Self-described, average trail wheeler, Jon Larson, shares the insights that he’s gained with 25 years of running Cherokees. If you ever wondered how you could get involved in off-road, Jon shares his path. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:59 – Dude, did you know that mom and dad were in a cult? I was like, I don’t think it was a cult.
11:18 – I pretty much have OCD when it comes to XJs, I know every part on the XJ by heart, every bolt-size by heart.
22:46 – I remember some high-speed chases late at night, going through private property, where someone came out with spotlights in some big pickup truck and chased us for 10 miles.
32:41 – I think the Scout was the only rig I’ve ever sold that I made money on.
38:56 – I would go to Pick and Pull and take things apart and figure it out. That was my own little personal learning class..
46:03 –I would grab a 30-pack, a buddy or two would come over, and we would part out a whole Cherokee, chop-shop style in 10 hours
1:16:05 – There are private landowners on the Rubicon, 40% of the Rubicon goes through private property, Common people like me don’t know that.
Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
TRANSCRIPT
[00:01:13.230] – Big Rich Klein
My next guest on Conversations with Big Rich is a self-taught Cherokee enthusiast, an ex-NAXJA board member, an average regular trail user who became a Rubicon Trail Foundation board member. We talk about The History and the Rubicon, and Video Production, and How to make the jump into a Life of Off-Road. Hello, Jon Larson. It’s good to have you on the podcast today.
[00:01:43.900] – Jon Larson
Hey, thanks for having me. I am super appreciative for letting me come on your podcast.
[00:01:49.560] – Big Rich Klein
Well, for those that don’t know, Jon Larson is on the Rubicon Trail Foundation as well as I am. He’s been on it longer than me. I just feel a warm seat, but he is actually a lot more active than I am. Jon, it’s good to have you here and talk about your history because I looked on your bio on the RTF page, or site, and all it did was give an email address. So we need to find out more about you. So you ready for this?
[00:02:24.550] – Jon Larson
I’m excited. It’s funny because I have that. I think MacGyver said the same thing that I I was going to say when I was listening to his. It’s like, I know, looking at the caliber of off-road related folks you have on here, I don’t feel worthy, but I’m excited about this. So thank you.
[00:02:40.690] – Big Rich Klein
No worries. No worries. So let’s start off with the, typically the easiest question, where were you born and raised?
[00:02:49.750] – Jon Larson
I was born in Oakland, California, and I was raised all around that East Bay, South Bay. My parents, we lived in Cerrito, San Leandro. I think the first memories I really have are probably San Jose. We lived in San Jose. I think we lived in San Jose from the age of five to 13. And then we moved over to Oakley, California, near Pittsburgh and Antioch. And from there, I ended up moving to Sacramento years later for college. But I think in those early years, when we I lived in San Jose, I got into camping very early on. My dad used to go deer hunting a lot, bear hunting. And so I think I started hunting with them when I was five And so that got me- So you were bear bait? Yeah, I was probably the bear bait. Oh, yeah, that’s probably why they strapped a bunch of stakes to me and had me go run off into the- There you go.
[00:03:58.540] – Big Rich Klein
I don’t want to do that nowadays. Days because of the mountain lions.
[00:04:02.010] – Jon Larson
A lot of cats out there. That’s a whole another crazy story because I have a lot of family who are still avid hunters. I got out of it as I got older. I would love to get back into it more. I still collect. I still have all the rifles. I still love purchasing guns, but I don’t really hunt anymore. I’d like to get back into it. But yeah, that’s where I grew up.
[00:04:29.450] – Big Rich Klein
So Elcerita El Cerrito, here’s some Trivia for you. John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival is from El Cerrito. READ MORE
