FRONT RUNNER DOMETIC ON THE MOVE: KARAH BEHREND
FRONT RUNNER DOMETIC ON THE MOVE: KARAH BEHREND
Karah Behrend’s bio reads: Racecar Driver. Content Creator. Veteran. Paralyzed. Karah has always loved taking part in sports, even more so during her nearly seven years in the United States Air Force. Sadly, this match made in heaven ended with a medical discharge when she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Even though this painful condition has left her paralyzed, she once again chose sport as her healing mechanism. Front Runner Dometic caught up with this inspirational adventurer and adaptive athlete to discover the source of her lust for life.
You once said that becoming paralyzed was the best thing that ever happened to you. Why?
Most people don't get a second chance to form a new perspective on life. It’s not until something big happens that you must seriously re-evaluate your circumstances. I've learned so much from sitting down and listening to others most of the time.
You learn who your real friends are and how much grit and determination you have. The latter is the best part of it all. It's cool to have that opportunity to learn from a different perspective than what I was initially given.
Where do you get your strength from?
That's where that perspective comes in. I don't think my problems are different from anyone else’s. Our lives may differ, but we all still have a mountain to climb. Our terrain might vary, but we all must get to the mountain top.
I get my strength from within. I've never had anybody I could depend on, so I've always had to figure out how to do things myself. I find a lot of motivation and strength in that.
Where does your love for the outdoors and travel come from?
It’s been instilled in me from birth. Although I was born in Florida, I was raised all over the US because my dad was in the military. The outdoors has always been a constant in my life. No matter where we went or lived, we always had green grass and somewhere to play.
How did you get into stunt and rally driving?
My first rally was in 2019 when I met my husband, who was on one of the pit teams, and I was racing. I was in a Mitsubishi-sponsored car and ended up in second place. After that, I mostly did off-road racing.
As for the stunt driving, we’ve been working on a movie for about four years now, and the man behind the driving scenes in the Fast and Furious films and Smokey and the Bandit has been involved in this project. We’ve done it all without CGI, and I can’t wait to share more when the time is right.
Did you have a mentor or teacher?
I learned to navigate from my best friend, Erica Sacks, who won the Baja 1000 with Sara Price a few years back. She’s one of the greatest navigators out there, and I am lucky to have her in my life; she is very experienced and respected.
Explain the difference between your hand controls and traditional car controls.
Once you overcome the hand versus foot discrepancy, hand controls are more reliable and responsive, allowing you to achieve more technically. You must relearn to do everything you usually do with your feet. Once you get this down, you’re ready to fly around the course.
Why was the Chevrolet Colorado your truck of choice?
I've always been a Chevy girl. What I like most about Chevy trucks is that they are super-modifiable. They are also cross-compatible with other vehicles, so you can use different car parts and salvage things if you break them. I also like that they’re wider than most other trucks. Plus, they have electronic lockers. I can go on and on.
Does your Chevy give you freedom of movement?
You find peace in your soul when you travel alone, and I’ve set the truck up to give me just that. Knowing you can go wherever you want without a plan is fabulous. That’s what my Chev gives me.
What accessories have you added to your ride?
I've never considered myself an overlander; I'm more of an adventurer. Thanks to my tough Front Runner Dometic rack, I have somewhere to sleep as I’ve put a roof tent and other useful accessories on it. If we break the racing car in the desert, we could throw all the tools into the back of the Chev and stay out there while we get it running again.
I’ve set it up so I can use it independently while out and about. I can set up and take down the tent and access all the gear in the back. It’s convenient for someone like me. I love it.
What are your favorite bits of the Front Runner Dometic kit?
I will choose the Typhoon Bag as my favorite of all time. I like something that seals easily and keeps things dry. You can trust it to do the job. I also like the vent on it, which allows you to squeeze all the air out for an excellent airtight seal.
The Wolf Pack Pro is a very close second. For Halloween, I hid in the back of my truck for a little bit with my Wolf Pack Pro, which was full of candy, and I'd scare the kids who came past.
What advice do you have for others who want to buy a truck or take up racing?
Please do it. Stop letting people get into your brain by telling you that it’s not possible. Just go for it. The worst that's going to happen is you might break a part. It can be fixed. Just get out there.
What are your goals for 2025, and how do you plan on reaching them?
I'm super excited. We should finish our stunt film in 2025. Then, in the middle of the year, we will move as I start school. I'm going to North Carolina to study at the NASCAR Technical Institute and officially learn how to build fast things from the chassis up. Exciting times are ahead.
