Because we're never content to rest on our laurels.

Four Wheeler, the nation’s most prestigious four-wheel drive magazine, is proud to announce some new strategic partnerships for 2011 aimed at strengthening the brand integrity and marketability of its signature event, Top Truck Challenge.

“Top Truck has been the benchmark of grueling 4x4 endurance tests for years,” said Four Wheeler editor Douglas McColloch. “But as competitors’ vehicles have become more capable, and as the competitors themselves gain ever greater knowledge of the event, we need to continue to raise the performance bar, improving some stages and adding new ones, to keep TTC the absolute gold standard of off-road competitions. The new partnerships we’re announcing today will help us accomplish exactly that.”

Beginning this June, at Top Truck XIX, participants can look forward to the following new wrinkles.

Tank Trap: Already regarded as toughest quarter-mile in all of four wheeling, the Trap just got tougher.

“We’re proud to announce a partnership with Segrest Farms of Gibsonton, Florida,” McColloch said, “as the official aquaculture supplier to Top Truck Challenge.” Starting in 2011, Water Holes 1, 2 and 6 on the Tank Trap course will each be stocked with 40 to 50 South American electric eels. “The addition of underwater creatures up to eight feet in length and each capable of generating a sting of up to 500 volts certainly raises the bar of excitement,” McColloch continued, noting that “this year, running out the winch cable and winching through the water holes will never be a more electrifying experience to watch.”

Frame Twister: One of TTC’s most slithery stages is now just a bit more slippery.

“We’re also pleased to announce that Glades Herp Farm of Bushnell, Florida has committed to join our team as official reptile supplier to TTC,” McColloch exclaimed. For TTC XIX, the Frame Twister’s water hole will be filled with several dozen Florida Cottonmouths, a.k.a. water moccasins. “The introduction of venomous snakes to the Frame Twister should only add to the excitement this landmark event generates,” McColloch, noted. “Drivers and co-drivers will need to think strategically should they need to exit their vehicles to extricate themselves from the log obstacles. One wrong decision here could really come back to bite them during the competition.”

Mini-Rubicon: Our infamous 50-yard rock-crawl course has an explosive new design element.

“Finally, we’re happy to partner with Arms-Tech Ltd. of Phoenix, Arizona,” McColloch said, “who’ll be joining our distinguished sponsor team as official ordnance supplier.” Approximately one dozen of the company's MM1-Minimore Field-Loadable Claymore Mines, which measure a minuscule 3x5 inches, will be strategically situated at various hidden locations along the Mini Rubicon course. “The addition of visibly undetectable ordnance that packs enough wallop to create a 16-foot-wide kill zone means that competitors will need to display strong driver-spotter communication skills, and show an innate ability to pick the best line through the course,” McColloch said. “We think this spectacular new innovation will bring a new level of fireworks to the one stage of TTC that sometimes seemed to lack drama in the past."

“All told, we’re very pleased about these promising new additions to Top Truck,” McColloch concluded. “and think they’ll go a long way towards keeping it among the elite of 4x4 competitions as we continue to bring added value to the brand, and increased excitement for competitors, spectators and sponsors going forward.”