A true friend to the wheeling community, Jason Payne, passed away in a freak accident on the Rubicon this past Thursday.  He's been featured in your magazine, in little 2x2 images and also applied to compete in TTC in 2006.  I'm writing to ask if your magazine would give the community an opportunity for some closure by inviting us to provide you with a huge selection of photographs taken by Jason and friends of his truck throughout the years.  His truck is phenomenal and deserves a cover shot and a center spread- something that he wanted.  Jason had a huge influence on so many people with his fabrication genius.  He was 25 years old and would design and build one-off parts that would make old world inventers smile.  His truck is currently under re-construction as he was in the process of retrofitting Unimog 419 axles under his '96 K3500 crew cab.  It has not been determined as of yet by whom, but his truck will be completed as he had intended.  Our club members and a giant portion of the wheeling community, as evidenced by all the sincere posts on various forums demonstrates, would appreciate seeing his efforts ogled over by your subscribers throughout the world.  Jason was an inspiration to many.    

This page was created in his honor- http://www.jasonpaynememorial.com/

You can see a quick video of him in the car wash on Hells Revenge in Moab during the 2005 Blazer Bash event

http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/BlizzakeB/?action=view¤t=carwash.flv

Stephen Watson of ORD, a name I know you are familiar with, is seen in the full length video here- http://www.industrialoffroad.com/geeklog/public_html/filemgmt/visit.php?lid=22

After you watch the second video you can see Jason's "creaky" crawler do what he always did.  He'd shoot video of someone giving an obstacle one *** of an attempt, then he'd follow up with his camera on a tripod and walk though it.  Him saying "I'm done" brings tears to my eyes.  Realizing he will no longer be there to spot me through the rocks is a crushing feeling.  

Jason was great friends with Noel Chadbourne, yet another member of our club that has passed this month.  Noel inspired Jason and Jason inspired me.  These two losses to the four wheeling community have been traumatizing to our club and local community.  Both were icons.  I'm positive that Jason's family would truly appreciate to see their son remembered in a large publication in a manner that would do Jason and his baby the Rockstar Limo justice.   Jason just had his 25th birthday.  

Thank you for your consideration.  

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Graham
Cracker

 

I have wondered for years why Jason never got a feature article in any magazines. His rig is nothing short of amazing.
It's tragic that he had to die so young, this would be a fitting tribute to him.  

this would mean a great deal to lots of people.  

if anyone deserves a feature spread, Jason Payne does. His creation could have been a feature any number of times over the years, and it only got better. as already stated, an article dedicated to him and the amazing vehicle he fabricated would mean more than one can imagine to more people than one can imagine, most whom never even met the man.  

3 days. 3 forums. Replies/Views
 

Jason Payne's sudden passing has affected many people across the country. Through the various forums that he was on he influenced and inspired many people young and old, and got them interested in the world of wheeling. Take one look at his rig and you will see that a very talented fabricator built it, and that very same fabricator had the skills and guts to wheel it through just about anything. It would be greatly appreciated by so many if you ran an article about him  

I really think he deserves more coverage than he has gotten. His rig was customized  by him and he designed so much of it himself it's ridiculous. I've never seen another truck that was so well thought out or so well done. The fact that he bought his own CNC to help fabricate was dedication, when most guys would have had a shop do it. I remember him talking about his 4-link design for the 14blt for months making sure that all his geometry was perfect and he wouldn't have any rear steer from articulation.

There's not enough room here or anywhere else to describe how much jason was loved and how much work he put into his truck, his hobby, his job, and his life. It would mean much to tons of people if his truck made it in the mag, with kyle and geoff driving maybe?  

Jason Payne was an awesome person. He has done some incredible work/fabrication for both himself and others. Although his rig was never able to make it to the "Ultimate Challenge" that is offered through Four Wheeler, it would have definently been well worthy of the challenge by a long shot.

It would be awesome if you could have an article on our lost friend...Im sure there are many, many others that would agree he is worth a great, honorable mention inside one of the greatist mag's out there. Jason would sure appreciate it too...

RIP Jason...you are greatly missed by many of us  

Like everyone else I'm mourning the loss of Jason from the off-road world.  I never had to chance to meet him in person but spent alot of time reading his build ups and chatting with him on the internet.  He always had time to help me out with questions or point me to where I can read up on something new.  I first started reading different message boards when his truck was stock and had the opportunity to watch him transform it from a stocker to one heck of a trail machine.  
Your magazine should really consider doing an article about Jason and if you all visit some of the off-road message boars you will read about how many people Jason touched in his short time in the world.

Chris  

Hey Guys, I am Jason' Brother.  I wanted to thank you for having a guy show up from your magazine to the memorial service.  I didn't get a chance to meet him.  I have no name, so I apologize.  He did meet and talk to our Father and he was elated to hear that you were planning on a story about him.  He was an inspiration to many and friend to all...Thanks again.

Ken  
RIP Bro'