any
best-selling novel. Slaton targeted this book to fisherman
and hunters, but anyone interested in high-performance
automotive equipment will be intrigued, inspired, and
well informed after reading The Field & Stream
Sporting Vehicles Handbook.
Mark
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