RIP Kevin Carroll – [pics] EJS Black Flag CRAWL Readers Ride

Gallery Lifestyle July 2, 2019 Corey Osborne

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a tribute to a friend and fellow wheeler, I have decided to repost this article to honor Kevin Carroll. The Owner/Fabricator of...

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a tribute to a friend and fellow wheeler, I have decided to repost this article to honor Kevin Carroll. The Owner/Fabricator of Red Dot Engineering located in Moab, Utah, most know of him as the driver and creator of amazing vehicles that we call the “Red Dot Cars”. An amazing driver, a family man and just an all around good guy…Kevin will be missed by many. Kevin always pushed things to the extreme…and I’m sure that is the way he would want his friends to remember him.

Many of these images were not posted in the original article.

According to Merriam-Webster the definition of “Extreme” is as follows:

a : existing in a very high degree <extreme poverty>
b : going to great or exaggerated lengths : radical <went on an extreme diet>
c : exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected <extreme weather conditions>

d : of, relating to, or being an outdoor activity or a form of a sport (as skiing) that involves an unusually high degree of physical risk <extreme mountain biking down steep slopes>

e : involved in an extreme sport <an extreme snowboarder>

AREA BFE defines this trail as follows:

BLACK FLAG

Trail Rating: Expert trail. No Exceptions
Description: Do not attempt without a day to spend and at least three vehicles. NOTE: Nobody has completed this trail!
Requirements: Min. 40″ tires, Lockers, Winch, spare parts, SPOTTERS and 3 Vehicles – Do not attempt alone!

Well, as it turns out, I’ve done a bit of 4-wheeling over the past number of years, but after watching a group of VERY talented individuals during the CRAWL Magazine Readers Ride event held at Area BFE traverse a trail called Black Flag, I really had no idea what “Extreme” really meant. I thought I did…I was mistaken. I guess everything is relative, but this is some hard core really tough wheeling.

Over the years we have all heard “bring the best equipment, because the tow truck can’t make it…”, well, this trail has been around quite a while, and I’m told that only a handful of REAR STEER buggies have made it unassisted…and NO non-rear steer vehicle has ever made it. Tow truck? Forget it! In fact, if you roll into some of these crevices, it will probably be best to just leave it…forever….really.

The most asked question I got all day was “Where’s the line?” and “Where do they go next?”…both great questions! Questions that only Kevin Carroll, owner at Red Dot Engineering, can answer…this is his trail…these are his lines. I followed Kevin and a few others up this path of huge rock…for about 6 hours…the entire trail is maybe 1/2 mile long. Some made it, some did not.

The order of the day was BFG sticky’s, 50 degrees of rear steering, 40 spline Spidertrax axles, nerves of steel and big, very big, cajones…

Rest in Peace Kevin.

The original Gallery can also be viewed here: http://modernjeeper.smugmug.com/Easter-Jeep-Safari-15-Area-BFE/

Information about Area BFE: http://www.areabfe.com

And of course CRAWL Magazine: http://www.crawlmag.com

Corey Osborne Co-creator

After 23 years of corporate life, I decided to pursue my passions in the off road industry. Specializing in marketing, visibility, relationship and brand building, and acting as MetalCloak's field marketing representative, I have travelled across the country (quite a few times!) using Metalcloak’s CTI (Corner Travel Index) to educate the off road enthusiast. I have also worked with Jeep Jamboree USA as event staff, to provide additional value and education to its participants. I've been fortunate enough to work with both international as well as domestic media; have attended most of the off-road events across our country; and have driven a wide variety of vehicles. I'm a certified PADI scuba instructor and have a BS in Computer Science.