Megan Stevenson

About Megan:

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: "Green, Blue, or Purple…It depends on the situation."

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "Italian. If I could eat authentic Italian every day for the rest of my life I’d be in heaven."

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: "I have two Australian Shepherds. A red tri female named Ruby and a blue merle male named Zeek. Ruby is about 48 lbs and Zeek is 55 lbs and growing (he’s 9 months old right now). They are an absolute handful but I couldn’t love them more. Ruby is very intuitive, super sensitive and doesn’t mind laying around most of the day. Zeek is more dense, mischievous, and rarely sits still. Their personalities are beyond explanation but when I’m not yelling at Zeek they constantly have me laughing."

Q: Do you take your pets off-roading?
A: "Occasionally we’ll take them camping. Usually they come to all the races with us."

Megan's Off-Road Facts:

Q: How old were you when you first started wheeling?
A: "College-ish...so 19-20 years old."

Q: Is your whole family into off-roading?
A: "My parents aren’t. Brian’s dad is, and we have a good group of friends we go wheeling and racing with."

Q: Are you usually the driver or the co-driver?
A: "I’ve recently been learning to drive the race car, but usually I’m the co-driver. Brian and I trade off driving the Jeep."

Q: Do you have any off-road traditions or rituals?
A: "No traditions really… but, I keep a bell hanging under the gas tank of the race car to “keep gremlins away”. I got the idea from motorcycle riders/bikers. The same bell has been there for over two race seasons now. So far so good! Lol."

Q: How often do you get to go off-roading?
A: "Not as often as I’d like. We usually do 3-6 races a year which takes up much of our time but we try to do a few camping/wheeling for fun trips in a summer as well."

Q: How did you get started in the off-road world?
A: " got started in the off-road world when I met a group of friends in college who were really into it. My first trip was to the Rubicon, and I was instantly hooked. We made numerous trips to the Rubicon and to Fordyce. I remember when the idea of King of the Hammers started floating around Pirate 4x4. My friends and I would spend hours sitting in their garage trying to figure out how we could make it there to watch. I finally got my chance in 2014. It was different in person than just looking at the videos and pictures - it was awesome and I fell in love with it. I ended up going with a different group of people and we camped with a group that included Brian's Dad. I ended up meeting Brian through him and a year later we started dating. Brian is how I got into racing, and I am now his co-driver. We have a great relationship working, teaching, learning and accomplishing together."

Q: Where is your favorite place to wheel?
A: "My favorite place to wheel used to be Fordyce, but I haven’t been there in years. I really enjoy going to The Hammers and many of the trails in the Sierra Mountains."

Q: How are you active in the off-road world?
A: "Even though we aren’t members of a club, we will participate/donate to their events. This year I have been working to be more active in the Ladies Offroad Network as I love what it stands for and believe in its message."

Q: What is on your off-roading bucket-list?
A: "I would really like to go to Moab! Racing Vegas to Reno and the Mint 400 are on the bucket list."

Megan's Off-Road Stories:

Q: What is your most memorable offroad moment?
A: "My most memorable off-road achievement by far, was finishing King of the Hammers this year. Brian had never finished King of the Hammers before, and it was only my third race as a co-driver. I had done the majority of the prep work on the car for our last 2 races with zero prep failures or problems to date. I can't tell you how shocked, and proud, I am about that. In less than a year I have gone from knowing the BARE BASICS, to being able to disassemble and prep almost the whole car myself. Honestly I wasn't sure I could do it, I constantly doubted myself and my abilities. But, with a little skill and a lot of stubbornness...I did it! Afterwards, in our race recap, Brian told said that I "kicked butt in the rocks and out in the desert. Between winching, spotting, GPS navigation and keeping me level headed, she's a rock star co-driver." Talk about a big relief! Those were all things I worried and worried, and stressed and stressed about, but at the end of the day...I did it! We finished 43rd out of the 123 cars that started that day; only a total of 50 ended up finishing the whole race. When we came across the finish line, I cried. It was awesome"

Q: What was your first wheeling trip?
A: "It was to the Rubicon."

Q: What was your longest wheeling trip?
A: "When we go to The Hammers in Johnson Valley for fun or to pre run for King of the Hammers we are usually there at least 3-4 days. Going to race KOH we are there 10-12 days so I would say that it’s our longest trip."

Q: What was your favorite wheeling trip?
A: "I can’t say that I have a favorite. I like all the places we go for different reasons; they each offer something different."

All About the Ladies:

Q: Who do you look up to in the industry? Why?
A: "There isn’t really anyone I “look up to” but there are many women that I admire. Any woman who is willing to put herself out there, to grow, to excel and continue doing what she loves in the off road industry encourages me to continue to do the same."

Q: How do you feel as a woman in the off-road industry?
A: "I feel good about it, but it can be hard and frustrating at times. If feels like more often than not, you aren’t taken seriously. Over time, and just by being yourself, you prove to those around you that you are more than capable."

Q: What changes have you seen in the off-road industry since becoming involved?
A: "The biggest change I’ve seen has been the use of technology...there are all sorts of different gadgets out now that help make many tasks easier!"

Q: Give us a story, about educating, guiding, empowering ladies in the offroad world:
A: "I’m not sure I have any…"

Q: What advice do you have for ladies who want to get started off-roading?
A:  "Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! Leave your pride and ego at home, and take every opportunity afforded to you to learn and grow!! You’ll be surprised at how many other women you meet who are in the exact same boat as you."

Megan's Vehicles:

About Megan's Vehicles:
"I don't have a vehicle that is "mine". My boyfriend Brian and I share in working on our race car together. The race car is a 2013 Top Shelf Trent Fabrication chassis. It has a GM 414 iron block assembled by Faucet Race Engines, a TH400 trans built by ATO Performance Transmissions, Trail-Gear Rock Assault housings with Yukon Gear and Axle parts with 10 inch ring gears front and rear, Fox shocks, BFG 39" KR2 tires and Trail-Gear 17" Creeper lock wheels.

Brian and his family have been involved with wheeling for a long time and have several jeeps/buggies. The one Brian built started as a 1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ but has been modified quite a bit over the. When Brian and I got together I adopted her spending several months cleaning her up and have done the majority of the maintenance and repairs since then. It has a LQ9 6.0 GM motor, TH400 auto trans, Chevy Dana 60 front axle with full hydro steering, ARB locker and chromoly axles, a GM 14 bolt rear axle with 300m axle shafts and full spool, King Shocks, BFG 39" KRT tires (used race car tires, lol) and Trail-Gear 17" sectional Creeper lock wheels."

Vehicle Name: Race car: The Farmer’s Daughter; Jeep: Black Hole

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: "I’m not sure. We are constantly trying to upgrade parts on the race car…bigger, stronger, etc. so that’s a work in progress."

Q: Do you work on your own vehicle?
A: "Yes, I work on the race car and the Jeep."

VEHICLE INFORMATION: Race Car, “The Farmers Daughter”
Vehicle Type: DOM 1.75” tube chassis
Year: 2013
Builder: Trent Fabrication, Top Self
Tire Make/Size: BFGoodrich 39” KR2 Tires
Wheel Make/Size: Trail Gear 17” Creeper Lock wheels
Front Suspension: 18” of travel
Front Sway Bar: N/A
Front Shocks: Fox 2.0” 14” emulsion shocks, Fox 2.5” 14” 3 tube bypass shocks
Front Bump Stops: Fox 2.0”x2.5” bump stops
Rear Suspension: 27” of travel
Rear Sway Bar: 1.5” 35 spline Black Max shaft, custom built arms
Rear Shocks: Fox 2.0” 14” remote reservoir shocks, Fox 3.0” 16” 4 tube bypasses
Rear Bump Stops: Fox 2.0”x2.5” bump stops
Front Axle Housing: Trail-Gear 9” Rock Assault housing
Front Differential/Locker: Yukon Gear and Axle nodular load bolt case with full spool
Front Axle Shafts: Yukon Gear & Axle- 4340 chromoly axle shafts
Front U-Joints: 300m
Front Drive Flanges/Hubs: Yukon Gear and Axle GM D60 spindles/hubs/drive flanges
Front Brakes: 6 piston Wilwood brakes
Front Steering Components: PSC full hyd, double ended ram, Reid racing knuckles and C’s
Rear Axle Housing: Trail-Gear 9” Rock Assault housing
Rear Differential/Locker: Yukon Gear and Axle nodular load bolt case with full spool
Rear Axle Shafts: Spider Trax 300M 35 spline full float
Rear U-Joints: N/A
Rear Drive Flanges: Yukon Gear and Axle
Rear Brakes: 6 piston Wilwood brakes
Rear Steering Setup: N/A
Ring & Pinion Manufacturer & Gear Ratio(s): 10 inch Gear Works ring and pinion 5:83:1 ratio
Engine Manufacturer: GM 414 cubic inch iron block LS2; assembled by Faucet Race Engines & tuned by 208 Motorsports
Engine Horsepower: 550hp
Engine Torque: N/A
Battery: Yellow Top Optima
Radiator/Fans: CBR custom radiator with dual 15” fans
Air Intake: K&N air filter
Exhaust: 1.75” diameter, 37” equal length primaries. 8 into 1 collector. 2.5” to 3” to 4” collector back. Made by Built Industries.
Transmission Make & Type: Reid Racing TH400, built and assembled by ATO Performance Transmissions
Transmission Adapter: Advanced Adapters TH400 to Atlas transfer case with custom adapter
Transmission Cooling System:  CBR 4qt radiator with 15” fan
Torque Converter: 2,200 RPM stall, custom built by ATO Performance Transmissions
Transmission Shifter: Winters
Transfer Case(s): NP205
Front Driveshaft: 1350 U-Joints, 1.25 ton slip yoke and spline shaft, 2” OD .250” wall tube
Rear Driveshaft: 1350 U-Joints, 1.25 ton slip yoke and spline shaft, 2” OD .250” wall tube
Fuel Cell or Tank: Jaz fuel cell with plastic tank and baffles, 22 gallon
Fuel System Pumps & Filters: Dual Aeromotive A1000 pumps, Aerotmotive 100 and 10 micron filter
Body/Interior: custom built aluminum and lexan panels
Body/Body Panels: custom built aluminum and lexan panels
Body Modifications: N/A
Skid plate/Material: ¾” UHMW
Painter Name: Trail Gear marketing dept. designed and printed vinyl wrap
Hood/Grille: custom built with aluminum
Floors/Firewalls: custom built with aluminum
Dash/Gauges/Switches: AutoMeter gauges
Steering Column/Wheel: custom built
Pedal Assembly/Cutting Brakes: CNC brand brake pedal and dual Wilwood 7/8” master cylinders
Seats/Harnesses: PRP seats, custom PRP 5 point harnesses
Lights Interior/Exterior: Trail Gear LED rock lights, Vision X 6” dia HID roof lights
Winches - Front/Rear Brand & Capacity: Trail Gear 10,000Lbs capacity

VEHICLE INFORMATION: Jeep, “Black Hole”
Vehicle Type: Jeep YJ Wrangler
Year: 1989
Builder: Brian Wood
Tire Make/Size: BFGoodrich KRT 39’’
Wheel Make/Size: Trail-Gear beadlocks 17’’
Front Suspension: 4 Link
Front Sway Bar: N/A
Front Shocks: King 2.5” x 14” remote resi coil over shocks
Front Bump Stops: King 2”x 2.5”
Rear Suspension: 4 Link
Rear Sway Bar: Black Max shaft with custom arms
Rear Shocks: King 2.5” x 16” remote resi coil over shocks
Rear Bump Stops: King 2” x 4”
Front Axle Housing: Chevy king pin Dana 60
Front Differential/Locker: ARB air locker
Front Axle Shafts: RCV chromoly 35 spline
Front U-Joints: RCV
Front Drive Flanges/Hubs: Warn drive flanges
Front Brakes: Factory Chevy Dana 60
Front Steering Components: PSC full hydraulic double ended ram
Rear Axle Housing: GM 14 bolt
Rear Differential/Locker: Spool
Rear Axle Shafts: RCV 300M
Rear U-Joints: N/A
Rear Drive Flanges: RCV 300M
Rear Brakes: Factory 14 bolt disc brake
Rear Steering Setup: N/A
Ring & Pinion Manufacturer & Gear Ratio(s): Yukon Gear and Axle 5.38:1 ratio
Engine Manufacturer: GM
Engine Horsepower: N/A
Engine Torque: N/A
Battery: Optima, Dual battery, Red and yellow top
Radiator/Fans: Griffin, flexilite 16” single fan
Air Intake: factory gm
Exhaust: block hugger headers, BORLA muffler, and custom merge to tail pipe
Transmission Make & Type: TH400 with manual valve body
Transmission Adapter: Advanced Adapter TH400 to NP205
Transmission Cooling System: CBR 4qt cooler with fan
Torque Converter: Hughes 3,000 rpm stall
Transmission Shifter: Hurst
Transfer Case(s): Low Max NP205 3:1 ratio
Front Driveshaft: 1350 U-joints, 1.25 ton slip and splines, 2”OD .250” wall tube
Rear Driveshaft: 1350 and 1410 U-joints, 1.25 ton slip and splines, 2”OD .250” wall tube
Fuel Cell or Tank: Jaz fuel cell, 22 gallon
Fuel System Pumps & Filters: Aeromotive A1000, 100 and 10 micron fuel filter
Body/Interior: custom interior
Body/Body Panels: 89 wrangler cowl, custom lexan panels
Body Modifications: major trimming and removal
Skid plate/Material: 5/16 AR plate
Painter Name: Megan Stevenson
Hood/Grille: 89 Wrangler
Floors/Firewalls: factory 89 wranger
Dash/Gauges/Switches: AutoMeter
Steering Column/Wheel: custom built
Pedal Assembly/Cutting Brakes: factory Jeep
Seats/Harnesses: PRP seats and 5.3 harnesses
Lights Interior/Exterior: Trail Gear LED pods and 40” light bar
Winches - Front/Rear Brand & Capacity: Warn 12,000lbs