Lauren Martin

About Lauren:

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: "Metallic Blue."

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "Chicken tenders."

Q: Do you have kids? 
A: "No kids."

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: "One cat. Her name is Kelly and she’s a grey tabby. We’ve had her since 1997 and you’d never guess she’s that age because she doesn’t act like it. Her favorite activity is running full speed through our vertical blinds."

Q: Do you take your pets off-roading?
A: "No."

Lauren's Off-Road Facts:

Q: How old were you when you first started wheeling?
A: "Seven."

Q: Is your whole family into off-roading?
A: "No, just my dad and I."

Q: Are you usually the driver or the co-driver?
A: "It depends on which trail we’re doing, but since we have more than one rig we will usually switch out."

Q: Do you have any off-road traditions or rituals?
A: "We always bring Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies and BBQ Pringles. They’re good trail snacks."

Q: How often do you get to go off-roading?
A:  "As often as I can. I try to go a few times a month."

Q: How did you get started in the off-road world?
A: "My dad bought a 1996 Toyota Tacoma in 1998 and that’s when we started exploring the mountains around Colorado. I was 7 years old. It just kept building from there and I’ve been in the offroad world ever since."

Q: Where is your favorite place to wheel?
A: "Moab, Utah."

Q: Do you belong to an off-road club? Which one? What is their motto/mission?
A: "I belong to a few various groups and clubs such as Tacoma World and Crawl 5280 but I enjoy going out with all sorts of different groups no matter what they drive."

Q: What is on your off-roading bucket-list?
A: "I’ve always wanted to do the Rubicon Trail. I also want to enter more races with my truck."

Q: How are you active in the off-road world?
A: "I’m actively a part of various offroad forums. I enjoy going out wheeling with all kinds of people and rigs. I help do trail write-ups and mapping for Trailsoffroad.com. I love attending any events that I can and meet and greets around the community. I plan to get more involved in the offroad racing world as well."

Lauren's Off-Road Stories:

Q: What is your most memorable off-road moment?
A: "Winning my class at Fury Rode since it was my first race ever, and also a brand new build."

Q: What was your first wheeling trip?
A: "Up into the Colorado mountains with my Dad."

Q: What was your longest wheeling trip?
A: "A full week in Moab, Utah."

Q: What was your favorite wheeling trip?
A: "I really enjoyed going to Rock Therapy in Moab with a bunch of Toyota friends. I particularly liked running Gold Bar Rim with the big group. We all had a blast."

All About the Ladies:

Q: Who do you look up to in the industry? Why?
A: "Charlene Bower and Ivan Stewart. Charlene because she’s an amazing, hardworking person that is great at what she does. I’m envious at the amount of energy she has and is full of such positivity. I also look up to Ivan Stewart because he’s such an amazing racer. I had the opportunity to meet him in 2001 and I thought that was just the coolest thing when I was little. I also admire his dedication to the brands and companies that supported him through his career such as Toyota."

Q: How do you feel as a woman in the offroad industry?
A: "I feel good. I do find some of the reactions entertaining when people realize my truck is actually mine. It surprises some but they’re all for it!"

Q: Give us a story, any story, about educating, guiding, empowering ladies in the off-road, past or future:
A: "I just try to motivate other ladies by example. Get out there and do it even if it’s out of your comfort zone."

Q: What changes have you noticed in the off-road industry?
A: "A ton has changed since I started wheeling. The off-road industry as a whole has grown tremendously. I remember when I used to tell people I liked to go off-road/rock crawling and they thought I was talking about ATV’s or rock “climbing”. They didn’t know we used full sized vehicles. Now so many people are a part of the community too. I’m also amazed at the improvement in offroad aftermarket products and technology, especially with independent front suspension. Parts are designed and engineered so strong that the places you can take vehicles now seemed almost impossible such a short time ago."

Q: What advice do you have for ladies who want to get started off-roading?
A:  "Get out there and do it. Use your own vehicle or ride with someone. People love to have passengers that can take pictures! Big thing too is don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are so many people out there in the off-road world that are full of knowledge and experience that are willing to help in any way possible."

Lauren's Vehicle:

About Lauren's vehicle:
"I have a 1998 Toyota Tacoma"

Vehicle Name: Trey 

Q: Does your vehicle also serve as a daily driver?
A:  "No."

Q: What is the best modification you have done to your vehicle?
A: "Long travel suspension."

Q: Do you work on your own vehicle?
A: "Yes. Usually my dad and I will work on things together since we both enjoy it."

Racer Information:

Team Name: Heatstroke Racing
Type of Racing: Desert Racing
List Career Statistics/Wins: First Place finish in Stock Class for Fury Rode 2017
Sponsors: Toytec Lifts, Raceline Wheels, Cooper Tires, 3D Offroad, Hefty Fabworks

Q: How do you prepare for competition?
A: I do a full bolt check on the truck; I mark them all to be able to check for any movement.

Q: What is your favorite part about racing?
A: The camaraderie of fellow competitors. In the end everyone is out there to have fun.

Vehicle Information:

Vehicle Type: Toyota Tacoma
Year: 1998
Builder: Myself
Tire Make/Size: Cooper Discoverer STT Pro 295/70/17 (33”)
Wheel Make/Size: Raceline Wheels Avenger Beadlock 17”
Front Suspension: IFS, Total Chaos +3.5” Long Travel Heim Pivot UCA’s and Boxed LCA’s
Front Sway Bar: None
Front Shocks: 2.5” King Shocks with remote reservoirs and compression adjusters
Front Bump Stops: Factory flipped and mounted onto frame
Rear Suspension: Spring under, Deaver Spring F67 leaf packs, Total Chaos 12” shackles and spring hangers
Rear Sway Bar: None
Rear Shocks: 2.5” King Shocks 14” triple bypass with remote reservoirs
Rear Bump Stops: Internal on King Shocks
Front Axle Housing: N/A
Front Differential/Locker: Stock
Front Axle Shafts: OEM Tundra CV
Front U-Joints: N/A
Front Drive Flanges/Hubs: ADD
Front Brakes: Stock
Front Steering Components: Stock
Rear Axle Housing: Stock Toyota E-Locker housing
Rear Differential/Locker: Toyota E-Locker
Rear Axle Shafts: Stock
Rear U-Joints: N/A
Rear Drive Flanges: N/A
Rear Brakes: Stock
Rear Steering Setup: N/A
Ring & Pinion Manufacturer & Gear Ratio(s): 4.10
Engine Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine Horsepower: 190hp
Engine Torque: 220 lb-ft
Battery: Odyssey Dry Cell
Radiator/Fans: Stock
Exhaust: Flowmaster 40
Transmission Make & Type: Stock Toyota Automatic
Transmission Adapter: N/A
Transmission Shifter: Stock
Transfer Case(s): Factory Hi-Low
Front Driveshaft: Stock
Rear Driveshaft: Stock
Fuel Cell or Tank: Tank
Fuel System Pumps & Filters: Stock
Body/Interior: Stock
Body/Body Panels: Fiberwerx 4.5” bulge fiberglass fenders and bedsides, All-Pro Off Road Baja bumper, custom rear tube bumper
Body Modifications: Hood pins, shocks and bed cage built through bed
Skid plate/Material: Hefty Fabworks full belly, aluminum
Painter Name: N/A
Hood/Grille: Stock
Floors/Firewalls: Stock
Dash/Gauges/Switches: Stock
Steering Column/Wheel: Stock
Pedal Assembly/Cutting Brakes: Stock
Seats/Harnesses: Front: Stock
Lights Interior/Exterior: Stock, Rigid E2 Series 10” Combo on front
Winches - Front/Rear Brand & Capacity: Front Smittybilt XRC 9.5k synthetic line winch with Factor 55 Flatlink E

Author:  Lauren Martin

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