Posted on January 8th, 2023

Words of wisdom from Darin Shelton, Rubicon Mechanic since 1985.

Darin kiddingly will tell you he is the most charming of the Rubicon Mechanics. I am inclined to believe him as he has been married to Mari Shelton the beautiful brunette seen behind the counter in the mechanic pit, in many of the pictures of Mechanicsville and our group photos. A man doesn’t keep a relationship as they have had for 44 years without some charm and a beguiling wit.

Darin was introduced to the Rubicon Trail by Brett Collins. If you have been following the interviews, his name comes up many times. Brett is the son of Ken Collins, one of the 22 original men who started the Jeepers Jamboree on the Rubicon 70 years ago.

Ken owned the Jeep dealership in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe California. I’m hoping to be able to interview Brett Collins, who retired from the Jamboree some twenty years ago. After the 50 th anniversary.

Darin started volunteering with the Rubicon Spring mechanics in 1985. The first few years he and other mechanics along with 4 huge parts trailers were flown by helicopter into the Springs at the beginning and end of each trip. By the third year,1988, he drove himself and Mari in their newly acquired 1979 stock cj5 with open differentials and stock tires. He still owns that CJ5. Today he wheels a Wrangler TJ on 35 inch tires. 

You will learn more about Mari and her role with the mechanics crew in a future interview. It should be interesting hearing things from a different point of view. I look forward to learning a thing or two from this woman.

When Darin was asked what his mechanical specialty was, he said “listening and asking questions.” He praises fellow volunteer mechanics: Brett Collins, Steve Schuetz, Scot Hansen, Jimmy Martin, Thunder Chicken and Mike Lera, who all collaborate and find solutions for repairs. 

Early on he was the “radiator and tire guy”. He could make a radiator work that had an engine driven thru it. Sounds funny but in the CJ days that happened a lot when motor mounts broke. I have seen him fix a torn sidewall on a tire with bailing wire. Stitching it up like a surgeon, then applying Slim Tire Sealant that welds the rubber back together and lastly putting a radial patch on the inside of the tire. To make sure the participant gets back to the asphalt they also install a tire tube. This is an excellent trail fix. It is not recommended for long term use. 

When Darin was asked what the most likely part was to break on the Rubicon trip, he stated honestly, I cannot say today. In the CJ days, and many CJ’s are still on the trail, the an0swer would be; Hubs, Steering Box Mounts and Motor Mounts. His statement reminded me of many of the fixes I have done to my own 1972 CJ5. Especially building a steering support mount using a clamp bracket welded to a heavy rod to bolt around the power steering gear box and attaching the other end to the passenger side frame. Which I have had on my CJ for the last 22 years, since the first Rubicon Jamboree I attended.

I asked about the most beneficial item you can bring with you on the Rubicon Trail. He stated “a good facilitator”. I told him I would have to look up the definition of that word, here is what google told me:

1. a person or thing that makes an action or process easy or easier.

Darin’s definition of a good Facilitator is his wife, Mari. She knows where I put stuff on the jeep, who to get stuff from, how to help navigate the trail and how to find our way back to the trail. Hmm what where they doing off the trail? WHO-AHH. Never mind, none of our business… See I told you this guy was indeed charming- 44 years and still sneaking off into the bushes with the love of his life. Some men get it right.

Darin recommends you pack these items in your Jeep. Shovel, recovery strap, hi- lift jack and if your pocketbook can afford it, a winch.

*Special Note. On the Rubicon trail your vehicle is legally not allowed more than 25 feet off the trail. Please abide by this to keep the trail open. If you’re camping on the trail, make sure you’re off the trail so others can pass even at 1:00 or 2:00 am. Walk from the trail and set up your tent or lay out your tarp and sleeping bag. I have done both a few times over my 22 years of travelling this rugged terrain.

Please feel free to ask any question you have regarding Jeeping. We are not the official

Jeepers Jamboree or Jeep Jamboree and cannot speak for them.

We look forward to seeing you and meeting you in person at the next Jamboree, please

make a point to stop at the Mechanicsville