EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Inside a metal building in East El Paso County, the sound of a torque wrench is just part of the rhythm of the day.
“My passion is wheels,” said Jose Avila, the owner of Desert Junkies Motorsports. And for Avila, this isn’t just a job — it’s a lifelong calling.
“We started since back in the days when you held the light for your dad and, you know, learn the hard way,” Avila said. “The old-fashioned way.”
From vintage classics to lifted Jeeps and even motorcycles, Avila and his crew have been fixing and modding for more than seven years at 13733 Paredon Dr.
It’s the kind of place that helps the off-roading community solve very specific problems.
“There’s nothing better than having this crazy idea in the middle of the night and calling at 9 o’clock in the morning when they open and saying, ‘Hey, I feel that I want to do this, I want to fabricate and I’ll bring the idea,'” said Yoco Yee, the founder of the Twin City Off-Road Team in El Paso. “And once it’s complete to see it go into the baking oven and come out powder-coated and installed on my vehicle, nothing better than that.
Yee says his nonprofit group looks to bring people together through their shared love of adventure. This year, he’s teaming up with Desert Junkies for something a little different — a holiday toy drive for local families in need.
“So November 1st, we’re going to do an off-road event that is going to start here at 10 o’clock in the morning at Desert Junkies,” Yee said. “From here, we’re going to go make a huge loop, go into Red Sands and then come back. We’re going to finish really close by on Pellicano, where Desert Junkies has sponsored an obstacle course. And the fee to do all of this is a toy. You know, we want an unwrapped toy so they can give the toy to the kids in El Paso.”
For Yoco and Jose, it’s not just about engines or horsepower — it’s about heart. They say the goal is simple: build community, on and off the road.
The two are hoping this toy drive is larger than previous efforts — proof that in El Paso’s off-road community, helping others is just another way to keep the wheels turning.
“This is to be able to give the off-roaders something to do, but they want to participate and be part of something,” said Yee. “So this is our way to say, hey, this is how you can get involved and this is how we can give back.”
The Tires for Tots toy drive is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10 am. The trail ride begins at 13733 Paredon, El Paso, TX. The event will feature an obstacle course and live music.
Organizers say it’s a precursor to the DJ Toy Drive, which is happening on November 15.
For more information, visit their Facebook page.
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