Cindy Groth
Forum User Name: Mojave MAX
Chat with Cindy
"I have been a tomboy my entire life and very independent. I hunted and fished with my father from the time I could hold a fishing pole. I am an only child, a little horse crazy, and I have always loved Country music (and liked the Beach Boys better than the Beatles). I was born in California, but I spent 3 years (8-10yr) on 160 acre farm in SE Kansas. I was in heaven, until we moved back to SoCal, but I found horses to ride until the freeway took them away. I graduated from high school in 1971, lost friends in the Vietnam War, and I have always support Veterans and Wounded Warrior organizations. I have been married twice and with Mike since 1985. I have been Jeep crazy since the 1970’s, got my first one in 1990. We have owned 6 Jeeps - Jeep Truck, 2 - CJ7’s, TJ, 2- JK’s. I retired in August 2016 after spending nearly 45 years working for large corporations in the accounting and finance arena."
Occupation: Retired
Birthday: October 20, 1953
Read Cindy's Articles
Questions & Answers
About Cindy:
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: "Purple."
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "Anything chocolate"
Cindy's Off-Road Facts:
Q: How old were you when you first started wheeling?
A: "My first time was at 13, in a dune buggy at the Salton Sea. I was 58 when Max went out the first time. Of course, other vehicles over the years have gone off-road. The love to get out and see what is out there at 13, but it took 45 years to decide (and the money) it was something I definitely had to get back to."
Q: Is your whole family into off-roading?
A: "Yes. However, it’s just me and my husband."
Q: Are you usually the driver or the co-driver?
A: "I am always the driver."
Q: Do you have any off-road traditions or rituals?
A: "Leave it (the trail, etc.) better than we found it."
Q: How often do you get to go off-roading?
A: "We go once or twice a month depending on the time of year, or more if preparing/attending an event."
Q: How did you get started in the off-road world?
A: "I went out in a Side-By-Side with a friend in 2011, then took a test drive at the Pomona Off-Road Expo sponsored by BRP, bought a Can-Am Commander 5 months later. I went out a few times trail riding in Quartzsite, Az area and Hungry Valley OHV. I also went to Silverton, Co area and did the Alpine Loop, Calif Pass, then traveled to a UTV Jamboree in Utah. Then I started the Max’s build in 2015, for more articulation and greater ability to get thru or over obstacles. I signed up for Big Bear Forest Fest once build was complete. Used lockers for the first time in my life, still not understanding exactly how they worked and what not to do, but got thru the run without breaking anything. A few months later, I received an invite from Huntington Beach Jeep for a Beginner Run they were sponsoring for Ladies. I have been out with them a number of times all over Cleghorn and Big Bear area on Beginner and Intermediate runs. I believe you never stop learning."
Q: Where is your favorite place to wheel?
A: "The San Juan Mountains in Colorado (Silverton and Ouray); beautiful trails and scenery."
Q: How are you active in the off-road world?
A: "No spare time in the past, but with retirement comes more time to consider getting involved."
Q: What is on your off-roading bucket-list?
A: "Easter Safari Moab, Mojave Trail w/off-road trailer, Black Bear Pass in Telluride, Colorado. I would also like to offer local rides to Wounded Warriors thru 4 Wheel to Heal, and other organizations."
Cindy's Off-Road Stories:
Q: What is your most memorable offroad moment?
A: "Completing the Rubicon Trail in July 2017 with no breakage and a few scrapes on the fenders. You are so in-tune to your vehicle and cannot believe what it is capable of until after you have done it."
Q: What was your first wheeling trip?
A: "In stock Max - muddy dirt roads outside of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He still has the crease put in the passenger side by a downed tree limb after sliding backwards into it when I didn’t engage the 4WL fast enough on a small rise."
Q: What was your longest wheeling trip?
A: "Rubicon Trail for the longest in time. UTV Jamboree trail runs of over 100 miles in a day for the longest in mileage."
Q: What was your favorite wheeling trip?
A: "Alpine Loop - San Juan Mtns, Colorado. We had fresh cut roads with 10’ snow drifts on each side, beautiful blue sky at 14,000 ft. It felt like you were on top of the world."
All About the Ladies:
Q: How do you feel as a woman in the off-road industry?
A: "Empowered. But then, I always got along better with guys than girls, due to my innate ability to understand and love machinery and its workings and sports. I really love it when I can tell the mechanic what is wrong and where - and be right"
Q: What changes have you seen in the off-road industry since becoming involved?
A: "A lot more women building their rig the way they want it. Also, manufacturers realizing that they need to talk and listen “to” women and not “at”."
Q: Give us a story, about educating, guiding, empowering ladies in the offroad world:
A: "We take Max to lots of “meet and greets” not only to show the build and my vision, but also to motivate other ladies. These meetings (including Jeep Bash in Long Beach) have generated friendships and empowered ladies to build their vision. I always encourage them to listen to what everyone has to say, but encourage them to build “their vision, and not someone else’s”. Generally these women are already strong, but it is easy to become confused and think you are not capable of creating your vision, when men are not on the same page. It is so much fun to see them again and see what they have accomplished."
Q: What advice do you have for ladies who want to get started off-roading?
A: "Find another lady driver or male instructor and ask for a ride-along. Then watch, listen and learn. Be sure to ask plenty of questions. Go to Off-Road events or expos and talk to the manufacturers of products you are interested in - remember “there are no dumb questions only questions not asked”."
Cindy's Vehicle:
About Cindy's Vehicles:
"It is a Jeep JK."
Vehicle Name: Max
Q: Does your vehicle also serve as a daily driver?
A: "Not usually, but can be. Since I am a “car nut” I have had extras for quite a few years. Currently my Daily Driver is a Purple PT Convertible."
Q:What is the best modification you have done to your vehicle?
A: "Ripp Supercharger for fun, G2 Core 44 Axles w/ARB Air-Lockers for making sure we get back home."
Q: Do you work on your own vehicle?
A: "We do some, lights mostly, and simple things but generally have my local 4Wheel Parts install. Plus, the warranty just saved me big bucks after the King bump stop broke."
Vehicle Type: Jeep Wrangler JK - 2 door - Mojave Special Edition
Year: 2011
Builder: Jeep and Cindy Groth w/ 4Wheel Parts
Tire Make/Size: BFGoodrich Tires KM3 37/70/17
Wheel Make/Size: Method Mesh 17”
Front Suspension: Rubicon Express 3 1/2”
Front Sway Bar: Teraflex
Front Shocks: King Adjustable
Front Bump Stops: King
Rear Suspension: Rubicon Express - Short Arm 4 1/2”
Rear Sway Bar: Curie Anti-Rock
Rear Shocks: King Adjustable
Rear Bump Stops: King
Front Axle Housing: G2 Core 44
Front Differential/Locker: ARB
Front Axle Shafts: G2
Front U-Joints: Rubicon Express
Front Drive Flanges/Hubs: G2
Front Disconnect: G2 Air Actuated
Front Brakes: DynaTrac Pro Grip
Front Steering Components: Rubicon Express w/Fox 2.0 stabilizer shock
Rear Axle Housing: G2 Core 44
Rear Differential/Locker: ARB
Rear Axle Shafts: G2
Rear U-Joints: Rubicon Express
Rear Drive Flanges: Rubicon Express
Rear Brakes: DynaTrac Pro Grip
Ring & Pinion Manufacturer & Gear Ratio(s): G2 - 4.56 gears
Engine Manufacturer: Jeep 3.8 V6 with Ripp Supercharger
Engine Horsepower: 205 + 90 from supercharger
Battery: Odyssey
Radiator/Fans: Flex-Lite dual core aluminum - stock fan
Air Intake: Ripp w/ K&N filter
Exhaust: Banks Monster Exhaust (cat-back)
Transmission Make & Type: Jeep stock
Transmission Adapter: Jeep stock
Transmission Cooling System: JeepPerformanceInc (JPI) special mount and cooler - sits between the fan and engine
Torque Converter: Jeep stock
Transmission Shifter: Jeep stock
Transfer Case(s): Jeep stock
Front Driveshaft: Rubicon Express
Rear Driveshaft: Rubicon Express
Fuel Cell or Tank: Jeep stock
Fuel System Pumps & Filters: Jeep stock
Body/Interior: Body - Jeep stock 2 door Sahara style w/top and fenders painted to match. Interior - saddle brown leather w/ black accents and carpet with Tuffy Deluxe Deck Enclosure (instead of back seat)
Body/Body Panels: Jeep stock (Sahara Tan) - Half Doors by Rockslide Engineering Inc w/Quadratec Jeep mirrors
Body Modifications: Aluminum Full Fender Flares (front and rear) by Rockslide Engineering Inc
Skid plate/Material: Rockhard 4x4 - steel boat sliders to protect pinch seam, and aluminum skids underneath
Painter Name: Jeep stock (Sahara Tan), Half Doors and Fenders painted by LGE*CTS Motorsports
Hood/Grille: Jeep stock - Mojave Edition graphics on hood, fender and driver rear corner of roof. ARB Deluxe Bull Bar bumper for grille protection
Floors/Firewalls: Jeep stock black carpet
Dash/Gauges/Switches: Dash- Jeep, Gauges - Auto-Meter Digital (Trans, Volt, Boost), Switches - sPod
Steering Column/Wheel: Jeep stock
Pedal Assembly/Cutting Brakes: Jeep stock
Seats/Harnesses: Seats - Jeep stock w/seat covers by Covers & Camo, Harnesses: Rockhard 4x4 harness bar w/Simpson 5pt
Lights Interior/Exterior: Interior - Putco LED Dome, Exterior - KC Hi-lights (Gravity LED Pro headlight, 4 Gravity LED Pro6, Gravity LED G4 Fog, Cyclones under hood, amber wig-wag, red third stop light, rock lights, and C-Series 2” back-up lights)
Winches - Front/Rear Brand & Capacity: Front- Smitybilt X20-10K H20 synthetic w/Factor 55 Flatlink and BubbaRope Gator Jaw
