Are you and your vehicle prepared for the challenge?Warmer weather is settling over the McHenry area while the soil is retaining enough moisture to promise ample splattered evidence that brings a sparkle to the eye of the dyed-in-the-wool offroader who considers dirt on the fenders a badge of honor. Yes, it’s time to hit the road, and then leave the road, with your off-road monster of choice.Of course,

Did you ever pull out of your Johnsburg driveway, head down the road and not find yourself surprised when your car, truck or SUV broke down? When are automotive breakdowns expected? Did you ever call your boss to tell them you’d be late when leaving home for work: “I just wanted to let you know I’ll be late today. My engine is going to overheat halfway there.”Those conversations don’t happen

A jar of jam is a sweet idea here in the McHenry area. But there is nothing sweet about a jar from your car hitting a post-winter pothole. Hit the pothole hard enough and your teeth may float in your mouth a bit while your spine coils and uncoils painfully. Then there’s the question of what that pothole is doing to your car.Cars are designed taking potholes into account. Suspensions are built to

Whether you’ve noticed or not, it’s coming. It comes this time every year – road construction. Flaggers will appear with signs that say ‘STOP’ on one side and ‘SLOW’ on the other (not sure why they call them ‘flaggers’ anymore since they don’t actually use flags anymore).You’ll also see more of those intrusive species – the road horses and hazard cones dotting the highways.