I first met Tracy at this years Southern Indiana Fab-Fest when he drove all the way up from Fort Knox to spend a weekend with us. Then again at the Melt, and yet again at the Mud Mash! You couldn't ask for a better guy to spend time on the trail with, and I look forward to spending many more wheeling trips with he and his family in the future.

1. Tell us your full name?
Tracy Lee Barker

2. Where and when were you born?
Huntsville, Alabama 13 January 1968

3. Do you have any brother's or sister's?
Two sisters; one older, one younger. I have no brothers.

4. Where do you live now?
Fort Knox, Kentucky

5. Where do you work?
United States Army Armor Center

6. What do you do there?
I'm the Deputy Director of Training Development. I work on some specific projects, but mostly my job is about coordinating efforts of multiple branches.

7. Do you have a nick name that you like to go by?
Not a universal nick name, but my extended family calls me "Stick".

8. How did you get this Nickname?
I used to be really skinny! My uncles started calling me "Stick Man", and then it was shortened to "Stick".

9. How many years have you been off roading?
If you count motorcycles, then it would be since 1980. But for 4x4's, I started in 1991 or 1992.

10. Who, or what first got you interested in the sport?
I grew up in rural Utah; lots of wide open space and it seemed everyone my age (under 16) had a motorcycle . I got a Yamaha YZ-80 when I was 12 or 13. My inspiration was several friends and neighbors; we all had bikes and would ride all the time. Our homes backed up to endless miles of BLM land...what a blessing!
  After college I bought a '75 Ford Bronco. I've been a 4x4 enthusiast ever since. For Samurai's, I have to credit my buddy Dave McKelleb who had one way back in 1989 or so. We had a blast riding in the mountains and desert of Southern Utah.

11. Are you involved in any off-road club's, and if so, what is the name of your club?
I'm a member of the Toyota Landcruiser Association (TLCA), Midwest Isuzu Offroad (MWIOR), and Reliable Offroad Krew (ROKTEX) in Austin, Texas. I'm in the process of joining a local club, the Kentucky/Indiana Fourwheelers.

12. What is the year, make, and model of your current trail rig?
1988 Suzuki Samurai

13. How long have you had it?
I bought it in 1994.

14. Why did you choose this rig to off-road?
I had to sell the Bronco 'cause I just couldn't keep it running. I had it about three years, and there was always something major breaking; at the time I didn't have many mechanical skills--this was really the starting point. I wanted the Samurai because I knew it would be reliable.

15. Is this your first off-road 4x4?
No, the '75 Bronco was the first.

16. What's best modification you've done to it so far?
Gears! I really love crawling over rocks just above idle with the big V-8 guys staring in utter disbelief!

17. What's the worst modification you've done so far?
I can't say there's a worst mod...perhaps a least best mod? I'd have to say that I need to abandon the stock springs for my SPOA. Let's see, they're 17 years old now...?!!!

18. What's the scariest moment you've ever had off-roading?
It was a night ride many years ago... long before desert racing became popular; we jumped a berm and landed in the sagebrush. Apparently, the trail turned and we didn't.

19. What was the funniest?
Another ride with Dave, this time in his Samurai. We were coming down a desolate mountain road in about 12" of fresh powder snow. I was talking, and mid-sentence, we went into a spin--one of those surreal "slow-motion" kind of spins. We ended up doing a 360*, and as we came to a halt, I completed my sentence. We just looked at each other and laughed. We still talk and laugh about that ride even today.

20. What have you learned from the sport that you can apply to your everyday life?
Planning. Consider cause and effect relationships, especially second and third-order effects. The ability to foresee those "ripples in the pond" has been invaluable to me.

21. If you could sit down and talk to anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
My dad. He died in 1998 at age 59, before my wife and I had children. I miss him for many, many reasons.

22. Books on tape, or sit down and read?
Sit down and read, though I don't do it frequently enough.

23. DVD at home or Theater?
DVD at home...and usually very selective to avoid putting money in the pockets of those who exploit their celebrity to publicly attack my values, interests, and heritage.

24. What is on your MP3 player or in your CD player right now?
The Connell's.

25. Radio, CD's or 'Trail Music' when your wheeling?
'Trail Music'. I love the symphony of dirt, rocks, and mud!

26. When you're not off-roading, or working, how do you like to spend your time?
Hunting and fishing, camping, and working around the yard. I try to combine everything with playing with my three children. We're looking forward to leaf-raking season!

27. If I gave you a free ticket to visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Someplace mountainous... Alaska, Switzerland, Chile?

28. Have you ever been outside of the United States?
Yes, I've been to Mexico and Canada, Germany, Bosnia, and had a lay-over in Ireland.

29. What did you want to be as a kid?
A Soldier.

30. If you could learn to speak any language, what would it be?
Italian. Not that it is a widely spoken language, but it's a favorite of mine.

31. What is your best time of the day, morning, noon, or night?
Morning. I really like to have something accomplished by sunrise. Just ask the Bedford Boys!

32. What's your most embarrassing moment (so far) ?
A few years back, after my dad passed away, his truck had been sitting for a while; mom was thinking about selling it, so I decided to check it out, advise her of what work it needed, suggest a fair price, etc. Well, I take it for
a ride down some backwoods county roads, unaware that the cat-converter is toasted and pitching little embers
along the side of the roadway. Sure enough, it started a few grass fires, but I was completely unaware until the
local volunteer fire official shows up and tells me that someone observed a guy driving a truck throwing cigarette
butts out the window...Of course I'm innocent, as I don't smoke cigarettes. Then it struck me! I started the truck,
hit the throttle, and observed the little sparks exiting the exhaust tip! I contacted the VFD and explained what had
happened--fortunately there was no property damage and no suits filed--whew! But that was an awful feeling.

33. Have you ever met anyone famous, and if so, who?
I've met many, many great Americans, but I don't think they'd be considered famous. How does the phrase go... Ordinary citizens, extraordinary circumstances?

34. If you could give any piece of advice to a future off-roader, what would it be?
Learn how to work on your junk. The only thing more satisfying than 'wheeling it is fixing it yourself. Don't be intimidated by the seeming complexity--get in there and start to do the routine maintenance; start small, and gradually work up to the bigger stuff. By doing the routine maintenance, you may well avoid a more significant procedure where something wears out or gets broken.