Sportsman Spotlight: Bailey Broderick — A Day on the Rubicon

Most people take multiple days to complete the entire Rubicon Trail in Northern California. Bailey Broderick wanted to do it in one.

At 22-years old and with just over two years of off-roading experience, Broderick set out at sunrise in her 1997 Toyota 4Runner with her twin brother Bradley Broderick serving as her onboard mechanic and her dad Kevin Broderick spotting her through the trail’s roughest areas.

The goal was simple. Drive the entire Rubicon trail before the sun set. However, for Baily, the day was more than just completing a challenge. It was an opportunity to push herself, test her skills and spend an entire day on the trail with her family.

Yota Force, a Toyota-focused off-road media brand, joined Bailey and her family on the trail to document the journey and share her story with the off-road community.

Building For the Rubicon

Bailey found her 1997 Toyota 4Runner Limited in early 2024 and brought it to WFO Concepts in Auburn, Calif. with the goal of creating a vehicle that could remain her daily driver, while also being capable enough to tackle the Rubicon.

In a month, the 4Runner went from a stock car to a serious off-road build with 1-ton axles and 40-inch tires.

Preparing the vehicle for the demands of the trail also meant protecting its critical components. Bailey worked with partners like AMSOIL, using AMSOIL 5W-30 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil, AMSOIL Signature Series Multi-Vehicle 100% Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid, AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Multi-Vehicle Power Steering Fluid, as well as other AMSOIL products to help protect the 4Runner through the extreme conditions of off-road driving.

Since then, Bailey has continued her learning both behind the wheel and under the hood.

“I’m new to this sport and still learning all aspects, to include the maintenance side of things,” Bailey said. “As I learn to maintain my vehicle, it gives me a better understanding of the intricate mechanical workings of it and ultimately that is helping me become a better driver.”

Thinking Through the Trail

Bailey first experienced the Rubicon during the Jeepers Jamboree in the summer of 2024. At the time, she had very little off-roading experience. Since then, she has continued building her skills and confidence through spending more time on the trails.

For Bailey, one of the hardest challenges of off-roading is keeping patience and composure when obstacles become daunting.

“Some of this stuff is scary!” said Baily. “I think the natural reaction is to freak out a little on the inside, but you have to maintain your composure and think your way through the problem.”

That mindset helped her throughout her one-day attempt. When things didn’t go exactly how they were planned she learned to stop, reassess and work with her team rather than letting her frustrations take over.

“If I choose a bad line, it can get frustrating. But, instead of getting flustered I look to my dad for help and guidance which I learn from and apply to the next obstacle.”

Conquering Soup Bowl

One of the biggest moments of the attempt came at Soup Bowl, which is an obstacle Bailey had wanted to conquer for some time.

She had tried completing it previously but was unsuccessful when wet conditions made it difficult to find traction. With more experience and time on the trails, Bailey was determined to give it another shot.

After a first attempt, she realigned and adjusted her approach. With her dad spotting her, Bailey successfully made the climb.

The achievement was especially meaningful because of the history behind it. Bailey had previously been rejected by the obstacle but returned with more experience and successfully conquered it. The achievement felt so good, she returned the following week and did it again.

More than the Trail

For Bailey, off-roading has become so much more than the vehicle or the obstacles ahead of her. It has given her the opportunity to spend time with her family, form new relationships and create lasting memories.

Throughout the journey, Bailey wasn’t tackling it alone. Her dad and brother both played an important role during the challenge.

When asked about the most outrageous thing she has done, Baily didn’t list a particular obstacle or modification to her car. Rather, she pointed to the decision to invest nearly all her life savings into a hobby she wasn’t even sure if she would enjoy.

“I do not regret it one bit!” she said. “It has resulted in me becoming closer with my dad, making countless memories and making new friends along the way.”

After roughly 12 hours on the Rubicon, Bailey completed her goal of making it through the entire trail in a single day.

The Journey is the Destination

Her advice to others trying to get into off-roading is to find a good crew, talk to people, watch videos, learn the language of the sport and understand trail etiquette before putting that knowledge into practice.

She also believes authenticity is important within the community. For Bailey, showing both the wins and losses is more meaningful than presenting a perfectly polished image.

After just a few years in the sport, Bailey has already taken on one of the most iconic trails and accomplished a goal that once seemed impossible. Most importantly, she experienced a day full of memories with her dad and brother, which made the journey just as meaningful as the finish line.