GRINNELL, Iowa (August 1, 2017) – Precision off-road driving, vehicle recovery, physical challenges, marksmanship, canoeing, overlanding; 48 missions in total. 36 Hours. No rest. That’s what competitors in the 36 Hours of Uwharrie will face on a course designed to test man, woman and machine deep in the Uwharrie National Forest on August 10-12, 2017.
Brownells will sponsor a 36 Hour of Uhwarrie Pro-Class Team made up of full-time adventurers Holly “Yolo” Freeman and Jonathan “Yeti” Norvell. The duo will compete out of their highly-customized Yeti-Built Jeep, a vehicle Jonathan built from the ground up. The rock-crawler Norvell and Freeman refer to as “The Yeti” began life as a 1997 TJ Jeep. Today, the gas gauge and grill are two of the six remaining original Jeep parts.
Not only do Norvell and Freeman compete in “The Yeti,” but the window-less, open-air quasi-Jeep is their full-time home.
“We both yearn to experience everything life has to offer,” said Freeman. “About one year ago, we sold everything but my Jeep and ‘The Yeti’. Literally everything – including our homes. Our life is on the road, camping in national forests where people haven’t likely been in years.”
“We’re used to the rugged lifestyle,” added Norvell. “Camping, hiking, shooting, and putting the Jeep in crazy situations is what we do frequently. We’re hoping that’ll give us a slight edge in the 36 Hours of Uhwarrie.”
Brownells’ relationship with Freeman and Norvell dates back nearly two years. In addition to being full-time adventurers, the pair has acted as brand ambassadors for Brownells, testing products, making appearances and advocating on behalf of the brand.
“Yeti and Yolo embody Brownells’ corporate vision,” said Brownells CEO Pete Brownell. “Brownells hopes to inspire the spirt of freedom and independence. While we understand that not everyone will take it to the extremes that Yeti and Yolo do, their lifestyle is symbolic. They inspire others to live life everyday – don’t take the gift of time for granted. They’re bold and fearless wherever they go.”
Brownells, in cooperation with Freeman and Norvell, have produced a video that highlights their lives and the motivation behind it.
Stay up to date on their “36 Hours of Uhwarrie” adventure and their unscripted life on and off the road by following Norvell (@thejeepcalledyeti) and Freeman (@thewildyolo) on Instagram.
Tags: Brownells
So we’re supposed be impressed that they are on a permanent unfunded vacation?
More like Brownells wants you to be impressed that they’re funding it because that somehow represents Brownells “corporate vision.”
I don’t get it either.
“No, Jules. You’ve decided to be a bum. Just like those pieces of **** out there who beg for change, sleep in garbage bins and eat what I throw away. They got a name for that, Jules: it’s called “a bum”. And without a job, a residence or legal tender, that’s exactly what you’re going to be: a ******* bum.”
Doesn’t really seem like news to say you are sponsoring people to do what they do most of the time anyway. Gotta say though, would be nice to have so few responsibilities that I could live my life out of a jeep and just travel and have fun.
Even before I watched this, I knew they would be a couple of D-bags.