Joining the Jeep Community 

In 2012, Norman Stuart purchased his first Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Filled with excitement and  eagerness to learn, he was downright giddy with joy to join the Jeep community and become a  Jeeper. As he began to build up his Jeep, he started to go on Jeep Jamborees with his sons and  became fully entrenched in the Jeep community.  

At one specific Jamboree, in the Ouachita National Forest, the oldest and largest national forest  in the South, he learned about the excitement of Rubicon Trail firsthand. Hearing the magnificent  stories from other Jeepers, he knew his Jeep goal was to make a run on the Rubicon Trail. Not  just a run, but a full completion of the trail. 

The Decree 

As the years passed, timing was just never right to make the trek from Dallas Texas to  California. Time was passing by and the trip to the Rubicon Trail had yet to be planned. Finally,  one of Norman's sons said enough was enough.  

On Norman's 76th birthday a mock Rubicon trail was set up in his home and Norman was presented with a 1/10 scale Jeep Rubicon RC truck. It was Norman’s job to drive the RC Jeep  across the mock trail to a treasure chest which held within a scroll that would decree that  Norman Stuart was to cross the Rubicon trail in his Jeep Rubicon.  

The Adventure 

Getting ready for the Rubicon Trail is no small task. They learned through the Jeep community  that it was important to take a test run before facing the Rubicon. On Father's Day 2021 Norm  and his 2 sons took a test run at the Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area, one of the state's most  exciting motorized off-road parks located high atop the Barnwell Mountains of East Texas. 

The run did not go as smoothly as they had hoped. Norman's Rubicon popped its front two  springs during the run. Now just a couple weeks from the official trip, the Rubicon was in no  condition to go. Once again, the Jeep community showed up for Norman. AAM Group Jeep enthusiast and parts distributors came together to properly diagnose and fix Norman's Jeep. The  trip was back on!  

At age 77, after an unforgettable experience on the Rubicon Trail, Norman Stuart now feels like  he really has done it all. From raising three children with his beautiful wife of 62 years Susan to  owning successful small businesses in the custom foam fabrication and automotive  reupholstering industry, to his new family in the Jeep community. It just goes to show that one  Jeep can really help bring everything together as a community and family.

See Pictures from the Rubicon Trail Trip At Norman's Dream Garage.