Sam Merten
I grew up in the back of a Jeep, off-roading in the deserts of Southern California with the Tierra Del Sol 4-wheel drive club.
At 16 I got my first Jeep, an M38A1 Willies and I’ve been fixing vehicles trailside ever since.
In California, I belonged to the Tierra Del Sol 4-wheel drive club. Every year they host a Desert Safari that is the largest single-day run in California. Through the years of volunteering, I’ve fixed many a broken vehicle to get back to camp.
Professionally, I’ve worked of 40 years as an autobody and fender mechanic for the private sector and the city of San Diego Police Department.