- Joined
- Apr 14, 2004
- Threads
- 1,467
- Messages
- 36,653
- Location
- 818-953-9230
- Website
- www.marksoffroad.net
I don’t know how many of you have visited the TLCA’s homepage recently, but there have been a LOT of changes recently. The website was bound to undergo a lot of changes, and our new webmaster Matt Farr has taken his position VERY seriously, really nothing short of a steamroller at this point.
Our illustrious president Alan Loshbaugh recently jumpstarted a discussion about starting a Hall of Fame page promoting icons within the Landcruiser community. Now that we have a 30 year heritage to look back on, it is obvious that there are some individuals who stood out in the formation and evolution of this organization. If you know of someone special that you would like to nominate, you can mention them here, and submit a short bio on them to webmaster@tlca.org for consideration.
There are obviously a LOT of people who deserve recognition in the long term. These are just my personal pics to enter in the inaugural year.
Earl Warden. Earl is the oldest cruiserhead I know, and I don’t mean that just in people years. As the head mechanic for one of the very first dealerships to import Toyotas into the country, Earl was working on Landcruisers long before the TLCA was even a pipedream. Earl eventually left the dealership to start his own Toyota repair shop, which soon became a Mecca in the Landcruiser world.
He was an innovator in his day, but also respected the old school. As my own personal evidence that Earl was more of a cruiserhead than a businessman, I offer this: when I approached him in 1992 with my plans to do a frame up restoration on my 65swb45 pickup, Earl gifted me the mint condition, unobtanium early hubcaps that you see on the truck to this day. That’s a cruiserhead!
Jim Sickles. Jim was not only one of the founders of SEMA, but played an important role in the formation of the TLCA. As one of the earliest Toyota Landcruiser businesses, who was also VERY active in the off road community, it was Jim that was approached in 1975 at a Cal 4 Wheel meeting to help spearhead the formation of a new Toyota-only 4 wheel drive club. If you catch him in a good mood, Jim still has some very colorful stories to tell about those early days.
Jim’s business flourished in the early 80’s with the Toyota’s introduction of the mini truck 4x4, and could be easily sustained today by devoting 100% of his attention to that market. Despite this, Jim still continues to develop and market accessories for the niche market in Landcruisers because in his heart, he is still a cruiserhead.
John and Melissa Fulton. John and Melissa Fulton were not only two of the founding members of TLCA, but they were icons in the Landcruiser community and beyond. From the time that I first met them at a Cal 4 Wheel district meeting in 1982, it was obvious that both John and Melissa commanded respect whenever they spoke. Neither of them were afraid to question Cal 4 Wheel’s position on just about ANYTHING if it did not seem correct. They were principled AND passionate about the sport and it’s appearance to the outside world.
I was fortunate enough to wheel with John and Melissa, Bob and Jan King, and another larger than life figure, Bob Brewer, in the summer of 1986 and I can still remember that in the Landcruiser camp, no matter how boisterous the conversation had become, people toned down to listen when John or Melissa spoke. They were that well respected. John and Melissa were also instrumental in my decision to buy my first Landcruiser.
Marlin. It’s a pretty good bet you’ve reached icon status when you have first name-only recognition! I’m not really sure when Marlin first came on the ‘scene’ in the TLCA, but I know that he was already a well-established figure by the time I met him on the first Rubithon in 1989. Marlin, like myself [and probably many of you], is one of those guys that got bit hard by the Landcruiser bug, to the point that it was the beginning of a life-altering relationship.
One of the things that most endears people to Marlin is that as his reputation in business and the community has flourished over the last 15 years, and his expertise in gearboxes has become legendary, he remains one of the most approachable, amicable cruiserheads you will ever meet. There is no pretence about him.
Our illustrious president Alan Loshbaugh recently jumpstarted a discussion about starting a Hall of Fame page promoting icons within the Landcruiser community. Now that we have a 30 year heritage to look back on, it is obvious that there are some individuals who stood out in the formation and evolution of this organization. If you know of someone special that you would like to nominate, you can mention them here, and submit a short bio on them to webmaster@tlca.org for consideration.
There are obviously a LOT of people who deserve recognition in the long term. These are just my personal pics to enter in the inaugural year.
Earl Warden. Earl is the oldest cruiserhead I know, and I don’t mean that just in people years. As the head mechanic for one of the very first dealerships to import Toyotas into the country, Earl was working on Landcruisers long before the TLCA was even a pipedream. Earl eventually left the dealership to start his own Toyota repair shop, which soon became a Mecca in the Landcruiser world.
He was an innovator in his day, but also respected the old school. As my own personal evidence that Earl was more of a cruiserhead than a businessman, I offer this: when I approached him in 1992 with my plans to do a frame up restoration on my 65swb45 pickup, Earl gifted me the mint condition, unobtanium early hubcaps that you see on the truck to this day. That’s a cruiserhead!
Jim Sickles. Jim was not only one of the founders of SEMA, but played an important role in the formation of the TLCA. As one of the earliest Toyota Landcruiser businesses, who was also VERY active in the off road community, it was Jim that was approached in 1975 at a Cal 4 Wheel meeting to help spearhead the formation of a new Toyota-only 4 wheel drive club. If you catch him in a good mood, Jim still has some very colorful stories to tell about those early days.
Jim’s business flourished in the early 80’s with the Toyota’s introduction of the mini truck 4x4, and could be easily sustained today by devoting 100% of his attention to that market. Despite this, Jim still continues to develop and market accessories for the niche market in Landcruisers because in his heart, he is still a cruiserhead.
John and Melissa Fulton. John and Melissa Fulton were not only two of the founding members of TLCA, but they were icons in the Landcruiser community and beyond. From the time that I first met them at a Cal 4 Wheel district meeting in 1982, it was obvious that both John and Melissa commanded respect whenever they spoke. Neither of them were afraid to question Cal 4 Wheel’s position on just about ANYTHING if it did not seem correct. They were principled AND passionate about the sport and it’s appearance to the outside world.
I was fortunate enough to wheel with John and Melissa, Bob and Jan King, and another larger than life figure, Bob Brewer, in the summer of 1986 and I can still remember that in the Landcruiser camp, no matter how boisterous the conversation had become, people toned down to listen when John or Melissa spoke. They were that well respected. John and Melissa were also instrumental in my decision to buy my first Landcruiser.
Marlin. It’s a pretty good bet you’ve reached icon status when you have first name-only recognition! I’m not really sure when Marlin first came on the ‘scene’ in the TLCA, but I know that he was already a well-established figure by the time I met him on the first Rubithon in 1989. Marlin, like myself [and probably many of you], is one of those guys that got bit hard by the Landcruiser bug, to the point that it was the beginning of a life-altering relationship.
One of the things that most endears people to Marlin is that as his reputation in business and the community has flourished over the last 15 years, and his expertise in gearboxes has become legendary, he remains one of the most approachable, amicable cruiserheads you will ever meet. There is no pretence about him.
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