Off-Road Driving Enthusiasts Flock to Twin Buttes

About 200 individuals participated in West Texas Crawler’s (WTC) annual Twin Buttes Trail Drive on Saturday. Both newcomers to off-roading and seasoned experts spent the day in their vehicles, driving steadily up all of the hills that the Twin Buttes Reservoir has to offer.

WTC was founded in 2012 and has over 1,000 members across West Texas. WTC’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Public Relations Coordinator Jerrod Inskeep claims that some people were off-roading for the first time on Saturday while others have been trail driving for 20 or 30 years.

“We come out to Twin Buttes a lot,” Inskeep said. “We really like it out here. There’s a lot for everyone. We could bring brand new folks out here or really experienced people in extreme rigs and everyone has something to do.”

Participants in the event partook in a barbeque and a raffle. Also, those new to trail driving were treated to lessons from David Diffie, four wheel drive instructor for Midland College and Tread Lightly Master Trainer.

“I took a group of newbies out, people that didn’t have that much experience, to give them an opportunity to see what their vehicle will do,” Diffie said. “One of things that I did notice as I walked down through the jeeps was how well they did.”

Inskeep was adamant about the importance of WTC’s core values: having fun, being safe, being family-friendly and remaining organized.

“We feel like responsible trail riders or off-roaders really promote the sport and the relationships that we’ve been able to build with the places that we go like the city of San Angelo,” Inskeep said. “We found that when we build relationships with those folks and that we protect the trails that we ride on that they like for us to come back. We bring lots of business to San Angelo when folks come down here, so it’s good for San Angelo and it’s great for us because we love coming out here.”

Many of the vehicles in action Saturday were incredibly powerful, with features such as professional racing seats and suspension.

“There’s probably not a jeep out here that hasn’t been altered in some manner, either by only just a little bit or major [alterations],” Diffie said. “A lot of that is the attraction that people have to this sport. To these radical jeeps that go out there. It was a labor of love and they’re just great, great machines.”

According to Inskeep, WTC’s goal is not necessarily to grow in number, but to provide a safe and fun environment for its members. However, he claimed that a few extra people on the trail can make off-roading a little more entertaining.

“[Off-roading] is one of those kinds of deals that it’s more fun to go in a group,” Inskeep said. “Everything’s more fun when you can have more people involved.”

Diffie has been driving since he was an 11-year-old on his family farm and ranch. In his classes, he teaches not only to drive a jeep, but to have good etiquette; for example, he teaches students to be thoughtful to others on the trail such as hikers and cyclists.

“I think it’s just the challenge and adventure [that keeps me off-roading],” Diffie said. “I don’t think it’s an adrenaline rush for me necessarily, it’s just the challenge of what’s there to make the equipment work and do as it was designed.”