Back about 25 years ago, the last of the Camel Trophy off-road competitions was held. The event ran from 1980 to 2000 and is often called the “Olympics of 4x4s.” The name, of course, came from the presenting sponsor, Camel Cigarettes—my uncle Faris’s favorite. Land Rovers became the marque vehicle, finished in the iconic Sandglow color scheme. These were not stock vehicles, but heavily upgraded, as you would expect.
Some of the event locations over its 20-year run included Brazil, New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia, Madagascar, Zaire, Siberia, Tierra del Fuego, and Mexico, to name a few.
Now you’re going to ask why Ken Freund is associated with the Camel Trophy. Well, Ken—a local motorhead of the nth degree—was a competitor in the Camel Trophy from 1994 through 1995. If you didn’t know, over a million motorheads worldwide apply to be on one of the 20 teams, and Ken of Prescott Valley has three events under his belt: Central America, Kalimantan, and South America.
The reason this article came to be is that I was talking to Ken and he said he was going to England for a week for the 45th Reunion of the Camel Trophy, “CT45.” Pretty cool—being from Arizona, and better yet, from Prescott Valley.
The reunion was organized by the Camel Trophy Club in England. Many of the participants are aging out, but 200 former participants and enthusiasts from over 20 countries attended, including Ken. The 2025 reunion was the largest to date, with over 58 Camel Trophy vehicles on display by their owners (yes, they are valuable in that world).
The three-day event in England started on Friday with interviews of former teams and support staff recalling experiences from past events. It was also announced that an upcoming Defender Trophy, organized by Land Rover, is in the works—cool, it lives! Saturday included a convoy of Camel Trophy vehicles around the castle grounds and forest trails. The smell and clatter of diesel in the morning brought back fond memories for Ken from his three events. Event Director Iain Chapman, who served for eight years, shared experiences and stories that would raise your hair—some of them new even to Ken. The atmosphere was so thick with history that you could feel like you were there in person.
Sunday concluded with the “You Made It” ceremony and a final gathering of the vehicles, with lots of photography, social media posts, and videos shared around the world. Yes, Ken—a serious outdoor enthusiast—camped out in the cool English climate, just as he did during his Camel Trophy days.
Ken has been involved in motorsports for over 60 years with just about anything self-propelled. He has participated across many disciplines in our culture, from Formula 1 and Bonneville to off-road and drag racing. He is well-rounded and still active in motorsports. Living in Prescott Valley, Arizona, he enjoys and supports our local culture. He owns a ’57 Chevy, ’41 Ford, ’32 Ford, ’74 Mercedes SL, and many collectible-quality motorcycles.
Ken has competed in motorsports on seven continents and in over 88 countries. He has been a writer and editor for various motor, motorcycle, and 4×4 publications. The fastest Ken has driven is nearly 200 mph at Bonneville—and yes, he still walks after crossing the lights while spinning around, red-faced as friends teased him. His most treasured acknowledgment is the Medal of Valor from the California Firefighters Association for life safety rescue.
Ken is a hands-on guy who does most of the work on his classic rides himself in his home shop. He is involved with many motorhead groups that we share together. And if you think he’s slowing down, forget it—he is currently serving on the Prescott Valley City Council.
Next time you see him, ask him any question about motorsports, and he’ll talk with you for an hour, sharing his knowledge and history of our culture.
