About Rick Russell Rick Russell is considered to be one of the top Off Road Experts in the country. Rick's off road skills have been utilized by Honda, Goodyear, Jeep, Nissan, VW, Ramsey, Warn Winch, and professional photographers. Honda has utilized Rick's experience to build off road courses in California, North Carolina, New Mexico, California and Canada for the introductions of the Acura MDX, Honda Pilot and the Ridgeline vehicles. In addition, Rick has organized ride & drive programs for Goodyear, Rancho, and 4-Wheel Parts Performance Centers. Other companies have utilized Rick's experience to support their professional photographers. Rick has also taught land management personnel about Driving Safely in the Backcountry. Rick has given seminars at Outdoor Shows, Annual Four Wheel Drive Association Conventions and is a popular guest speaker in the off road industry. Articles written by Rick or featuring Sidekick
Off Road Accomplishments in the Off Highway Industry Rick always promotes proper use of off road vehicles. For example, he worked with both the US Forest Service and the BLM to create Volunteer Programs that provide an opportunity for industry, off highway enthusiasts and land managers to work together with common goals. One such volunteer program is in the San Bernardino National Forest. The SBNF contracted Rick to design and develop an Off Road Volunteer Program for their 800,000 acre forest. The process took 24 months and grew to over 80 volunteers during its first few years of operation. The volunteers attend a series of training classes including: First Aid, Forest Service Policy & Procedure, ATV Safety, 4-Wheeling Basics, volunteer procedures and radio training. Unlike other programs, the SBNF program included motorcyclers, ATV riders and 4-wheelers.
Ten years later he started another volunteer program to bring inner-city kids onto public lands and give them an out-of-city experience. The program involves businesses, local law enforcement, public land managers and off highway volunteers. With more than 100 volunteers in the 2006 Kids On Public Lands (KOPL) program, they provided an opportunity for one hundred inner-city kids to experience a National Forest.
Rick is a member of the California Association of 4WD Clubs, CORVA, Tread Lightly!, and the Blue Ribbon Coalition. He has served as a Commissioner for Joshua Tree National Monument. Rick says he will always work to heighten the public's awareness to the thousands of miles of existing roads on public lands which are constantly under scrutiny for closure.
Rick spends more than 120 days a year on the trail, taping videos, attending events, making maps, researching articles, scouting locations/trails and consulting with corporate clients. Like the saying goes, "It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!"
Background Information While earning his Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science Rick began designing computer systems for small businesses. His career in the computer industry stretched for ten years and included three years as an IBM Sales Representative. Rick leveraged his business experience and Masters Degree in Business, which he earned by attending night school, to advance into upper level management. His first high level position was as Vice President of Finance. That position allowed him to move up the ladder to Division General Manager, VP Operations and finally a CEO position before turning his hobby into a business.
Rick has been married 30 years to his business partner, Marilyn, who manages the office and handles graphic design. They have four grown children who have always been involved with camping and off roading.
Many people ask if they can appear in
Rick's next video. The
answer is maybe. Just email/send your vehicle specifications (no pictures necessary)
along with the trails you have driven in your area and how far you are willing to drive.
Each driver should be capable of being the chief mechanic on their vehicle. But most of all, there can be no whining about body damage.
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