Angela Hinkley
Elk River, MN
Selected for 2017 Ladies Offroad Challenge Top 10
"Angela is extremely active in her local off-roading community. She belongs to 7 clubs and is on two committees in the Minnesota Four Wheel Drive Association. In 2016, she went wheelin' or to an off-roading event every weekend from April 16th to Dec 10th, and wheeled in 11 different locations! She is a self-taught mechanic whose dogs are her best friend and love the outdoors with her. She works full-time in Management for a medical device company."
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Tell us about yourself:
I am a badass wheelin mama jama! I am overly active in my local off-roading community. I belong to 7 clubs and I am on two committees on the Minnesota Four Wheel Drive Association. I have had the honor of some of my off-roading photos and articles being featured in the magazine Minnesota Offroad. I am launching Jeepin It Girl this month, it is a blog to share my experience as a female off-roader. I am also the co-founder of Ladies Rock Off-Road Club launching soonl. Outside of wheeling, I work full-time in Management for a medical device company. I like to learn from life and books; I have earned 4 degrees. My dogs are my best friends and I love enjoying the outdoors with them. I am also a wanna-be mechanic, self-taught from the university of YouTube. Also, I am a proud volunteer-addict. You name it, I have my hands in it, Seriously, I have a problem. From founding organizations to speaking about events on TV; I’ve had so many awesome experiences.
How long have you been offroading?
With a real vehicle and not just in my daydreams? A year.
How did you get into offroading?
I got my first driving lesson in my dad’s TJ. I have always wanted to buy a Jeep and off road with it. My dream of becoming a Jeep owner came true in October of 2013 after saving for many years in my Jeep fund –literally it was a jar with the words “Jeep Fund” on it. I am the proud owner of a slightly modified 2014 JKU white Sahara which I have been actively offroading since June of 2016.
Tell us about your vehicle:
Currently I wheel a 2014 JKU Sahara. The most significant modifications are: front bumper, rear bumper, rock sliders, winch, 35”off road tires, and 1 ½ lift.
What has been your favorite offroad experience?
My favorite? How can I just pick one?! I think I am going to have to go with the Roadkill event at Freedom Ridge. It was an amazingly warm day – 70 degrees in November! We had tops and doors off, (we should have had snow that time of year), and I even got sunburnt. I fun Jeep convoy through rural Minnesota; my cheeks hurt from smiling all the way there. Freedom Ridge has beautiful scenery, a little bit of wheelin for every rig, and an awesome layout. Not to mention that the rad group of wheelers made the experience. It was the kind of day that you never want to end.
What was your most exciting offroad achievement?
I know I have told you this story already, but it really was crazy. When I was in Moab last year, we had a Jeep breakdown, were able to bandaid it enough to keep going, but had to get off the trails the quickest way possible. So here I am, day three in Moab, only a couple of months of wheelin under my belt, and have to take Rusty Nail, backwards and in the dark. It was really exciting a huge challenge. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing group of wheelers I was with – they were what got me through it!
What excites you about offroading?
EVERYTHING! The community, the adventure, being challenged, the rush, accomplishment, learning new things, pushing myself, living a life I have always dreamed of having, representing and advocating for women wheelers, and so much more! That feeling when you pull up to an obstacle and you cannot wait to get out and look at it and pick a line. Full heartedly, trusting your spotter to guide you through it, knowing that in some cases one wrong move could lead to a roll over or even worse. You are excited, scared out of your mind, and every feeling in between. Then you finish the obstacle and are overwhelmed with pride and accomplishment, you cannot even contain yourself, awesomeness radiates from you!
What do you think is the most challenging aspect of offroading?
Again, EVERYTHING! I am constantly challenged when I go off-roading. Whether it is a new park, new trail, picking a line, spotting, leading a group, getting along with others, or something breaking down. Not a second of boredom for me!
Which aspect of offroading do you think is the most fun?
The most fun part, for me, is the adventure….sunshine, fresh air and amazing views. The places you go and the breath taking journey you are on just brings tears to your eyes. Sights you never thought you would see are right there in front of you. I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude.
What does prepping for an adventure look like in your world?
Prepping for an adventure in my world is lots of planning of course! I know, I am such a dork! It’s loading up my rig with tools, cooler, sleeping gear, my backpack, coffee and hammock. Maybe researching some stops or sights I want to see along the way or I just make it up as I go along.
What is on your offroading bucket list?
Is there a limit of words to this answer?! No lie, we have this list in our house and we want to accomplish it: www.partcatalog.com/blog/top-off-road-trails-in-america We also have a map and mark the locations we have wheeled at.
Tell us about who you go offroading with:
ANYONE! I off-road with my best friend who is my boyfriend. We met at a Jeep event and together eat, sleep and breath JEEP. He is almost always part of the group. I wheel with any group that I come across that is going somewhere I want to go. OR I will just create an event myself and led a group to where I want to go. I love to meet new people and think that I am the most challenged when I am with a diverse group. I find that I learn something new from every new group I wheel with. It’s important to me to keep inviting and including all, but not to limit myself to the same people in the group every adventure.
What is a piece of advice you have been given that you instill in your offroading adventures?
Brake stand girl!’ – Ryan Weavering of JOCCI
Since I am open/limited slip and wheel with some pretty amazing rigs that are heavily modified, I needed to find a solution to keep up. Ryan taught me how to do a brake stand and it gets me by just fine!
Click here to see all the 2017 Ladies Offroad Challenge Entries.
