Conversations with Big Rich: Recent Episodes
Big Rich Klein
Hear conversations with the legacy stars of rockcrawling and off-road. Big Rich interviews the leaders in rock sports.
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Robert started in mud trucks around 1998 with coworkers in South Florida. Progressed through multiple vehicles: K10 Stepside on 38-inch Groundhogs, a Jimmy, and eventually a YJ and square-body GMC truck. Attended his first Ultimate Adventure in 2015 (the last pay-to-play year) and was accepted to subsequent trips. Discovered passion for genuine rock crawling rather than mud bogging.
Adventure Wheelers East
After feeling disconnected from the Florida Adventure Rigs group, Keller partnered with Jack Sloan to merge their communities into AWE – Adventure Wheelers East, combining adventure seekers from multiple off-road networks. The group runs annual week-long wheeling trips throughout the Southeast, attracting both media legends and newcomers. Keller emphasizes accessibility: "It might not be the hardest wheeling you've ever done, but it's going to be fun."
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Chad had a nomadic childhood with nine moves across the US by age 10. Played competitive soccer through college; choosing sports over academics. Family of machinists and farmers influenced hands-on career path.
He started as a mechanic, working through transmission and fabrication shops. Became premier Hemi Jeep installer during the modification craze, but was laid off unexpectedly, then built first personal off-road buggy after failing a rock crawl in his JK. Chad still drives that original buggy.
Zeus Off-Road was founded in 2016 after his wife insisted on staying in Minnesota for family support. Chad built his reputation purely through word-of-mouth and community trust, he now operates on the philosophy of customer education and consultation before major builds, emphasizing proper driver training and understanding vehicle capabilities. He advocates for gradual locker engagement and self-recovery knowledge in off-roading.
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Cole shares his 35-year journey from car enthusiast to magazine editor to automotive marketing business owner. Starting with dirt bikes in the New Mexico desert, he became editorial assistant at Hot Rod Magazine in 1990 before launching 4x4 Power—where he built an entry-level off-road publication alongside Trent McGee and Tori Tellem. After twelve years at Peterson Publishing, he transitioned to Chrysler, where he worked in PR for engineering and traveled globally with executives. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Cole started CQ Marketing and now serves clients including Flexlite and Dynatrac, while launching passion projects like Pavement Pounder Events.
Cole emphasizes the importance of staying curious and adaptable. Career paths have dissolved—no single company will define your future. Take opportunities, fail forward, and find work that excites you daily. He credits his success to surrounding himself with passionate people and collaborating with industry leaders who cared deeply about quality and customer experience.
Don't obsess over finding the perfect path. Get your degree, stay open-minded, and pursue what energizes you. Beware of working in your hobby—passion can turn to drudgery as a 9-to-5. Find the balance between funding your lifestyle and doing work that matters to you.
Cole is exploring adventure tours through Pavement Pounder Events, blending his hot-rod expertise with touring experiences. Maybe he should collaborate with Big Rich on an off-road tour concept combining both their industry backgrounds and storytelling skills?
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John grew up in Auburn, Washington with a passion for automotive work. He excelled in shop classes and purchased his first car—a 1968 Camaro—at age 14. After high school, he worked at a quick lube shop before joining an automotive repair facility. When the owner retired, John's parents bought the business, and after navigating early challenges, John eventually took over. The shop celebrates 30 years in business this year.
Auburn Auto Repair and Off-Road operates as a 50/50 split between general repairs and off-road specialization. With three technicians and 7,500 square feet, they focus on drivetrain upgrades, lifts, and wheels for Jeeps, Toyotas, and trucks. John's youngest son recently joined the team; John hopes he'll eventually lead the business.
John wheels extensively across the Pacific Northwest and beyond—Moab's iconic trails (Pritchett's, Cane Creek), Sand Hollow, and Trail Hero in Utah. He's raced Ultra4 for eight years, competing at King of the Hammers (KOH) from 2018–2025. His standout achievement: winning the EMC (4500 class) in 2022 with a flawless race. His children are all wheeling enthusiasts with their own rigs.
John wants to semi-retire, delegate business management to his youngest son, and spend more time wheeling with family, exploring Colorado and the Sierra Nevadas, and enjoying life beyond work.
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Colt Clewley is a YouTuber and off-road enthusiast from Farmington, New Mexico. He runs the channel "Colt Builds It," creating fabrication tutorials, trail guides, and adventure content focused on making off-roading knowledge accessible to everyone.
Colt grew up in tiny Divide, Colorado, worked in the oil field for 18 years, and later transitioned to full-time content creation. He's known for his DIY approach, building vehicles with hand tools in driveways and sharing practical fabrication techniques through detailed YouTube videos on axle builds, roll cages, and suspension work.
He's competed in WE Rock events, contributed to trail maintenance across multiple states, and recently built a recovery wrecker. Colt emphasizes the importance of competition in developing driver skills and testing vehicle capabilities on challenging terrain.
A strong advocate for trail preservation, Colt collaborates with local clubs, government agencies, and other outdoor groups to keep trails open. He encourages newer off-roaders to understand that these recreation areas exist because of organized community effort and maintenance—not by accident.
Colt is launching an inaugural off-road experience trip for YouTubers and companies, building a custom buggy, and planning an East Coast off-road tour to highlight underrated trails in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
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Matt Adair sits down with Big Rich Klein to discuss a life shaped by cars, languages, and the off-road community. Beginning as an exchange student in Germany at 16, Matt's fluency in automotive passion led him to abandon an Air Force Academy appointment for car sales. What started as a snowy day test drive of a Jeep Cherokee evolved into decades of off-roading, racing, and journalism—including pivotal roles at King of the Hammers and Crawl Magazine.
Matt shares stories of serendipitous friendships forged at lakebed campfires, a memorable medical emergency at KOH, and the profound impact of community members like Camo and Jesse Combs. Today, he runs a boutique Porsche dealership while still racing a home-built Cherokee at 24-hour endurance events.
Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes that the true reward isn't trophies or milestones—it's the remarkable people encountered along the way. As he prepares to write a book about his improbable adventures, Matt reflects on how following passions and embracing the unexpected leads to a life rich with meaningful human connection.
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In this episode, Adam Arsenault shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in North Carolina to becoming a key figure in off-road motorsports. His path spans 20 years in Marine Special Operations, four combat deployments, and a thriving racing career.
Adam grew up in Asheville, NC; joined the Marine Corps at 18 and served 20 years, including intelligence work and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He transitioned to Racing, discovering off-road culture in California; competing at King of the Hammers seven times and racing in the Baja 1000.
He now manages the operations director role for Polaris's factory race program, overseeing four Pro-R vehicles competing in SCORE series races and select US events. Adam’s personal philosophy emphasizes persistence through failure, finding purpose over paycheck, and valuing relationships over individual achievement.
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Scott Rehn joins the podcast to discuss his colorful career across multiple motorsports disciplines—from motocross and late-model dirt track racing to short-course off-road, water skiing, Monster Jam, and beyond. Learn how an unplanned career launch led to decades in broadcasting.
Early Racing Years
Scott tried motocross as a teenager but found his true passion in late-model stock car racing. At just 17, a car appeared in his driveway—courtesy of a customer at his dad's grocery store—launching him into racing with zero experience. After five years racing dirt tracks, the grocery store closed and Scott shifted to spectating and crew work.
The Off-Road Discovery
His sister Valerie's success racing short-course trucks led Scott to Crandon Speedway, where he instantly fell in love. He describes feeling the ground move during the races—a moment that "hooked" him on the sport forever.
Broadcasting Breakthrough
Originally a professional water skier and announcer, Scott reluctantly filled in as a short-course race announcer when the regular crew needed a break. His mother literally dragged him to the booth. That one weekend led to an ESPN2 opportunity with Marty Reed, launching a broadcasting career that took him from pit reporting to stadium racing to Monster Jam.
Highlights Across Sports
Scott's career spans watercross (snowmobiles racing on water), stadium off-road championships, Red Bull Frozen Rush in Sweden, King of the Hammers, and nearly 20 years with Monster Jam. He's worked alongside industry legends including Jimmie Johnson.
From California to Oklahoma
After the CORE series ended, Scott relocated to Oklahoma, where he now works as a brand ambassador and semi-truck driver for a Ford Racing marketing company, hauling NASCAR rigs. He's transitioned from TV to radio work but remains passionate about the off-road sport that started it all.
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Rory Irish is the owner of Trail Mater and Moab Motorsports, an off-road recovery operation based in Utah. In this episode, he shares his unconventional path from surveying and pipeline welding in Colorado to becoming a YouTube sensation and industry figure.
Rory bounced between Moab, Utah and western Colorado throughout his childhood. After dropping out of high school, he earned his GED (scoring highest in Colorado that year) and spent five years as a surveyor before transitioning into construction and the oil field, where he learned welding.
Ten years ago, Rory moved back to Moab to build his recovery business, initially working at Moab 4x4 Outpost. When the original owner relocated, Rory and an investor purchased the shop, later buying out the investor in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed him toward full-time recovery work and YouTube content creation.
Trail Mater evolved from a simple tow truck into a specialized off-road recovery vehicle equipped with winches, welders, and custom tools. His YouTube channel now has massive reach.
Rory emphasizes that he's an off-road recovery company first, YouTube channel second. He works closely with BLM and National Park Service to minimize environmental impact and refuses to stage recoveries for views.
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Cody Folsom grew up bouncing between Colorado towns and Texas, attending over 10 schools while working alongside his father in automotive shops. He was introduced to rock crawling through Jason Feuilly and Jimmy's 4x4, learning the philosophy that completing obstacles mattered more than keeping vehicles pristine—a shock after his dad's show-and-shine approach to cars.
From Spotting to Racing
Cody became a renowned spotter for rock crawling competitions, spotting for various drivers, including Feuilly and Rick Dermo. He transitioned into racing through Dirt Riot, building a Jeep Cherokee called "Raz Spaz" that launched his interest in going faster. He later moved into Ultra 4 racing with a Comanche and became co-driver and mechanic for Shane Chiddix, learning shock tuning and high-performance vehicle dynamics in the process.
Building Dolores: Outfitters & Auto Shop
After a family crisis brought him back to Colorado, Cody and his partner, Katie, transformed a struggling mercantile into a thriving outdoor outfitters—offering rental Jeeps, side-by-sides, kayaks, handmade food, and recovery gear. Recently, they opened Kodiak Automotive next door. Cody now aims to bring manufacturing jobs back to his community through product design, particularly bumper assemblies that can be fabricated and assembled locally.
Cody credits Big Rich and the off-road community for shaping his life, emphasizing how the sport created family bonds beyond competition.
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Thomas Meiser is a rock buggy fabricator and off-road enthusiast from Magna, Utah. Once a competitive baseball player coached by his father, Thomas shifted to fabrication after discovering the Suzuki Samurai at age 16—a pivotal moment that redirected his passion entirely.
Early Career Path
Thomas worked under influential mentors including Casey Beach (Beaches Off-Road) and Ben Hanks Racing, where he learned welding fundamentals and tubing work. After Caterpillar's internship program and structural steel fabrication, he found his true calling at Midnight 4x4 with JC, working with CNC burning tables and tube cutters.
Building Fab'n 801
In 2018, Thomas launched Fab'n 801 (named from his habit of saying "I'm fab'n" in the garage, plus Salt Lake's 801 area code). He's built over 5,000 chassis for customers worldwide—in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Italy, and even Guam—and designed 15+ unique chassis platforms for Toyotas, Samurais, and Jeeps.
Future Vision
Thomas recently invested in 5 acres near Parowan, Utah (surrounded by BLM land and six canyons), where he plans to build a new fabrication shop. He's exploring RC rock crawling innovations to inform real-life buggy design and actively seeking a business partner to help scale operations. His YouTube channel (Fab'n 801) showcases builds and off-road adventures.
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In this episode, Big Rich Klein sits down with Nate Williams to explore a life immersed in off-road culture. Growing up in Logan, Utah, Nate caught the bug early—rebuilding a 1975 Bronco at just 15, complete with body work and a custom Chevy engine swap. What started as weekend trail runs evolved into competitive rock crawling, and eventually into full-scale desert racing.
Nate shares the origin story of Mount Logan Off-Road, the shop he built with his brother John, and the pivotal lessons learned through business challenges and partnerships gone wrong. After ten years in industrial automation, Nate returned to his true passion, rejoining John to launch Crossfire Off-Road in Logan.
The conversation highlights Nate's racing achievements, including winning King of Area BFE in 2007 and multiple victories at the Baja 1000, Mint 400, and Silver State 300—all while maintaining a competitive edge at King of the Hammers. Now partnered with Ford, Nate continues chasing championships in Ultra4 and Best in the Desert series, while his shop focuses on custom builds and long-term fabrication projects.
This episode explores the lifestyle, persistence, and brotherhood that define the modern off-road industry.
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Chris Mercer, a fire captain and body shop manager from Craig, Colorado, shares his journey from a Southern California native to a well-rounded off-roading enthusiast. He discusses his passion for mechanics, competitive four-wheeling, and his goals to become an off-road instructor.
Chris grew up immersed in motorsports and outdoor activities including snowmobiling, motocross, and desert racing. He worked as a computer technician after earning a degree in computer science and business management.
Chris gives 100% in all he does and was recently named Fire Chief of his volunteer fire department, having served for 23 years. In 2010, his first year of rockcrawling competition, Chris won the Formula Toy national championship. The class emphasized driver skill over equipment; he continues to attribute his competitive success to strategic thinking and innovating problem-solving.
The Mercer family maintains 23 vehicles for different terrain needs, with a heavy emphasis on Toyotas. Chris is currently exploring becoming an off-road or recovery instructor to share decades of expertise with newer enthusiasts.
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Brent Goegebuer joins Big Rich Klein to discuss a life dedicated to the off-road industry. Raised in rural Washington, Goegebuer's passion for trucks and the outdoors led him to open his first four-wheel drive shop before age 21, working his way up from a graveyard wire mill shift to corporate success.
The interview follows his two-decade journey at Four Wheel Parts, where he transformed event management into profit centers and grew the company from 40 stores to 125 under leadership of Greg and George Adler. Known for its family-oriented culture, Four Wheel Parts became an industry hub that launched countless careers in off-roading.
Goegebuer shares how his team weathered the 2007-2009 economic downturn by maintaining aggressive marketing while competitors pulled back—a strategy that positioned them at the top post-recession. He discusses the company's evolution, the launch of Truck Fest events that brought together vendors and enthusiasts, and the unexpected plot twist when he reunited with Greg to revive these events after recent corporate changes.
Today, Goegebuer serves as Vice President for AccuAir Suspension (air suspension systems for Jeeps available through Mopar) and Arnott Cycles (similar technology for Harley-Davidson motorcycles). A father of four and devoted son caring for his 85-year-old mother, Goegebuer balances business ventures with renewed travel passions across Europe, Australia, and beyond.
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Early Life & Background
Kim and Nathaniel grew up in rural Kentucky, meeting in high school with lockers across the hall from each other. They worked together at a local Winn-Dixie grocery store before college, where Nathaniel pursued psychology and Kim studied occupational therapy. Both eventually moved to the Lexington area after graduating.
Rise in Rock Crawling
The couple stumbled into competitive rock crawling through friends in Lexington, entering their first competition—NeuRock at Paragon in Pennsylvania—in a stock class YJ. Kim finished 3rd out of 30 competitors that year. They progressed quickly, building courses at EROC events, with Nathaniel becoming a head judge and Kim earning recognition as one of the few female competitors on the East Coast.
Competition Highlights
Their most memorable moment came in a rock race at Alabama where Kim flipped her buggy twice, landed on all fours, and continued without hesitation. They competed from 2003 to 2011, attending King of the Hammers twice and nearly finishing in Kim's second attempt with just 13 miles remaining. A serious injury at the Badlands early in their marriage reminded them of competition's risks.
Life After Competition
As they prioritized family and saw unlimited-class costs skyrocket, they retired from racing to start a family. Nathaniel discovered brewing, earning his certification and launching Next Level Brewing Company in December 2019. Kim remained in occupational therapy for 22+ years. Now they coach youth football, fish, and enjoy outdoor activities with their son Mason and three rescue boxers.
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Dan Whittington, founder of Venom Aire, shares his journey from mechanics work to pioneering air intake technology. Born in Santa Rosa, California and raised in Salt Lake City's Cottonwood Heights, Dan developed a lifelong passion for off-roading through family camping trips and motorcycle adventures.
After high school, Dan worked at a service station, became a stonemason, and held roles in insurance and automotive retail before joining Hinkley Dodge and Larry Miller as a technician. A knee injury forced a career pivot, leading him to pursue his longtime passion: fine art at Salt Lake Community College. He later worked in video game development for Sculpture Software, contributing to the successful WWF War Zone title before the studio closed.
Today, Dan is known as "Bronco Dan" for his high-end early Bronco builds and his work with Venom Aire—an innovative ducted fan system designed to improve fuel efficiency. Testing shows 10–25% fuel mileage improvements across various vehicles, plus horsepower gains up to 40 HP in mid-range. The system features affordability, simple installation, EPA-friendly emissions reduction, and no required remapping.
Partnered with ProForm, Venom Aire is pursuing CARB certification for broader market access. Dan emphasizes product quality, welcomes critical testing, and encourages interested customers to contact him directly or visit www.venomaire.comfor details and testimonials.
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Paul's journey spans car audio, home theater systems, e-commerce, and high-end audio installations during the housing boom. He transitioned to off-road work after joining a Raptor community in 2010, turning hobby expertise into business ventures.
Paul started by rebuilding Raptor shocks when demand exceeded Fox's turnaround time. Developed an exchange system, expanded to a shop in Loomis, and created shock guards, alignment kits, IWE silicone lines, and his signature cabin air filter kit. He recently opened a new company in Reno focused on cabin air filters and ongoing truck development.
Paul’s authorship includes publishing Overwhelmed: Time to Reset, part of the Neural Reset series on neuroplasticity and mindset retraining. He created Doom Scroller's Handbook based on corporate culture shock and Authored comprehensive Raptor generation guides and Dirt Logs—off-road journals for documenting trail adventures.
What’s next – listen in and find out!
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This week on Conversations with Big Rich, we dive into the inventive world of fabricator and racer Jonas Burnett. From humble beginnings on a Texas ranch wrenching on a Honda Fat Cat to building engines at 16, Jonas charted a path through the School of Automotive Machinists and into AJ Foyt’s IndyCar program—handling front-end setups, meticulous wiring, and pit crew duties. After seven intense years in pro racing, he returned home to launch Black Smoke Garage, where his imagination meets metal across hot rods, off-road rigs, mini boats, and more.
Highlights of the show include the IndyCar years and life on the road; the one-man, high-craft Black Smoke Garage; and ground-up restorations. Where he’s headed includes compact transfer cases with front/rear clutches and innovation. Jonas’ philosophy includes safety-first, practical performance, and making pro-grade tech more accessible.
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This week, Big Rich chats with Adam Leidy, Off-Highway Vehicle and Over-Snow Program Manager on the Inyo National Forest. Adam’s NorCal roots run deep—raised by a forestry biologist, he grew up camping, chasing garter snakes, and logging time in an Isuzu Trooper before wrenching on a K5 Blazer and falling hard for Land Cruisers. After 9/11, Adam joined the Marine Corps as a motor transport mechanic; post-service he ran a landscaping business, then supported military aircraft logistics before finding his way home to the Forest Service.
It’s exciting to highlight a Forest Service employee who wheels just like the rest of us. Adam shares some insight into what the job entails and how you can stay out of trouble in his jurisdiction. Be sure to listen close, good stories ensue.
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Tempe-raised fabricator and spotter Mike Dieu shares a life built on grit, ingenuity, and community. From paper routes and roofing a family home at 15 to becoming an all-state football standout, Mike’s hands-on roots led him into automotive school and early work converting fleets to natural gas. That tech savvy set the stage for a pivotal chapter: wiring fuel injection for the Campbells—starting with Shannon’s legendary “Pinky”—and ultimately spotting alongside Shannon through ARCA, WeRock, UROC, ProRock, and more.
Mike shares the stories that led him to a well-earned retirement. Shout-outs to Arizona off-road stalwarts: the Campbells, Rob Bonney, Ian Liljeblad, Randy Ellis, and more.
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This week, Rich sits down with Arizona native and RPM Steering founder, Don Rycroft, for a candid, high-horsepower story of resilience, faith, and community in off-road. From BMX racing and desert motos to early marriage, entrepreneurship, and a life-reset at 50, Don shares how setbacks forged a family-run brand that’s now a national name in steering and suspension.
Don’s story is a masterclass in grit: lean into faith, serve the community, build cool parts that work—and have fun on the trail.
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This episode dives into the life and legacy of Andrew McLaughlin—builder, racer, event host, and founder of Let’s Roll Off-Road. From a cross-country upbringing to ASU and into the Arizona off-road scene, Andrew shares how a love for the outdoors turned into a lifestyle and multi-faceted career.
From the early years of skiing, boating, and bikes to his first Jeep Wrangler; Andrew always jumps in with both feet. He’s built a business empire with Letz Roll Off-Road at the lead, adding Let’s Roll Venture Rentals, LM1—Letz Roll Metalworks (manufacturing) and many more. Partnerships over sponsorships and team-first culture that matters in off-road. Listen in as Andrew shares the good stuff.
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Conversations with Big Rich welcomes fabricator, racer, and shop owner Cameron Chin—an off-road lifer who broke stereotypes to build a career around cars. Born and raised in Houston, Cameron cut his teeth on a rough ’67 Mustang, studied studio art at UT Austin, and dove headfirst into off-roading by co-founding the Longhorn Off-Road Club. After early shop experience and the dot-com bust, he launched Crawltex (2006), helping grow Texas’ wheeling scene with everything from bolt-ons to axle and engine swaps.
Cameron shares first desert race memories supporting a Hooters-backed team at the Baja 500, a white-knuckle Rally America win as a co-driver, and candid thoughts on King of the Hammers. A move to Las Vegas for his wife’s NICU career led to Nefarious Customs, where he expanded into high-end restomods and desert builds. Now back in Texas, Cameron juggles shops in Vegas, Austin, and the Houston area, focusing on frame-off Scouts, a tube-chassis LS-swapped Porsche Targa for his dad, classic Chevy and Camaro builds, and more—while nurturing his kids’ budding interest in motorsports
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Josh Hall shares a lifetime of off-road stories shaped by growing up in the iconic Hall family. From pumping gas at his dad’s ARCO stations in Hemet to riding shotgun with the legendary, Bill Stroppe, Josh recounts early Jeep and Bronco days, Riverside memories, and an unforgettable Baja 1000 chase van run to La Paz before the pavement existed.
So many memories, from Hummer highs to GM’s bankruptcy lows, followed by an Australasian Safari that sparked international ambitions. Josh has spent years scouting Nevada by mapbook, permits and camp life, and continues to help share the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame that his father resurrected.
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Big Rich sits down with Tucson native and lifelong off-roader Jeff Furrier—board member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF), racer, entrepreneur, and preservationist of vintage race machinery. From a childhood in a tire-shop family to building UPR into a go-to racing safety and equipment supplier, Jeff shares the journey, lessons, and stories that shaped his life in off-road.
With roots in the desert, Jeff grew up one of eight kids in Tucson, learning hustle and car culture from his Air Force-pilot-turned-entrepreneur dad. Hear about the spark that set his career path and the pivots into racing equipment and safety.
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This week, Big Rich sits down with Todd Ockert—a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran turned oil-and-gas professional, land-use leader, NAMRAC facilitator, and indie author. From small-town Michigan to Top Gun-era Miramar, Todd shares how vocational electronics led him into Naval aviation, working on EA-6B Prowlers, a rough stint in recruiting, and later a long chapter at Lemoore before transitioning to Chevron and moving to West Texas.
Todd dives into his off-road journey: early Bronco days, discovering advocacy through Del Albright’s volunteer training, and leadership roles with UFWDA and the BlueRibbon Coalition. As facilitator of NAMRAC since 2018, he champions collaboration among Cal4, CORVA, ORBA, BRC, UPLA, and others—crediting that unity for recent land-use wins, including Moab route reopenings and improved coordination on Oceano Dunes.
In Texas, Todd supports TMTC’s mission at Barnwell Mountain and Escondido Draw. He explains RTP funding, Texas OHV sticker requirements, and why public land is scarce in the Lone Star State—making managed parks critical.
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Mark shares growing up at his family’s Union 76 service station, early Jeeping and Baja Bug adventures, club rides every Sunday, and a childhood shaped by mud, mountains, and motors.
State Senator Maynard has a storied history in off-road, including wrenching at NHRA, Gravelrama memories and fighting for expanding OHV opportunities. Fighting the good fight in the state of West Virginia, Mark supports private parks, national advocacy and lessons learned everywhere being shared with all.
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Off-road legend and 2021 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kelley joins Big Rich to trace a lifetime in the dirt—racing, rules-making, giving back, and globe-trotting.
From his first Baja 1000 in 1969 that hooked him on racing to helping build a Class 11-style VW and taking it 200+ miles before limping it back home. Steve ironmanned a Class 1 from Ensenada to La Paz—no driver change, no flats, 20+ hours; 2nd in class, 3rd overall in 1979.
There is much more to a lifetime of racing. Listen in for dusty silt-bed memories, class-building history, and the camaraderie that makes off-road special.
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Old-school rock crawler and Utah native Ben Hanks joins Rich to trace his journey from growing up feral in a small, mountain-side town to becoming one of the OG competitors in competitive rock crawling.
From first comps in the late ’90s and the rowdy hotel-party era of rock crawling to Farmington’s SuperCrawls raw energy and the milestone SEMA SuperCrawl. Ben got to crawl with all the big names, but like many, Ben pivoted during the ’08 downturn, inventing and patenting an HVAC efficiency system (up to 45% gains), plus marine accessories. If you’re ready for a trip down memory lane, don’t miss this one!
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Off-road icon, Casey Currie, joins Big Rich to trace a life lived on dirt – from a family compound of builders and racers to Dakar glory and beyond. Casey shares how a tight-knit Currie clan shaped his love for muscle cars, Jeeps and racing.
From early JeepSpeed wins and a college-born moto business to full-time short course with Monster Energy. From hard lessons at Dakar 2019 to a Dakar 2020 win. With a Post-COVID pivot and taking the helm at Currie Enterprises, Casey is aligning racing with product development and brand partners. The Legacy of his grandfather’s ORMHOF induction and Casey’s vision for a foundation supporting youth outdoors and land use; Casey is bringing both together to live life fully.
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Big Rich sits down with lifelong off-roader and adventure seeker Dave Simpson to trace a journey that began as a 10-year-old pitting for Malcolm Smith at the 1970 Baja 1000 to now a board member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
· Pouring fuel for Malcolm Smith
· Debuting his own race program at the 1977 Baja 500
· Class 30 SCORE points champion on a KX500 in 1995
· From Dad’s auto parts store to Rancho Suspension
· Nineteen years with aFe Power
· Camel trophy across South America
· The WARN Adventure in Turkey/Africa
· Summiting Kilimanjaro
Listen in as Dave tells of travels and adventures around the world.
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This week, Big Rich sits down with WE Rock announcer, longtime off-road advocate and friend, Tacoma White. From small-town New York to Utah’s vast public lands, Tacoma shares how punk rock, skate culture, and a love of tinkering led him into four-wheel drives, land-use battles, and a front-row seat to competitive rock crawling.
A candid, funny, and passionate look at community, access, and honoring off-road history—one preserved rig and trail at a time.
Highlights:
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Land use advocacy: Utah Four Wheel Drive Association board/president, Tread Lightly Master Trainer, county/BLM collaboration, the constant fight for access
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WE Rock origin story: judging at Miller Motorsports Park to becoming the series’ voice; why the stock classes and family campfires define the sport’s magic
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Tacoma acquires the late Creighton King’s CJ7 competition rig—restoring it as a true early-2000s time capsule
Tacoma was an integral part of the WE Rock family for years, he retired from announcing when Big Rich retired from WE Rock.
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This week, Rich sits down with Rubicon Trail Foundation board member and Rubicon property owner, John Arenz. From high-adventure Scouting and early days as an EMT/paramedic in Oakland to a 30-year fire service career in Emeryville, John shares how the Rubicon became his lifelong anchor—every summer since 1983.
Along with his personal history, John Arenz shares the Rubicon Trail Foundations stance on the re-route – why it’s necessary and who’s in charge. With John’s history, he goes in-depth into the politics surrounding the Rubicon Trail.
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Big Rich sits down with ORMHOF inductee Dan VandenHeuvel—aka the Flying Dutchman—for a life-in-off-road masterclass spanning 40+ years of racing, building, promoting, and giving back.
Listen in for the these highlights:
· First Crandon experience and the DIY beginnings
· The legendary first race
· Evolution of safety and tech
· The rise and reshuffling of Midwest short course: SODA, CORR, World Series, TORC, and Lucas Oil
· Promoting events in Oshkosh and Antigo, and the hard realities of venues, neighbors, and budgets
· The power of volunteers and community glue at tracks like Crandon
· and MORE!!
If you enjoy stories of grit, ingenuity, and heart, this one’s a keeper.
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Big Rich sits down with Brian Busby, the SoCal gearhead who turned a love of speed into a life in racing—and became “the fuel guy” for some of off-road’s biggest events.
From San Clemente surf breaks near Nixon’s Western White House to wrenching through ROP, Brian shares how a 16-year-old with a Baja Bug ended up racing everything from Class 8 to Trophy Truck and Class 1 (including a 2019 championship). Hear about his first official race—the 1987 Baja 500 that lasted two miles—his drag boat days piloting “Bad Idea” hydros, and the heart-stopping moments riding with Dale Dondel and surviving a 110-mph roll with Brandon Arthur.
Brian also dives into his 17-year Mercedes-Benz career as a specialty engineer (including authoring a global TSB), his pivot to racing fuels, and scaling a small shop into a West Coast powerhouse supplying F&L, VP, and Sunoco—before landing at Merritt Oil and helping launch Fuel Factory across the Western states and Mexico.
Don’t miss the backstory of the Rebelle Rally: the cold, chaotic first year, how fueling 50 teams turned into fueling an entire city-on-wheels, and the now-legendary Busby Games—born from “Busbyland” and officially part of Rebelle lore.
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In the finale of Joel Randall’s audiography, Joel and Rich revisit the explosive early-2000s growth of competitive rock crawling and the community that fueled it. Joel shares heartfelt stories of competing with his daughter Kristin in the first Women’s National Rock Crawling Championship, the legendary Vernal controversy with Walker Evans, and the game-changing arrival of sticky tires. He dives into team-building the “farm way,” recruiting his daughters’ high school friends into a full-on pit crew, and the behind-the-scenes hustle with partner Anita that helped elevate the sport’s professionalism.
Post-competition, Joel turns wrenches with his daughters on rat rods, celebrates hands-on learning, and shares advice for newcomers: follow your passion, support your kids’ pursuits, and embrace the community.
We appreciate Joel’s willingness to share all the crazy stories, if you haven’t heard episodes one and two, it’s not too late!
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From Nebraska farm fields to the forefront of early rock crawling, Joel Randall picks up his story with Big Rich. After a turbulent childhood, Joel lands in Nebraska, builds a ’74 International 4x4, and falls hard for fabrication and off-road life. He dives into mud drags and promoting Midwest mud events, then recounts wild tales—like hauling a 60-foot houseboat across Nebraska and detonating big-blocks on nitrous.
Joel shares the moment rock crawling hooked him: meeting Morris Hansen, wheeling Moab’s Metal Masher solo, and instantly bonding with Ron “Wild Oats” Pepper before joining magazine runs with off-road legends. He traces the rise of “R-club,” the Currie connection, and how shiny, well-built Jeeps earned respect on the gnarliest trails from Moab to Las Cruces.
The episode digs into the birth of organized rockcrawling: the 1998 Las Cruces event (ESPN, cones, and chaos), early results (Jeff/Morris win; Joel 4th), and the rapid evolution from trail rigs to competition machines. Joel talks sponsorships, building a team semi on a shoestring, TV exposure, and the bittersweet shift from family wheeling to full-time competition.
Stay tuned for Part 3 coming next week!
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This week, Big Rich sits down with Joel Randall, whose path to becoming an OG R-Gang rock crawler started far from ordinary. Pulled from school after third grade, Joel grew up on the move—living in an Airstream behind a 4x4 International Travel-All, camping in Baja and the Tonto, reloading shells by age seven, and learning survival skills during his family’s doomsday-prep phase.
A cross-country odyssey led to communes, holistic doctors, and the Santa Fe Free School Community—an egalitarian, hands-on “free school” that doubled as a commune. Joel thrived building wind-powered go-karts, raiding government surplus auctions, and even serving as a “theatrical prop” in anti-war protests.
The family later settled in Chimayó, NM, where Joel helped hand-build an adobe addition—hauling vigas, quarrying flagstone, and working with Santa Clara Pueblo craftsmen. After his parents’ divorce, Joel bounced between unconventional schooling and real-world hustles: statewide Roto-Rooter setup at 13, flea-market flipping, dinner-theater bartending at 15, wild street races, and an infamous teen road trip to Vegas—all before a move to Nebraska, where his rancher-grandfather became a steadying force and mentor.
From feral freedom to farm discipline, Joel’s early life forged the grit and ingenuity he’d later bring to competitive rock crawling.
More of Joel’s story next week – don’t skip this one; it’s wild!
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Big Rich sits down with Jagged X Off-Road founder Bill Schueler to trace the journey from a Phoenix garage to the front lines of UTV racing and aftermarket innovation. Bill shares how his sons Justin and Brandon turned a high school hobby into Jagged X, the early Rhino craze, and the fateful call from Polaris that put them on the map—leading to the first-ever desert race for the Polaris RZR.
Highlights:
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Chicago roots to Arizona life: construction, dispatching, and launching a successful transportation brokerage.
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The backyard beginnings of Jagged X: lifted golf carts, early Yamaha Rhinos, and magazine features.
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Polaris partnership: becoming an aftermarket development partner and fielding one of the first RZR race cars.
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RJ Jackman of Pocatello, Idaho—flat-fender fanatic, trail leader, writer, and organizer of the Idaho Vintage Jeep Rally. RJ grew up riding dirt bikes with his grandpa’s Simplot-sponsored moto crew, exploring lava fields, caves, and old mines—fueling a lifetime of off-road adventure
Event spotlight—Idaho Vintage Jeep Rally - Free, low-friction, three-day gathering in Pocatello each August includes a Friday evening meet-and-greet, Saturday scenic trail + potluck, Sunday trail (Shelley Rocks/“Blackfoot Dump” or Lake Channel dunes); Vintage preferred (flat-fenders welcome), but all Jeeps play a role—newer rigs often sweep or help with recoveries - No registration, no fees: just show up, be helpful, and expect vapor lock, fuel pump fixes, and 45-mph
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Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Jerry Bain joins Big Rich to talk adventure, public access, and preserving West Virginia’s unmaintained road network. Jerry shares how high school mud trucks led to a lifelong passion for motorized recreation, a 20-year Navy career seeing 51 countries, and ultimately founding the Country Roads Coalition to protect and promote legal access to historic state roads.
Highlights:
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Discovering off-road early; the draw of adventure and going where few can
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Building capable rigs: XJs, a Comanche on 37s, and the iconic “Boogie Van” Econoline
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West Virginia’s unique resource: legal unmaintained state roads rich with history and scenery
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Country Roads Coalition’s mission: stewardship, access, and education—not just “overlanding,” but motorized adventure tourism
Get Involved: - Find Country Roads Coalition on Facebook and Instagram - Bring a group to West Virginia—Jerry loves to guide and share the state’s history and hidden gems.
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From SoCal surf breaks to the rocks of Johnson Valley, fabricator, racer, and builder Johnny Rocha shares a lifetime immersed in dirt, water, and horsepower. Johnny grew up riding desert singletrack, surfing with his dad, and turning wrenches young—then parlayed a career in operation engineering into nights and weekends fabricating Jeeps before going all-in on off-road.
Hear how a 16-year-old Baja road trip lit the fuse, an ’84 CJ-7 changed everything, and magazine-era shop-hopping led to friendships with icons like the Curries—and ultimately to co-building the legendary 88 Savvy car that dominated King of the Hammers EMC. Johnny dives into race-craft, why plans win races, the evolution from crew chief to team manager, and mentoring young talents like Chase Caprera. He’s candid on heartbreaks (DNFs, exploding lockers, bad juju cars), the irresistible pull of KOH, and why he’s transitioning from racing to premium rock-crawler builds.
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Big Rich sits down with UTV media pioneer and racer Jon Crowley Jr. to trace his unlikely path from water-ski kid and UCSB computer science grad to one of the most influential voices in the UTV world. Jon shares how a first ride at Sand Mountain hooked him on off-roading, the evolution from ATVs to sand cars to early Yamaha Rhinos and Polaris RZRs, and building DuneGuide and UTVGuide into trusted resources just as social media transformed the industry.
Jon’s career blends tech, storytelling, racing, and exploration—proof that passion and persistence can turn weekend rides into a lifelong off-road lifestyle.
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Big Rich sits down with West Virginia history buff, Ford fanatic, and long-time off-roader Jack Sloan. From learning to drive in a ‘73 Wagoneer to 22 years with his beloved Ford Explorer “The Raisin,” Jack shares how small-town roots, family campouts, and a love for the hills shaped a life behind the wheel.
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Growing up in Fairmont, WV (home of the pepperoni roll), coal country culture, and early outdoor adventures
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Jack’s path from auto parts counter to independent collision center manager—and building a life around cars and trails
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The Explorer addiction: TTB, SAS, 37s, and why “simple” builds win on long trips - Ultimate Adventure stories: getting picked, guiding at Good Evening Ranch, and the friendships that fueled Adventure Wheelers East (AWE)
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Policy matters: WV Senator Mark Maynard’s pro-motorsports legislation and why legal access plates help keep trails alive
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This week, Big Rich sits down with rising Ultra4 racer Matthew Slyngstad. Born and raised in San Jose, Matthew shares how a teenage speeding ticket steered him into a slow Jeep—and a fast off-road life. From cello and wrestling in high school to wrenching summers in the family construction business, he built the fabrication chops that power his racing today.
Highlights:
· Early days: Bay Area roots, yearbook photo editor, wrestling, and a love for the outdoors.
· Montana years: slower pace, more dirt—fishing, wheeling, and hunting. - Dogs and discipline: competing in Schutzhund with a powerhouse German Shepherd. –
· First Jeep mods: rock sliders as his first welding project; Rubicon trips that sparked bigger builds.
· Ultra4 entry: mentored by Jack Taggart and welcomed into Jason Scherer’s Rage 4 team; pit crew to Baja 1000 with Ford’s programs.
· The leap to racing: buying a 4800 car just weeks before KOH 2025; pre-running, shock tuning, and sponsor hustling.
· Race day rollercoaster: comms failure at the start, blazing desert pace, a boulder impact and broken rear upper link, pit heroics—and a proud finish, 18th in class. –
Shoutout to the entire Rage 4th crew—and old-school legend Jeff Mello—for making the dream real.
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Texas native Lance Gilbert traces his winding path from small-town Keller and church-band guitars to VW shops, GM dealerships, architecture school, homebuilding—and a post-9/11 pivot back to off-road. Lance shares formative years at Sunray Engineering with the late Tom Ellison, a decade at PSC with Tom Allen, and deep roots in early Ultra4 and King of the Hammers.
Highlights: - Early days: fishing, bikes, first wrenching job at a VW/Audi/Porsche shop; first rigs from Suburbans to Isuzu pickups and Jeeps. - Career pivots: dealerships to homebuilding; how 9/11 led to Sunray and custom axle innovation; later years at PSC and into Tribe 16. - Racing stories: Class 3 in Baja, the early KOH era, and a memorable Vegas to Reno with the Texas crew. - Tribe 16 name: a nod to 4x4 (“the 16”) and the “night shift” culture of building with friends. - Today at Tribe 16: customer Jeeps, high-end builds and restorations (Scout, ’72 Commando, CJ-7), gear and maintenance, and two new Tribe chassis trail cars. - Community first: Texas trail rides, shop trips, the legendary Crawfish Boil, and why local shops collaborate more than they compete.
Lance’s take: passion fuels the work, but relationships sustain the business—and the off-road family is the heartbeat of Tribe 16.
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In this episode, Rich sits down with Chris Holloway, the founder of the Midwest Overland & Off-Road Expo (MOORE) in Springfield, Missouri. Chris shares his unlikely path from ice cream truck entrepreneur and diesel tech to building one of the Midwest’s premier overland and off-road trade shows.
Highlights - From Massachusetts to Missouri: family, music roots, and early hustle - The “40 Licks” ice cream truck, party wagons, and learning business young - Tech school turnaround: graduating top of his class in diesel electronics - Grease to growth: from shop broom to youngest service manager running a dealership - First rigs, JK life, and discovering community through wheeling and camping - Throwing trail events, fundraising, and the mentor who sparked MOORE Expo - Launching MOORE: 50 vendors, 2,000 attendees, then doubling during COVID - Vendor retention, event fatigue, and why brands cycle regions - Expanding into PowerSports and the “dot…dot…dot” of overlanding (hiking, hunting, bikes, kayaks, shooting sports) - What’s next: big reinvestments and a major reimagining post-2026
Event + Contact - MOORE Expo: April 17–18, 2026 — Springfield, MO - Info/Vendors: mooreexpo.com (contact form goes to Chris) - Email: chris@mooreexpo.com
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CALL TO ACTION DEADLINE: September 15, 2025
www.blueribboncoalition.org/hammers
Host Big Rich Klein sits down with BlueRibbon Coalition’s Ben Burr and longtime Johnson Valley advocate Shannon Welch to unpack a fast-moving proposal that could reshape recreation at the Hammers. The U.S. Marine Corps has requested permanent Special Use Airspace (SUA) over Johnson Valley—from the ground up to 8,000 feet—split into four corridors (A–D). While framed as limited use, the Environmental Assessment (EA) seeks a permanent designation via the FAA, not a temporary, training-only restriction.
What’s at stake - Medevac and search-and-rescue flights for everyday users, not just races - Backcountry aviation, personal drones, and private landowners (20,000 acres impacted) - Commercial filming/testing (e.g., Ford), ranching operations, and year-round OHV access - The integrity of a Congressionally Designated OHV Area and its $71M local economic impact. A precedent of closure-by-airspace has been seen at White Sands and Yuma Proving Ground.
Community action - Comment deadline: September 15 - Submit via blueribboncoalition.org/hammers – Blue Ribbon guarantees your comments will be shared. Share widely with your OHV, aviation, ranching, and local business networks
Key points - EA claims “no significant impact,” but provides no enforceable safeguards - Marines told some stakeholders “60 days/year,” yet the EA seeks permanent SUA – Blue Ribbon’s reasonable alternative: a 1,500-foot buffer from ground/elevation to protect civilian use
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, we dive into the fascinating world of motorsports with Danny Thompson, son of the legendary Mickey Thompson. Danny shares his storied journey from racing quarter midgets at the age of nine to breaking land speed records at Bonneville. As a pillar of the off-road racing community, Danny offers a unique perspective on the evolution of the sport and the legacy of his father, Mickey Thompson.
· Danny's early years in racing and the influence of his father, Mickey Thompson.
· Mickey Thompson's contributions to off-road racing and the foundation of SCORE.
· The evolution of stadium truck racing and bringing the excitement of off-road racing to the fans.
· Danny's journey to breaking the land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats.
· The technical and personal challenges of racing at such high speeds.
· Reflections on the Thompson family legacy and its impact on modern motorsports.
Tune in to hear more incredible stories from legends in the off-road industry and visit our website for past episodes.
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The Coyote Creek/Prairie City Solar Project Controversy
Guests: - Rose Winn, Natural Resources Consultant, Cal Four Wheel Drive Association - Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing and Consulting, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee
Episode Summary: In this special edition of Conversations with Big Rich, host Big Rich Klein dives into a critical issue affecting the off-road community in Northern California. The episode focuses on the contentious solar project proposed by Desri Energy at Prairie City State Vehicle Recreational Area (SVRA) in Rancho Cordova. This project has sparked significant concern among off-road enthusiasts, conservationists, and the local community due to its potential environmental impact and procedural oversights.
Project Overview: The solar project, initiated by Desri Energy, is set to affect Prairie City SVRA, a beloved off-road park, due to its scale and proximity. –
Stakeholder Concerns: Both Rose Winn and Don Amador express alarm over the lack of communication with key stakeholders and the absence of environmental considerations in the project's planning.
Environmental Impact: Key issues include dust and water usage, potential encroachment on park land, and the impact on the local ecosystem.
Call to Action: Listeners are urged to participate in the OHV Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025 at 9 a.m. in Redding to ensure their voices are heard and to help protect the future of Prairie City SVRA and other similar sites.
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In this episode of "Conversations with Big Rich," host Rich Klein sits down with Mathew Giltner, the executive director of the Nevada Off-Road Association. Mathew shares his fascinating journey from upstate New York to Nevada, detailing his diverse experiences in the Coast Guard, aviation, and the off-road industry. Listen in as they explore the importance of community, the challenges of land access, and the future of off-road recreation.
Mathew's Background:
- Grew up in New York, enjoying snowmobiling and outdoor activities
- Served 20 years in the Coast Guard, gaining skills in navigation and rescue mission planning.
- Transitioned into aviation, racing airplanes, and flying business jets
Off-Road Advocacy:
- Role at the Nevada Off-Road Association, focusing on multi-use land access.
- Challenges with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource management plans.
- Collaboration with stakeholders to ensure harmonious use of public lands.
Community and Volunteerism:
- The declining trend in volunteerism and its impact on recreation.
- Importance of fostering relationships between clubs and government agencies.
Exciting Projects:
- Battleborn Trail System: A new initiative to promote rural Nevada through off-road trails.
- Upcoming Nevada Off-Road Summit in Elko, a platform for education and collaboration.
Mathew emphasizes the value of community engagement and responsible recreation to preserve access to Nevada's beautiful landscapes. His work ensures that future generations can enjoy the same trails and adventures.
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Join Big Rich Klein as he sits down with Alan Johnson, President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, in an engaging conversation about his adventurous journey from street racing to becoming a new We Rock rock-crawling competitor. Alan shares his personal history, the influence of his family, and how he transitioned from a life centered around fast cars to one focused on the off-road lifestyle.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Early Life and Influences:
Alan's childhood moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to various states due to his father's job.
His early exposure to cars and racing through family, especially his grandfather.
- Transition from Street Racing:
Alan's experiences with street racing in his early 20s, the challenges, and eventual realization that led him to change paths.
His first off-road vehicle and the eye-opening experiences that followed.
- Off-Road Adventures:
Alan's journey into rock crawling and his first competitive experiences, including participating in CalRocs and We Rock events.
The story of acquiring and preserving a significant 4Runner with personal and emotional ties.
- Leadership and Contributions:
Alan's involvement with the Rubicon Trail Foundation and his progression to becoming the President
The importance of maintaining and enhancing trail access for the off-road community.
- Personal Life:
Alan's family life, including his two children who share his love for off-roading.
Balancing his career as a mechanic with his passion for rock crawling and family adventures.
Closing Thoughts: Big Rich and Alan discuss future plans, upcoming events, and the importance of community involvement in preserving off-road trails.
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In this episode, we delve into the dynamic world of off-roading with Angela Rickerson and Adriana Stovall, two formidable competitors in the Rebelle Rally. Angela, a Seattle native, and Adriana, hailing from California, share their journeys from off-road enthusiasts to competitors in one of the most challenging all-women off-road navigational rallies in the U.S.
Highlights:
- Getting Started in Off-Roading: Angela and Adriana recount their individual paths to discovering their passion for the off-road lifestyle, from childhood experiences in nature to pivotal moments that led them to the Rebelle Rally.
- The Rebelle Rally Experience: The duo shares insights into the rigorous preparation and teamwork required for the rally, highlighting the mental and physical endurance needed to compete. They discuss their goals for the upcoming rally and the unique challenges they anticipate.
- Community and Partnerships: Angela and Adriana emphasize the importance of community and partnerships in their journey, expressing gratitude for the support from companies like Motobilt, KC Highlights, and Front Runner Outfitters that believe in their dream.
- Navigating Personal and Professional Lives: They reflect on how their off-roading adventures balance their careers and personal lives, with Angela’s culinary expertise and Adriana’s environmental consulting career adding layers to their shared passion for adventure.
Tune in to hear their story of resilience, community, and the unyielding drive to succeed in the world of off-road racing. Whether you're an off-road veteran or new to the scene, this episode is packed with inspiration and insights.
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Join us for an exciting episode of "Conversations with Big Rich" as we dive into the fascinating world of off-road with our guest, Justin Andrews. Known for his dynamic journey in the off-road industry, Justin shares his unique story, from his musical roots to becoming a key player at Factor 55 and Warn Industries.
Episode Highlights:
- Justin's Musical Beginnings: Discover how Justin transitioned from playing saxophone in a Scottish punk band to becoming an off-road enthusiast and industry leader.
- Off-Road Passion: Learn about Justin's first experiences with off-roading, his adventures in Moab, and how a chance encounter with King of the Hammers changed his life.
- Industry Impact: Hear about Justin's role at Factor 55, his journey through the company's acquisition by Warn Industries, and his current position as brand manager for both Factor 55 and Warn.
- Innovative Products: Get the scoop on the latest developments, including the USA-made Roper X leather gloves and the new XEON XP winch line from Warn.
- Educational Initiatives: Justin discusses the importance of education in off-road recovery techniques and the upcoming training certification program.
- Personal Insights: Enjoy personal anecdotes, including Justin's journey from Pittsburgh to Boise and the impact of the off-road community on his life.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation that explores the intersection of passion, innovation, and community in the off-road industry. Whether you're a seasoned off-roader or new to the scene, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.
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Join Big Rich Klein in an engaging conversation with Roger Salazar, a dynamic figure in the off-road community and a member of the California Off Highway Motor Vehicle Commission. In this episode, Roger shares his journey from a small town in California to the bustling political scene of Washington, D.C., and how his love for off-roading has intertwined with his professional life.
Background & Early Life: Roger talks about growing up in Lodi, California, in a blue-collar family with a passion for cars and off-roading. He reflects on his education and how he skipped third grade due to his early academic prowess.
Political Career: Roger outlines his path into politics, including his time as an intern and press secretary at the White House under President Clinton and his role in Al Gore’s presidential campaign.
Off-Road Passion: Roger delves into his deep-rooted love for off-roading, tracing back to his family's legacy with Jeeps. He shares stories from his adventures on the Rubicon Trail and his involvement with the Sierra Treasure Hunters Off Road Club.
OHV Commission Goals: Roger discusses his ambitions for expanding off-road trails in California and his vision for a continuous trail from the Mexican to the Oregon border. He also mentions the importance of preserving access to iconic off-road areas like Oceano Dunes.
Final Thoughts: Rich and Roger explore the intersection of politics and off-roading, emphasizing the need for thoughtful advocacy and community involvement to ensure future access to public lands. Roger leaves listeners with his commitment to fostering off-road opportunities and preserving the adventurous spirit of the community.
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In this engaging episode of "Conversations with Big Rich," host Rich Klein sits down with the dynamic Shannon Welch, a prominent figure in the off-road community. Shannon's journey from her humble beginnings in Rochester, New York, to becoming a significant influencer in the off-road and land use sectors is highlighted in this riveting discussion.
Shannon shares stories from her upbringing in Rochester, her academic journey at Ithaca College, and her initial career in tech recruiting in Southern California.
Discover how a chance encounter with public lands and off-roading led Shannon to a new and exciting lifestyle, full of unexpected adventures and challenges.
Learn about Shannon’s pivotal role in supporting Kevin Secalas and the Big Ugly Racing team, which led her to a deeper involvement with King of the Hammers.
Shannon discusses her transition from a corporate career to working with Dave Cole on King of the Hammers, emphasizing the trials, triumphs, and the significant impact she made in the off-road community.
As a board member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Shannon is passionate about preserving public lands for recreational use. She reflects on her ongoing efforts in land use advocacy and her future aspirations.
Shannon Welch's story is one of resilience, innovation, and a profound commitment to the off-road lifestyle and land preservation. Her journey serves as an inspiration to those looking to blend passion with purpose.
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In this captivating episode of "Conversations with Big Rich," we dive into the vibrant world of motorsports with Tony Barraza, a passionate designer and long-time enthusiast of the off-road industry. Tony, the creative force behind TB DesignWorks, shares his journey from growing up in a small desert town in Blythe, California, to becoming a significant figure in motorsports illustration, printing, and marketing.
Tony discusses his upbringing in Blythe, California, where the seeds of his love for motorsports were sown. Influenced by neighbors involved in off-road racing, he found himself drawn to the vibrant desert racing scene.
Transitioning from a BMX enthusiast to a graphic designer, Tony recounts his educational journey at Platt College and his serendipitous entry into NHRA, which launched his professional career in motorsports design.
The episode explores the founding of TB DesignWorks in 1999, showcasing Tony's dedication to merging his creative talents with his passion for motorsports.
With over 30 years of experience, Tony reflects on his legacy and future aspirations, sharing his love for the sport and the community that surrounds it.
Join Big Rich and Tony Barraza for an inspiring conversation about following your passion and making a living in the off-road world. Whether you're a die-hard motorsports fan or just curious about the industry, this episode offers valuable lessons and insights.
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In this engaging episode of "Conversations with Big Rich," host Rich Klein sits down with Mike Ingalsbee, a seasoned photographer with a rich history in the off-road industry. Mike, the founder of Mike's Race Photo, shares his unique journey from growing up in Michigan to becoming a prominent figure in off-road media.
Key Discussion Points:
- Early Life and Journey to California: Mike discusses his upbringing in Michigan, moving to Southern California, and the cultural adjustments he experienced.
- Entry into Off-Road Racing: A chance encounter at a Vegas race ignites Mike's passion for off-road racing, leading him to pick up a camera and never look back.
- Photography Career: Mike talks about his transition from being a team member to a photographer, highlighting his work with magazines and his role as co-founder of the Association of Motorsports Media Professionals.
- Memorable Experiences and Challenges: From navigating the desert terrains to the evolution from film to digital photography, Mike shares captivating anecdotes and insights from his career.
- Advice for Aspiring Off-Road Enthusiasts: Mike encourages newcomers to dive into the off-road world by taking initiative and following their passion.
Final Thoughts: The episode wraps with reflections on preserving the history and spirit of off-road racing, and Mike's aspirations for future projects and adventures.
Tune in to this episode for an inspiring journey through the lens of off-road adventures and photography!
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In this riveting episode of Conversations with Big Rich, host Rich Klein delves into the fascinating world of off-road racing and rallying with the esteemed John Elkin. John, a renowned off-road historian and writer, shares his journey from family adventures in Death Valley to becoming a pivotal figure in off-road motorsports journalism.
Episode Highlights:
- Early Off-Road Influences: John recounts his early exposure to off-road adventures with family trips to Death Valley, setting the stage for his lifelong passion for the sport.
- Racing and Writing Journey: Discover how John transitioned from being an off-road enthusiast to a respected writer and historian in the off-road community. He shares anecdotes about covering iconic races and the people he met along the way.
- Navigating Challenges: John opens up about his battle with melanoma and how it shifted his focus from racing to preserving the history of the sport through writing.
- Impact of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame: Explore John's contributions to the Hall
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Welcome to another exciting episode of "Conversations with Big Rich." This week, Big Rich Klein sits down with Jim Winn, a dynamic entrepreneur with a multifaceted career, whose journey has spanned from professional photography to corporate business, and now, to owning and operating multiple businesses within the off-road industry.
Highlights from the Episode:
- Early Life and Career: Jim shares his story of growing up in a baseball-centric family, which instilled in him a competitive spirit and a drive for excellence. His early ambitions took him from a promising photography career, where he captured significant moments like Hurricane Katrina, to becoming an entrepreneur.
- Entrepreneurial Journey: Jim discusses his transition from photography to business, including a stint as a cross-country truck driver, which helped fund his ventures. He eventually founded a small business selling home and garden products, which laid the groundwork for his current ventures.
- Behemoth Drivetrain: Jim talks about acquiring and revitalizing Behemoth Drivetrain, focusing on designing and manufacturing high-performance transfer cases and underdrives for off-road vehicles. He emphasizes the importance of quality and innovation in meeting the needs of enthusiasts and OEMs alike.
- Family and Future Plans: Jim reflects on the importance of family, his children's involvement in sports, and his commitment to building a legacy in the off-road industry. He shares his vision for continued growth and community impact in Litchfield, Kentucky.
Join Big Rich and Jim Winn for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, passion, and the off-road lifestyle. Don’t miss this episode packed with insights and stories of adventure and innovation.
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Join Big Rich as he dives into the off-road lifestyle with Zack Grimes, President of Rally in the Ozarks. This episode explores Zack's journey from Kansas City to becoming an entrepreneur and rally organizer, while celebrating vintage 4x4 vehicles. Zack shares his passion for Scouts, his career transitions, and the creation of the Rally in the Ozarks—a unique event for enthusiasts of all things vintage and 4x4.
Key Highlights:
Zack's Background: Born in Kansas City, Zack grew up in a small Kansas town, fostering a love for off-roading through family ATV trips and auto shop classes.
Career Path: After teaching industrial arts in high school and working in construction management, Zack pursued his passion by opening Grimes Garage, specializing in Scout restoration and parts.
Rally in the Ozarks: Zack founded this event to bring vintage 4x4 enthusiasts together. Held at the Southern Missouri Off-Road Ranch, the rally includes trail rides, scenic road trips, and social gatherings.
Community and Sponsors: The rally supports the Shriner Hospital Dads charity, with sponsors like Kaiser Willies and General Tire. Zack emphasizes the importance of community and welcoming all vintage 4x4s pre-1990.
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Episode Summary: Join host Big Rich as he dives into the exhilarating world of off-road sports with the legendary Shannon Campbell. In this episode, Shannon shares his journey from a rural upbringing in Arizona to becoming a renowned figure in the off-road industry. From racing at Top Truck Challenge to making a mark at King of the Hammers, Shannon's stories are as thrilling as they are inspiring.
Key Moments:
- Early Life and Influences: Shannon talks about his upbringing in Gilbert, Arizona, and how his family's involvement in racing influenced his passion for off-road sports.
- Breaking into Off-Road Racing: Hear about Shannon's first major competition at Top Truck Challenge in 1996 and how it set the stage for his future success.
- Innovations and Challenges: Discover the journey of transitioning to independent front suspension and the challenges Shannon faced in desert racing.
- Memorable Moments: Laugh along with tales of close calls, wild races, and the camaraderie of the off-road community, including epic stories with his long-time friend Randy Ellis.
- Future Plans: Shannon shares his aspirations to balance big races with a return to grassroots wheeling adventures and his enthusiasm for upcoming events like Trail Hero and the Rubicon.
Guest Bio: Shannon Campbell is a celebrated figure in the off-road racing world, known for his innovative spirit and competitive drive. As a member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, Shannon continues to inspire with his dedication to the sport and his passion for life.
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So many great stories about a great man! Mike Czajkowski shares stories about his dad, the legendary Marlin Crawler. Don’t miss episode 270! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
2:10 – People always know when Marlin caught them on the trail, where they met him.
18:28 – Paul goes, “hey, this my friend, Marlin.” And Christine gets up, throws the paper and storms off to her room! That was the first time they met.
29:11 – There was a first gen Toyota mini truck in the church parking lot, my dad snuck out of church to leave a note – cool truck, call me!
38:28 – How many revisions has the Marlin Crawler truck gone through?? Listen to find out.
54:05 – he would experiment and learn and put seals in backwards on purpose, just do things in non-conventional ways
1:04:10 – Three boxes. We call that a triple transfer case, and no one had ever done this to go slow over the rocks.
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Adrenalin-junkies unite and listen in to our favorite, Bill Baird. Stunt planes to dirt to asphalt ovals, bill has done so much. Join us for episode 269 and hear Bill’s story!. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:33 – Sturgis, KY was the second school in the US that was integrated after Little Rock. Third grade, I went to school with 1200 National Guard troops around.
14:03 – Never been to a racetrack, I’ve never seen a race before in my life, I was a fish out of water.
17:17 – Somewhere between 98 and 99 I started understanding everything about the race car.
23:27 – I picked up the car up from Shannon and drove back to Oklahoma to race; but Shannon’s car had a kick to it!
34:35 – I’ve been in Moab 17 times…what got me going out there was retracing my dad’s life while he was out there.
41:58 – I got out of it when you couldn’t run Tire Balls anymore; I had a single-seat car, I’m 56 years old, I couldn’t handle a tire by myself.
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We had an opportunity to attend a fundraiser earlier in the year for Wingshooters.org and it impressed me so much, I had to get the founder/CEO on the podcast. Greg McClelland shares his story and how he finds solace in the woods. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
2:29 – It’s humbling to see the support from folks who, honestly, don’t have any skin in the game at all
8:36 – I was taught to respect fences, but if there weren’t any fences, I just assumed that it was free
13:34 – My roommate dared me to come with him, I didn’t want to be a cop. I ended up doint it on a fluke and just kept passing these interviews, even though I was half insubordinate and pretty cocky.
22:28 – The outdoor recreation, hunting, being in the woods, gun smoke, campfire and bro time, talking sh*t. It makes me feel better. It’s got to help these same guys, right?
28:20 – My goal is to build a network of like-minded organizations where we can plug folks in.
40:33 – Anything any organization can do, as long as it’s honorable and for the right reasons, man, I’m all for it; any way we can partner and help, I’m glad to do it.
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Self-described, average trail wheeler, Jon Larson, shares the insights that he’s gained with 25 years of running Cherokees. If you ever wondered how you could get involved in off-road, Jon shares his path. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:59 – Dude, did you know that mom and dad were in a cult? I was like, I don’t think it was a cult.
11:18 – I pretty much have OCD when it comes to XJs, I know every part on the XJ by heart, every bolt-size by heart.
22:46 – I remember some high-speed chases late at night, going through private property, where someone came out with spotlights in some big pickup truck and chased us for 10 miles.
32:41 – I think the Scout was the only rig I’ve ever sold that I made money on.
38:56 – I would go to Pick and Pull and take things apart and figure it out. That was my own little personal learning class..
46:03 –I would grab a 30-pack, a buddy or two would come over, and we would part out a whole Cherokee, chop-shop style in 10 hours
1:16:05 – There are private landowners on the Rubicon, 40% of the Rubicon goes through private property, Common people like me don’t know that.
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This week’s guest may have a weak connection to off-road, but that string is still attached. James Patience is an ambassador for Bikers Against Bullies, and their message is clear – know who you are! I couldn’t think of a better man who knows. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:05 – I think you look back and realize that a lot of what you become as an adult is created when you’re younger
11:50 – I truly believe that everything in the world is a pendulum. If it’s pushed one way, it goes back the other way with equal force
20:04 – I went to work every day. And I learned that…so when you don’t have balance, and you don’t have structure, you have to find something as an anchor. That was work for me.
27:21 – I can be average and stay where I’m at, or I can kill it and move forward; and it’s the exact same investment for me. Why not move forward?
36:53 – Imagine like a chocolate Easter Bunny. You pour the chocolate in the mold and you spin it around, and then once it dries, you pull it out. That’s what we do with these tanks.
47:53 –I have to find a way that nobody can boss me around because of money
52:11 – It’s not about stopping the bully, it’s about being able to control yourself in those situations so things don’t affect you.
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Dirthead_Dave from the Dirthead Shed joins us for Episode 265. Let’s talk about building cars from hot rods to offroad, Join us and support the other Dave Chappelle. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:46 – The off-roading is the one thing that’s stuck and put me on the map the most
9:37 – Saturn was its own little weird community, compares to the girls with their IG handle on the side of the hood
15:32 – I ended up sabotaging the Sentra so it wouldn’t pass smog because my dad didn’t want me to get a mini truck, he knew I’d be broke forever after that
24:00 – Got my first Jeep in 2005 and that was the kickoff for all the stuff I’m doing now
30:05 – I told them I’d prep the Bronco and haul it to the start of UA if I got to go, that’s how I weaseled my way in there
48:20 –right now, it’s just wide-open throttle, pushing YouTube and trying to grow my brand
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Super spotter, Steve Hastings, was smooth, smooth, smooth. A driver in his own right, he spent a lot of his career as Jason Bunch’s spotter. OG rockcrawler who got started in the 60’s behind the wheel of his dad’s CJ5, Steve has seen a lot of rock. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:44 – Two pillows behind and two pillows underneath and low, low, low gear
15:23 – I’m one of Craig’s disciples, one of those rigs he bought high and sold low
29:12 – More like a lot of tequila and a lot of tacos
35:40 – Jason’s wife called and said, “Jason was a basket case, don’t you ever leave him behind again!”
42:36 – We’d look at an obstacle and find the hardest spot, then work backwards to get the right line
51:04 –we weren’t looking for fast, we didn’t care if we finished in nine minutes and 59 seconds, as long as we finished. Smooth, smooth, smooth was our battle cry
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Part Two. Stories so big we need two episodes to tell them! Jason Bunch of Tri-Couty Gear has a storied history and he shares it with us. Rockcrawler, racer, business man, enthusiast, Jason’s been part of the OG crowd. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
7:06 – For once, I’m the guy, not the guy on the outside of the fence, I’m the guy on the inside.
19:08 – Damn, why didn’t anybody tell me I was doing that?!
24:14 – I owe a lot to learning about mechanical things and driving different vehicles.
31:42 – I’m on Junkyard Wars, right? And they had us build a land speed vehicle/rockcrawler that could be a boat!
48:01 – I’m screaming at them, “the kll switch, the kll switch!”.
54:34 –At one point in my life, I had race face where I was pissed off because I wasn’t winning, I was taking it too serious.
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Stories so big we need two episodes to tell them! Jason Bunch of Tri-Couty Gear has a storied history and he shares it with us. Rockcrawler, racer, business man, enthusiast, Jason’s been part of the OG crowd. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:47 – We’d take about everything trying to make them faster, we’d grind the rod on a lawn mower and hold it wide open to see if we could make it blow up
16:08 – A cop rolls up and goes, “this brings new meaning to shade tree mechanic!”
21:04 – my Flat Fender had a healthy 350 in it and a 300 shot of nitrous oxide in it. It was fast.
30:59 – One night we clocked ourselves going through Sledge Hammer, did the whole trail in 51 minutes and one beer stop included.
36:25 – I watched Steve work with people and I thought, I need that guy for something, but I don’t know what.
46:34 –I used all of my knowledge of Jeeps and the things I’ve done to build that Jeep, no blueprint, just all in my mind.
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King Randy Slawson kicks off Season 6 of Conversations of Big Rich – that’s episode 261. Hear about the sheltered kid who turned his aggression to the rocks. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:49 – I was extremely sheltered, kept away from the world until I got married and moved to California
12:11 – my dad was busy and he wasn’t into mechanical anything, so I didn’t have somebody to mentor me and teach me how to do stuff
19:34 – Seven of us went in five rigs and wheeled the Rubicon, if I wasn’t hooked before, I was definitely hooked after that.
27:47– At the time, I was way into the Toyota scene, I’d had 20 different Toyotas, most of them basket cases.
37:59 – I knew Marlin, but not well; I took him out to check out a weird noise, he was like, “Oh, Randy, I can’t believe the stress this transfer case is under. Oh, Randy…”
42:21 –I don’t want to call myself a know-it-all, but I just think that I can do it better.
46:34 – More power, more speed, that spoke to me. That was my style.
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Today’s guest is probably the greatest competitive rockcrawler in the history of the sport. Get to know Tracy Jordan and how he became the GOAT! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:22 – everything was around hunting and fishing, it was one-on-one time with our dad
13:46 – I bought an FJ40 and wanted to do a lift, power steering, a few things…then got an invite out to a trail, and it was off and running from there.
20:13 – That’s where ‘Air Jordan’ came about is that obstacle and there was a controversy
28:39 – You never stop learning. I loved watching Joel, Don, the Curry’s – just their different techniques and learning from them
34:15– Durham had the same style as Shannon and Mike Palmer, just total, no fear on all the climbs
50:29–I only have two timelines, and it’s my rockcrawling timeline and my kid’s timeline, that’s my only references in time.
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What do you get when you cross a tennis playing, stunt bike rider with a Rock Zombie? Answer: Phil Licciardi, shock-tuning master. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:33 – they had the Green Police, I got pulled over for pushing my bike to town, they tried to hold my dad off at gunpoint, and he wasn’t even mad yet!
9:41 – the film, The Firm was based on a guy who owned the company my dad worked for, the controlling aspects of this guy were crazy
17:48 – I definitely got a PhD in partying!
21:48 – “How did you learn to fab?” Just did it, I went and got a Home Depot weld pack 100 Fluxcore machine and just started doing crappy work.
32:44 – the thing about sport bike stunt riding is you either get good pretty quick or you die trying.
49:23 –I left KOH saying, there is no way in hell I’m ever getting involved in that situation. Two months later, Doug called, “hey, so you want to build an Ultra4 car?”
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Co-founder and CEO of Warfighter Made, Rob Blanton is a retired Marine serving as a volunteer for his non-profit organization full-time. The mission of Warfighter Made provides recreation therapy to ill, injured and combat-wounded service members and veterans. Listen to how he and the others got there. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
8:27 – Adversity builds mental toughness
16:06 – I’m the proverbial if your friend jumps off a bridge, will you? Yeah, four of my friends jumped off a bridge, so I joined them.
22:23 – The good news, I can make you a Marine, the bad news is you don’t qualify with these test scores – for anything!
31:58 – the best memories were really the worst stories, just overcoming adversity
36:12 – I was awarded the Silver Star for that action in Iraq, it’s our nation’s third highest award for valor
42:52 –…that was the catalyst to start Warfighter Made
47:19 – When I retired from the Marines in 2014, I immediately became a full-time volunteer for the organization.
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It all began with a Craigslist ad for Josh Reynolds. Today, Josh has taken the reins of Fly-N-Hi Off-Road while continuing to nurture his passion and contributing to the off-road community. The shop, known for its expertise in Jeep modifications and custom builds, has become a hub for enthusiasts looking to push the limits of their vehicles. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:53 – I moved to Alaska as a mountain guide for a long time as a professional skiing and climbing guide on some of the biggest mountains in the world
8:14 – There was a Craigslist ad for the Baja 1000, it said, do you want to come experience the Baja 1000, and I’m thinking – Hell, yeah, who doesn’t?
16:20 – I just brought that Mustang down last week, to rebuild the carburetor
22:37 – I’ve had every Jeep in the world, CJs, YJs, TJs, an LJ and more
31:09 – We had eight batteries, and we’d come into the pit and change the battery, I’d carry it in my lap because the alternator didn’t work
46:37 –so, literally, the whole thing started from Craigslist
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An off-road enthusiast turned competitor, Aaron Armstrong is the man responsible for the WE Rock event site in Bagdad, Arizona. A man with a vision. Join WE Rock March 1 and 2, 2025 at the best cul de sac in AZ. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:48 – I was always trying to find dirt in California to make jumps on
11:13– my first car was a 1987 Toyota 4-runner, since then I’ve had five 4-runners
19:53 – I went down the wrong path, got wrapped up into drugs and alcohol and quickly found myself homeless and out of a job hanging out with the wrong kids – something in my head said, “This is not your life.”
29:56 – One night we were talking, and I was like, “you know what? I Think we should move back home to Arizona.”
39:29 – We went to the Put Up or Shut Up in Congress in 2007, stood out in the rain all day and could not take my eyes off what those vehicles were doing!
56:49 –I hit up the General Manager at the mine, and said, Have you ever seen a rockcrawl? No, what’s that, so I took him out and showed him my vision.
1:09:11 – One of the things that I believe in and that the mine believes in is continuous improvement. That’s what we’re doing to the event site.
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We last checked in with JT Taylor three years ago, so much has changed. If you saw the announcement of a new race at Area BFE on Big Saturday, you want to listen in for the deets. JT spills it all!. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:45 – 284 acres outside of Tulsa that goes up against the river and US Army Corp of Engineers land with 26 miles of trails
12:12– they got hit by a trophy truck in a silt bed north of Loreto; broke the right rear of the car, but we changed it all out and still beat the competition by two hours
18:29 – We built the Nissan as a practice car for the Coronet, I have to learn to drive fast in two-wheel drive on asphalt again.
28:32 – We go out to Rednecks to help Derek and the guys run the races, we got Rugged Radio to donate a bunch of headsets, it was a game changer
30:56– ALL THE DEETS HERE Rock race at Area BFE on Big Saturday during EJS
55:19 –Entries open on March 1
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The engineer’s curse is strong with this one. Brennan Metcalf brings all kinds of goodies to the off-road world. Listen in to a fascinating discussion of mods and parts. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:40 – One of the last summers I was up there, my stepdad came and sat next to me right when he got done haying, and I almost went to the hospital
17:03– I wasn’t really into college that much – ended up doing an on-again, off-again; started into wildland firefighting
27:32 – I’m sitting there with the doc and he goes, “let me see your good knee” I give him the uninjured knee and he’s like, no, no, let me see your good knee.
31:41 – Now, I just get to do, at least right now, I just get to do what I want and that’s building stuff
41:05– “let’s talk about these 300 projects, what is it that ticks in your brain to come up with stuff?” I call it the engineer’s curse
55:06 –I branched off into doing some off-road recovery gear
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Hunter Miller has come a long way since dirt bikes and ATV’s to CanAms capable of racing Dakar and King of the Hammers. Join us for a great conversation of how a boy progresses from two wheels to four. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:44 – When I was two years old, we went camping on a compound where wolves were raised…
9:34– we were racing Oklahoma and the cops showed up and shut the whole thing down
21:09 – that’s one of the attractions of the Hammers, one year a trail is easier, the next year it’s terrible
27:30 – I started paying attention to Dakar in 2020 when Casey Curry went over there, but I didn’t really grasp it until this year
41:02– every time I walk, I turn the wrong direction, but I’m super confident about it! I’m confidently wrong!
48:17 – I flew home like a rockstar, my brother is having breakfast at Casey Curry’s and someone said, jokingly, “why don’t you stay and run 4400?”
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Sometimes, you meet a guy and just know he’s the real deal. As genuine as they come, Nick Cimmarusti has carved out a space for himself in off-road. Whether you see him on the trail sharing his knowledge with others, or in the shop doing the same, Nick will never lead you astray. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:33 – “make sure you don’t leave the keys in the golf cart, or else, he’ll steal it!” I was three years old
11:31 – I got into auto shop, and then it was all over from there – it’s been all automotive from there
18:09 – yeah, it was assault with a deadly weapon, battery with intent to do great bodily injury, and inciting a riot.
28:32 – that’s how my life’s been, as soon as I make something really nice, it gets destroyed
32:11– What came first – Jeepers or Barlow?
38:50 – A lot of things happened in 2016 – Fire Academy, Certification testing and Emily Miller called.
49:27 – it’s a lot of overcoming being uncomfortable in the sand and figuring out what what you can and can’t do
56:52 – The story goes…I met Mike in the middle of the night under the moon to have him give me his wife’s pantyhose
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When you combine art and off-road, you wind up with Rory Ward. A fan since early days, Rory made connections that allowed him to combine his passions and thrive. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:37 – my dad would get Hot VWs magazine and I’d always look up the races, I missed being around that, even at 8-10 years old
18:29 – Ivan (Stewart) was the one that really got me going with the artwork.
21:54 – OMG, I don’t want to be a bellman for 30 years!
27:39 – I’ve got to thank Rob MacCachran, I did some shirts for him and he’s like I’ve got a business proposition for you.
35:58 – I’ve been really fortunate to race some historical race cars with some historical racers
40:29 – I built a four-seater in the 2000s and the artwork is what built it. I traded a lot of art for parts.
52:20 – My forte is the history, I can help with the history of off-road. I’m the self-proclaimed curator for all these off-road cars, and I absolutely love it.
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Most of our podcasts are full of stories, but not many cover the globe from end to end. Patricia Upton and her husband, the late Loren Upton, have completed expeditions that most of us only dream about. Patricia is still adventuring. Listen closely, the trips have twists and turns in countries many of us have never heard of. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
7:02 – I don’t remember being afraid of spiders until we were in Okinawa
15:42 – I was in Panama for 17 years. I got off the plane down there and said, okay, eternal summer, this is where I need to be.
25:06 – That’s when the spark for me to go full-time with the expedition with Loren
31:14 – Loren was away when he got word that Larry had been shot and killed.
41:45 – He wanted a romantic high adventure in the classical sense of an expedition
52:30 – Nowadays, you can’t get anywhere near the plaque that says you’re at the furthest road south on the African continent
1:00:33 – that night, near the Nile, was the only night of the entire trip that we were faced with the reality that we got out butts someplace that could be pretty bad
1:17:14 – we worked because we were desperately out of money
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Falling into automotive without a plan, Gary Haugley has made a career of buggies, cars, and off-road. From building to appraising, car show judging and building stories. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
7:52 – I had no clue, no clue what was going on…
13:33 – I walked into B&R Buggy, the guy who owns it says, “you’ve got to buy this place;” he goes, I got in trouble with a little side job, I’m leaving.
21:22 – I need to know what I need to do to be an appraiser, Tony was real quiet, then he goes, “no, you don’t have questions for me, I got questions for you.”
27:12 – I thought this guy was going to take me out, he goes, “I own a lot of cars. I have a lot of money. I pay a lot of people a lot of money to make sure it’s perfect. You’re the first one to notice it’s not.” He put out his hand and said, thank you.
35:41 – We got him a brand new car, big four-seater, and donated it to him, that’s how I got involved with Warfighter Made
41:18 – The Sergeant Major hated me because I was non-military, he called me out of the blue one day, “I need some help.”
54:39 – they busted their butts with side jobs, and got to keep the buggy, it’s a great story
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Serial entrepreneur, John Williams, owner of Impulse Off Road shares the journey to now, with all the twists and turns. John has had some interesting experiences and is sure to have many more. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:08 – our front yard corner was worn to dirt; that was our goal, was to wear through the grass every year on our motorcycle
13:02 – when I got done with the Land Cruiser, I got 33 1250’s and I thought I was king of the world
20:39 – I had my friend’s dad’s credit card and ordered a lift, I thought, this is the coolest thing ever, I tell people I work for Roberts Auto and I don’t have to pay full price.
27:19– we’ve just been compatible in that aspect; my strong points are not his and his are not mine.
34:03 – they gave me the opportunity to pitch a Raptor program to the higher-ups at Ford when they came out to the track; We created the Raptor Assault program together.
43:34 – You realize you don’t win and lose races in the first 100 miles, it comes down to the last 2-3 miles – it’s how you manage, mitigate risk, and make sure the car is staying together
50:53 – the whole time you’re thinking, why am I here? Why am I doing this? But when you’re done, you can’t wait to do it all over again
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Outdoorsman and Renaissance man, Andrew Paulson can do anything – if he’s interested. In the last fifteen years, we’ve watched Andrew build anything he set his mind to. The stories are fun. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:16 – this is why I always fought the educational institution, I had enough of it when I was a kid
10:08 – I was taught to earn my allowance, I think that was great. You work for it, that has taken me far.
20:03 – I didn’t realize a nail gun at the time was a thousand bucks, it was grand theft, adolescent charge.
36:50 – “I’m sorry, you didn’t get the rock climbing wall attendant job, we’re going to put everybody under you and make you the lead!”
46:15 – If I had the skillset to build it – why not? Why not capitalize on that?
51:19 – On the water, whether I’m catching fish or not, that’s my decompress, where my brain slows down, where the noise shuts down.
1:11:53 – I meet Dustin and Becca Webster, it’s about this time, I realize I’m in way over my head. Four minutes after the National Anthem and I’m on my lid.
1:18:58 – “Hey, we’re going to need help with recovery, we’ve got a car in a tree!”
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No matter your age, follow your passion. That’s what Toby Lavender has been doing for life. Automotive to hunting, Toby excels at all of it, and he’s not done yet. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
8:15 – I always preach to everybody that real formal education in the automotive repair industry is critical these days
18:17 – We flew in just so green to life and travel and didn’t know what the heck to expect and made the best of it
24:01 – I remember the first time we did a Million dollars in one year in sales, my accountant said, yeah, but it cost you $999,000 to do it!
29:48 – My first 10+ years in off-road was in desert racing, I learned you better have a lot of money or you better be able to build your own junk.
35:51 – I didn’t set out to do any of this, but I loved it and we just went with it and grew; Lavender Brothers grew into this 99% four-wheel-drive off-road shop
48:40 – One of my big life passions is hunting and everything related to that
54:19 – the paradigm shift was when I realized my employees were relying on me to provide the opportunity that they were showing up for
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The original hot-rod kid is still playing with V-8s; but now he’s taking them off-road. Tim Ryan, owner of the V8 Swap Shop is revving up as your go-to guy. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3;36 – I got knives pulled on me daily because they knew I had a nickel for milk money
12:08 – they organized the high school drags and all the high schools were invited to participate; me and my friends rand the show because we all had hot rods
21:52 – A buddy of mine had a CJ5, it was an eye catcher; we’d meet girls like crazy when in his Jeep, I was the same guy as the one in the old car, but girls liked Jeeps.
28:48 – My wife says she only wanted a guy with a normal nose and a small truck. Maybe God had a reason to make me buy that truck so I could meet her.
38:49 – So, I ended up ultimately back in the automotive world which is where my heart always was.
43:35 – When is it going to be your Independence Day?
51:22 – Each build is difference, we’re not a cookie-cutter shop.
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From the garage to where it is now, everything happens with hard work and innovation. Aaron Wedeking shares the PRP Origin Story and where they are going now, through the ups and downs and twists and turns. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
9:58 – I did well in school, but mostly, I was just waiting for the weekends!
16:53 – I’ve never set a goal, I just analyze the situation and think, What’s the smartest thing I can do today?
20:00 – We made six seats, I put them in the back of my Ford Ranger and this guy says, I’ll take them all. That’s how we started.
25:08 – I had two weeks of paternity leave from my CPA job, I ditched my wife at the hospital and picked up all the parts of that business to move it. A pretty crappy dad move and a real crappy husband move.
31:54 – It’s either work hard or be really smart, and I’m not, so I had to work hard
38:23 – it’s weird, when you’re in it, everything is stressful, it really fogs your vision.
43:01 – Nobody has come up with a lab test that can recreate exactly what happens in an off-road vehicle.
53:12 – We’re constantly innovating at PRP, and a lot of it comes from use.
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We love couples that work together. Paul and Keri Porter have been together since high school, now with the kids grown, they’ve dropped into four-wheel drive with a vengeance. Training trips, shows, and adventures keep them away from home for more than half the year. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
8:35 – It was definitely a struggle in those days, but we had a lot of fun.
16:49 – I got invited to the Badlands with a girlfriend and came home and told Paul he needed to buy me a Jeep
21:14 – They told us it had a lift on it; it didn’t but we didn’t know what we didn’t know
26:20 – During the club years we met so many who bought this adventure vehicle and didn’t know what to do with it
30:57 – Our business had two parts, we run adventure trips and offer training courses
37:23 – we’ve got big rig trips and beginner trips and not much in between, so we’re trying to fill that gap
46:22 – I love KOH, but I’m thankful we had something to do because we’re not people who just sit around
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Jeff McKinlay, a man of experiences, from milking cows to construction; building steel buildings and rockcrawlers. Jeff has the work ethic to knock everyone out of the park; he’s the best at all he has done. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:38 – Wrestling was what I was good at; ended up four-time state champion, that’s what taught me a good work ethic is the wrestling and the training
12:58 – I realized it’s really hard to get paid when you’re not the guy in charge of the money
20:45 – Kevin was at his shop and had an old Twisted Customs rear steer buggy, I was like, “what in the world is that?”
26:20 – Anybody that’s crawled with Kevin knows that you don’t spot and you don’t help, you better keep up or you’re just getting left.
34:10 – I remember at my youngest son, Kade’s funeral, people were saying, “you did more with that kid in 17 years than most people do with their kids in their entire life.” That was a compliment I feel really good about.
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Tuff Country has been through some changes, from the founding 35 years ago to it’s purchase by a private equity firm to being back in the hands of the founder, Kelly Davis. Kelly shares all the details and what’s coming next. We wish him all the best in his reboot! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:07 – I guess we’ve always been off-road entrepreneurs
6:54 – He said, “swim or sink, it’s up to you. You control your own destiny here.”
12:26 – we really engaged with grassroots events all over the country
16:45 – one thing we really tried to do was control our growth
22:06 – we thought, if we can survive 2008 and climb back out of this hole, we’re going to be some tough dudes
33:02 – they buy you because you are a well-earned machine, you’re profitable, you have value, and then they get away from your core values
43:05 – we made an offer, they accepted and the work started, we had to reboot this thing.
51:13 – Quitten’s easy, man, so easy. The harder you work, the luckier you get.
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Blue Ribbon Coalition Executive Director Ben Burr gives the low-down on what BRC needs right now and shows us how we can be successful in our land use fight. It’s a fascinating take on what is going on in the real world. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:16 – my ancestors settled the Moab area; the Burr Trail is named for them
8:01 – I was always an advisor on these issues, I had pretty deep life experience working on public lands
17:13 – If you would have said I’m going to go from restaurants to politics, I would have been like, how am I going to get there?
25:16 – that’s the operating system running things now, it positioned lawyers to be the key players in this movement, especially on the environmental side
30:19 – and so, it is time to install an operating system that works to the benefit of outdoor recreation users
37:21 – you say exclusionist, I say elitist, it’s a very elitist movement
47:21 – SUWA wants concentrated recreation in just a few areas
53:20 – Call to Action – join BRC, a change in the public land system is going to happen because a bunch of people rise up and demand it
1:01:15 – if everybody who owned an off-road vehicle joined BRC, I’d be bigger than the Sierra club, it’s a $300 million organization – the math maths out on that
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“I just wanna go fast,” Chris Ridgway. Chris joins us from the road as he’s hauling multi-million-dollar cars all over the US. If it’s got wheels, Chris has raced it, from motorcycles to Porches. Some great stories in here. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:35 – I wasn’t the most popular guy, I wasn’t the least liked guy, I was just one of the guys.
10:38 – I was still getting lapped in the ADCC beginner class. I wasn’t good. I just wanted it.
19:51 – It was a way of me feeling important and feeling like people like me, and the thing is, as you know about racing, that’s all that matters.
25:31 – I turned pro in ’91, and I got hurt. The big injury came in, I think, ‘95
40:34 – He said, “someone needs to put you in a car.” And I said, “who’s going to put me in a car?” And he said, I will.
48:13 – I had my leg all bandaged up, and I remember smacking it on the dash and someone’s wife duct taped it back up!
52:47 – He had so much more to lose, I felt like I didn’t have much to lose, and so I would take chances like that
1:06:50 – I was like, dude, we can do these doubles, he’s like, well, what happens if we come up short?
1:14:55 – and when you go to SEMA with Jesse Combs on your arm as your co-driver, you get sponsorship
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All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...
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Helper should be his middle name; always one to give an assist, Bryan Crofts shares life from family Crofts to family Campbell and all the twists in between. Some great stories in here. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
9:39 – when I was a young kid, I always wanted to be a garbage man; they make good money.
15:51 – I had a buddy I went to school with, him and I would go out to Mt Shasta and do fireroads and mud wheeling, it got me interested in doing more
22:53 – I worked for the Sheriffs Department in San Francisco, mostly in the jails. I saw things that I probably wish I hadn’t, it definitely changed my outlook on life
31:17 – “Hey, Jody’s looking to get out of the Stock Mod rig if you’re interested,” and I jumped on it
35:11 – my brother goes, “Hey Bro, why aren’t you racing?”
47:14 – That’s what sparked the interest, it was way cheaper to build two cars at once
53:17 – one of the coolest things that we do, we’re all racing against each other, but we’re all racing with each other, too.
1:01:18 – I was chasing him down and I didn’t see those two rollers, and I hit one and nosed into the second one, and lights out! It knocked me out!
1:12:29 – I’ve got people calling me after the race that that was the one spot they were worried about, as soon as they say me and Bailey there, all their worries went away
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...
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If International Harvester made it, Jeff Ismail knows about it. From printed manuals to Scouts and Travelalls, Jeff has his finger on it. A self-made man, Jeff understands that happy is a choice, join us for a conversation on episode 237. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:29 – my friends were playing and swimming, but not me and my brothers, we were with Dad – raking leaves and edging lawns, doing what we had to do to earn a living
8:50 –some grew up in Ford, some Chevy, some Dodge – we grew up in IHs
17:17– You don’t forget people who race in Scouts; we won a couple of seasons, and it was always by attrition. It looked like the Turtle and the Hare
28:28 – my dad came to me and said, I want to take you back to the home country to get married; I’m like, I’m not ready to get married!
36:36 – my dad goes, “why don’t you just fix up that pole barn out there and start working on Internationals again?” If I got Dad’s blessing, why not?
43:27 – we’ve always had this thing, “If the job makes sense, we’ll take it!”
49:38 – people don’t know me, but they know my truck.
57:23 – Some people are like, Oh, I can’t wait for the future. I know good times, I’m living in good times.
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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All Automotive with Matt Clawson
Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...
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Matt Rowland from Indiana is a bit of an anomaly. A communications major in criminal justice, attends XJ conventions without an XJ, and a builder of fabulous bonfires! Join us for some Midwest history on Episode 236. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:35 – …that might be part of the reason I’ve always had affection for Jeeps
13:50 –my freshman year, we lost to the big high school in Fort Wayne by over 100 points
18:49 – everything auto mechanic-wise, I learned from working on the junk we were driving
31:59 – Tony bought a ’99 TJ and started taking it to the Badlands, in Attica, Indiana
39:24 – In 2005, I got on the police department in Fort Wayne, and I’ll have 20 years next May
44:31 – I had to borrow $1500 from my parents to pay off the loan on the XJ because they said Modified Cherokees were worthless
51:02 – I had a buddy who said, “Hey, are you ever going to settle down and get married?” and I’m like, I guess, maybe.
1:03:45 – The LJ became the family truckster for wheeling, and we changed the bylaws when I was NAXJA President
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...
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Two-for-one this week, George and Lora Leyner are bumbling along the rockcrawling trail. With challenges and trials getting them to the support and friendship they didn’t even know they needed. Join us for a fun conversation with a great couple. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
8:48 – Gone in 60 seconds
11:45 –I had two instructors who really cared about their students, they made an impact on me.
16:24 – when we met we both said, I’m not looking for anything serious
21:10 – I had never been rockcrawling before, it’s so much fun, I rarely get out of the passenger seat
24:43 – my buddies pitched in and bought me a chassis to build as a divorce present
29:06 – The buggy did a lot better than I was expecting since I am not a professional buggy builder
33:25 – we decided it was time to live our lives and follow dreams and just enjoy life
39:10 – We take extra care of making sure I can see where she’s at; it was a freak accident
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Meet Michael Brassanini, the newly crowned WE Rock Unlimited Champion; all-in family man, keeper of dreams, and seeker of goals. Michael fulfills his kid's dreams, too. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:07 – As a kid there didn’t seem like there was a lot to do, looking back, the world was our oyster.
11:11 – It was hard as a kid being taken away from your family, but looking back, it definitely saved me
17:28 – I got hurt a lot, but girls like cowboys, and I like girls!
23:17 – A lot of cold, lonely nights, but I had a drive and a focus and had goals.
28:84 – Motors, big tires, and being outside, wheeling with my friends attracted me to rockcrawling
35:18 – we have a great community of guys and gals that get out, almost on a daily basis there are drivers headed out
41:59 – there are moments in life when you have this epiphany, I had one in Boulder Canyon near Montrose
48:38 – And once you do that stuff in competition, you go out on the trail, and you’re like, oh, hey, maybe this drop isn’t as bad as I thought it was
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There are just too many stories to write notes about; Andy Myers is one of the believers, a man who knows what it’s like to try, to build, to succeed, and to try again. Much respect for a man who walks the walk. Join this self-proclaimed introvert for a wild ride around the world. Thanks, Andy. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
12:56 – I’ve never had a job and I’ve never worked.
22:16 – I dropped out of college after a beef with a marketing professor who gave me an F for a product I’d already sold and was receiving royalty checks on
27:22 – We got into design and opened a factory in Mexico and started making clothes for some pretty big companies, REI, Columbia…
32:09 – I showed the product to Nora’s family and told them, this is what we’re going to make – they’re like, “you should probably go back to bed” it was pretty cute
34:46 – this is the coolest motorcycle story of my life
37:22 – all my life, it’s all I’ve done – offroad and motorcycles and travel and design
44:33 – Wow, I don’t want to go back to living in a truck, I better pull back the reins a little and make some hard business decisions
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Mitch Guthrie Sr. was raised a cowboy and became a Champion UTV Racer. He shares life in the fast lane with us on this episode of Conversations of Big Rich. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:27 – We were always riding horses, I was constantly getting pulled out of school.
8:34 – I heard about Azusa Canyon, back then, it was a wide-open four-wheel drive place
16:23 – It was a passion. It was all I thought about.
28:50 – Back then it was a little tougher without GPS, I remember going the wrong way around the wrong side of the mountain
42:44 – my favorite is the week of KOH when Mitchie is going to race, we drive the sh*t out of those trails
45:40 – Any advice? Yes, pay attention to those who are winning, listen, and be humble
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To keep up with Tracy Valenta, you’re going to need to step up. At 84, Tracy is still the ultimate salesman. On Episode 231, Tracy shares highlights covering the racing years with the Party Ice team. Tracy was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2016. Tracy is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:20 – I bought a ’32 Ford for 50 bucks and was able to rebuild it in Auto Shop
12:34 – I went to Scott McKenzie and said, “ If I could get Rick Mears to drive for me, would you put together a car for me?”
17:01 – There are so many fish in the little bay right at the Bay of LA, I’ve never seen so many fish in my life
20:26 – I bought 1000 seats altogether and sold them at cost just to help Mickey get people interested
29:33 – I felt like I had made it at the Coliseum, Phoenix was big!
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Phil Rawlings has his hands in a lot of things, he has embedded himself in off-road, like many of us. You’ll find him at Salt Lake Off-Road Expo, At Your Leisure, and many other places where voices matter. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:38 – I’m generally a very mellow and chill dude, but I definitely have an adrenaline addiction side
11:52– I got busted for a fix-it ticket, but they’d been after me for a while
21:13 – I have a photographic memory that doesn’t have any film now
36:02 – I found a job that was my favorite ever, I got to design and play with the coolest stuff
49:26 – people said, “you’re from Utah – I didn’t know they had off-road companies in Utah” that bothered me, we’re like the mecca for off-roading!
55:53 – our guiding pillars – promote Utah off-road businesses, promote Utah, and unite the off-road community
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Mark Jensen, founder and engineer of Off-Road Innovations is on Episode 229. Without a background in off-road, Mark got launched into it accidentally. It’s been a heck of a ride. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:32 – I lived in the mountains with redwood trees, coming to Toelle was like being dropped in the middle of the desert, left for dead
11:56– I built an outside-the-box sandrail that was four-wheel drive – essentially the first side-by-side
20:29 – “You know this would be more suited for the rock crawling world.” I said, “The what? What’s rockcrawling?”
26:45 – every time this rock crawling thing would evolve into something more violent, it meant more failures for me
38:00 – Those two words, perfect perseverance and dedication to what you are doing, you will overcome!
51:33 – We’re learning a lot from the car, it adds credibility to actually finish races and be successful
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Bill Sanders on Episode 228, a legendary journalist who excelled in elevating off-road racing to worldwide recognition. At 92 years old, history was made and retold in this interview. We talk about all the racing, writing and sport that Bill has been a part of. Bill was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2014. Bill is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:26 – my first true love was a 1936 Ford three-window coupe flathead
20:21 – I went to Europe by myself and traveled around for about 11 months on $5 a day.
29:04 – “Where’s the rest of the slides?” And I said, I’m not the photographer, I’m the editor.
37:55 – any questions? “Do the service stations in Baja take credit cards?”
49:15 – these guys from Mexico would bring $50,000 cash in a paper bag to California and buy a truck
1:06:42 – about halfway through the race, the suspension broke, but Jean Calvin had her thermos full of coffee that she always took with her
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Whitewater to Off-road, the background of our guests is always fascinating. Join Rich and Chris Walker from Overland Training Canada for more adventure on Episode 227. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:51 – very quickly, I found my passion was the outdoors – mountaineering, kayaking, flying, diving, caving and what have you
12:34– Gosh, I hurt myself a lot, nearly died a couple of times
17:37 – I’m not doing what I’m doing without their grit and determination to kick me into shape to be a good off-road driving instructor
25:14 – just jump out right here, grab your stuff, someone will come get you – I’m literally in the middle of nowhere, there’s no one in sight, I have no cell service and no idea where I am
37:36 – that’s a really hard question, I’ve never found a concise answer…
55:01 – I’ve been doing a lot with a big expedition called the Transglobal Car Expedition
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From Slot cars to NASCAR, Mark Stahl has a storied past in racing, catch up with him on Episode 226. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
2:52 – I guess you could say I was a professional slot car racer
7:29– We went to Tijuana and got a fake birth certificate so I could race at age 16; Cajon Speedway required you to be 18
16:01 – Well, off-road racing, the motto was never give up
26:29 – I pull up at the finish line and Scoop is sitting there in the Blazer, and Parnelli Jones walks up and looks at the number on my hood and just starts cussing
34:08 – If I ever want to race NASCAR, now’s my time – I need to make the move to the south
43:57 – my most memorable event from the NASCAR days was the ’87 Winston 500 at Talladega
1:01:18 – you go through a lot of wives in racing, not because you’re cheating on them, but because you like race cars more than them, race cars don’t talk back
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“If I’m going to weld, it might as well be for myself,” we couldn’t agree more. Join Todd Gronsdahl from Aqualu Industries and Big Rich on Episode 225. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:57 – I took any job I could get because I really didn’t have any skillset
11:15– Rich: I asked your wife, “Is that your boyfriend?” She says, God, no, that’s my husband, my boyfriend would be way older and way richer!
13:30 – I bought a dilapidated Land Cruiser, and I was driving home one day when the roll cage fell through the wheel well onto the tire.
19:06 – the hardest part is just getting the aluminum body as close as you can to replicating the original
30:18 – the biggest challenge of being in Canada and exporting is location, we are packed in a little town in the middle of the mountains, so transportation is a real pain
35:59 – my wife has plans for us to buy a diesel pusher, and hook the vehicle up and go have some fun
37:37 – my simple rule of thumb: don’t spend more than you make and be humble
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Derek Trent, master fabricator and owner of Trent Fab joins us on Episode 224. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
9:11 – a couple of times I got in some trouble with the law and was told to push my motorcycle home
16:16– I was 21 years old and I hit a point where I had to make a “What am I going to do?” decision
24:31 – out of the box, a YJ was pretty damn tough
31:49 – Jason Berger was driving my car and eneded up breaking the TH400 case, I was really disappointed because all I was looking at was all the things that went wrong, that I didn’t do right
38:18 – I was working a job after college and woke up one day and realized that if I didn’t get out then, that was all I was going to do with the rest of my life.
49:03 – I got the invitation to go the very first King of the Hammers, but I really wanted to take my new car and it wasn’t ready. So I missed the very first one, it would have been 14 instead of OG13
58:25 – that’s when the Top Shelf chassis was born
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Bart Jacobs hails from Utah and has participated in every extreme sport the state offers – from skiing to mountain biking to OG rockcrawling. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:41 – I decided, as stupid 16-year-olds do, that drag racing would be fun.
10:40 – I was still ski-jumping and ended up hurting my leg, for rehab, I started mountain biking, and doing longer and longer rides
18:46 – XJ’s didn’t have a great reputation, and still don’t for the people who like frames and such
29:43 – …we watched a lot of other teams, and there was nothing in the back…and the light bulb went on and I thought “OH, maybe if we took some weight out of this thing, it might do a little bit better!”
40:21 – In my first six events, I broke on the first or second obstacle on every event, it was frustrating
48:31 – I got so much from this sport, I feel blessed. The friends I’ve met, the relationships I have and the fun we’ve had doing it – I felt like I needed to give back to the sport
59:19 – I had the midnight to 2 am shift, we had just passed Bimini and started heading in a more Southerly direction…
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Diesel mechanic – because he had to be – Logan Backus shares life in the trenches, the rockcrawling trenches, with all of us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:48 – We were known for the kids in the neighborhood to build the biggest, baddest jumps out there.
14:43 – my dad’s like, “I don’t know why you want a truck like that? They’re expensive and they break.”
25:47 – this is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done – but the owner took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of all things diesel
31:38 – my first trip to Moab, you either have to go far right and get really sketchy or take the big undercuts – I’m sitting there thinking what did I get myself into?
41:46 – that YJ progressed me so much in wheeling that it scared the sh*t out of me
49:20 – why would I spend money to go beat the crap our of my own vehicle – why does that sound like it’s not that fun?
1:01:38 – I hate Cedar City, it’s like 30 minutes from where I live, but I have this vendetta with Cedar
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Meet the Desert Rat in his Desert Toy, John James, D-Toy in the old Pirate days shares his history in rock-crawling. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:57 – We learned how to fight early, and we were little guys, so if one us got in a fight, both of us got in a fight.
15:09 – one of the best things I did, not just going to school in Phoenix, but just moving to Phoenix, it was literally the biggest city I’d ever seen, and living there on my own with my parents six hours away, life lessons!
21:05 – the most awesome part about Pirate 4x4 was the diverse amount of people I met
29:28 – my brother still talks about Lion’s Pride Park, holding on to a ski rope and being lawn darted over the top of this rise
38:20 – it was an off-road race with these clapped out Toyotas all the way to Wrecking Ball
49:42 – Marlin was good at a lot of things, but competing in rock crawling wasn’t one of them, I think his mind just went too fast – I thought, I could drive that rig for him!
58:49 – Back then it was such a foreign thing to do all the Hammer trails in a day, I had an advantage, I knew where they all were.
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Cal Wells III on Episode 220. Such a privilege to interview Cal Wells. We talk about all the racing, racing, racing that Cal has been a part of. Cal was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2020. Cal is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:13 – I could get from Westminster to downtown LA in 35 minutes, and now it takes 3 hours
10:43 – I rode up there, it was like going to heaven; here’s this line on both sides lined with red, white, and blue off-road vehicles
20:23 – my first trip to Baja…
29:07 – That was the first time we raced, we were running down the highway and the engine blew up
43:24 – And if I had a do-over, I would have done things very differently
48:00 – I’m going to go hire Ivan Stewart or Malcolm Smith
1:03:22 – We got the deal for 180 grand, and that first year, I spent 360
1:23:44 – Everything was our own, our own shocks, our own everything.
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From multiple subscriptions to multiple books – Sean P. Holman, writer, editor, businessman, dad. Follow his journey through the media. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:06 – growing up, you could get yourself in as much trouble as you wanted to
8:57 – what can I get away with before my mom would get mad at me for spending money on something I probably didn’t need?
15:38 – offroading was like freedom, you were away from the road, no street signs or anyone telling you what to do
31:28 – At the end of my career, I had been there for 20 years, and I was overseeing all the truck and off-road magazines when they decided to dissolve that part of the business
40:32 – The romanticism of off-roading started for me in the magazine; the problem is we used to be influencers before there were influencers
53:35 – My favorite is the Raptor story, it goes back to 2007, starting with “how did you know?”
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Skyjacker President Lonnie McCurry, Jr. shares his faith, family, and future with us on Episode 218. A strong family man, he brings West Monroe, Louisiana, to life for us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
2:45 – this area of Louisiana is all about hunting, fishing, and family
9:14 – my parents were great about not forcing me into the business – y’all go make an education, get a college degree, and decide your own career path
24:27 – I learned two things doing the competitive side of rockcrawling: 1. It is a lot of work, and two, it’s hard to be competitive if you don’t have the seat time
34:54 – the way my dad worded it 40 years ago, if he built a lift kit, he wanted to feel like he could hand his daughter the keys and her go drive it, knowing she’d be safe
42:20 – We started working with Willy long before Duck Dynasty
54:15 – we focused on the marking side for many years, but we feel like we need to focus more on the manufacturing side for the next few years.
58:04 – let’s talk about family
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Our very own people person, Alan Johnson, has spent a lifetime helping people. With good listening and great photography skills, Alan is a storyteller. I’m proud to call him my friend. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:03 – my dad took typing because that’s where the pretty girls were; he claims typing saved his life.
10:32 – I really wanted to be on the radio, so I showed up at 16 with my FCC disc jockey license and played country music
14:43 – I had my life all planned out, then I fell asleep driving home and broke my face
23:03 – Just because someone has a leadership role or not, doesn’t mean they’re better or worse than you. Every role is important.
31:36 – That’s always my MO at work, start at entry level, work hard, prove who you are, and then move up rapidly.
39:59 – That’s when I discovered my first Jeep, it was basically a motorcycle, but with a roll cage.
48:01 – who’s the one person on your team who never puts their phone down, won’t shut up and can’t build anything? They all laughed and pointed at me!
56:02 – I started working with promoters because my job was to help tell the story of something I was passionate about and loved.
1:07:47 – Imagine life as a piece of paper, most people fill it from top to bottom, left to right, there’s not a blank space anywhere – but life happens in the margins
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Rich Minga got his start in off-road racing, then turned it into a career in the movie business. Stuntman to the stars, winners do daily what losers do occasionally. Rich is a winner. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
9:57 – I thought I’d learn from the school of hard knocks. I was a better student of the universe than the school system
12:43 – It’s not O-N-E, it’s W-O-N; it means WE won the race!
17:24 – he got me across Diablo Dry Lake by Morse Code with a horn, it was crazy
25:10 – It was life-changing; I ran out of gas and had to walk out of Baja, it was horrific
36:28 – The people, the culture, there’s something magical about the people of Baja; I think we’re always celebrated, never tolerated
48:05 – I’ve been klled a bunch and klled a few people as well. That’s what I do; I work as a stuntman in the movie business
52:53 – I was the stunt coordinator for a TV show with no stunts – it makes me a lifeguard at the car wash
1:02:26 – You got to be in the FBI – friends, brothers, or in-laws! It’s the way it works
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World champion speed skier turned rockcrawler, John Hembel, shares techniques in improving all skills on Episode 215. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
9:48 – I worked ski rentals, at the end of the day there’d be a huge pile in the middle of the ski shop; my job was to pair them all up together and put them awayl
17:30 – I actually got a soccer scholarship to a school in Mississippi, but I didn’t like the school
22:40 – the fortunate part is the auto detailing end of things gives you the ability to bring in day-to-day business without knocking on doors
28:57 – It’s the south, so really all you’re wheeling is mud, which is terrible. I hate mud.
36:11 – We’re fortunate in the people we know that we have a lot of really responsible friends who want to save the lands
48:44 – I always knew I wanted to be a pro skier, I loved it so much.
58:01 – when they brought a speed skiing competition to Snowmass, I was like, I got to go out and do that
1:01:55 – I yelled down to the kid, in French, I think I have mad cow disease…then I took my run.
1:08:27 – 2002, I set my record, 2003, I was world champion
1:18:28 – Almost every time we go out rockcrawling, even three and a half years later, I’m learning something new.
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Brent Bradshaw is a master with many things, known for supporting the Samurai community as the hands behind TrailTough, he’s transitioned to a cancer-free simpler life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:24 – my dad was real proud of the parts he was able to sneak home
11:57 – my whole life, I would nail tricycle wheels or lawn mower wheels to 2x4s to make go-karts, whatever rolled, I loved.
18:17 – in those days, I was allowed to get 3 pages of citations, now you get 3 tickets and you’re out.
30:48 – in this neck of the woods, a 4WD vehicle that’s light, nible and small gets you in areas where other people don’t go. That was the key.
37:42 – the builds were mostly to support the Samurai community, I never intended to start a full-on company called Trail Tough, it just blew up.
44:46 – we built the Crustacean, everything was perfect!
57:08 – the first event I won was Tucson, it was not a happy day for Tracy
1:02:56 – life changed when I got cancer. While I was having surgery, Linda was doing research. Cancer feeds on low oxygen, high acid, high sugar environment.
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Justin Hall began as a rockcrawling and racing competitior. Moving from a Suzuki Samurai to an Unlimited car, then jumping over to the 4500 class, Justin grew up in rock sports. If you’re looking to do the same, listen in for some great advice. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:42 – I watched it go from small town to big town with a ridiculous amount of people
8:07 – every break I got, winter, spring, summer, my dad had me work at his company, and I got all the crap jobs, but it taught me a trade
12:42 – my parents knew I’d get myself in trouble with anything more than a 4-cylinder, we settled on a 1988 and and-a-half Suzuki Samurai
18:33 – we picked up a Campbell car and got it put back together, and that car was on the podium every event
23:07 – there are a couple of climbs at Oroville that I was the only person to do unassisted
26:21 – My all-time goal was to beat Tracy
38:13 – It was the biggest waste of money to go 10 miles, but it was the most fun 10 miles I’ve ever had
44:26 – when you’re racing at 100% against somebody, knowing that they’re going to hold their line, it makes it so much more fun
50:29 – at a certain point, you try not to drive with your wallet on the dash
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Land use warrior, Amy Granat, Managing Director of CORVA (California Off Road Vehicle Association) joins us for a discussion of what’s on the table for off-road and why it matters to her. Amy is a leader in the fight to keep public lands open to the public. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:47 – You have to be more calculated, …I call it being pointed but polite
10:17 – not being able to walk was a difficulty until a friend said, “You have a Ford truck, it has four-wheel drive, what are you waiting for?”
13:07 – it’s very tiring having people look at you and what you can’t do, they were looking at me in my truck and seeing what I could do, and that’s a very big difference
18:50 – when people talk about off-roaders, it really upsets me because they’re mischaracterizing our generosity
28:42 – …there are a lot of states like Nevada and Utah that didn’t go through the process, their areas are more at risk
35:07 – this is policy, not politics
49:21 – why wasn’t there access to the Cleveland National Forest for Riverside County? Everyone forgot.
59:24 – if you’re constantly saying not o everything, you end up getting excluded from the table; being at the table is key
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Ivan Stewart on Episode 211. Such a privilege to interview the Ironman. We talk about all the dreams and adventures, and the timing, the all-important timing! Ivan was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Ivan is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
2:19 – the race is almost secondary, the pre-running and the adventure is the real story
10:42 – an automobile is so cool because you can get in your car and set the radio station exactly like you want, and the heater, and…
19:29 – without GPS, you had to remember the course, and the better you were at the that, the more successful you were going to be
26:09 – I said, “Charlotte, the sun should never be rising on our right-hand side!”
35:55 – it wasn’t going to cost a whole lot more to build a desert truck, although it cost a lot to campaign them
40:09 – Sometimes you hit the timing just perfect!
45:21 – You got to have a dream to have a dream come true.
50:47 – I wanted to race off-road, I didn’t want to talk about it!
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Born to a family of Italian immigrants, Butch Arciero and his brothers understood the value of hard work. A lifetime of commitment to that landed him in the Hall of Fame. Butch was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2019. Butch is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:23 – my mom was on the last ship that came out of Naples to the US before they stopped all the shipping when the war broke out
13:26 – “Listen, Frank, if you get good grades next semester, I’m going to give you a present.”
20:13 – my dad always wanted to own a race car
27:23 – Well shoot, I can compete with these guys, and then start winning
32:07 – I remember everybody telling me, if you’re in an area with lots of people, watch for booby traps
43:14 – One of the things with me, if I’m going to do something, I don’t just want to do it, I want to be able to win.
57:25 – I’ve got one more story I have to tell, it happened in Mexico….
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After four full years of podcasting, we bring you the most important episode to date to kick off Season 5. An interview with Sean Pond, the de facto leader of the Halt the Dolores Movement shares why stopping this National Monument designation in its tracks. Please listen on your favorite podcast app and follow-up with the Call to Action. Sean needs our help.
6:12 – what the Navy doesn’t tell you is that you’ll see a whole lot more water than you will see of the world
11:28 – I worked in building 771 at Rocky Flats, the most dangerous building in the world at the time
15:57 – if my close friends were to describe me, they’d tell you I do two things – I hunt and I wheel
23:11 – if you like to hunt and you like off-road and you like the thrill of the chase, it’s a hard habit to break
24:54 – HALT THE DOLORES – let’s talk about what it is and why it matters!
36:29 – it stifles ranching, mining, outdoor recreation, hunting – it affects so many people, it’s a shame
43:53 – google the 30 by 30 agenda and the America the Beautiful Act; over 100 million acres of public land will lose access to for all time
53:36 – if we were standing around at an event talking about this, you’d think it was a conspiracy theory
1:01:49 – CALL TO ACTION: Sign the petition, call your congressman, Share, Share, SHARE, help fund the fight
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Wrong seat filler, Chris Rea, shares perspective on what it takes to be lucky. Listen in as one of the Lost Boys shares how going all in (on whatever you’re doing) has an impact on life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:25 – my dad had to pull me out of t-ball because I was too competitive
9:45 – for my sister and I, sports were life.
13:24 – if you want to play football, you’re 100 pounds.
21:41 – my first foray into offroading was a high school club called Unauthorized
28:36 – in 2005, I realized I was going nowhere and I was going to be nothing, so I joined the military
32:52 – if there was a rule, it was black and white as far as I was concerned.
41:14 – one of my favorite things is that Tracy Jordan is still scared of me
54:17 – I’m just here to stay fit so I can beat my dad
1:05:48 – I’m just some random guy who’s been really lucky to work with amazing teams
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A warrior in all respects, Ray Moon fought in Vietnam and continued fighting for our rights when he returned. Land warriors were as important in the beginning as they are now. Ray was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1979. Ray is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:12 – I had my first encounter with a Jeep in Vietnam and I didn’t know how to drive the damn thing
7:41 – it worked out very well, the military structure, I got it, I grew up.
16:29 – I live in Simi Valley now and volunteer at the Reagan Library, the Presidential Library
29:11 – PTSD is what they call it today, and we all have problems with that, I was no different
35:43 – I became the conservation chairman for Cal Four Wheel Drive
41:23 – There was a woman who was so happy we were closed down so she could take her Buick out and enjoy the posies, and the BLM guy was like, no, if we restrict them, we restrict you
47:16 – we wanted to take a reasonable attitude toward all that
53:51 – you don’t go into any of this stuff for the glory
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Mastercraft has had some powerful owners, from founder Jack Miller to daughter, Peri Kalar, to ORMHOF inductee Robbie Pierce. Hear about how it began all those years ago and the forces behind it. Peri shares some life-changing experiences with you. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:16 – he was in the army and became a parachute rigger, that’s where he learned to sew
9:53 – I worked at Mastercraft as the janitor; but my brother fired me a lot.
13:50 – we used to have soda cans taped to the rollbars, and they would have stuck stubs and tickets.
17:43 – we made a PSSS kit – a Personal Sanitation System in a little brown bag
21:19 – that was the worst and best year of my life because I found out I could survive anything
29:57 – Robbie was my supplier forever, so when I wanted to sell the company, it was perfect
38:13 – when dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s he said, I’d like to make a list of things that are important that I want to remember…
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Family legacy racer, Mark McMillin, chairman of the Board of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame shares life in the McMillin family. It’s all about people, with a few race cars and some river-time thrown in. Mark was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Mark is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
2:46 – My dad used to say, if you want to get something done, give it to somebody who’s busy
12:11 – when I graduated college, there were no jobs for me, interest rates were 19-20%, we weren’t building houses
20:44 – Racing is a big part of our life. It’s not our whole life.
23:07 – why we’ve been successful is because we try hard at everything we do
26:43 – I was never the fastest guy in a buggy, but I always found the finish line
40:54 – “What is your legacy?” Good people!
44:10 – I think this off-road racing fraternity is 99% people cut from the same cloth
49:01 – You don’t have to have a cheat sheet for things you really care about.
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Johnny Campbell, 11-time Baja Champion, Johnny has raced, supported, and managed the American Honda team. A fun listen, Johnny shares stories from around the world. Johnny was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Johnny is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
9:17 – at a local level, I had a couple number one plates. I had a few mentors, I was always following them and watching what they were doing
13:13 – I was 21 when I finally got noticed by American Honda, and a guy who became my absolute hero and mentor
24:26 – Bruce was super humble, super organized, super smart
31:32 – we were professional at pre-running and racing and following ribbons and arrows, but we were novices at trying to navigate off a roadbook
41:57 – I call it 11 time, 17 gives people the illusion I rode it all
53:35 – We’ve built a program around Rancho Santa Maria, the school and orphanage that every year we do an event called the Baja Beach Bash
59:56 – ORMHOF was a really big point in my career; I think as a racer, it’s more than just racing, it’s how have you impacted the sport?
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TV Personality, Brendon Thompson, enlightens on us on the finer points of being on American Chopper – the builds, the craziness; but that’s not all, we get insight into his early life and his parenting, throw in a little 5150 racing and you’ve got the full meal deal. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:24 – my older brother was always the helping hand for me, picking me back up when I was doing wrong; he kept me on track
8:47 – I almost got fired because I didn’t know fractions, couldn’t read a tape measure
18:47 – My boss wanted to semi-retire so he passed off the gas tanks to me, I just started doing my own thing.
22:19 – in 2010, that’s when I got that phone call to see if I wanted to come build a bike with Paul Jr. on television
36:13 – you don’t need to create the drama, the drama was there, it was craziness.
48:41 – We did a lot of cool stuff, I’ve had a lot of cool experiences with the show, with Paul.
51:47 – it was a big deal because we parked in Tracy Jordan’s spot, they’re like, you gotta move, Tracy’s here – we were like, okay, whatever.
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FigSpeed honcho, Les Figueroa dishes about drag racing, off-road, and being at “that” level with the big boys. It’s a great listen, plenty of stories to keep you entertained. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:17 – I still have the car that my dad raced and bought in 1970
16:59 – knowing I always loved drag racing, I took the position at Mallory Ignition making minimum wage; about $4.25 an hour
20:32 – all the events I was able to work at, I was also able to race at. The people on the West Coast thought I was an East Coast racer…I never told anyone I was new.
23:48 – so leaving the starting line as close to perfect as possible was the name of the game
28:17 – being there for Speed Week was awesome, we stayed at the Speedway Motel by the Brickyard, Mario Andretti’s room was down the hall, and Jeff was next to him, once you were in at that level, it was one big, huge family.
34:28 – Our company Fig Speed had a great relationship with Lucas Oil
42:51 – I got kicked out for one of the Pedagon Brothers, the thing is, nobody told me I was kicked out, I had to read it in National Dragster
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All American racing family, we’d like to introduce you to Andy DeVercelly – numbers, 2,3,4, and 5. #2 is 93 years young and raced in the first Baja 1000; #5 just graduated to go-karts from mini-dwarf cars. It’s a fun listen of four generations of racers. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:14 – Andy 2 – the bullfighter is my car, I hit a bull on the highway just before LaPaz
12:48 – Andy 2 – I had no idea at all where I was, there were like three street signs down there
19:00 – Andy 3 – my grandpa was an Ironman kind of guy, no one else could drive the car
25:06 – Andy 3 – Now that I’ve retired, I get the pleasure and fun of it all to go work with my son
31:36 – Andy 4 – so as far as 4 wheels, he’s still a few years out – he’s just tall enough now to start learning
39:26 – Andy 2 – the big thing was the energy, the energy that the people have down there for the 1000 is next level
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Our favorite pirate, Todd Young, shares life in the hood, work, rockcrawling, and unexpected life changes. This is a great one, if you’ve ever had a chance to be around Todd, you’ll appreciate that he tells it like it is. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:57 – My dad was always a brawler, So I was born with the expectation that you solved everything with a good fistfight.
10:58 – I kind of fell into the weld shop, they had us welding right away
19:20 – I don’t do rules and politics very well, at I stage I got fed up and wallpapered the whole back wall of the shop with all those memos and stuff
30:12 – I got into a six-foot snowbank and slid off the edge, and that 4Runner wasn’t nearly as capable as I thought it was
38:42 – So off we go to Goldendale, and sure enough, Big Rich and Little Rich are throwing the biggest rock crawling soiree…and I’m like, that’s my kind of people right there
45:59 – Next thing I know, we’re rounding up rocks and culverts and throwing some fun crawls in our backyard for our local rockcrawling club
53:27– Well, ditch the bike and I’m going to shoulder roll this wreck out; I hit a lot harder than I thought
59:33 – My whole world was shrinking, the doctor goes, I’m just going to throw this out there, not to alarm you, but we can cut it off and I’ll have you back to work in six, eight weeks.
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Mary McGee is a legend in off-road racing; solo’d the Baja 500 on a bike as the first person to do so; a woman who never learned to quit and always said yes to everything offered. She thinks she’s the luckiest woman ever, her history is a great story. Mary was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2023. Mary is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:31 – My 9-year-old brother and myself (age 5), by ourselves went on the steamship from Juneau to Seattle
19:29 – Vashak said to Dan, Mary, she should road race the motorcycles, make even smoother than the car.
24:45 – Women couldn’t have credit cards in their name, they couldn’t have anything in their own name.
29:41 – “Are you motorcycle people?” yes, “You have to leave”
34:24 – my friend, Steve McQueen, said, “Mary, you have got to get off that pansy road racing bike and come out to the desert.” Will I have to get dirty?
55:48 – We only made it to El Arco and it was freezing; I went around and around that fire and got myself nice and hot and went right over to those two guys sleeping on cardboard and slithered right in between them
1:10:34 – Once you start something, you should see it through to the end, however it goes.
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Cowboy Matt Deas, one of the OG rockcrawlers hails from North Carolina where he raises kids and horses. Matt shares with us some great stories about rockcrawling in the early days.. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:16 – Man, I love my childhood going to school and stuff, there were 89 of us in my graduating
10:43 – Once I got healed, I started ordering parts and got me a trail rig
17:11 – from 02-03 the sport evolved more, more participants and stuff
22:07 – Jellico was always my favorite because that’s where it all started for me
29:44 – Probably the WE Rock in ’07 we ended up third, but I remember the level of competition was huge
38:56 – I want to say it was ’10 a lot of people were coming back, they caught their breath and was like, hey, we survived the storm
47:01 – I’m going to treat myself for a while, I’m going to treat myself for a while, I made it three weeks
57:44 – We ought to put a show on, get some sponsorship and really pump it up – you woulda been proud of me.
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Nicole Pitell brings her own brand of hype to every conversation, she shares the inside scoop of Total Chaos to the podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:12 – at the end of the day, it’s what makes each of us individually happy is what’s going to elevate you and take you to the next level
12:05 – I want noted for the record, I suck at driving in mud
19:47 – our product line comes from having to build better parts for our friends who were pitting for us
25:44 – I think you need good competition to elevate your innovation and your passion
32:50 – they just let me go full stupid down south of the border
41:33 – An all women’s? That sounds horrible was the first thing I said to her.
46:03 – I really like to have fun in life, no bad days
55:12 – I don’t hang around with people that aren’t motivated, inspired, and driven every day
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Glenn Classen made a big move from South Africa to the US to expand his market for shock absorbers – almost 20 years in, he’s continued to grow and develop Radflo for the off-road market. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:46 – as a kid, being aware of anything socially or politically about how the country ran you weren’t aware of until much later
11:44 – let’s fire this thing back up, we made parts and started selling shocks
13:01 – in any business, there’s massive swings of good luck and bad
16:11 – that’s how I sold it to my wife, we’d come over to the US for two years and then go home
23:04 – I came over here and very quickly realized that this was a massive pond and I was a very small fish
33:23 – we are just a shock manufacturer
38:44 – we make shocks to suit the different lift kit manufacturers, we don’t do generic
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Stan Haynes has rock sports under his skin; a long-time supporter of both series and competitors, Stan shares life in a family-run business with us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:07 – I thought I was getting drafted to go die in Vietnam
11:24 – 57’ Chevy, I hot-rodded the heck out of it
15:52 – we still continue with Branik doing foundry work and ceating master tooling, molds, and dies making thousands of parts and a foundry and castings
19:50 – in starting a business you’re going to go through hard times, but be prepared and try to always have the attitude of don’t give up
28:49 – I started going to King of the Hammers in ’09 and two years later we’re racing
32:17 – I love free market, I love capitalism, it really enhances a business to be better.
41:52 – What a beautiful place of God’s Green Earth, everyone needs to experience the Rubicon, am I right?
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Steven Adams is a lighting master; one of the founders of Rigid Lights, he’s stepped up again with Nacho Offroad Technology. The world is brighter with Steve in it, be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:33 – I’m sure he thought I would just throw my life away because I wasn’t being an airline pilot
17:16 – I pulled up Bender’s How to Bend Tech 101 and taught myself how to make a light bar
21:38 – Hey, if you’re going to do this, here’s what you need to do…
28:14 – We need to make this an American made light
38:38 – not that making money is a bad thing, but that was the only thing
48:24 – I didn’t realize you don’t have scientists growing week, you have stoners growing weed
57:18 – We’re not going to do anything if we don’t have fun doing it!
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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YouTube star Nicole Johnson brings a load of experience to her channel, she’s on a mission to drive everything – but we shouldn’t be surprised she’s already mastered race cars, rockcrawlers, and Monster trucks! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:36 – Snow? People live in snow, that must suck!
16:20 – Frank would just…it was really cure, he would stand up and be like, “that’s my wife!”
23:25 – we’re just enthusiasts, we love to target shoot
29:04 – the buggy we bought was so capable, it out drove me every time
35:37 – that $400 is going to cost you how many hours to really get that relationship where it needs to be
45:48 – “when I lower my arm, floor it and go 20 feet.” when you floor it, it’s going to have some torque squat
1:00:51 – I was always telling my kids, you guys should appreciate me more, I’m super cool!
Subscribe to Nicole’s Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleJohnsonsDetour
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Meet Emme Hall, off-road racer, Miata lover, cat herder, and freelance journalist. A woman of many talents and a bright personality, you’ll enjoy this one! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:30 – I was never the ingenue; I’m way too weird for that!
10:42 – because life is too short to drive something that isn’t fun
19:22 – I was in my late 30’s. That’s old to start racing, because you got fear.
31:11 – So you should see these straight lines, and there are people where it looks like spaghetti!
35:39 – I got to drive with Tanner Faust riding right seat for me
43:17 – At the Mint 400, Matt Martelli gave us a gambler class, they gave us 100 miles, one lap.
54:00 – That sounds good, let’s get a $400,000 Cullinan to take on an off-road rally
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Don Amador has been a land user for a lifetime, and a land use warrior for almost as long. Don was inducted into the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2016. Don is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:24 – the happiest day of my life being a Native Californian was moving back to Northern California
12:00 – I guess my activism scared a couple of board members, so I got uninvited from the board
16:23 – I was appointed by Pete Wilson in ’94 to be on the OHV Commission of State Parks
22:30 – moving from unmanaged to managed recreation has really benefited OHV on a national scale
30:53 – a lot of our offroad opportunities occur at the local level with decisions made by local land managers
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Buggy builder, Joe Thompson lays it all out in Episode 190; self-taught welder and bike enthusiast, Joe brings his varied background to the winningest drivers. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:08 – I would think to myself, there’s a bada**, I want to be like that!
13:19 – even when I was a BMX grom, I was glued to ESPN watching the Baja 1000
21:24 – “Are you any good?” Well, I’ve been told I have a good hand.
29:18 – We’d always park the buggy on the street with a giant welding sign and an arrow pointing to the shop; I got lots of work from that.
39:35 – I know what’s wrong, I can fix it, Marcos totally blew me off
53:58 – the Gomez brothers and I are partners in winning, that’s what we’re partners in
58:50 – I see the fully independent cars being the future.
1:16:31 – The uniqueness of our sport is incredible
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Ed Pearlman was ahead of his time, creating the first Mexican 1000 which later translated into NORRA; he founded the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, as well. Today we remember him with a conversation with his son, Mike Pearlman. Ed is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:10 – we never saw a Land Cruiser before, it was a real Tarzan vehicle back then.
8:18 – if we can only get 60 entries, at $100 an entry, that’d be enough to pay for the event
11:37 – you misunderstood, this is the Off Road Rally Association, it’s not a race, it’s a rally
22:11 – why don’t we just put on a vintage race?
34:43 – it all started because Dad wanted to take his kid hunting
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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I don’t want to say Val Douglas is a catastrophe because wherever she is, there’s a whole lot of fun going on. Listen in on some great stories from this off-road maven; and her connections to some of the biggest brands in off-road. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
7:17 – I would take my 88 t-bird and follow the guys, my dad loved me for that.
20:46 – I was shell-shocked, Grand Junction to Laramie to Atlanta; I was over it.
24:38 – go pack these bearings full of grease, then stick them in this tube, and don’t drop them on the floor!
37:55 – in Colorado, you have to stay on the trail, it’s not like an open OHV area, Colorado is a big stickler for that
45:21 – the start of the yard sale at Potato Salad Hill….{be sure to listen to this one}
1:04.35 – competing was a whole different ballgame
1:10:35 – queen of the Rubicon Rodeo; champion bull rider
1:19:59 – my giant black German Shepherd is a personal protection dog; he won’t bite you until I tell him to
1:31:54 – what is the sweep team?
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Rebelle Rally 3x champion, Melissa Clark, shares her life in off-road from Pritchett Canyon to the Glamis Sand Dunes. A Ford-sponsored driver, Melissa brings Tread Lightly! policies to everyone she teaches. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:00 – I still consider myself an OR nurse
9:05 – …it got me close to Magic Moab
16:56 – my real gateway drug was definitely Moab
23:28 – we teach good, solid off-road techniques and then the nuances of the Bronco
35:37 – I’m very competitive by nature, so I like games
40:57 – the suffering aspect of the Rebelle is what makes the finishing so sweet
49:42 – your vehicle is your third teammate and there are pros and cons to every person on the team
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Some men are always motivated, Clyde Bynum, the godfather of rock-bouncing shares his best advice on Episode 186. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
9:17 – the truth is, I enjoy work
13:45 – we focused on mini-trucks until about 10 years ago
17:59 – climbing hills is something I’ve done since the days of the three-wheeler
24:52 – if it went bad, you were going to cartwheel multiple times back to the bottom
35:03 – Timmie Cameron has been probably the biggest name
43:17 – Bobby Tanner gave my son CJ the chance to drive
49:36 – I studied for 24 hours and became a national satellite installer so that I can cross this bridge at my first event
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A champion of vocational education, Scott Taylor is a winning short course racer, race shop owner, and manufacturer of performance competition parts. Congratulations to Scott Taylor, a 2022 inductee into ORMHOF; Scott is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:41 – I would take things apart I shouldn’t take apart
10:38 – I advocate deeply with high schools on how important it is to keep the five things of vocational training…
19:29 – I had a really good car and I drove the wheels off of it
27:29 – He was a lot faster than me, but I had my eyes set on somebody I had to beat
36:26 – we weren’t cheating, but we were building our own stuff and ahead of our times
45:25 – it’s like an old girlfriend calling you up after 10 years and wanting to start dating again
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Some personalities just transcend the airways; Chris Bolger is one of those. Always a storyteller at heart. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
7:26 – when I say I was a nerd, I mean mathlete, academic decathlon, and all the nerd stuff you could possibly do
10:12 – I never really got into breaking stuff off-road until I got in the army
16:05 – legal drinking age is four foot six, as long as you can see over the top of the bar
21:00 – George was a genius, he figured he couldn’t get enough tires from all the manufacturers, so he would just make his own
31:36 – you had two larger-than-life personalities trying to make something awesome happen
38:33 – the best thing about my time with KOH was the friends I developed
43:50 – I tried to quit the industry, Rich, I really did
49:14 – I’m 20 whatever years old, doing bikini model fittings because I can sew.
54:54 – My daughter is scary, she’s 12 years old, running her own business, and she goes with me to midget wrestling matches
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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We can’t always plan our lives, an accident near the start of his career put Evan Evans in a wheelchair. But that didn’t slow him down; Evan went on to win 57 times and six Championships! Congratulations to Evan Evans, a 2023 inductee into ORMHOF; Evan is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:40 – when we stayed in Ensenada as a kid, I would use stickers like money
7:50 – it was John Nelson who gave me my shot at racing
12:31 – “you driving this pre-runner Datsun, which isn’t even a real race truck, is like you winning overall”
20:15 – I went through rehab in four months…two days later, I was in the race truck at the Baja 1000 starting line
26:34 – I needed a hell of a brake system to get enough power to stop the vehicle with my arms
30:35 – I only had $8K to go back and race a full season
37:33 – at this point, only myself and Dale Earnhardt, Sr had two contracts with Chevrolet as spokespersons and race car drivers
47:07 – all my heroes are in ORMHOF; to be included is a huge honor
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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What do glitter and rockcrawling have in common? Only the lightning strikes of Erik “Camo” Linker – Camo is the co-founder of Pirate 4x4 and a good friend; we are thrilled to have him on the podcast (finally!) Buckle up; you are in for an adventure. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
7:26 – growing up in the era was magical; I tease my mom that we raised ourselves
15:34 – “the bad news is you don’t have enough credits to graduate, the good news is we don’t want you back”
23:46 – Over the next 18 years, we turned the business into what everybody knows as the Glitter King
28:40 – I broke my neck crashing, I was better at crashing than winning
31:20 – that was my first connection on Pirate with my fake internet friends became real
41:16 – we just went with the mindset of destroying sh*t
52:29 – the thing I’m most proud of with Pirate years is how it enabled so many people to make a business out of something they loved
1:07:37 – that’s what the internet is best at and Pirate was the best of the best
1:16:37 – the offroad angels (this is one of my favorite stories EVER!)
1:40:11 – the sale of Pirate 4x4
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Warning: For mature audiences only. To say Jody Everding has a storied past is an understatement. Jody tells it like it was and it’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:26 – I played a little flag football with the after-school kids, but I was always the last kid picked
15:34 – being a punk, skinny little kid, they used to call me Wormy
22:40 – “how are you going to buy parts? Offroading is expensive!” – I’m gonna be famous!
30:57 – I hauled my stuff up there and I had intended to compete but I just petered out
40:09 – nobody talks to the new spotter guy, you’re like a second class citizen, low level flunky
48:14 – it was an unfair advantage for me
56:15 – it was a little of what I’d learned from Dustin about looking like a million bucks!
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Land use warrior Matt Westrich brings his Army experience to the battlefields of organizational combat. Matt has great experience and knowledge to share with all of us. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:44 – Al Bundy is modeled after me
8:30 – Utah, where the heck is Utah?
22:36 – I get into announcing because nobody else in the club wanted to pick up a microphone
26:54 – Craig goes to push me, and I’m like, what are you doing?
39:27 – In the land use community, we have had to fight heavily to keep the area from being developed
45:39 – Land use is a fickle thing; nobody wants to talk about it
53:17 – I did $19,000 worth of body damage to my PowerWagon
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Advocacy and education are what ORMHOF inductee Jim Bramham, brings to the table. Leading the fight for years in preserving public lands, Jim does the hard part, a walking encyclopedia of OHV knowledge and land use, we are pleased to introduce him to more than California. Congratulations to Jim Bramham, a 2018 inductee into ORMHOF; Jim is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
6:51 – my neighbor bought a Jeep and I spent hours in his garage asking questions
11:29 – “You’re not going to college; you’re coming to work here.”
15:34 – to this day, I’ve never seen anything that would do snow like that Travelall.
20:19 – you can’t ruin what you want to play with
26:32 – it really hurt to see somebody so dedicated to a place…have to accept that it was just going to go away
38:36 – the fact that a law enforcement presence exists, helps not just with OHV management, but with the management of all potential problems in the forest
43:15 – it’s the campfire circle that’s going to push this information to the public
49:40 – that’s going to be the push, to eliminate the randomness
55:44 – the Senate is the War Zone over land use, it always will be
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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ORMHOF inductee Curt Leduc, Class of 2015, shares some great storytelling; living life to the best of his abilities, Curt has made his own luck along the way with hard work and dedication to his craft. Congratulations to Curt Leduc, a 2015 inductee into ORMHOF; Curt is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:10 – between mini-skirts and mary jane, it made for a very challenging time
8:58 – the entrepreneurs in this country are C students…looking out the window…thinking about what they’re going to do
14:58 –come outside, I want to show you something…
24:10 – “What scares you?” I had to think, the only thing that scares me is failure
31:13 – there’s two ways we can do this…
41:42 – oh, I want to go to Dakar
54:28 – I call it Paul because I’m stealing from Peter to build Paul
1:01:22 – when my boys started racing, they had to go to every sponsorship meeting, because I wanted them to hear what the people wanted
1:18:24 – his immune system is down, but his spirits are up
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Classic over-achiever, Laura Butcher, shares an unparalleled perspective into off-road. Currently heading up VORRA and Farmy’s Off Road Park, along with her full-time gig at Tread Lightly! Laura is a wonder. Listen in on the experience she brings to the table. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:05 – “are you willing to give welding a shot and be on the Ag Mechanics team?”
22:09 – In EMS, if you can make it in Vegas, you can make it anywhere. I became addicted to the chaos
30:41 – it was 58 below, I ended up with second-degree burns along my rib cage
36:03 – when my brother said, Can you please come home, I came home.
47:24 – everything forward became very serendipitous, starting with the Rebelle Rally
59:41 – We had the VORRA name, now what?
1:09:19 – It all ties together between VORRA, Tread Lightly! and Farmy’s – what led me there was my constant difficulty with BLM permitting.
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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There’s never a direct path to the finish line. Don Moss started in Demo Derbies, raced Circle Track, and then found his way to Class 3 Championships. If you’ve ever wondered how to get into off-road, this is what it’s all about. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
7:50 – It’s a long ways to any parts stores in Bishop
13:28 – I think I was in college before I bought a car that I actually drove home
25:53 – we figured out how to save the cars and how to build the cars and what cars to start with
32:15 – each time you add a person, you add about 30 minutes to your departure time
44:19 – we talked about what it would take to do a 2000-mile race and came up with the ’79 Bronco
52:49 – we’ve got five of the Toyota True Grit awards for finishing all the miles of all the races in the season
56:26 – we’re never going to be able to catch anybody to hit anybody
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ORMHOF inductee Chris Collard, Class of 2015, shares some great storytelling, which is right in his wheelhouse. Who knew you could go from UPS driver to premier magazine editor and writer? That’s my favorite part of the story, how Chris gets invited and takes the opportunity to get in the room. So grateful to interview long-time history-makers in the industry.
Congratulations to Chris Collard, a 2015 inductee into ORMHOF; Chris is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:00 – surfing or milking goats, which would you do?
9:03 – I worked since I could walk
19:54 –The UPS guys were the world sex symbols
29:14 – I’m on a first-class flight, and Mark Smith was querying me; the finale – damn kid, get off your ass and do it!
32:21 – if you’re going to be a photographer, you better be a writer, too!
39:45 – good storytellers put you in the seat with them
49:22 – The story starts…I remember being in Zambia (be sure to listen to this one!)
53:46 – I’m historically an optimist, but I’ve had some moments…this one time in Morocco (another great story!)
59:06 – I’ll take some morphine for the road
1:07:03 – The runway is like a worm, but don’t worry, the pilots have some vodka before they land
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Renowned automotive photographer Boyd Jaynes is a publisher, off-road racer, and head of the Dusty Times publication. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
8:03 – I really aspired to be an artist like my mom, but I couldn’t draw to save my life
13:16 – I bought myself a little Honda scooter before I had a driver’s license and railroaded my mom to thinking it was legal
20:45 – I had a one-in-a-million photography teacher in high school
34:22 – hey dude, you can’t send us film anymore, they were insistent
42:48 – I went to places that back then were crazy to go to… every time they told us not to do something, that’s exactly what we did
49:45 – and then I learned I can make a living shooting automobiles – this is so cool!
56:28 – we should find an old truck and try to do that, well, we should get an old Bronco, and that’s what we did
1:04:20 – what dusty Times used to be was not lost on me, what it was was a revered publication.
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Have you been looking at portals for your Jeep, Bronco or Tacoma, we found your source. Quinn Pultz at 74 Weld gives the low-down on building his business. Great stories, good insight. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:45 – I followed my brother's footsteps in everything he did, if he wanted to do it, I naturally wanted to do it too
18:22 – If you really want to prepare somebody for college, hand them a packet of information and say, we’re going to test you on this, go study.
23:47 – the engineers we’re training nowadays can draw a doorknob, they have no idea how it works or how it’s made
32:20 – I got into a Jeep, broke the rear track bar mount, paid $500 to fix it and broke it the next weekend, I thought, I can’t afford to do this!
40:53 – making your living off somebody’s hobby is a difficult thing to do
48:26 – I was so focused I couldn’t make it out of my shop for anything, so I peed in a bucket in the corner
53:51 – it’s really how I got where I got is asking questions of the right people who are willing to teach me along the way
1:26:21 – I believe if I’m going to develop a product, it’s got to fall into one of three categories…
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Technically homeless, Travis C. Bunch lives in Moab with his ten cars. Yep, that says cars, not cats. Travis produces the Flat Fender Aficionado, a storytelling periodical. He’s got great insight into the world of Jeeps. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:35 – with a Jeep you can turn it off when you’re getting over your head
12:29 – I’ve had over 62 cars so far, around 30 of them have been Jeeps
21:47 – You guys are living in a school bus, right?
27:29 – it took me a while to get over the programmed fear of getting shot on private property to be able to explore public lands
35:12 – we call those guys freegans
41:15 – I always say you got to have a love for pain and suffering if you’re going to be a flat fender driver
58:13 – the Go Devil Run is more of a reenactment of what the people do with the WWII stuff
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ORMHOF inductee Brian Chuchua, Class of 1978, drops some cherry bombs on us as he tells the Jeep history from the beginning. From paying $5,000 for a Jeep franchise to participating in year 2 of Jeep Jamboree to racing the first Mexican 1000 and founding SEMA. So grateful to interview long-time history-makers in the industry. Congratulations to Brian Chuchua, a 1978 inductee into ORMHOF, Brian is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:09 – education today is not career-advancing, for sure
10:59 – I was drag racing my Jeep with the V8 at all the local drag strips
14:28 – I made the cover of Popular Mechanics
17:24 – the Pan American highway existed, but the bridges did not, so you had to ford all these rivers
25:15 – I drove my Jeep up the steps of the Sydney Opera House
30:09 – we built the first Blazer and sold the name to Chevrolet
36:54 – the original SEMA was to fight the legislation on wheels
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Community-minded, Tyler Laursen is on episode 170 of Conversations with Big Rich. Tyler brings a rich history of giving back to the industry, from improving products at MorrFlate to educating wheelers on best practices on the SnailTrail 4x4 podcast; listen in to see what all he’s up to. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
10:45 – You’ve got everything within two hours of Sac; the beach, hunting, the mountains, wheeling, whitewater rafting
15:13 – if you’re passionate about something, I found the best way to make sure it succeeds is just do it and take it over
19:57 – Right place, right time with a good product that solved a major pain point
33:03 – I hate patents; I think they are something companies hide behind to hide bad customer service
38:24 – I’m all for DIY; there’s a lot of really rad stuff in the industry that came from the garage
44:31 – it’s people who love going out wheeling and love helping people
57:53 – Toyota first Gens are like legos; you just put them together and bolt them together
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Class of 1978 inductee Vic Wilson comes with many accolades including the first ever winner of the Mexican 1000 in 1967. Long-time racer, track promotor and Volkswagen guy, Vic brings the memories alive for us. Congratulations to Vic Wilson, a 1978 inductee into ORMHOF, Vic Wilson is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
7:06 – in those days, dirt bikes weren’t available
14:21 – I modified the mount for the 50 caliber machine gun to make a roll bar
19:34 – “you enjoy racing, how would you like to drive my Meyer’s Manx in this first race?”
29:14 – no pit stops, no gas stations, Bruce organized people to be at certain locations to fuel us.
38:10 – I raced the Toyota Land Cruiser, broke my nose because the thing is so bloody heavy in the front
44:20 – because of my involvement in Saddleback Park, I got to build, design and layout offroad vehicle parks in California
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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King of the Motos, Rebelle Rally, Dirt Bike Test, Dakar, and the Jimmy Lewis Off-Road Riding School… there are a lot of balls in the air for a self-proclaimed washed-up motorcycle racer. Take a trip around the world with Jimmy and Rich while they talk about the evolution of motorcycles in off-road. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:15 – I was only interested in school because it kept the motorcycles coming
11:18 – the original deal was we would ride once a month; it wasn’t going to become a thing
20:20 – I want to do this, how can you race and make money?
30:11 – I was really enjoying what I was doing, basically living in my box van, traveling around the country, and racing
34:10 – “Hey, do you want my job?”
38:54 – “We might be able to put something together for Dakar” – so, it was game on!
48:19 – you train and you focus and you do the right thing
58:03 – The way I like to put it is I ride the race, I don’t race the race
1:06:14 – I understood our audience, I knew who I was talking to
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Family man, Nate Hurst – the milkman, joins us on Episode 167 to talk about competitive rockcrawling, Rock Crawlers for Sale, and the Delta Classic Rock Crawl. Still on a high from a great weekend at Delta, Nate tells some funny stories about him and Ryan Maxfield. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:52 – It was a curse, doing well in school pretty easily, it was a curse
12:18 – it was really awesome until 3 months ago, our bank collapsed in outstanding fashion
17:01 – my dad’s desire to work on stuff himself molded me a bit
22:06 – then, in 2008, I bought the current XJ I have, Snowflake
28:43 – “Well, are you going around for the bonus line?” I was like, year, I’m doing the bonus line!
36:51 – I have the big check for $45 hanging in my garage
41:56 – the relationship is crazy because we’ve got each others lives in our hands
51:15 – He’s like, where’s the cone at? And she held her hands right up in the air, and then patted the cone three or four time – the cones’ right here!
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If you’re a military vet, look up Admiral Mike with Mag7 and WarFighter Made, you’ll likely find him in Baja; he’ll help you find your family. Offroad or military, there is so much love. Mike tells a great story and the history of Mag7 – real and embellished. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:43 – I decided I needed something that was a little more comfortable to drive, so I moved up to a class 9
9:29 – What I love about this offroad community is my family, my earned family
15:40 – there is the truth, and then there is the embellishments of the truth
25:05 – The logistics is what makes us successful
34:13 – I look at what we do in Mag7; it’s almost like a special forces organization, they’re self-selecting in what they do
47:48 – I’m absolutely convinced that we lose 22 vets a day to suicide because they’ve lost a sense of purpose and they’ve lost that military family
53:29 – people don’t know that Bruce Meyers was a real hero in World War II
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Larry Minor credits his friends for a great racing career, from Rodney Hall to Herman Booy to Bill Stroppe – they all started at the beginning. It’s always a great time to be in off-road, but the beginning was pure magic. Following a compass or a paper map is very different than what we do today. Congratulations to Larry Minor, a 2005 inductee into ORMHOF, Larry Minor is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
6:29 – of all the things I’ve done in life, I think I miss growing potatoes the most
10:18 – my hot rod was just a wood one, couple of 2x4’s and an apple box
14:38 – the three of us together, there wasn’t anything we couldn’t build right
19:07 – we had a banner year driving the Broncos; after that Rod continued to drive the 4x4’s
22:15 – he smoked the tires and hit the guardrail and the other guardrail, it was a mess!
31:56 – I better buckle down and watch the business and quit the driving part
37:17 – I took 18 Girl Scouts and 13 parents to the Winter Nationals!
42:13 – Bill Stroppe taught me the professional part of racing and how to prepare your cars
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Are you headed to the Delta Classic Rock Crawl this weekend? Listen in to this great interview with Ryan Maxfield to hear all the details. It’s not just about Delta; it’s about life in Utah, building a business, and addictive rockcrawling. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
4:39 – we were definitely skipping out on school to go ride instead of sitting in class
10:50 – I discovered Pirate 4x4; I’ll probably never financially recover from that
18:20 – that was the day, I was like, I need a buggy in my life
24:04 – we underestimated stepping up to pro courses
37:26 – I didn’t have a ton of motivation to make events this year, then I watched the live feed, and I’ve been on the sidelines long enough
51:35 – Delta will always have a special place in my heart; when we got the opportunity to take it over, it was a no-brainer
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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We don’t tend to think of influencers in the octogenarian stage, but Bob Ham certainly qualifies. Bob spent his career influencing people where it mattered, in land use advocacy in the California State Legislature. From forming CORVA to being on the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Bob knows how to get things done and impact others. A 2006 inductee into ORMHOF, Bob Ham is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
3:50 – I started picking up Spanish and really getting engaged with the culture down there
8:43 – I probably went to virtually every Baja 1000 since the ’69 event
12:06 – we formed CORVA in 1971 and got involved writing bills
23:27 – there ought to be a law that allows green stickered vehicles to connect a trail – we got it, Assembly Bill 1201
32:13– most lobbyists come in just the way I did, as former legislative staffers
42:45 – it’s not the offroad Racing hall of fame, it’s the offroad hall of fame
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Dove Creek, Colorado produces pinto beans, hay, and one of the finest rockcrawling teams. Rick Deremo and Rick Gersch have known each other for a lifetime and rockcrawled as a team for many years. Retired now, at least from crawling, they share their take on life in a small community. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
7:19 – we’ve been around each other forever
12:43 – a lot of kids that went to school here; their folks were miners during the uranium boom
16:12 – you know what? I think we can do this
22:42 – How many adaptors go from a Subaru to a C4 – it was farmerized
28:03 – I didn’t like Goldendale; it seemed like I was farming again, there was so much dirt
31:48 – Back then, ingenuity was a bigger player than money
37:18 – back then, I was drinking Monsters in between courses and stuff and getting a little hyper
47:48 – were you keeping an eye on the gauges? No, I was just having fun!
59:18 – right now, 60% of all farmers are in their mid-60s; there are going to be a lot of retirement farms in the next few years
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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ORMHOF Class of 2007 inductee Frank “Scoop” Vessels was inducted into multiple Halls of Fame in his short lifetime. Taken in a plane crash in 2010; Scoop took the Off-Road world by storm until his return to Quarter Horse life in 1993, where he was born and bred. Join his wife, Bonnie, and Big Rich for a listen in on the impact of Scoop’s life. We are happy to be joined by family members to be able to offer interviews with inductees' families when the inductee is no longer with us. This is our history; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
6:06 – That kid’s got a head like a scoop shovel!
9:29 – he passed being jockey-size when he was 12 years old
16:32 – that’s what got him into desert was his dad getting him off the streets
19:15 – the pride of knowing he had done it on his own
22:58– slower is smoother, which protects the car
33:26 – in order to succeed, you couldn’t have a hiccup and forget a tree or a cactus or a rock
46:23 – you couldn’t tell Mike (Mike’s Sky Ranch) no, if he wanted to show you a secondary route, he was going to show you
51:53 – they’d flown into weather, he iced up, lost a wing, and it spiraled down on a cattle ranch
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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ORMHOF Class of 2004 inductee Herman Booy was larger than life. Listen in as his daughter and nephew, Sherry and Steve, share life on the sand with Herman and his brother, Hal, and all the adventures they had. We are thrilled to be able to offer interviews with inductees' families when the inductee is no longer with us. This is our history; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
7:17 – There are these sand dunes over here called Glamis; why don’t you come on out here?
14:38 – we got back to camp, and one of our buddies was gone!
18:59 – an amazing engineer for a man not classically trained as one
21:49 – Dad took the conveyor belt out of the rose business and stitched it together to create the first paddle tire
27:43– no raffle tickets from Loretta, so she shot him!
33:40 – the Blue Goose was one of the first modern type motorhomes they built from a bread truck
42:32 – he had to push that car across the finish line to get the win
52:50 – what’s the worst that can happen? It doesn’t work, so you figure out what you did wrong and fix it again.
Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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If it has an acronym, Chris May has probably raced there – KOH, ECORS, UROC, WE Rock, XRRA – it’s been a long road and now he’s started on the next generation of racers. Great stories of a couple of guys with high-budget dreams and low-budget pockets; it’s a fun listen. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:52 – My dad was like, “you do not want to work on cars, that’s a bad profession”
12:08 – don’t ever take your vehicle to a WalMart, we tore up so many vehicles goofing around
19:52 – we entered Tuff Truck, our vehicles kind of sucked, but we entered anyway
24:16 – being in South Carolina, we didn’t learn about a lot of stuff til later on
32:15 – I got to do something easier so I have energy to go work after work
50:08 – Drew got an invite to the OG race, be he was like, my dad’s never going to pay for that much gas to go to California
52:14 – When everybody went off the line, I just followed the last guy and took off
59:28 – my daughter is racing the kids stuff, and it’s kind of short course
1:10:46 – Keep it real, it makes it less stressful and you can have more fun
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Come Get Ya Some’s Duane Garretson lights up the podcast this week with some great stories. Learn how Duane got to be the ultimate competitor at WE Rock, Dirt Riot and Ultra4. Good man to know, with great friends.
3:56 – I gained a lot of independence just by having transportation
12:42 – I was really happy he was spending $6/hour when he could have been spending $3.15
18:10 – I was like, I need me one of these four wheel drives
24:33 – hey man, where’s the biggest salvage yard?
28:55 – how the hell are we going to do this with $2,500?
38:16 – wouldn’t it be funny if we put this blow-up doll in this Jeep and drive it from Arkansas to Tennessee?
50:04 – “I want to build you a race car.” That’s great man, but I’m poor as Sh*t
1:06:50 – Dan Fresh is standing there in his street clothes, what is he doing that we’re not doing?
1:16:50 – I’m Ricky Bobby from Talladega, Alabama!
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Self-taught, all-in kinda guy Adam Scherer, founder of Tribe 4x4 near Fort Worth, Texas, is a helluva nice guy. Talented and likable, Adam brings the best to the build; whether it’s a racecar or a trail car, Adam and his guys have the talent to deliver. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:14 – I would say the people you run with really influence you on stuff like that
8:32 – the car stereo scene was what led me into wanting to build stuff
11:24 – anything and everything I’m involved in, I usually take it to the max
15:03 – “Hey, we’re looking for someone to start outfitting some of these Jeeps.”
21:43 – Pirate 4x4 was my mentor
27:50 – my first project at Tribe was fixing a racecar for Barry Beadle
34:06 – I remember watching Casey walk up, and I was like, are we related? Is this my brother?
42:42 – our favorite car to build was Alex Wacker’s IFS car
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The title can never quite describe the podcast; Adam ‘Skinny” Lunn is so much more. Coming out of North Texas, he wiggled his way into the Arizona scene as a sweeper in the Campbell shop and expanded from there to 11 years driving and winning desert races—great stories from the early days and beyond. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
5:06 – I started chopping this thing up, thinking I was going to rock crawl a Z71 pickup
8:31 – I think right away we knew we were outgunned – we showed up with a 4 wheel drive and left with a one-wheel drive
12:41 – “kid, everyone that works in here’s last name is Campbell”
15:37 – I was going to be a professional rockcrawler, so I quit school without telling my parents
22:22 – I went into gypsy mode
25:21 – …until the fire got to me, I wasn’t burning…
35:39 – I don’t know if I’m dumb or tough, maybe both, anybody else would’ve quit
41:29 – I got my biggest break, the Trophy Tractor was born
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Tire guy, Jeff Cummings, is a great storyteller; it must have been a prerequisite at BFG – listen in as he shares some great insight on tires and life. From Wisconsin farmer to Baja Pro, Jeff brings life to every story. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
2:34 – My grandfather probably qualified as the Farmer in the Dell
14:00– you’d put a paint stripe where the rubber started and where it ended and then initial it so you got credit
27:18 – Lord, it was painful, you had these Robert’s Rules of Order, and you couldn’t really talk unless you understood all of those things
43:13 – “that kid’s too stupid to sell tires”
54:46 – “you know, you do some things that really irritate folks, but as long as I don’t catch you sitting still, I can cover up any of your ills.”
1:10:43 – “what do you know about rockcrawling? …she proceeded to let me know, Goodyear is winning everything there and I want you to stop that”
1:30:34 – the best tire in the world misapplied is a piece of crap
2:05:54 – I either credit or blame Rod Hall with my move to Nevada
Special thanks to 4low Magazine for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
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Judy Smith, the Grand Ol’ Dame of Off-Road Racing was honored by the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2008. Having moved from Connecticut to SoCal in the 40’s, she was introduced to off-road with her husband in the 1960’s. Over the years she told many a racers stories as they competed in the desert. Her favorite column was the “Losers” where she interviewed those who didn’t make it to the finish line.
Rich got a chance to interview Judy by telephone with her nurse, Jennifer facilitating the call. In Judy’s own words, she doesn’t get out much anymore, but the spirit is willing if you’d like a companion to a race. The oral history of the ones who came before is such a treasure. Thanks for paving the road, Judy.
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6:14 – back then, California teenagers were very different from Connecticut teenagers
10:59 – that’s good for women, and I wondered what I could do?
19:13 – I was always happy if there was another racer broken in the same place
23:25 – no one was there to say, “you didn’t do that right”
30:06 – I remember one guy telling me if I ever beat him, he wouldn’t come back – I don’t know whatever happened to him.
38:56 – how could you be that dumb on a place like the Peninsula and not know where South is?
Take a look at one of Judy’s “Loser” stories here: https://simplebooklet.com/1988volume5number3dustytimesmagazine#page=25
Digitizing Dusty Times has been an ongoing project of the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, we are fortunate to get to access the writing of history.
Special thanks to the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame for their support of this podcast. Legends live at ORMHOF.org
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Land Cruiser Afficionado, Kurt Williams, knows every little thing you can know about Land Cruisers. That’s what happens when you take them apart piece-by-piece and then put them back together. From business to cars, Kurt knows his stuff; since 2001 he’s been at the head of Cruiser Outfitters. Join us as we talk Toyotas and adventure – lots of worldwide adventure, with Kurt.
6:08 – the real school, the actual university, University of Utah
10:05 – that’s when I started recognizing the difference between a Land Cruiser and a Jeep
16:44 – we went full in, it spiraled out of control as we started taking things apart
22:57 – this is like paradise for me
28:13 – had no intentions of doing anything beyond helping Daryl sell off the business
41:44 – let’s talk about Expedition 7
51:23 – we had a Russian fixer with us
Special thanks to Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine for their support of this podcast.
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Interested in the secret sauce? You’re going to have to listen to it all to hear the incredible history of Marty Fiolka, Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee in 2014. Marty has had experiences we all dream about. Listen in to catch them all, this is what we call a life well-lived!
4:18 – the first real seed of, Oh my God, Motorsports is so cool!
13:11 – I learned that craft with some media things and then parlayed that into a job
23:25 – there was no easy portal to the sport
29:11 – we had to promote it as an offroad cultural hub
35:21 – in the end, how much did we move the needle in offroad racing?
41:25 – it’s a fascinating history and it’s a fascinating people
46:45 – a lot of the history helped to roll out the Dirt Sport magazine too
55:05 – a couple of stories I am most proud of; Robbie Pierce getting started; the Baja 1000 Commemorative one, and ….
1:02:28 - …as a career-defining moment, I think Crandon is at the very top
We want to thank our sponsor the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame – Legends live at ORMHOF
www.ormhof.org
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With the attention span of a 3-year-old, competitor Rob McKenney, shares some great stories. New York to the PNW, this crane operator knows his stuff and his friends. So good to talk to him again. Listen in on your favorite podcast app.
4:20 – early on, I got relieved of my privilege to ride the school bus
10:54 – if I showed up a minute late, I was working Saturdays for free
14:43 – we pioneered the homeless stuff
21:52 – what are you going to do? I said, Jeff, we’re going to break the axle, and we did
32:02 – the ups I never got great at, but the downhill, gravity is your friend
42:33 – Nick and I had the famous Casey Curry incident where we might or might not have driven over a car he was driving
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Former Four-Wheeler writer, Robin Stover gives us some insight on what it was like to travel during the heyday. Dakar, Baja, South Korea, it’s all there! Listen on your favorite podcast app. This is Episode 150 – feels like a milestone! Thank you for your support and encouragement!
2:56 – my first exposure to the off-road scene was on the Big Island
10:17 – there’s a story to every single repair, the beginning, the middle, and end
16:19 – they handed me the keys and said, “here, we want you to do part two.”
22:15 – Looking back I guess Baja would be the one thing that was the biggest takeaway
31:03 – we don’t want people coming home in coffins
34:50 – we got to go into tunnels that actually extend under North Korea
47:54 – Live coverage begins tomorrow of Top Truck Challenge, so I promptly quit my job…
57:40 – I feel like I aligned myself with the right person in life that really has his sh*t together
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Toyota expert, Brian Ellinger, joins us on Episode 149. Brian is the owner of Front Range Offroad and Diamond Axles, a former rockcrawling competitor, Brian aspires to a quiet life where it’s less people-y. Tune in to your favorite podcast app to listen in.
6:30 – wood does things metal doesn’t, like warp when it gets wet
10:55 – the backpacking mentality works with my brain
20:07 – “what’s a tombstone?”
26:50 – what better time to take the plunge, there’s plenty of time to recover if you go broke
33:51 – we’ve only kept the things that people actually want
41:59 – I met Dave face-to-face in a dirt lot swapping an engine the day before the comp
52:15 – you guys do really well on the hard, technical, weird stuff
57:41 – I’m not trying to win, I’m just trying to finish
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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One of the co-founders of Rigid Lighting, Taylor Anderson, shares life in the off-road lighting industry and what has come after. Company culture, offroad racing, and lights are part of Episode 148. Tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:53 – the cool pines of Arizona
12:21 – who rolled one first?
17:16 – Christensen invited us in so the Anderson brothers joined up and became partners
24:07 – the three-inch pod, little Rubik’s Cube, you could fit it anywhere
27:26 – I was the gatekeeper for culture, how we treated our employees
30:29 – I had the most fun I’ve ever had in my life
39:41 – “you sold your right to complain.”
51:07 – my latest obsession is vintage axes
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Ken Hower and the Rubicon Trail Foundation is all about education, that’s their mission. As a 501(c)(3) Education foundation, RTF hopes to educate all to enhance the future health of the Rubicon Trail. There’s a lot going on right now with the Trail, listen in so you can stay informed, it really is fascinating stuff! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – subscribe so you don’t miss anything, a new episode drops every Thursday morning, early!
5:30 – he was all kinds of notorious
13:06 – so, playing in a band, how long was your hair?
28:22 – “There are people who wonder what the F happened, there are people that make Sht happen, and there are people that watch it happen.”
37:20 – not that people were mistreating (the trail) intentionally, it was just not knowing
46:34 – it was the community that extracted them, just as it should be
47:31 – be sure to listen the history of the law regarding the Rubicon trail starts here
1:17:35 – read the mission statement
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Armando Verdugo shares his love for off-road and why he gets up in the morning to go to work! Founder of Herooffroad.org and BAM Strategic, Armando has been around the off-road block learning how to help the small business guy tie everything together. It’s a good conversation between two friends. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – subscribe so you don’t miss anything, a new episode drops every Thursday morning, early!
3:56 – I just kept moving progressively east until I got to just outside of Phoenix
11:02 – it was a good time to build myself into what I wanted to be in this industry
18:13 – the start of Herooffroad.org
35:33 – My thing with Hero is that I’m not going to save all of them, but I’d like to save one
43:29 – your website is your Nexus, your home, you want it to be open and inviting
52:02 – the PSA’s? that was a way for me to vent after dealing with customers
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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CORVA President Michael McGarity explains Land Use you can understand on Episode 145
Want the insider's view of Land Use? This is the episode you need to listen to, then go back and listen to Del Albright and John Stewart and stay tuned for future episodes. Michael McGarity leads the conversation in Episode 145; the current President of CORVA brings a lot to the table, so listen close. Find us on your favorite podcast app – a new episode releases every Thursday at 2 a.m. – if you subscribe on an app or YouTube, you’ll get notified weekly.
5:54 – the Sheriff would just wave and tell us to be careful
11:10 – the accident changed the course of my life
33:59 – servant leadership and followship
45:13 – in collaboration with the land they manage, they don’t own it; they manage it
54:36 – what’s going on with the Rubicon trail – TODAY!
1:10:32 – we need a Panda Bear to protect
1:25:30 – I need others to object and rip them on social media so I can refer to that
1:40:39 – let me tell you about the 30x30
1:59:20 – Support where you recreate
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The mission has changed, the passion has not. Chris Brahs and Drew Garcia talk with us about the changes at Outlaw Desert Racing due to government-mandated changes in their state and how they pivoted. Adrenaline Therapy, pit support, and off-road racing across the region in support of combat veterans is their focus now. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – a new episode releases every Thursday at 2 a.m. – if you subscribe on an app or YouTube, you’ll get notified every week.
5:25 – just work hard, play hard, right?
10:44 – our social media just took off the last three months
18:11 – That’s the good thing about the teamwork that Drew and I have created…
29:08 – our New Mexico land trust commissioner wouldn’t even have a meeting with us
35:26 – one of our goals is kind of a dream
42:11 – we gather items to mail overseas to troops that are deployed for Christmas
48:14 – we have a lot of support and we’re growing
https://outlawdesertracing.com/
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First-generation car guy Bryant Blakemore talks off-road racing in Texas and Mexico. He and Big Rich go in-depth on what happens when dust and brains combine. A great conversation about TDRA and TORRA mixed in with some charity work; check out https://www.torraracing.com/charity/ for some good works heading into the new year.
9:08 – I know enough Spanish to get into trouble, but not out of trouble
15:52 – I’ve taken every math class you can take, but I’ve taken every math class three times
20:52 – Lubbock is a secret hot-rod town; the car culture here is awesome
25:37 – the very top of my bucket list was to race Baja in my own truck
33:03 – when I had the opportunity to get my feet wet, I jumped in head first
41:02 – Sierra Blanca is the Ensenada of Texas
55:08 – spend a little time at some smaller local races to get your bearings
1:16:01 – I think we have four flat tires
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Mr. 4th Place, Dave Wong, has shaken off that title to become a champion trail breaker. Dave shares his history in California and now Utah. Listen in to one of the kindest men in rockcrawling on your favorite podcast app.
7:42 – There was a lot of chocolate pudding I put down as a kid
18:51 – there’s so many stories I have about my dad, his heart was always in the right place for the kids
30:11 – I couldn’t ever leave any vehicle alone
43:51 – Just take her for a ride in your car
51:50 – I always wanted to compete, but I never thought I was capable
1:05:47 – she’s been trapped in the laundry room – “didn’t you hear me banging?”
1:09:10 – whatever you do and whatever I do, I’m going to be fourth place
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“Write the story you just told me,” that’s the advice Sue Mead got when she was struggling, “just simply put those words down on paper,” and it wasn’t bad advice. That’s the secret to getting started with just about anything. Begin with what you know. Big Rich was privileged to interview ORMHOF inductee about her life in off-road – they talked Camel Trophy, Dakar, Gazelle, and Baja 1000 among other stories. We could all learn a little about bravery and living life to the fullest from Sue. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app, then dream a little about what’s next for you!
6:49 – Rural can be different depending on the makeup of people that live in an area
11:12 – my first roll of film had three photos go to the Associated Press
18:22 – 85% of the photography needs can be met with a cell phone
24:42 – make sure you know your exit before you get on top of things
30:43 – “What I really want to know is how do you get along with people?”
35:01 – “your organs are shutting down, we don’t know if we can save you.”…I prayed two prayers that day.
43:04 – “you didn’t do too bad for a girl”
There is more, so much more; listen in to hear about Borneo, Bolivia, Alaska, and so many more adventures. When I grow up, I wanna be Sue Mead!
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Gunfighter, animator, filmmaker…I love the labels off-roaders accumulate. Everyone comes with a myriad of talents. Krawlzone.tv creator, Nathan Riddle, has been bringing us off-road content for more than ten years; it’s an awesome history. Listen in to Episode 140, and if you need to catch up – you can find all episodes on your favorite podcast apps, YouTube or www.bigrichklein.com
4:29 – “Hey, I’ve got an idea”
8:00 – A theme that we’ve kept all the way through, the passion and connectedness of the community
18:57 – the cool thing about Sand Hollow is actually blazing new trails
23:36 – I was a little jealous that I didn’t get to participate in Little Hollywood with John Wayne walking the streets
29:55 – I was a Jeff Foxworthy kid, “if you live in a house that’s mobile surrounded by a dozen cars that aren’t…”
36:57 – I moved over to Spacestation Animation, and the whole ecosystem is well over 150 people
44:56 – having more of an authentic come along, come hang out with us
50:36 – oh, hey, we’re out here on the trail with “Nobody”
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Want to know about the women in Levi’s life? He tells all about Lently, Layla, and Loretta in this conversation with Big Rich. Watching this kid grow up in racing has been a pleasure, from XRRA to Dirt Riot to racing internationally and KOH, Levi is a good egg – listen in on your favorite podcast app.
4:10 – chances are if you’ve ever had a steak, it’s from my area
9:01 – the effort you put in is what you are going to get in results
13:11 – I love motors for good reason, because I didn’t have to wake up every morning and feed them
22:41 – that car was a pivotal moment for me, I had to put my heart and soul into this
28:06 – I learned the brakes on the left and not to let that right foot do everything
35:55 – we opened up a baby naming book and counted down 81 names, the number was Layla, that’s how we named the car
40:00 – …and I’m like, Shannon Campbell just told me to drive his car!
49:39 – my favorite race track would be Glen Helen
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Tech Tim joins us to share his love of learning, self-proclaimed luckiest man in the industry; friendships and gumption have offered a lot of opportunities. ARB to Northridge with some stops along the way; Tim Lund has been all over making friends. It’s a great story, tune in on your favorite podcast app.
5:56 – Beautiful bike, right out of Monkey Ward or Sears catalog
11:46 – “wow. You did really good, just like your older brother.”
21:31 – we ate like kings
35:20 – I had a neighbor with a first gen Toyota pickup…
47:20 – …there’s got to be more to a differential
57:17 – “understand, we buy the beer.”
1:17:57 – there was the honeymoon period, we had so much business
1:28:56 – that was the infamous Scherer and Campbell drag race in the Hooters parking lot
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Of all the titles Ryan Miller carries, internet fact checker is one of my favorite – it’s not that he’s a smartass, he just remembers everything. What rock to turn at, which race was won by whom, how many turns of the wrench gets you the exact ride height you need. Ryan is smart and talented, listen in to this rockcrawler/navigator/racer/husband/dad/rattlesnake bite survivor, I promise you’ll learn some things!
10:31 – I don’t like to suck at stuff
17:44 – “I want you to be lost to find me”
24:54 – the idea of the Arizona Wildcat Off Road club was if you go out into the desert and get stuck, at least you have some buddies to come get you unstuck
33:15 – I was like, I don’t know how I’m winning, but I am
39:43 – all those Southwest guys didn’t even know what mud and trees were
50:37 – it’s easy to go our and break something, but just as easy on the equipment and get through it
1:00:24 – how do I tell Bailey that her race is over?
1:05:36 – oh, yeah, you wear out the refresh button. Refresh, refresh, refresh!!
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Bailey admits to not being very interested in motorsports as a youngster, but once she got the bug, it’s been a steady rise to the top. It’s a great place to be for this girl! A talented driver and a great role model for all, Bailey Campbell shares her interests with us on this episode. Give it a listen on your favorite podcast app.
3:53 – my dad told me I couldn’t race unless I got down to the shop and got my hands on some of the cars myself
15:42 – my Uncle Nick spotted for me and I accidentally ran him over
23:55 – my dad’s biggest thing was always throttle control
33:25 – my favorite part is probably pre-running because you’re going at a slow enough pace to really see the terrain change
42:17 – I can’t believe how far they’ve come in technology and way they work with us
50:42 – I just have these main goals that I need to accomplish – the first is to be the first Queen of the Hammers
54:06 – I grew up with a never quit attitude
59:50 – every co-driver I’ve had, every spotter I’ve had, has taught me something new
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“You don’t know what you can do until you do it, right?” Our man, Rob Usnick is still pushing the limits. From Ranger School to Bridal Fashion, and everything in between. No, seriously, this renaissance man is throwing things up and hitting them out of the park daily.
4:35 – I put all my cards and chips in the middle
9:55 – small towns are bad when they are your small town
14:50 – it’s hard to get into a firefight
22:18 – when you’re with people who are badasses, you don’t realize you are one too
33:13 – the paparazzi’s here, it was a training distractor
41:32 – then I did King of the Motos, which is up there in the five dumbest things I’ve ever done
45:13 – there’s not many days to make your whole nut for the year
52.25 – “what are you doing in here, boy?” I’m here to get some fabric, I’m like, “daddy can sew!”
1:00:06 – one thing I hate is when people say, “oh, you can’t do that”
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Ready for an adrenaline rush? Tom Wayes is living a storied life, it was great to hear some of that tale. Want to hear how he fought off a bear, we’ve all heard part of the story, Tom tells all right here.
5:41 – the first person to introduce me to skiing, and I was completely obsessed with it
8:48 – I wasn’t planning on staying
12:28 – as long as I had my ice tools, my crampons, and a rope, I dropped into anything
18:57 – we chartered a Russian heli…and just pointed at stuff and landed on it and skied whatever we felt like
21:21 – Putin’s coming, Putin’s coming…
29:28 – I kind of enjoy just keeping people guessing on where I’m going to qualify
35:08 – never grab your gummy snacks with your race gloves…
38:31 – I gather up some lawn chairs, I gather up a golf cart, and then…
42:16 – always use the best equipment
54:25 – the bear encounter
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Humor is how you get through the tough stuff. Chip MacLaughlin of Rufus Racing shares memories of early KOH, racing with friends, making memories, and Zandy Willems. This is life and how we live it. Thanks, Chip for a beautiful reminder.
6:25 – we built a lot of fences, dug a lot of holes
9:44 – I got pulled out by four train cars
17:25 – oh, by the way, it has to float
21:33 – I sold the buggy, then you called and said I had a spot at Hammers
26:06 – the Crawling Chaos guys out of Central Texas were my first race friends
37:38 – don’t be afraid to ask somebody questions
46:17 – we were meant to be together
49:08 – almost all males get prostate cancer, the majority die before they know
55:36 – we did it with humor, and I think we helped some other people
57:13 – the whole point of the team was, let’s go make some memories and find friends
1:08:08 – my last words to Zandy while I was standing in the spotter stand at Crandon…
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Our personal pit crew captain for many years, Shawn Rants shares stories of KOH, raising kids and working on high end equipment. One of our favorite because of his pure generosity of spirit. Listen up to see what makes the man.
5:26 – if it snowed 4 feet, the bus came to get us with chains on, there were no snow days
14:07– it was trying to do things differently…but a lot of times you end up drifting back
17:45 – Top Eliminator Sand Drags, that’s high horsepower, 3000 HP; 300 ft in under 2.9 seconds
23:28 – these are around $5 million , we have well over 100 of them…
28:17 – it was enjoyable, but I can’t say it was easy
32:05 – “well. I went and paid your entry fee today, so you have to go.”
39:56 – you might drive 2000 miles to make two 3 second runs
42:34 – my life long goal was to win KOH (in the 4500 class)
47:22 – we always want to do whatever it takes to finish
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Master communicator, Matson Breakey, shares growing up in California’s various cultures; car culture in Japan; MetalCloak’s history, and aspirations as a father of youngsters in his 50’s. It’s a great listen.
5:07 – You think back and go, wow, I’m still alive
8:45 – I learned early the value of communication and communication skills
17:37 – it’s easy to say you care, it’s harder to actually demonstrate that you care
26:46 – my goal in life was to become a starving artist
34:17 – there was a general sense of being self-oriented, it was a survival mechanism
51:06 – I had this bright idea that I needed to be more professional
57:09 – by hour five there was too much beer
1:08:43 – we got so flamed because it was ugly, so we listened and responded
1:30:45 – Today we live in a world where ’70s is like the new ’50s
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Self-acclaimed wimp (yeah, right?) Jason Berger on checking off bucket-list items; living in Truckee, and racing with his best friend. Lots of great quotes and plenty of laughter with Jason and Rich in this 130th episode of Conversations with Big Rich. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast channel.
6:05 – I’m the oddest local to live in Truckee because I’ve never skied Squaw and I’ve never smoked pot
13:22– I put 1000 miles on that truck going back and forth in my parent's driveway
21:51 –… Chris Durham, I swear, I was like, this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.
26:14 – how much time before I lose my finger?
30:10 – the 4wd community reached pretty deep for the Disabled Sports Run
36:37 – you don’t need to win by 10 minutes, you just need to win
43:09 – I’m retiring right now, Shannon Campbell wants my autograph!
50:20 – I don’t think Crossfit is for everybody, I think it is for anybody
1:04:26 – I took JT and Tom Wayes to Baja for two very good reasons…
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Sports photographer, off-road enthusiast, marketing genius – Steven Bisig wears a ton of different hats. Listen in to two old friends talk about all the things they love in off-road. It’s a fun listen. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.
6:41 – I was home by myself and I had a BB gun
12:04– it took you this long to get a ticket??
19:18 – that’s where I met a lot of the industry people I still consider friends.
25:41 – my main role was anything photography related
28:01 – a pretty crazy event we went down for Supercrawl one year in Vegas…
39:17 – It’s an enthusiast-run company where everybody in the company are car people
44:18 – I special ordered one with a diesel, firecracker red and very minimal options
54:09 – my break into sports photography was through a contact I met at ARB
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Family Man, Jason Blanton on racing vs. rockcrawling; working the grind and working to win. Always great to see work ethic pay off, spend some time with Rich and Jason on this episode of Conversations with Big Rich. Good things come to those who work for them. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast platform.
5:57 – Snowboarding was pretty big in my life
9:40– I never had a problem because I don’t think I got enough power
17:47 – I’m sure if my first car had been a car, I might have been into streetcars
22:12 – I started with nothing in a Honda
25:18 – If I go to a job and they have me bid against other people, I don’t even bid
30:35 – You guys got to move your camp, you’re on the start/finish line
37:35 – they wanted pictures all day long of dudes with beards
46:09 – it’s serious, we’re there to win and it’s a business
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When it comes to low-voltage electronics, Steven Lutz is the grand master. A Nissan buff he leads a band of off-roaders who don’t often get recognized. Listen is on a fascinating story told in Episode 127, you’ll learn more about some resources you didn’t know existed. Check it out on your favorite podcast platform.
5:03 – I was a nerd
11:11– I was just as serious about that class as my teacher was teaching it
16:30 – Rather than learning foundational knowledge and then building to the top, I kind of start at the top and work my way down…
25:58 – I started building the website after a snowboarding accident
29:54 – Kirkwood was probably the single best experience of my life
35:34 – I ended up inheriting the Pathfinder, two-wheel drive basically stock everything
43:49 – getting support for pretty much anything Nissan has been historically difficult
49:09 – I need to know so I can apply the mapping methodologies to the off-road world
1:00:44 – the amount of data these images take up on disk is absolutely huge
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Another multi-generation company, PCI Race Radios, joins us on the podcast with President Scott Steinberger. Scott is generation #2 with all three of his kids making up generation #3 as they learn the ins and outs of the company. We talk about Weatherman, Baja, and the future of PCI on Episode 126. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app to Conversations with Big Rich – subscribe to find out who drops next week.
5:48 – I have three kids that are maybe a little spoiled
9:51– PCI has been able to keep stuff in stock
12:04 – we’ve got to carry a year’s worth of product on hand so we don’t ever run out
15:10 – the stars on top of Diablo are incredible, it’s like a light show every night
18:00 – the advent of satellite communications has really filled in a lot of gaps
23:59 – Bill’s like, “think you can put radios in the cars?” – the birth of Weatherman
33:19 – racers are last minute, I’d be up half the night wiring helmets so we’d be ready
42:34 – I really think having a single seat car where when you break down you have to help yourself taught me problem solving
47:26 – he came in as a guy on the tour and now he’s living the life for sure
56:13 – it’s not the car that’s passing you that’s the problem, it’s the car that’s trying to pass him
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Companies that survive five generations are a rarity, Austin Harrah shares some perspective about what it’s like in families with that kind of history. It’s an identity he wears on his sleeve as they ramp up for even more work. Always a pleasure to talk to old friends.
4:16 – I actually started off-roading in high school when I shouldn’t have been off-roading
10:38 – I am not cut out for this kind of freedom
19:06 – my sister and I are fifth-generation, we started in 1895
26:21 – just a couple of guys having too many beers
36:56 – we had to have a tow truck come and they used a HiLift jack to jack up the tongue of the trailer
47:52 – And then one fateful day at church, foster family in our church had a little boy. He was meant to be ours
1:00:08 – we’re going back to being Bloomfield Manufacturing again
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Former land use officer for Red Rocks, history buff and teacher, video star, David Adams has an impressive resume that includes handling wheeling with grace and notoriety despite his mobility issues. David shares his life history, his addiction to wheeling and Jeep grills and the accommodations necessary to stay out on the trail. It’s a great listen!
4:16 – “if you get shot down, here’s $10K to bribe your way out of the country”
7:41 – my wiring sucks
12:35 – you’re never going to be a construction worker, you’ve got to do well in school
16:26 – I wanted a Jeep so I could still get out in nature
25:17 – I was the land use officer for 13 years
37:50 – Pritchett Canyon is just iconic
50:37 – the way you reduce damage is to expand the number of trails
1:00:51 – …I literally bent my steering wheel with my face
1:17:37 – I keep the old girl, she’s cantankerous, she breaks down and has issues, always need something, but that’s what all Jeeps are,
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John Stewart devoted his career to the Navy, and his extra time to Land Use. A lifetime advocate for using public lands, John continues to use his time to keep the government and others from closing off our recreational access to public lands. Listen up to find out where the fight is now, and what you can do to help.
9:05 – I joined the Navy and visited the world
13:08 – I got out of the Navy and then two months later went back to work for the Navy
17:30 – Hey, wait a minute, you close these areas off and we got a lot of problems
23:55 – getting local businesses to really stress what the economic impact would be helps
28:17 – lawsuits are a last resort
34:31 – it’s an easy sell in downtown NYC
40:16 – the difficult part is to get them to understand what we are losing
51:55 – why do you want them to have the permit? Why not?
1:07:02 – the Hot Topics right now are in Utah
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Alabama business builder, Dan Dubose, shares some amazing insights on building a business, defying death, and finding that miraculous work-life balance on Episode 122. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – Apple, Spotify, even YouTube!
5:59 – we’re not going to pass you to go to high school unless you agree to go to trade school.
11:59 – my life sucks, I’ve got all the symptoms, I should probably try some of the samples I’ve got in the back seat
14:16 – I thought someone was messing with me
21:37 – big paradigm shift…metal fabrication is an art
26:23 – well, that’s what the people want
34:10 – I don’t go halfway on anything, ever
37:18 – are you willing to give up everything, because everything means everything.
46:26 – Here you go, this is how you fix it!
57:41 – the Dothan double-wide strip club
1:02:02 – lit me up like a Christmas tree and separated my soul from my body
1:08:59 – one way or another I’ll be involved in off-road
www.motobilt.com
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James Schofield dishes on racing, and tuning, and the stories are awesome. Join us to listen in on the fun and danger of off-road racing and more. Listen in on your favorite podcast app. Tune in and share Conversations with Big Rich with others.
7:43 – if you didn’t play football, you’re nobody in the south
9:45 – the thing I learned in team sports is never quit
17:51 – you just had to have 4 wheels and a tank of gas
28:52 – that peace of mind to know that those parts are good
34:04 – don’t tie up a lot of people’s effort if you just want to be a participant
44:32 – that’s when you start bringing everything in house
47:17 – you’re basically treating it like a rental car with full coverage
52:06 – I was very clear, “this dude doesn’t need to know anything!”
56:20 – that’s the style of racing I try to do, where you just leave every single thing on the table
1:10:25 – it’s great to be able to shake people’s hands and tell them thank you and stuff like that
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Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
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Roger Lovell, of Colorado Springs’ Lovell Racing, on the impact of racing on his family. Part of the duo of Roger and Brad, Roger has had some incredible experiences that are worth hearing about. Be sure to listen in and find out what’s in store for the future of this family.
5:34 – stupid, little competitions
9:39 – the thing about engineering is it teaches you a different way to think
15:03 – that’s some of the joy of being young
19:01 – the highlight of my racing career
27:23 – the Bronco is something that would compete with Jeep, but not replicate the Jeep
42:42 – it’s everything about a dirt road…
46:06 – we can recognize each other just by the driving style, or by the breathing
52:06 – “you’re not as bad as she said you were”
55:50 – what racing has done for me is really make me value family and value the relationships that I have
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
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Steve Sharp has been outside for as long as he can remember. He shares his passion for outdoors, being a great leader, and knowing when to ask for help with us on this episode of Conversations with Big Rich. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:40 – If I missed the bus, I got to walk the 3 ½ miles to school
8:25 – just like Mayberry RFD
15:36 – how come you always need tires?
24:41 – I need a job, I’ll work for half the going rate for 30 days
31:04 – everyone that I can genuinely call a friend, I met four-wheeling
40:14 – it’s a blessing that I get to do what I’m passionate about
55:47 – kind of set the Bronco world upside down
1:02:29 – two things are as hard on the caregiver as the patient – cancer and mental illness, if there’s something going on – seek help
1:08:46 – the sport is great, but it always comes back to the people
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Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
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The Brown family of Oklahoma has become a rock-crawling staple. Meet the family, Wyatt and Christina, and their boys, Landen and Gunnar. Landen is already a champion rockcrawler, Gunnar won’t be far behind. We love hanging out with these kids, polite and respectful, yet full of energy and daring. Parents and grandparents, listen up, there are opportunities for the youngsters.
4:14 – I had no business being in her shed
11:14 – had a blast watching guys go through cones
18:17 – going so fast, my right leg blew off
27:20 – she shoots, I shoot, and only one of us hit it, and that’d be her
35:03 – BOOM! Big ol’ mushroom cloud comes outta that thing…
48:55 – that’s when they found the tumor
58:33 – I like that ninja that shoots ice out of his hands; let’s name it SubZero
1:13:38 – that’s how Thunder Nation started
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Larry Trim and his bride, Lois, set themselves up for success. Follow their journey through hard work and consistency to success and freedom to travel and race in this episode of Conversations with Big Rich. It’s a great story of mindset and commitment. Congrats, Larry on a job well-done!
4:30 – the start of my dirt addiction
11:49 – that’s when I discovered I didn’t have four-wheel drive
21:10 – 2.5% unemployment meant that about 2% were working against their will
26:32 – it had a manual transmission that Lois either wouldn’t or couldn’t drive
32:25 – RSI is still the primary business I have today
37:09 – that’s where Trail Ready came from
47:46 – I’m one of those Dust to Glory inspired people
55:12 – and that’s how a guy like me can have a trophy truck
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Frank joins us to talk about horses, his 44 years in motorsports with some version of BF Goodrich and all things in between. It’s a great listen, Frank knows more about motorsports and marketing than most, come along for the ride by listening on your favorite podcast app.
5:45 – When you can ride it, I’ll get you a saddle and bridle
15:45 – I got hired into BFGoodrich as a tractor-trailer driver
22:09 – I chauffeured a van full of ladies any place they wanted to go
34:15 – SCORE person of the year
44:56 – the start of my own business
54:23 – full circle with BFGoodrich
1:26:43 – the 49th running of the Baja 1000
1:43:47 – The next chapter is Champs Offroad
2:00:44 – my #1 passion
2:12:33 – become a voting member of the Offroad Hall of Fame
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Motorcycle Knuckle Busters
A weekly podcast for the motorcycle industry.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Greg Krino Show
Veteran, pilot, and attorney - Greg Krino - takes you on a deep-dive with experts to...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Knowing your limits sounds like good advice, but Kevin Yoder tests them anyway! Episode 115 has Kevin and Rich talking about the early days of rockcrawling and KOH, life lessons in football and rugby, and everything in between. Join us on your favorite podcast app.
4:30 – My problem with rugby is I kept getting concussions because I couldn't unlearn the football out of it.
12:30 – I learned to camp out in a tent
20:16 – the railroad has such versatility
28:09 – after that, it seemed like the rolls started, it just opened the floodgate
36:15 – I don’t go cheap on safety stuff now
44:11 – I’ve done an off-road competition every year since 98
58:09 – you put on a helmet, you’re driving as hard as you can
1:05:11 – The key is to know your limits
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Motorcycle Knuckle Busters
A weekly podcast for the motorcycle industry.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Greg Krino Show
Veteran, pilot, and attorney - Greg Krino - takes you on a deep-dive with experts to...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is known worldwide as the last stop before hitting the Rubicon Trail. While Uncle Tom’s is owned by the Lawyer family, it is looked after by a variety of cabin holders, Rance MacFarland has been one of those for over 20 years. Listen in as he shares his history of growing up near the Rubicon. You can tune in on any of your favorite podcast players.
9:25 – you got in line and got your sack lunch and headed up toward the (Rubicon) trail
17:13 – he failed me the first time
26:15 – I pulled into a gas station and recognized the truck, asked if they were hiring
35:08 – “oh, you’ve got to change your books”
40:27 – the trades are still there, it’s still a good career
48:16 – it used to be cash-only, and a lot of people don’t carry a lot of cash with them
52:25 – this year is 100 years it’s been in the family
1:00:53 – I think that’s always been Uncle Tom’s deal – hoping that people have a good experience
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Customer Discovercast
The Customer Discovercast is aimed at helping founders build products that people want...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Dead Pair Podcast
What every sporting clay shooter wants to hear! The Dead Pair project is a family...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Variety is the stuff of legends, hear from the master, Ned Bacon, about traveling the world, writing, drawing, competing, and where that landed him. At home now on the ranch in Nevada, Ned has some tales to tell, including managing an 80 car collectors museum. Listen in to Episode 113 on all your favorite podcast channels.
3:15 – I’ve been a gearhead and a car nut as long as I can remember
11:13 – I think I would have been way safer on a motorcycle
23:29 – then I grew up and put it back to stock
39:13 – I discovered this ad in a magazine about crossing Africa in a 4WD
51:18 – he actually went out and looked at my Jeep, Pewe was the first one
1:04:55 – I got started in the magazine industry drawing Cheap Tricks
1:31:36 – we were meeting our match, and our vehicles were definitely meeting their match
1:44:23 – everything changed in 2010
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Apple Best of 2018-Learn the stories, secrets & skills of the world’s most fascinating ppl
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Enthusiasm Project
Deep dives exploring the world of what it means to be an independent creator.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Based in the hub between Chicago and Milwaukee, Drew Burroughs is making a name for Goatbuilt, not just in off-road, but in the Midwest manufacturing hub. Drew found his way into off-road through the Polygoats at San Luis Obisbo and hasn’t turned back. Listen in on Episode 112 on any of your favorite podcast channels or even on YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe!
4:22 – I’ve been working on helicopters for as long as I can remember
17:35 – I bought a Jeep, and then I bought a magazine, that was the start…
24:52 – introduced to the Polygoats
34:25 – I got keys to the shop
43:12 – they were spraying garlic and fish oil
53:28 – that’s my introduction to the industry
1:08:18 – let’s make this thing in a machine shop
1:18:19 – you can just buy it and weld it together
1:28:27 – there’s so much stuff built here
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Apple Best of 2018-Learn the stories, secrets & skills of the world’s most fascinating ppl
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Enthusiasm Project
Deep dives exploring the world of what it means to be an independent creator.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Welcome back to the off-road industry, Clifton! For the last twelve years, Clifton Slay has dedicated his life to other pursuits, now it’s time to return. Founder of Poison Spyder Customs, Clifton shares how that began and his history prior to. Jumping back in with both feet and his new venture, Hoplite VentureTrek, we can’t wait to see where it goes!
6:26 – Shout at the Devil!
16:26 – it was either art school or the military
31:53 – connecting to Steve Remore
38:09 – what we needed didn’t exist
48:14 – it was like a sonic boom!
53:22 – the pulse of Poison Spyder was function and style
1:03:49 – it’s hard to watch because there’s no learning curve
1:14:16 – I made some catastrophic mistakes
1:32:57 – Medic Clifton and Valkyrie
1:42:36 – the next step back to off-road
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Apple Best of 2018-Learn the stories, secrets & skills of the world’s most fascinating ppl
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Enthusiasm Project
Deep dives exploring the world of what it means to be an independent creator.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
No wonder Nate Hunt is so good at what he does for Jackson Motorsports and Events, he had work ethic drilled into him from a young age. Listen in as Nate tells us how he landed the job, what life was like between naps and where he likes to spend his time now. Great listen, good stories, good people – our favorite kind of podcast!
3:06 – meet farm boy Nate
12:21 – third in my class, on the podium
18:10 – You’re only as good today as your practice
25:06 – those tires have been sitting on a concrete barn floor
28:56 – “I got seven trailer loads of tires coming in that need unloaded”
38:15 – I thought I was being hazed or something
52:28 – the people who made my career
1:08:11 – mapping the Baja 1000 race course
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Support the show
Stephen Watson of Off Road Design shares growing up in rural Colorado to wheeling experiences all over the country. The King of Full-Size, especially GMC’s, Stephen has a storied history. Listen in on your favorite podcast app, or dive in on YouTube – wherever you are, we’ve got your content ready for you.
5:21 – learning how to steer at 3 or 4 years old
14:02 – the magic is less when you know how things work
27:53 – I think there would be more value for most people by just spending more time outdoors
36:45 – I think he was scared I’d end up being a welder
47:21 – all I needed was gas and tires
58:46 – people miss the experience of going to seeing things work
1:04:13 – working on the squares
1:21:45 – makes it easy to assume you need it because somebody built it
1:29:29 – the start of the race hangover
1:38:37 – we got bit by the Hammers bug
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
Support the show
Tom Yash brings a ton to the table for any industry company he works for. He’s got all the classic over-achiever qualifications we can all relate to. Never satisfied with just one thing, he’s always building and growing. Loved this interview, Tom is a great guy, easy to be around, and always up for a beverage or two. We appreciate his participation in Dirt Riot and his contributions to 4Low Magazine.
3:55 – teacher called me a hammerhead
8:44 – who here knows how to drive a stick?
11:35 – “you bought yourself a plastic coffin!”
20:49 – we don’t pay for our friends, we pay for our beer
31:19 – my first trip to Compton, I’m reading street signs, I’m like, I heard this in a rap song.
41:48 – oh, that’s Brad, he can do what he wants
46:17 – holy cow, which vehicle am I going to build?
1:05:34 – I hit the front-edge and the leading edge of the box truck, felt like I ripped the whole box off
1:10:45 – is the juice worth the squeeze?
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Making good decisions for his family, work, and team, Russell Battles brings patience and discipline to the sport of rockcrawling and life. Listen in on your favorite podcast app or on YouTube. Always good to hear from our friends, a little history, a little present, a bit of the future.
7:48 - …the scout went down the road
12:45 – First phone call to Marlin Crawler
15:40 – know exactly what you want and don’t let them tell you can’t
20:15 – in Abu Dhabi, we were doing something that had never been done in the world before
29:48 - I got into wheeling with some of the best crawlers in the world
33:27 – meeting Old Man Charlie, “is this Carnage Canyon?”
40:32 – we got beat up a little bit
44:07 - put your faith in your driver
Big thanks to our sponsors, Maxxis Tires and 4low Magazine.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Mike Stump – from off-road to electronics, back to off-road with electronics. Yep, we all come full-circle. Give Episode 106 a listen on your favorite podcast channel – or YouTube! Yep, we release on YouTube now at the same time as we release everywhere else – be sure to Subscribe to the channel: Big Rich Klein.
7:49 – they gave me lots of candy
13:28 – we’re going to have beachfront property!
20:00 – just call me Push Start
23:30 – I was kinda a liability.
42:24 – the first black diamond coilover kit
47:34 – at what point do you let go of the throttle?
54:50 – a funny story with Roggy (aren’t they all?)
1:05:59 – it was a sh*t show
1:22:43 – learning all the idiosyncrasies about LEDs
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
The start of the 3rd season of the podcast sees off-road newcomer, Skip Scott, share his story of how he got started with off-road, competition, and this new phase of life. It’s important to remember that all histories matter, new and old, all tell the history of off-road. Thanks for joining us Skip.
5:37 – let’s get the hell out of this Burg!
11:37 – we’re communicating, sir!
17:53 – no one wants to hear your ideas
26:02 – I want somebody to want me and to be valuable
33:37 – I’m free
39:32 – that little dog changed my life right there.
45:01 – solving the puzzle is what keeps us in it
53:40 – I have a bit of an advantage I didn’t have last year
1:15:25 – drivers want to do more than they should, spotters are the reasonable ones
1:22:56 – you are the most important person in our lives because you are the future
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
It's been an awesome two years of podcasting at Conversations of Big Rich. In this episode we share the stats and some highlights.
102 guests: 91 men, 11 women
8114 minutes of content
52,000 downloads with over 4 million minutes listened to
Episodes mentioned:
Bob Bower – Episode 55 and 56
Jack Bettio – Episode 75
Emily Miller – Episode 29
Larry McRae – Episode 15
Rob Bender Park – Episode 8
Charlie Melchner – Episode 4
Then enjoy a replay of Episode #1
The first, the pillar episode of the Big Rich podcast is live! In this episode Shelley interviews Big Rich about the beginning of rock crawling for him. It’s a perseverance story, a succeed at all costs, a bootstrapping, I want this so bad, I’ll do whatever it takes. Almost twenty years later, WE Rock is still strong. Come along for the journey, see where it all began.
Season 1, Episode 1 with Big Rich Klein
7:20 Who yells “What’s the name of your club?” to guys he’s never met before?
16:56 Cease and desist ordered delivered at his very first rock crawl
24:32 You want how much money? How a county judge helped us out.
30:13 Why we needed a 'Noise Study' at a gun range
33:39 The penalty for being trashy
42:32 The birth of WE Rock, but not without some controversy
52:31 No sleeves allowed! Reno Rocks is off the hook
54:31 Debacle in Farmington 2009
64:39 The Taj Mahauler lives
74:36 Dirt Riot is born
82:44 2020 begins, here's what it looks like
85:34 How 4Low Magazine comes with 20 years of plans
92:14 The history of off-road and why it matter
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Let’s do Epic Sh*T! You will laugh out loud with us on this episode of Conversations with Big Rich. Guest, Phil Norvold, founder of Max-Bilt Offroad is a natural storyteller, come along for the adventure that starts with a pizza. We talk Max-Bilt, leading, Epic Willy’s Adventure, and Mo-hab!
6:39 – I liked taking things apart, if they went back together that was a bonus!
13:04 – not only did I fix a problem, I made somebody’s day
22:55 – old is cool
32:07 – good thing your middle name isn’t Lester
34:09 – there is this pilgrimage to Utah, it’s probably like Burning Man…
43:16 – thanks for worrying enough for the rest of us
53:37 – he rations out two handfuls of salted peanuts for four of us
58:59 – no matter what, it’s going to be better
1:04:07 – there’s no good stories on the easy path
1:07:36 – Let’s do Epic Shit!
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Crazy Doug with some crazy stories. Shooting golf clubs, racing down ski hills on wheels, blood boosting, cocoa leaves, Baja, rockcrawling. If it includes adventure, this episode has it. Join Doug Hayduk and Big Rich for Episode 102.
5:28 – I won the hill climb three years in a row.
9:53 – I was charge with solving the welding cracking problems on titanium
14:41 – mountain bikers were a little more counterculture
20:36 – I always thought the ultimate opportunity was to use my engineering in sporting goods
28:32 – we were verbally promised bonuses, that didn’t work out
39:46 – gravity carts, like soapbox derby on mountains
48:39 – I’m a legend in Park City
52:25 – All I knew was Baja racing was badass, right?
1:18:34 – It’s really satisfying having friends that will shake your hand and do something for you
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Hooked on cars since age 2, Andy Lilienthal is now Warn Industries Strategic Communications Manager. That seems like a mouthful, what you need to know about Andy is that he’s a cars and community kinda guy. He can talk about them, write about them, and work on them. Our kind of human. Listen in as Andy gives us some background on how he got to this point in his career.
2:44 – Hot Wheels were my jam.
7:34 – people swap sides of the desk all the time from editors to PR people
11:27 – united by horsepower
25:50 – basically, I was a toy tester
32:45 – there was a new way to talk to your customer
45:23 – the kindness of strangers
1:00:43 – this industry is full of lots of really awesome, passionate people
1:05:22 – we’re competing in the 2022 ARCA 5000 rally, a time-speed-distance rally through Canada and Alaska
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
A renaissance man, Corey Osborne keeps re-inventing himself and his ideals by learning everything he can. From corporate suit to off-road guy, Corey brings the CTI trailer to the masses for conversation and insight. Join him at Modern Jeeper online or one of their many adventures.
3:57– It’s a demented curiosity…
13:43 – are you sure this is something you want to do?
21:37 – so that’s why you have a yellow Jeep!
27:54 – …literally having a party for a year and a half straight!
32:22 – you ought to do something you enjoy
38:59 – from “that’ll never work” to just over 9000 rigs on the CTI trailer
43:23 – “you can only say no twice” – you have to be available
49:50 – my most horrible experience off-road, followed by my second worst experience
1:05:03 – I want to be inspired, I want to be inspirational
1:15:17 – Modern Jeeper is really about the adventure side
1:23:03 – the educational side of the off-road industry is going to be important
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Alan Woodson of Axis Fabrication, an OG rockcrawler, dishes dirt with Rich on Episode 99. A true east coast competitor, Alan shares his love of travel and building with all of us.
3:13– growing up in a big, little city
11:17 – Scott bailed me out
19:14 – Full Disclosure: I did something to deserve the ability to not have my license
39:13 – let me tell you about how I met Charlie
48:07 – anything west of Tennessee is just a different mentality
56:12 – I’m definitely doing Axis Fab
59:42 – I think people that build and break barriers in the off-road world, it’s a lot like being an artist
1:05:17 – I didn’t come to that conversation with an open mind
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
IH8MUD founder, Brian “Woody” Swearingen, was on the internet before most of us knew what it was. Driving one of his 8 vehicles on the hardest core trails, you find Woody wherever the people are. Check out this episode number 98
4:05– we mowed seven days a week, every hour that we could
9:56 – I basically scrubbed floors and cleaned toilets in a suit and tie for years
11:13 – the better you are at continuing to learn new thing, the better you will be
18:33 – I laid in the driveway under the truck and my friend would sit in the drivers eat and yell through the holes in the floor
29:45 – The links on I8MUD go back to 2002
36:03 – you’re officially white trash when you put your clothes in white trash bags
40:52 – I’m just going to leave a check on your counter
54:41 – I just stand back and see what things need to be done that nobody else is doing
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Work seems to be the only word in Rusty Megois’ vocabulary. Owner of Rusty’s Off-Road in Rainbow City, Alabama, Rusty shares the friendships that have helped him through the changes in the industry.
3:12– a neighbor started fueling the fire for being outdoorsl
8:34 – I try to push my guys to do more and do better
14:50 – I just brought more knowledge that I was acquiring on the west coast back home
26:37 – and thank God, along came the XJ Jeep Cherokee
36:52 – I understand you have a building where projects go to die…
41:40 – if I can’t have too many Jeeps, then she can’t have too many diamonds
1:04:25 – right now the biggest thing we’re adding is more robots for welding
1:25:28 – we all work way too damn much
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Multi-faceted, Poly Dave Schlossberg tells his story on Episode 96. Bringing the energy, experience, and education to build things that are more than the sum of their parts, Synergy and Poly Performance are running at full steam. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
4:24 – …he wrapped his whole house in tin foil
15:04 – I had passed out and spilled some Goldschlager on my chest, and this bear…
18:34 – I kinda subscribe to the philosophy that there’s always an angle, right?
21:09 – just got to follow the wind, there are doors open
28:01 – I made sure little Johnny left with more than just a skateboard
34:17 – I can speak Hillbilly, so I’d get on and help these guys…
38:25 – if I could sell a pair of shocks a day, I’d be set for life
53:00 – guys want to sit in their underwear and order parts from their living room while they’re pounding beers and watching NASAR, you know what I’m saying?
1:07:19 – as long as my guys want to work, I’ll be there to open the doors.
1:19:04 – there’s no silver bullet and magic, you’ve got to put in the work
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Knowing what you want to do from first grade. Priceless. Meet Scott Trimarco, the pump guy. Scott is the man when it comes to hydraulic steering pumps – high flow applications is where his product thrives. Listen in to hear how all that came about. Scott’s Custom Offroad.
www.scottscustomoffroad.com
10:28 – I want to design cars
15:18 – she’d make shirts with the pocket upside down…
23:03 – oh, yeah, I lived on Pirate
32:03 – you get one free day
36:25 – I borrowed garages for forever
40:36 – I never made a square Toyota driveshaft
49:10 – the fire department got there before we could evacuate
54:56 – I’m done with these pumps, I can come up with something better
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Living life on his own terms, Randy Ellis, on Episode 94. From tearing up trucks to building them, Randy is chasing sunshine in Mexico now on Simplify. Listen in as Big Rich and Randy share what it was like in the Phoenix desert when rockcrawling was still new.
5:06 – vroom, vroom dad
14:04 – at 16, I started flipping cars
17:56 – If you boys are going to play, you got to learn how to fix ‘em
23:02 – I messed up so many things, but that’s how you learn
32:35 – you started out building your own everything
38:52 – we learned real quick to put on a show
46:23 – we started building parts for everybody
53:22 – the name of my baby girl is Simplify
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Classically trained guitarist to self-proclaimed Jeep guy, Christian Hazel of MotorTrend Group on Episode 93. There’s a lot about Christian you wouldn’t guess by his outward appearance. Rock-n-roller, scientific editor, long-distance commuter, listen in to find out where his story began and where he is now with all the changes MotorTrend had undergone.
3:53 – that’s the kind of spirit Boston has
8:31 – my heart and soul were in this other genre of music
13:47 – I just got up and walked out of that class
20:21 – I’m not hanging my success on the shoulders of someone else
28:17 – the world is my oyster out here
31:03 – in anything you’re trying to do successfully, you can’t fake it
36:17 – I wasn’t a huge Jeep guy, but I took to it like a duck to water
49:35 – I tried to infuse bucket list things into the event
1:14:08 – what a company does or does not spend with us holds no sway in our decision making
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
All-American Badass, JT Taylor, on Episode 92. JT is currently the race director for American Offroad Endurance working with Mid-America Outdoors, but that’s just the latest feather in his cap. Former race director at Ultra4, racer extraordinaire in all forms of go-fast, especially Baja. JT has seen and done more than most. Listen in for a few chuckles, a lot of history, and more info about What's Next.
2:45 – the grease went outta my knees
9:21 – the e-brake came in handy when you passed a state trooper
12:39 – There’s a lot of Alphas in our sport
17:22 – they hooked me by showing me a video at the recruiter’s office – sign me up!
21:04 – I was cheating. Everybody was cheating
41:54 – racing the Elf
59:13 – setting up KOH…it’s like a deployment
1:16:51 – Mid America Outdoors and what comes with that!
1:32:10 – my goal is to break 200 miles an hour
1:35:23 – Mooneyham beat my record
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Trending on Conversations with Big Rich is Senior Director of Marketing for Jeep & Off-Road Brands at Truck Hero, Lee Riser. Lee chased her career around Monroe, Louisiana with Superlift and Skyjacker, landing at Truck Hero recently. Listen in on a marketing 101 class for anyone in the industry. We support strong women in off-road!.
1:54 – This industry is definitely where I’ve grown up
11:36 – “I hired you as my replacement, so I’m handing it over”
20:05 – We like to align ourselves with those brands that are obviously making an impact
26:50 – it’s interesting to see the field of marketing evolve
32:53 – are you really an influencer if you have to tell people you’re an influencer?
44:15 – as soon as a vehicle comes out we’re starting to produce product for it
49:57 – be flexible, be adaptable and watch the trends
1:00:19 – I want to do stuff that stretches me, pushes the limits a little bit morel
1:09:35 – props goes out to the men in this industry that help encourage women
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Serial entrepreneur Chris Overacker on Episode 90. Founder of Stage West Offroad Outfitters, Mountain Off-Road Enterprises, and CODE 4x4 talks engineering, building, marketing, Jeeps, and full-size.
4:22 – “Well, you must not have been trying very hard!”
8:12 – I found the light!
13:11 – How come you didn’t tell me that slider was in there backward??
21:18 – Lee Sharp was a fantastic mentor
26:50 – I don’t want to be competitors with you
32:15 – “Why don’t you export product and import money?”
55:44 – we went to an off-road racing school with Rod Hall and Steve Kelly
1:00:18 – we’re going up that trail right there – where? – right there, there’s a trail
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Your Off-Road Connection, Keith Bailey, from Alabama shares off-road, wheeling and Ultimate Adventure with Big Rich on Episode 89.
4:22 – It’s called fishing, not catching
13:37 – Gray Rock came along at the best time
20:30 – I don’t know if the mods ever stopped on that ‘84
26:43 – Debbie gave me the confidence to quit and go full-time
32:26 – Since ’03, I haven’t missed a UA since
44:02 – if you have more room, you bring more things
46:05 – bolt-on things are not that simple
52:39 – what’s your recommendation for an 18-year-old who wants to get into the offroad business?
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The Fishdood, Austin “Fish” Farner joins Rich for Episode 88. Right seat, left seat, media, Fish has done it all. Listen in as they talk desert racing and Fishgistics.
5:19 – Where does Fish come from?
9:09 – we raced in the 1450 class back in the day
14:57 – you can barely get a flat tire anymore and expect to win a race
20:58 – “Oh my God, is he really doing that right now?”
27:51 – Anybody could get in a trophy truck and with a little skill you could go finish a race
34:16 – what’s it like to be a co-driver? What are your responsibilities?
41:34 – if you get motion sickness, you probably are going to get sick in a car
46:34 – that’s the point, it’s a joke name that everybody will remember
54:12 – the game is going to change in the next two years as far as media and technology
1:03:18 – I was the only Sportsman truck entry Sal Fish had to put out a Press Release about after the race
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From heavy equipment in third-world countries to desert racing, Steve Sullivan has seen more than most. He’s a good guy to have in your corner on a bad day. Listen in on Episode 87 as Steve and Big share old stories of VORRA.
4:15 – it was a nickel a day for all you could drink lemonade
8:23 – everybody that was in Cycle News was at that birthday party
13:30 – you’ve seen the movie Blood Diamonds, we were the real guys
20:45 – “Well, it’s not the same!” she was kind of mad
26:22 – I couldn’t beat that guy in the desert fair, he was too fast for me
40:17 – dang, man, it’s race day!
46:18 – told me I’d be dead by Christmas
50:04 – the rockcrawling mentality is just a whole different thing
57:34 – I’m going to tell you one more time - if you have 18” of usable travel
1:02:22 – I catch up to the guy in the race, and it’s just a local going to get some tacos
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A man in uniform, Del Albright has worn them all. Join us for an insightful look into Del’s life and career on Episode 86. We’re talking band, military, firefighting, and land use in just a quick minute.
3:32 – Leave it to Beaver incarnate
7:15 – we’d stop when we got to the Colorado River
16:38 – I needed some padding in the back of this 58 station wagon – to transport my musical instruments …
23:09 – I did everything combat the United States Army had to offer
28:46 – I’ve been in uniform forever
31:52 – I started getting into Jeeps and have been broke ever since
36:12 – they train me to be a coyote
41:06 – I met this astronaut from Apollo 13
45:05 – my master’s degree is prescribed burning for wildlife habitat
49:21 – I’m selective on how I pick on the changes the wackos have made
55:03 – it’s a desert wash, it changes every year
1:08:28 – my mission was to get people enough knowledge and tools to deal with the bureaucracy
1:17:49 – the 4 E’s of Enlightenment
1:24:10 – it’s a full-time job to keep people motivated
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Jeepers Den and Ricky Artes are synonymous with Florida wheeling. You’ll find Ricky everywhere. Check out how he got started and where he’s going from here in Episode 85 of Conversations with Big Rich.
5:56 – I need to get out of the sun
12:39 – the biggest thing was customer service and work ethic
20:56 – I’m still pulling sand out of my Jeep
30:51 – I was still painting the damn showroom
38:16 – I do a full rollover in the air, land on my tires, my Ray-Bans were crooked
42:13 – you can’t DQ me if he beats your ass
50:43 – there’s always room for people behind me in the line
1:06:24 – is this supposed to be a secret??
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Current president of Terra Del Sol Jeep club, Bill Kassler, on episode 84. TDS hosts the annual Desert Safari on state parks lands near Ocotillo Wells. They are gearing up for their 60th anniversary, Bill shares what their plans are. Stay tuned, it’s going to be a good one.
3:17 – the beginning of On Any Sunday was any day in SoCal
6:21 – motorcycles kept us out of trouble
13:17 – I did some trails and I was terrified
23:37 – the history of the club
40:34 – yeah, we draw a crowd!
43:54 – you have to have a casual attitude towards body damage
1:00:43 – here’s a story that stands out about Bo
www.tds4x4.com
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Saharan desert driver to tech editor, the path Verne Simons took along the way. There is science involved in episode 83 of Conversations with Big Rich.
1:52 – we’re all kind of married to this thing called off-road
8:52 – I stayed in a Bedouin tent as kid in the middle of the desert
12:49 – the ladies are in charge (we’re talking about lemurs here!)
19:32 – you don’t get pulled over in the Sahara desert for driving without a license
31:30 – it was like a lightbulb went off!
42:50 – it was sort of the heyday of magazines!
51:46 – we eloped and got married in Moab
56:47 – I like the sound of tech editor better than senior editor
1:07:41 – I hate to be a total nerd, but I am a total nerd
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Energetic entrepreneur, Greg Higgs, has traveled many routes around the world. Join us as the Fab Fours founder talks about bumpers, soapboxes, and supply chains. Episode 82 of Conversations of Big Rich.
3:18 – we bought that money pit
13:26 – drinking a beer around the same exact fire
17:27 – just the terrain and humidity changes
23:48 – a motto I’ve half-lived with – if you can dream it, I can build it
35:57 – what is the aspirational element of man?
41:37 – perfect segue to my soapbox!
53:01 – real beauty to fabricated sheet metal
1:02:31 – the whole world is connected
1:11:43 – we’ve actually found a way inadvertently to engineer a moment in time where nothing is right to do this cataclysmic challenge
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Coming off a fresh win at the Rebelle Rally, Champion Nena Barlow, shares life, training, adventure, and the 2021 Rebelle with us. A master trainer, business owner, and self-proclaimed off-road enthusiast, Nena provides a lot of insight into what makes a perfect Rebelle and how others can better their experience.
3:30 – Jeeps and trucks and tractors, I drove everything
7:55 – I get claustrophobic in cities
12:43 – Jeep rentals were a natural fit for the business
17:11 – I saw the picture of the Ostrich!
24:00 – it sounds like a sewing machine
28:15 – my favorite people on the planet are in this one place for this week in October
32:46 – apply a little Maxtrax, a little shovel, a little Bubba Rope to get people unstuck
40:15 – it’s so easy to get turned around, like being in the middle of the ocean
48:16 – how do we top this?
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Lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Kurt Schneider in Episode 80. Wearing a lot of hats: teacher, coach, land use advocate, Kurt influences others, the right way, by telling stories.
4:59 – heads we go to Florida, tails we go west, and it came up tails
8:07 – Life is about experiences
12:01 – there are pine trees!
13:45 – my dad introduces me to Ansel Adams
19:31 – close the hood and walk away
24:20 – my kids are working on stuff on the side of the road, just like me
36:50 – no good story ever started with a salad
38:08 – started playing professional paintball
42:11 – hating on sealions
51:55 – here’s my confession
55:53 – Frank Sinatra has a cold
1:12:07 – in land use, we eat out young
1:21:07 – John Muir was about access
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Frank the Tank on Episode 79! Listen in on Frank Alioto’s journey from mechanical engineer to Edelbrock to where he is now. His no-nonsense attitude after a life-altering accident has him back in an LJ and on the trails. This is a good one!
5:01 – we went 2 miles an hour all day and I had the best time!
9:07 – I did burnouts on Woodward in Detroit
12:58 – my first job out of college was designing shock absorbers in Sutter Creek
16:05 – the 405 is at least as tough on vehicles as the Rubicon
19:04 – Edelbrock had a lot of car enthusiasts, but not many of them were off-road enthusiasts
27:48 – I used to hot lap Golden Spike
34:02 – “you never go on a night run with a Toyota without a sleeping bag!”
39:34 – the accident
47:27 – Disabled Sports run on the Rubicon
50:38 – I want this Jeep, and he’s like, you don’t need that Jeep (I got the Jeep)
53:27 – I fI had to thank every person who helped me with the vehicle, this would be 3 hours long – you know who you are and I cannot thank you enough
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Rounding out our trio of Farmington celebs is RJ Brown. The older of the Brown brothers, RJ brings a wealth of knowledge of the early days of rockcrawling and the characters involved. Listen in for some fun with RJ.
4:06 – we didn’t have any big city problems then
7:58 – the start of my motorsports type stuff
11:54 – I worked at a junkyard for free on Saturdays to get parts
14:17 – my dad was one of the cooler dads
19:22 – Harold Off gave us a Jeep to build
25:12 – when did you go with nitrous?
29:45 – who were the influencers in the early days?
35:49 – that stuff was evolving so fast
39:59 – I quit when my kids started doing sports
41:54 – we’re building an OJ Bronco with my son
48:11 – Randy Ellis in Cedar City
54:26 – every weekend we were trying to think of a better way to advance
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Are you driver enough? OG course designer, Phil Collard, talks course setting philosophy with Big Rich. It’s interesting to hear how the original ARCA designer set courses. Phil’s had a long, full life since then. Join us to learn more.
5:55 – I saw them help more people with problems
9:26 – how did you get started setting courses?
13:38 – how did you set courses?
18:55 – it was a chess match between me and the rest of the world
24:39 – I learned how to do it without having to drive it
30:46 – it’s Moab, it’s got to be the most difficult that there every was
34:31 – the goat cheese found the canyon
36:25 – would you like to ride with me?
38:40 – I’m in a high-speed chase on that little tiny, skinny road
49:53 – personality of drivers that ranges from fantastic to even more fantastic
57:46 – that’s what happened with those spear things
1:03:11 – you’re changing the face of the industry
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Talk about being born into the sport! Richard (Rick) Jenkins has almost forty years experience and he just turned 40 this year. A player in the 4 Corners area, Rick has been instrumental in elevating Chokecherry Canyon and the Farmington area into the iconic wheeling area it is. Stick around and learn more of his history, from being in the crib in the back of an International Scout2 to leading Jeep Jamboree in Ouray and trail leading at EJS. If it’s in the Four Corners, you’ll find Rick out taking care of business.
6:45 – 4WD weren’t being built for wheeling, but to get where they needed to go
9:11 – on Intimidator, it took 8 hours to go one mile, and that trail is still one mile
15:12 – the Gladiator waterfall stands your rig straight up and down
21:55 – inclusivity on the trail
34:22 – let’s talk about Jim Peterson
44:51 – Off Again is my family
53:14 – Shut your face and let’s go wheeling
58:40 – we didn’t hold back, we filled that room
1:08:45 – what do you do when you aren’t wheeling?
1:17:32 – like 3% of that group uses the four wheel drive functionality
1:24:21 – we had a really good upbringing and lifestyle
1:31:00 – there were probably 15 families that really put the whole EJS together
1:39:06 – getting started competitive rockcrawling
1:45:39 – She (Jewell) really wants to run unlimited
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Eighty years of adrenaline isn’t slowing Jack Bettio down. Join us on Episode 75 for a look back at the early years of rockcrawling. Jack has some gems in here. East coast driver knows all the good guys.
4:52 – the alternate runway for the space shuttle is 14 miles long
9:06 – I was teaching for GM, but didn’t want to travel to teach
11:10 – might as well do this legal like
16:29 – the car I set the SeaGas record in has been restored
22:07 – I slipped out of the seatbelt and fell 75 feet out of the airplane
27:41 – I put her through law school and she sued me for a divorce
40:09 – I got off the plane in Aspen and saw a beautiful white CJ7, I want to buy that!
45:57 – how I met Tom Wood
52:23 – what was it like competing in the first event?
1:08:08 – if you’re a gear head, you’re my friend
1:17:45 – we just finished first place, I was 68, time to go
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Helluva nice guy, Matt Hodges, shares the richness of life on Episode 74. You know him from Red Neck Ram and West Texas Off Road, but there is much more to the story. From his love of family and travel to his redneck engineering and the soft spot he holds for those less abled, meeting Matt on the trail is one of life’s pleasures.
3:10 – the Hodges’ Family Zoo
6:51 – driving on the highway to the ranch at 11 years old
13:46 – Marine Corps intelligence is just asinine
19:07 – I could let my OCD flourish
21:52 – he gave me a ’46 and a ’48 Willys and said “put them together”
27:29 – started tearing apart gearboxes
33:20 – it’s funny to call it a manufacturing facility
44:33 – I just gave Kenny Hauk the Unimog
51:53 – as far as the media stuff goes, I would never want to do that
1:17:33 – I’m already the richest man in the world
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Sometimes you meet people in the industry and “think” you know their story. This one surprised me. Fifty years of hotrods, over 20 published books, training at the highest levels and all this before off-road became what we knew him for. Don Alexander has a storied past, listen in and enjoy.
3:34 – go carts at age 11l
5:52 – always pushing the RPM limits
13:57 – professor changed my trajectory – not in the way you’d think
28:36 – connecting off-road guys through our industry
34:47 – it’s all about the wheel spin
39:03 – “had the aerodynamics o a Walmart store”
46:20 – I made some good maps
51:48 – that sums up the three mile an hour adrenaline rush
55:00 – let’s talk roof top tents
1:11:28 – the problem is convincing people they need to be trained
1:34:17 – you’re an off-roader, right?
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There’s no grass growing under her feet, that’s for sure! Owner of TorqMasters Industries, Cora Jokinen, shares the divergent path that got her to the place she’s at today. But she’s not done yet! TorqMasters releases a new product every two months, Cora is involved with SEMA, competes in the Rebelle, and is building the space she aspires to own. With her architectural background and her husband, Erik, and bestie, Petunia at her side, this woman is unstoppable.
3:16 – hockey was my focus in high school
6:43 – I built a house in college instead of renting
8:10 – my first vehicle was The Gouda, a 1980 Mercedes Diesel Wagon
9:57 – spent Thanksgiving break on my first off-road build
13:09 – I would tig architectural models in the 2nd story laundry room
16:12 – Tech official for Monster Truck
23:50 – got my first sponsor for the Vermont Jeep Girl Challenge
25:43 – hey, Bill, I’d like to buy your company
33:24 – it’s a swiss army knife
37:55 – phone call to delivered product in 10 days
43:53 – releasing a new product every two months
58:32 – going back to the Rebelle with Ford
1:07:09 – we have our dream driveway
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A man who takes his hobbies seriously, from welder to fabricator to three-gun shooting to RC cars and back again. Jason Conover, Snort Clown to those in the know, of the PNW is back on the block tending to unfinished business in Episode 71.
6:12 – I was not into any of the social networks
9:40 – there was nowhere to spend your money
12:19 – that’s when the four-wheeling bug kinda caught
17:25 – up here it’s more like tree dodging or moshing
21:45 – almost kind of like a gamertag, a little bit of a joke
25:54 – trying to come up with my own design
36:48 – moved away from the rockcrawling side and did the King of the Hammers
41:54 – it allowed me to daisy-chain with him and be a part of the racing
43:28 – I got into three gun shooting
46:54 – I bought a bomber – I probably would have been happier with a real one
50:29 – it was fun again
52:56 – it’s been the long game, waiting for the kids to come of age and want to be a part of it
54:57 – building a new chassis, the Bravo X, more hands-off
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From Monster Truck lover to world-class buggy fabricator, Jesse Haines tells his history in fabrication and rock crawling. His focus and drive have brought him to the pinnacle of his career with his family and friends cheering him on. If anyone can “figure it out” it’s Jesse Haines.
4:13 – my goal in life was to own a Monster Truck
9:22 – we had some Epic Fights
12:04 – by the time I was done with the field trip, I’m like No, I’m not doing this
19:21 – first off-road competition was the Top Truck challenge
22:20 – a lot of things just worked out, ended up working for Troy Myers at the Badlands
25:20 – I wanted them to see my work in person, have an idea what I was capable of
26:57 – Hot Dog Mike asked me to spot for him
29:05 – I did horrible, there’s a lot to learn
37:15 – I just had to figure it out, took it to the finals and the car is a disaster
40:37 - First event in Jellico and I broke my back
48:48 – I didn’t deserve to win because of Randy’s showing in the Shootout
53:40 – the poop chute was the finale
1:01:30 – I built the Torchmate buggy, then quit and went to work for Torchmate
1:11:49 – I felt confident this stuff was going to work
1:21:50 – coming up with the ideas is one thing, coming up with a way to produce your ideas is another
1:27:44 – you’re losing your advantage because you’re giving it away
1:43:20 – you have to analyze every possibility on the course
1:54:30 – I did this before and caught hell for not mentioning my wife and kids
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Marketing and Sales Director at SCORE, Jim Ryan, previously publisher at Dirt Sports and various Peterson publications gives us some insight into how a driven young man has put eyes on so much media over the years. From Cycle News to SCORE, and the ups in between.
4:06 – Cycle News, the internet of Motorcycle Motorsports World
7:16 – Senior project was to sell myself
10:28 – getting really organized, really fast
15:03 – Mr. Peterson’s publishing banner, he had done everything he could possibly do
21:02 – the Mickey Thompson series was a galvanizing entity expanding the marketplace
26:22 – a total blanket across North American in terms of sports and enthusiasts
35:40 – Dirt Sports and Masterpiece of Metal
43:28 – the Score Journal has a global media presence
47:08 – jumped into SCORE 7 years ago, Roger was taking it to the next level
1:00:21 – good cadre of leadership every year
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Powerful words. Tom Campbell from Ohio joins us for Episode 68. Tom is a rockcrawler from wayback, but also a Chaplain for Racers for Christ. He shares his history with the Navy, Veterinarian, rockcrawling, missionary work, and the life-altering accident from just four years ago.
10:34 – my daughter says I’m spreading a disease
14:02 – we modified our three speeds to be mountain bikes
20:41 – the last 7 people to survive the pool would go on to SEAL training
24:40 – …and I got arrested
35:28 – two hundred horsepower and cutting brakes
43:25 – Veterinary college
46:11 – detecting biological and chemical weapon use
51:10 – street racing cost me my license numerous times
56:51 – Tennessee Offroad Challenge – 3 day event
1:05:10 – RCV’s were the only axles that didn’t break
1:12:33 – we were hit by a Lexus SUV going 55
1:16:29 –when you’re a Christian, being disabled is much worse than dying
1:17:48 – Racers for Christ
1:22:39 – vaccines for livestock in Mali, Africa
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Founder of many things, including the Ladies Offroad Network, Charlene Bower, shares her colorful history in off-road. Included are the highs and the lows and a lot of personal history between Big Rich and Charlene. It’s a great listen.
4:19 – I had the coolest van in high school – metallic blue
6:47 – my coach said No dirt bikes
12:27 – I’ve got a couple of ATC 70’s that are all blown out, they’re pretty aggressive
15:35 – my first job at Zoom Motorcycles – first girl they ever hired, vetted me the same they would the guys
24:23 – mini skirts and high heels to work every day
26:46 – do you want to hear the truth or what you want to hear?
29:28 – Hot Boats in Disco Bay
33:17 – I took six months off, hooked up my trailer, and went to Pismo, I was done with retail
36:22 – I’ll take the job, but I’m not starting until after Christmas
41:51 – the first thing companies do in a recession is cut their marketing
45:28 – I did what any good business owner would do, I started my own business sitting on my parents' floor
50:11 –three elements that make the industry work
55:23 – how I ended up in Arizona
1:00:23 – I hit another wall, I wasn’t filling my bucket back up
1:04:30 – Boom, there it is – Rallyventure, Uwharrie and Rebelle Rally – just say yes
1:14:44 – what am I supposed to do if I win this thing??
1:19:04 – we offer lifetime memberships now
1:24:40 – Bower Academy will be an online school
1:28:51 – we kept them out of jail and nobody died!
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Spend some time with Ben Falkner, President of Teraflex and learn more about their almost 70-year history and the innovative line of products for all your Jeep styles.
3:55 – Growing up in Manti, the best small town experience
8:07 – I loved dinking around with Jeeps
9:04 – Grandpa started MEPCO in the 50’s
12:28 – the start of Teraflex
14:46 – it was worse than factory!
17:16 – they don’t maintain their vehicles
27:00 – we call it Clarence
32:31 – more than a 60 program
37:29 – Falcon shocks began in 2016
53:30 – the people of Teraflex
57:50 – he’s pretty amped up
1:05:29 –All these new customers
www.teraflex.com
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OG Rockcrawler Steve Nantz of Sandhollow Offroad joins us in Episode 65. Steve’s career has taken him all over the west, many know him from his 16 years at Moab 4x4 Outpost and the outstanding service we all received there. Now at the burgeoning mecca of Sand Hollow, Steve still offers outstanding service.
3:29 – I BMX’d a lot, sponsored rider for Kuwahara
4:45 – started off-roading in the mountains near San Diego
5:54 – we just declared war
8:34 – every day you act as if you’re at war, the difference is you’re loading live ammunition now
11:51 – joined the Mountaineers Jeep Club, that is a great club
13:12 – I went to Moab and broke my t-case, got offered a job
14:52 – I actually spotted for Kevin Hawkins at the very first rockcrawl
16:51 – my buggy was fighter jet style with a seat behind, that was the Centipede
20:07 – Four Wheelers Supply bred really good fabricators
23:32 – it was scary, I’d never been a business owner
29:14 – That’s how we built our reputation in Moab
35:29 – it just worked out good for everybody
40:45 – it really is the Mecca for wheeling
46:16 – when you fabricate, you get to be creative
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Disco Derek West spills on family, racing, opportunities, and why he’s retired now. A twenty-year career with over 100 wins in all elements of off-road, Derek has always been a wheelman. He can drive anything and podium.
3:54 – Four wheelers started the driving bug
9:03 –my very first race is a holeshot race and everyone’s wrecking!
14:07 – John Lloyd was the one who got me into off-road
16:12 –Camp Jeep in Branson is where I met Ritchie
20:17 – Ashley was driving my comp rig to college
24:18 – I learned you have to trust your rig and trust your spotter
28:00 – the sponsors weren’t interested, nobody was interested
30:48 – I am just the monkey behind the wheel
33:32 – I hated optional lines
37:58 – got invited to KOH in 2009
43:40 – I got second place, and somebody said “What happened?” I was proud of that second place
51:39 –that was the hardest race
58:11 – the solid axle is actually doing extremely well
1:02:05 – the origin of “disco”
1:05:03 – if you can swing it, pay for it yourself, sponsorship is a job.
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The dynamic duo, Randy Kruse and Shain Chapman, from K2 in Mason, Texas join us for Episode 63. Wheeling buddies and business partners for over 20 years, Shain and Randy talk about the different properties, K1 and K2; how they got here, and what’s in store for the future of wheeling in Texas. It’s a great listen with lots of laughs amongst these old friends.
3:02 – you’re going to make the team!
7:51 –state champion chicken judging team
13:12 – squeezed four years into five and a half
13:54 –when I didn’t get into vet school on a whim I applied to law school
17:50 – we met at a party
19:58 – we spent the next couple hours trying to get me upright
21:14 – “Boy, this is Texas”
26:26 – how much would you pay?
28:53 – the nature of off-road
30:54 – I don’t think I have any pictures I can actually publish
33:55 – what’s the difference between West Coast wheelers and Texas? ….thought there was going to be fight
40:39 – but you were a bull rider? Yeah, that ride is only 8 seconds!
47:53 – it’s such a family sport
49:25 – we did have Ted Nugent out here
54:38 – I guess I’ll go clean the toilets
1:04:53 – where does the name, Katemcy Rocks, come from?
1:11:06 – Texans take their BBQ seriously
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The little brother brings a whole lot of history of his own. Casey Scherer doesn’t really roll in his brothers shadow, more like on a parallel path. Casey spends time with Rich talking about the moves he’s made, his racing history and his plan to live his best life ever. I’ll never forget meeting him in Arizona after a Spring Training game and the fun that ensued.
4:09 – we were hooked!
7:18 –first job involved a sledgehammer
10:12 – spent nights in Mello’s barn working on race Jeeps
11:40 –I ran faster laps than the instructors
13:30 – ran with NASCAR drivers
15:00 – it taught me discipline
19:47 – Shannon taught us how to share
24:07 – the 25 hour long endurance race was fun
25:38 – staring down my own gun from the barrel end
28:05 – I bought a bone stock Can-Am X3
31:20 – it wasn’t a sponsorship, it was a relationship
39:09 – I got hurt. It was all games off. No more racing.
41:48 – how do you continue your life and not dwell on this silly situation?
46:12 – there’s no script
49:15 – Mountain Vibe Festival
52:21 – Team Awesome
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I always think of Trent McGee as a magazine guy, and that’s certainly how he got his start – but listen in to see what else he’s been up to in his 20+ year career in off-road. Ultimate Adventure, Superlift TV, there’s lots of great stuff packed in this episode.
4:40 – early days developed my love for the desert
7:06 – everything just stings, sticks, or bites
8:27 – theater set the stage because I had on-camera experience
10:35 – rules to keep teens safe while driving: buy them something small so they can’t put many people in it, add a stick shift so they can’t text
12:37 – my dad was livid….
15:20 – I needed an internship
17:08 – my 10 seconds of courage
21:02 – I thought I was pretty knowledgable
32:00 – yeah, Louisiana, not a chance
41:45 – the most special build was for a co-worker that had a unicorn
49:48 – I hung out my own shingle about 10 years ago
50:54 – I’m one of two guys that have been on every Ultimate Adventure
59:16 – to Alaska at 25 mph
1:04:42 – Jeep Dirt-n-Drive to Moab
1:25:57 – Life is not about things
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This is a must-listen episode! Clay Egan was paralyzed at age 22; started rockcrawling at age 32; became a full-time motivational speaker at age 37. If you’ve ever struggled with life, with circumstances, with your future, this is one episode you need to hear. The power of prayer, positivity, and healing is strong with this one.
3:20 – Utah, the most amazing state on the planet
7:44 – Let’s talk about the accident
11:15 – good enough that I’ve been able to be fully independent as a C6 quadriplegic
13:32 – the physical pain and trauma was so bad, I just wanted to feel better
15:18 – it wasn’t that bad mentally because of my back story
19:23 – construction was my thing
21:47 – my rockcrawling start
29:45 – my final rockcrawling competition
31:43 – KOH 2009
33:39 – I made a deal with God
36:13 – I started speaking all over the country
“my good attitude has been my meal ticket everywhere, it’s been the key t my success. You know, we all have stuff we deal with in life, we all have challenges, whether it be financial challenges, our jobs, marital challenges, loss of a child, divorce, whatever it is, we all have those obstacles to overcome and they suck when we’re in it. But what I’ve learned through all of mine is if you can find just one good thing in that bad experience – you grow, you learn, you go forward a better person.”
41:40 – I retired from speaking in 2017
44:38 – I have always been blessed with the best of friends
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Energetic, friendly, and knowledgeable describes Jeep enthusiast Jim Horne as he joins us for Episode 59 to share how a kid graduated from a Missouri high school ends up in Pahrump, Nevada (for now). Lots of stories and laughs along the way with his strong, beautiful wife, Barb.
2:56 – since I was born I’ve been around everything Jeep-wise
8:14 – I don’t know if I maybe had anger issues, but I love playing football
9:47 – A couple of years ago, Barb was diagnosed with breast cancer
12:50 – I really got into this industry, it’s saved us
17:26 – it’s those personal experiences that build character
18:46 – we would shut the job down because he was yelling at me and I was yelling back
27:35 – aircraft mechanic jobs were flooded with ex-military, no room for me
34:41 – it was time to settle down
37:09 – once you’re on the Rubicon, you’re not getting off until you’re done
38:57 – we started Outlaw Jeep Tours on the corner like a hooker
42:54 – Steve Nantz has been a key person in my life
46:25 – you’re living the dream
58:29 – I put her into a roll
1:04:34 – fighting vapor lock in the race truck
1:15:59 – you’re only failing if you don’t try
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What do yellow hats, gas tanks, Jeeps, and bicycle parts have in common? Tony Pellegrino and Genright. Tony is the founder of Genright, a company now supplying thousands of SKUs for your Jeep, listen to how it began with a gas tank. Lots of personal history in this one with Tony and his family, Debbie, Jamie and Jordan. Names you know in the industry.
4:37 – My parents sent us to parochial school to straighten us boys out.
10:14 – I won an award for building a four-wheel drive radio controlled car from scratch.
12:27 – I drove home in reverse so I didn’t miss my curfew
14:41 – the start of the off-road bug
17:23 – I did my homework
18:58 – the next job found me
24:00 – I met the one
26:10 – I worked like a dog
31:18 – remember the rc car?
36:53 – the evolution of Genright
41:43 – The problem with ramping up a company during an economic crash
49:45 – too many guys that are disconnected from reality
58:44 – the importance of trail etiquette
1:05:30 – tremendous industry relationships have come from Ultra4
1:12:02 – the origin of the yellow hat
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Can you say driven? The preeminent spotter of the rockcrawling world, Chris Poblano joins us on Conversations with Big Rich. Chris talks about the differences of spotting for different rockcrawlers over the last two decades – Tony K., Brent Bradshaw, Olivia Messer, and currently Jesse Haines. It’s a good listen.
5:17 – I wanted to be Magnum P.I.
9:46 – Mom picked us up from school with the boat attached.
13:54 – Big-O revoked my lifetime alignment warranty
22:44 – Carnage for the Con 2001
25:17 – Tony launched that cone
29:29 – First disabled sports run
33:25 – The Bradshaw years
41:56 – Matt Messer approached me about spotting his daughter, what an honor
46:02 – There’s only a couple of drivers like Jesse
48:03 – every competitor should judge, just another component of competition
49:50 – The physical therapy practice
51:35 – I do Crossfit so I can eat what I want
54:37 – Sanding your hands
59:38 – My future is in Tennessee
1:05:23 – what makes a great spotter?
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Episode 56 of Conversations with Big Rich is part two of an exceptional interview with Bob Bower. If you haven’t met Bob, read what Ron Stobaugh had to say about him on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
“Off Road Hall Of Fame. Racers Racer. Marketing Professional. Trainer of the Tire Pros. Most of my friends know these accolades as related to Bob. Many don't know he may or should be in the Tuna Fishing / Airplane Shuttling / Train Car Hopping / Corvette Club Hall Of Fame. Bob not only put up with me as a nor-cal squid that dreamed of Baja racing, he acted. A surprise trip to San Felipe (first time to a desert/Baja/off road race), picking up some kid named Robby Gordon, introductions to every person I had read about or watched on ABC Wide World of Sports, and the occasional kick in the ass when I veered too far off course. Taking me tuna fishing, even though I get motion sick, he hung in there with me - unforgettable experiences. I believe in Karma/Fate whatever you want to call it. I met Bob just before my dad passed away and six months after our son was born. This calm, tough, supportive, willing to let our 2 year old pull on his beard to the point of tears "lawn gnome" was there when we needed that type of figure in our lives. He deserves the Hall of Fame Induction, as well as all of the other known or unknown accolades. But Bob is most deserving of being called - a good human being.” No kinder words could be spoken.
I’m going to forego the Show Notes for this second part of the Bob Bower interview, because if you listened to part one, you already know you want to listen to part two. One of the pieces Rich and Bob talk about in part two is “What About You?” It’s the best common sense piece for off-roaders out there. Written 20 years ago, updated only to change the dates – for you, put in the day after any big event you are attending. It should be top of mind for everyone, it even applies to day-to-day life. This is what matters most.
Go on over to www.bigrichklein.com and read it there.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The author of the BFG pits program, co-driver extraordinaire, off-road legend Bob Bower shares insights into his early days. Bob is a practiced speaker, Rich and Bob had such a great interview, we split it into two episodes. This is part one.
5:13 – earliest memories were reading MotorTrend and a feature article on Bill Stroppe’s teams on the PanAmerican rally
7:32 – learned to drive in a 5 mph old military jeep
10:58 – worked in a body shop and that immersed me in to being a car guy
16:56 – Tom Johnson’s Union Oil was a rite of passage in the neighborhood
19:05 – Religiously cleaned all the windows, front and back – but wait, that’s plexiglass on that Corvette
21:38 – cruising VanNuys Blvd in a Corvette
23:14 – I have an opinion
24:37 – I was getting trained as a speaker – and I didn’t know it yet
26:28 – wouldn’t you like to hook up with the people who set the trends instead of follow them?
32:26 – I didn’t know squat about tires
36:19 – slow hands, slow feet – that’ how you pit
42:40 – recognizing what is at stake when I’m talking
48:58 – here’s why off-road racing is expensive
53:37 – See’s Candy marketing built the BFG pits
56:50 – my first co-driver gig – I had finally arrived
59:11 – made ESPN’s Crash of the Week with that one
1:03:25 – if you’re in the air, you can’t accelerate, you can’t stop and you can’t steer
1:06:01 – the key to winning a long-distance desert race is not going faster, but going a little less slow
1:08:47 – Retired from racing on my terms with a win at the 50th Annual Baja 1000
Join us next week for some more great insight with Bob Bower for part two of this interview.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Making a big impact on the tire scene, Maxxis National Director of Sales, Brad Williams talks about his hobby job at Maxxis in Motorsports. Automotive and Light Truck Tires is what he really does, but thank goodness he had time in his schedule to attend a rock crawl. It changed the path of history for many drivers and event series, including WE Rock.
3:42 – second generation tire guy
10:18 – planning for my future
12:20 – I’ll hang around as long as they’ll let me
14:15 – they’ll let you know how bad you did after
18:26 – What are you doing next weekend?
25:35 – So, he picked two drivers – one a cheerleader, one a winner
28:49 – learned how tough the tires had to be
31:01 – I didn’t have an official job in motorsports, it’s just a hobby
34:28 – we need a 17” tire and a softer compound – don’t embarrass yourself, Brad
37:12 – cleaning out the cage to outfit the team
44:31 – this is our identity
54:35 – Pistol Pete was going to get us attention
1:05:28 – Jesse is still with us and doing great things
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Some people quietly make an impact on an industry, others do it with a big splash. We’d like to introduce you to the Quiet Man, Ben Bower, making a ripple through off-road since the 1970’s. Gold medals and chrome are his M.O., but so is listening – learn why it matters.
3:34 – there’s lots of time to think with a ShopSmith
6:19 – making surfboards to get through the month
9:22– All-Marine volleyball team
12:23 – how the BART tube under the bay is made
17:36 – no food today, we’re buying a Honda
22:01 – Enduros fit my math/engineering background
28:02 – you’ve got to finish to win
31:05 – it’s a collective
41:43 – I’m a welder…and then I’m not
45:20 – first date
51:46 – I want to run the dunes and the Rubicon
1:00:57 – hooked into learning the video camera
1:05:38 – independent suspension
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We’re celebrating our one-year anniversary on Conversations with Big Rich with a release of the first episode of Season 2 – Episode 52 features Thomas Kingston of Spidertrax fame.
Thom Kingston, self-professed, highly competitive, problem-solver, shares all-things Spidertrax, from Birfield rings to Spider 9’s and how one led to the next. An authentic conversation with a true mover-and-shaker in the industry.
4:31 – National Champion in rifle
8:46 – what’s your back-up plan?
11:00– Eddie had a Samurai
13:41 – top ten in the SAE competition with an amphibious vehicle
19:39 – product #1 at Spidertrax
23:34 – why Colorado?
31:18 – how we were able to pull off Spidertrax in college, we can’t hide anymore
38:39 – It was like magic!
45:17 – Shifted our focus from competing ourselves to building components to work with teams
49:43 – Tracy Jordan is the best
53:49 – Oroville is freshest in my mind, “I don’t understand these lines”
56:04 – the Spider 9
1:02:43 – the Rock Bug build, the whole story revealed
1:15:33– why my hands are on the shop floor
1:20:59 – the future of Spidertrax
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Big Willy Jeep builder, Burner, and flatfender enthusiast Ian Liljeblad shares life in Arizona and how one gets started building a 2:1 rig. Caution: serious fab skills are involved! From a history of learning from the best, Ian has built some cool rigs.
4:12 – early influences
7:54 – the Impala from beginning to end
14:34– really happy I’m a Jeep guy, not a Scout guy
17:31 –met these guys in Phoenix in this Jeep Think Tank
19:01 – started at FST, Fly-N-Hi’s fab shop, with Ellis and Geiser
24:08 – first chassis for myself, 2x4 tube CJ7
26:52 – inspired by the Big Rig Jig
28:25 – Burning Man changed my life
31:28 – building a mutant vehicle/art car
36:34 – falling in love with flatfenders
37:25 – the influence of Walter Productions
39:25 – I built Big Willy in seven months
47:48 – The Burning Man DMV accepted it as is
53:22 – the Go Devil run
1:02:10 – Big Willy Jeep, replacement parts for flat fenders
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Off-road innovator and industry leader, Pat Gremillion, shares stories from his 30 years in off-road. Seller of Premier Power Welder and PullPal, Pat brings a wealth of knowledge and good cheer to our podcast. Listen in as we present Episode 50 with Pat and Big Rich.
2:39 – growing up with a junkyard
6:13 – I’ve always loved welding
7:56– the beginning of off-road
9:59 –my father-in-law was an inventor
11:32 – PullPal was made for friends
12:44 – “if somebody told you, you could make a living having this much fun, you wouldn’t believe it”
14:51 – the start of Premier Power Welder
18:02 – I owe those magazine guys
22:00 – meeting Harold Off
24:35 – the January vendor show
32:20 – just like E.F. Hutton
37:28 – I ain’t scared
43:56 – go eat your lunch, old man
47:12 – the double PullPal
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Forty-seven years in any industry makes you an expert, in drivelines, that makes you Jim Reel. Listen in on Episode 49 as Jim takes Big Rich through the intricacies of drivelines and why we see failures. Hint: it’s not the driveline. This is a very informative interview with news you need to hear – including how to measure your replacement driveline.
www.reeldriveline.com
3:06 – ruined by age 19
7:42 – 47 years in the industry
10:36– comfort is becoming a lot more important
13:07– working with trophy trucks for solutions for them
14:35 – “you’ll be out of business in two months”
16:05 – this is what we really do
17:59 – make it worse to make it better
21:26 – it’ll whip
25:13 – innovations in drivelines
29:08 – let’s talk math and wear points
35:26 – how to measure a driveline
39:11 – Rzeppa ball and cage joints and their impact
41:14 – did you say Carbon Fiber??
51:39 – what’s the future hold?
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The most positive woman in off-road, Trail Mom, Barbara Rainey joins us for Episode 48. This episode is long on story, from Reno Rock to the Off-Road Hall of Fame. Innovation and grit at its finest. Barbara’s interview tells a bigger story, though, we all have to get involved in preserving our stories. The Off-Road Hall of Fame is a great place to start. Get involved with a partnership, a membership or a donation today. www.ORMHOF.org
April is nomination month at ORMHOF, it's time to get started on your packets and nominations.
2:59 – I just wanted to go to the Races!
4:32 – David got the girl, but not the Jeep
6:33– having a list and a roll of quarters
10:57 – innovators and instigators, aggravators and agitators
14:29 – special place in heaven for race promoters
20:56 – the strongest link then is the weakest link now
23:07– the importance of Tread Lightly
27:09 – Reno Rocks is born, and the lessons there
43:34 – testing the ramps in my rental car
49:32 – when I get stuck, I ask two questions
52:66 – the history of the Offroad Motorsports Hall of Fame
1:00:15 – everyone’s got a story
1:08:19 – the loss of the home of the vehicle collection
1:15:05 – it’s not the off-road Racing hall of Fame, it’s the off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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BFGoodrich has had a remarkable program for years supporting racers, especially in Baja. Listen in as Rich talks with Richard Winchester about all things BFG. Richard was at the start of the program and gives some great insight into how they built up Baja and why.
3:14 – Sliding into the cornfield
5:38 – then Uncle Sam sent me an invite for a visit to Korea
8:13– don’t wake the sleeping giant
9:30 – this performance stuff is a fad
14:50 – got the first lifetime membership out of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
21:28 – the start of the BFG Baja pits program
31:32– the people I count on to run the pits include my wife and daughter
32:54 – when things don’t go right in Mexico
35:09 – the developer of the rock crawling tire, Gary Interline
52:27 – we can’t have an influencer if they don’t know our products
1:01:31 – we were kind of just winging it
1:04:24 – Danny saved the party
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Are you ready for an education? Raceline’s Greg Mulkey has more knowledge about tires and wheels than anyone we know. Take a trip down memory lane with Greg and Rich as they share some rad knowledge about the industry. It’s impressive
2:29 – Greg as a little whippersnapper
3:23 – selling a box of tear-offs got me a job
7:09 – I was on a mission
12:33 – a beadlock just on the right rear tire
14:30 – I got a meeting with Bill Franz Jr. at NASCAR
21:24 – getting started at Raceline
28:55– working with the Germans
34:14 – stumbling across the OG race
38:19 – it’s a serious business
57:03 – Hutchison and the military
1:08:15 – calculating ET
1:14:02 – dirt track racing with the old man, Don Campbell
1:18:29 –double beadlocks on Ian’s UTV
1:26:35 – showing Steve Kinzer how they worked
1:35:29 – I never intended to be a racecar driver
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Modified Stock Champion, Announcer, fabricator, and all-around good guy, Jake Good, of Kansas City joins Rich for a reminder of what family means. Another family man teaching his kids about rock crawling and the family you choose. Listen in to hear Jake’s journey to rock crawling.
2:17 – I’ve lived 97% of my life on the same piece of property
7:57 – A rear engine mower led to road-building
10:56 –I wanted to be like my dad
15:02 – this is the guy responsible for traffic circles
20:12 – Building a brand in the Midwest
22:47 – finding a rust-free Bronco in the Midwest
33:01– Fair price for a fair product
35:20 – I threw together the cheapest thing that I possibly could find and go have fun
38:55 – concerned we were some hotshot team
46:44 – I was scared to death
52:53 – blessed with the best team in rock crawling ever
59:01 – Opened Kansas Rocks Recreation Park twenty years ago
1:01:29 –Announcing, it was very intimidating
1:08:02 – Opportunity to run Kenny Blume’s ProMod
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Join us for a few laughs with Eric Filar, jokester extraordinaire. Rich and Eric talk about so much history, building Sniper, racing Baja, working at Motive Gear. All good stuff with a lot of insight and history. We thought it was a great time to release this episode with KOH going on. Eric is the master behind these two masterpieces:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsnFZDdG5bo Average LCQ competitor talking with his wife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyXO4-oepMA Hitler hears the Results of KOH 2013
3:18 – It’s just in the my blood
7:08 – Oh, that’s TMI on the Chevy Love
11:02 –Two-ball sports vs. one-ball sports
14:43 – those g*ddamn big tires
16:39 – Cherry Bomb
28:31 – I’m building such garbage
32:21 – building the Scorpion
35:33 – Eyebrows on cars?
51:15 – You gotta have boggers
52:44 – when in doubt, throttle out
56:51 – where did John Reynolds come in?
1:06:52 – We decided to send it!
1:09:20 – Ron starts talking smack with Lance and Camo
1:18:12 – Take all the stickers off!
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The elusive Harry Wagner, he’s here in the heart of off-road, and then he’s off finding unexploded bombs in places the rest of us would never think to look. I’m glad there are geophysicists, like Harry, out there looking! With an early history in the Jeep market, Harry has moved through many vehicles through his editorial marching orders. Today he drives a Tundra and an F150 most days. Follow him at @harrysituations
4:45 – I was a nerd
8:19 – Busted! There was still mud
10:59 –Overlanding was just what they did
14:02 – UXO – unexploded ordnance
18:53 – pre-blog writing to mom
20:26 – the start of freelance work
21:43 – you caught me off guard
25:33 – favorite journalist story?
28:40 – going to Baja
31:17 – Ultimate Adventure is pretty squared away
33:58 – future Harry
38:13 – What attracts you to an event?
42:41 – editorially dead
51:42 – Off-roading still remains fun
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Not quite a return from the dead, but close, too damn close. Our guest today, Kevin Carey, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in December of 2017. He’s had a long road of recovery, but the future is bright. Kevin shares his history of wheeling, the Rubicon, and military life with us on this episode of Conversations with Big Rich.
5:20 – part of the BMX craze
7:59 – Protecting the big names, Schwarzkopf, Martin
10:34 –Understanding vehicle dynamics started from investigating accidents
14:00 – the start of private security consulting
15:52 – he makes me uncomfortable driving
17:34 –notorious Pirates
19:51 – world champions
23:46 – wheeling with Veterans
27:51 –the Rubicon Trail is well cared for
32:09 –the Powertank connection
36:20 –I went to sleep and I never woke up
52:56 – What do I get for doing this?
58:53 – It’s not about mud flying, it’s about emotional interaction
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Family life dominates this week’s guest, Doug Bigelow, as he raises boys to be as driven as he has always been. An intense competitor on the course, but fun-lovin’ round the campfire, Doug shares life in Maryland, football, future plans and life at home with us.
4:34 – I thought I was king of the world
6:21 – Lessons from the field
9:29 –I thought criminology was going to be my path
10:36 – I met Kat by accident
14:25 – Frog Eye Mud Bog
21:22 –that first Jeep opened my eyes to a world of possibilities
28:30 – loaded up for the Badlands
33:23 – afterparties at Jellico
37:22 –picking lines quick and fast
40:31 –“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser”
52:25 –the coolest thing
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Trail Boss Jacquelyne “Bebe” White takes us through running Hummers on the trail. Together with land use and our need to pay attention, Bebe shares her history as our first land use guest on the podcast. She brings a wealth of experience to the trail and to the Calls-to-Action we need to keep our trails open.
3:08 – the first Hummer purchase
4:36 – “oh, no, Miss Hummer”
6:27 – learning from Cranky Steve
10:28 – the brand gets involved with the Rubicon and me
18:06 – the H3 build and the options behind it
26:25 – on my way to being Trail Boss
33:16 –the rescue mission
42:27 – the importance of land use
46:49 –be part of the balance
53:52 –no trails, no sales
1:01:09 –repeal the Equal Access to Justice Act
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Clayton Walters is an industry icon, building Clayton Off-Road from the ground up. He is the name in long-arm kits. Listen to his story and how it began and where it’s headed next. There’s a lot of laughs with a guy like Clayton..
3:22 – always had a knack with mechanical stuff
6:26 – lifting Grand Cherokees, “it’s just terrible”
9:48 – I’ll build this for $1500, but I gotta have ten orders
11:40 – my lousy pick up line “I can put a long arm kit on that”
14:14 – we had a one-car garage with a portable garage beside it
17:07 – I can’t send the government a bunch of control arms
20:58 – how’re we going to save money? (listen up as Clayton explains their process)
27:30 – adding value for our customers
31:13 – it was a rude awakening with football
33:26 – don’t let the Night Rider get ya
40:54 – is my 25 year old mind having issues with my 58 year old body? Or vice-versa?
44:19 – the wet t-shirt contest
46:20 – building Erik Miller’s first Jeep
51:49 – racing the Rausch Creek qualifier…and the expensive piss
Clayton Off Road, the premium Jeep Suspension Company. www.claytonoffroad.com
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Making shifting great again, Rory DesJardin, from RADesigns joins us to share info on his products and business and the path he has been on to make it a success. Get to know Rory as we have these last couple of seasons.
1:47 – getting started with motorcycles
4:23 – gotta have the right tires
11:22 – first-generation shifter for my Toyota
13:36 – The Shifter Guy
17:14 – my career before Shifters
20:32 – that’s me, that’s me!
25:12 – the environment at WE Rock
36:05 – everybody wants to be like the racers
40:32 – making the last big change
53:40 – the size of the industry
Reach out to Rory at http://www.radesignsproducts.com/ New phone #509-624-1607
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The most revolutionary car in rockcrawling history is undoubtedly, Tiny. Today we interview, Jon Bundrant, the driver Tiny was built around. John won 18 events in two years in the early days with this incredible car, then went on to off-road industry fame with All-Pro Offroad. Catch up with Jon in this episode.
3:21 – history of racing goes back a long way, Arizona state champ in BMX at age 16
5:49 – start in four-wheel drive was Azusa Canyon and a Land Cruiser
11:10 – the start of All-Pro Off-Road
14:42 – Sounds like Randy
17:34 – Sitting on a milk crate as Tiny got built around me
21:04 – We didn’t know its limits
29:14 – Getting in Tracy’s head
36:53 – favorite location, that’s easy: Farmington
49:31 – history of All-Pro
57:05 – drag racing today
1:00:36 – spying on Tiny
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The 2021 WE Rock schedule just released, Big Rich brings you another new competitor's perspective on competitive rockcrawling. Hear Jason Childs talk about his journey to get started, why he choose to jump straight into the Unlimited class, and what it is really like.
If you are interested in competing, check out the rules on www.werocklive.com; the schedule and call if you have any questions. I’m happy to help.
2:35 – learn about the classes in WE Rock
9:47 – I really wanted a Samurai
12:15 – why don’t you go to Supercrawl?
14:32 – Do you really want to do all that work?
16:18 – The start of the new car
20:29 – I’ve always been competitive
28:15 – I still have so much to learn
36:48 – That’s how you learn from the best
38:06 – Bonus, a quick lesson on competitive skydiving
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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New competitor to WE Rock, Jeff Houser, shares what it is like to start. You know, when you are new to a sport how you are excited and nervous and learning your car…Jeff describes his first season, the ups and downs.
The 2021 WE Rock season schedule just released, if you’re thinking about competing in rockcrawling this next season, listen up, hear the emotion, imagine yourself in the driver’s seat.
1:36.70 – With age comes cage
13:34:30 – I’ve got to have this buggy
19:59:89 – It’s not going to fit in the trailer
28:40:61 – Running on Unlimited lines in Goldendale
42:30:93 – The first event
51:46:18 – Sand Hollow, 2nd event
1:01:30 – Trying to get to Donner
1:08:74 – We’ve got to go to Goldendale
1:14:41 – Please, we have to get to Nationals
1:21:43 – the camaraderie is the key
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Media mogul, Fred Williams, having successfully migrated from Print to Video shares some insights on how to tell a story on Episode 34 of Conversations with Big Rich. From the farm to four-wheel drives, Fred continues to “cross-pollinate” the off-road industry as he explores more Dirt Every Day.
3:46 – What makes a Jeep most like a tractor?
8:03 – YouTube is the modern day service manual
10:31 –I’m just a kid that likes 4x4’s
16:53 – first rockcrawl- bunch of guys just all trying to figure it out
22:38 – first job at Peterson’s
29:25 – commitment to the cars
41:58 – like a bumblebee, cross-pollinating the off-road industry
45:39 – trying to get the scoop
50:08 – The early days of Dirt Every Day
55:54 – full scuba gear – see the #1 episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icp2Pb5uoME
1:07:22 – you have to tell a story
Subscribe to the MotorTrend App to watch Dirt Every Day with Fred Williams.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The Godfather of competitive rockcrawling, the man behind the idea, Phil Howell, shares life on the road as an award-winning DJ, a magazine editor, and the leader of the band. Phil’s stories showcase a piece of Americana that few rarely see. Go back in time with us as this whole crazy off-road world, as we know it today, was just getting started.
6:00 – A description of Baja in the early days, on a motorcycle
8:36 – She wasn’t impressed
14:50 – racing a 1972 Opel at SCCA
23:15 – draft #11, I picked Air Force, because the Air Force had girls
25:50 – always take care of your NCO’s
29:24 – quitting the band
37:14 – getting tackled by Reagan’s security team
43:09 – I’m not telling them about the trails
50:36 – The early days of EJS and Red Rock 4Wheelers
57:59 – But I flunked English, twice!
1:08:02 – The twin YJ’s get confiscated?
1:12:37 – the beginning of competitive rockcrawling
1:21:08 – paying for the builds
1:34:16 – my cockiness got me to Baja
Mad respect for this legend in our sport, if we could all be so lucky to have as many life experiences.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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OG rockcrawler turned desert racer, Mike Shaffer, joins us for Episode 32. There’s some great stories in here! From stuffing the back of a trophy truck at 70+ miles an hour to driving through Ensenada with only three wheels. Catch up with one of the originals.
4:18 – “If it doesn’t have a motor, it’s not a sport.”
6:26 – New kid on the Rubicon breaking Birfields
11:11 – the little black Zuki is born, along with the comp scene
16:32– that’s not a bad payday
20:54 – the building of the Diablo chassis
27:19 – sponsors matter, how Toyo stopped Mike’s rockcrawling career
34:14 – stuffing the class 10 into the back of a Trophy Truck, you gotta hear this one!
41;11 – “I miss the rains down in Ba.Ja” says no one ever
51:40 – some good dudes have worked at Shaffer Off-Road https://www.shaffersoffroad.com/
1:10:54 – Racing a 4 wheel drive, and the dream team crew was in Baja in 2010 – good times!
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Super-spotter Randall Davis from Team Lasernut and Axial Racing joins us for a look at his career at Axial and the 2020 season as East and West champion at WE Rock. Coming off a great season and a great weekend at Lasertown, we got tired Randall to spend time with us. Enjoy.
3:47 – From Boring to Outdoors
6:43 – Kimmie from the fourth grade
14:05 – getting started wheeling
16:54– put out an APB or something
21:53 – how Crispy got it’s name
31:00 – pressing the reset buttonl
37:09 – don’t make it weird
44:55 – my first time driving in competition
50:24 – going all-in in 2020
56:30 – tire irons are blistering
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Fresh from their win at the Rebelle Rally, Team Blondetourage, Kaleigh Miller and Teralin Petereit join me for our first three person interview. Kaleigh and Teralin are not new to off-road, both have lots of different events under their belts, but the Rebelle has been their place to shine. With three firsts, a second and a third between them. Listen in and learn just a little more about our favorite event of the year.
4:17 – Big brothers influence on Teralin
6:42 – Jeep hunting for Kaleigh landed a husband
8:53 – making a pact
10:39 – learning to drive the Miller way
14:27 – …just don’t embarrass yourself
17:57 – the endurance of it all
22:04 – the key strategy – knowing how to navigate
25:23 – what exactly is the Rebelle Rally?
29:23 – why every minute counts
35:46 – could they make it harder?
40:51 – what do you get for the $$?
46:31 – you just have to say you will!
For more information, go to www.rebellerally.com
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Rebelle Rally founder, Rod Hall prodigy, media and marketing guru – Emily Miller, joins us just 24 hours after the close of the last basecamp of the 2020 Rebelle Rally. That’s commitment. We get some insight into the background of one of the most powerful women in off-road. Join us for some great takeaways in perseverance.
3:46 – The similarities between skiing and driving off-road
5:18 – the family influencers
8:04 – here’s the backstory you may not know – how the dotcom boom changed everything
14:12 – how her brother’s death altered her world
18:43 – “I’m going to marry him”
22:21 – the start of Rod Hall’s influence
38:05 – the re-meet at Chocolate Thunder
44:05 – the influence on KOH
52:35 – the lead up to the Rebelle
1:00:54 – What is the Rebelle Rally?
1:31:44 – problem identifiers vs. problem solvers
For more information, go to www.rebellerally.com
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
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Spotters play as big a role as drivers in the sport of rockcrawling. Spotter extraordinaire, Josh Wilson from Kentucky gives us the lowdown on getting started in the early days.
3:48 – Mom said no!
4:50 – an auto accident introduced me to my first wheeling
7:16 – think twice before leaving your Jeep behind before you go on vacation
10:09 – Learning to do it ourselves
12:26 – Have you ever been to the Jellico rodeo?
17:41 – doing whatever it takes to compete
25:22 – competing and sharing with the best
28:15 – the importance of a spotter
34.12 – how time plays a factor
41:10 – my favorite events
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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OG Rockcrawler, magazine hero and the Ultimate Fab guy, Chris Durham of Chris Durham Motorsports joins us this week. Chris tells us about growing up in South Carolina, how he hates mud, rock crawling competitions and Ultimate Adventure. http://cdmracing.com/
2:56 – 55 BelAir or 79 Ford pickup
3:34 – how muddy can you get?
5:32 – automotive vs. construction
10:13 – the perfect combination
12:37 – vacationing in Farmington
17:41 – what are you doing under my Jeep Walker?
20:48 – fixing drive lines
25:45 – Shupe, the center of attention
31:50 – Free pizza!
40:53 – combining hoods and fenders for lift
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Team Smiles Captain, Jeremy Hammer – owner of Fly-N-Hi Total Performance Center joins us for Episode 26 – our ½ year anniversary. Jeremy talks football, growing up in Arizona, Garage Rehab and more. Join us to catch up on all the latest. No matter where you are, Jeremy and his team can help you out, reach out to. https://fly-n-hi.com/ for all your off-road needs, especially in Phoenix!
3:29 – Race night is on Thursdays!
5:18 – I could have been in the paint industry instead
9:23 – a 12-speed is not the same as a BMX bike
11:51 – Football wasn’t always easy
14:15 – The transition from being a kid who watches TV to a kid who plays football: how coaches mold you
18:35 – football is life
20:47 – The first four-wheel drive
27:04 – where I still want to go with the racecar
32:45 – 9 minutes and then the crane of shame
40:57 – The start of Fly-N-Hi
50:45 – the Garage Rehab experience
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Three time KOH Champion Jason Scherer talks all things rock crawling, Ford, racing and family. The stories are epic, they take place all over the country with all kinds of characters. And characters they are, get to know Jason and his friends. Check out https://www.rage4th.com/ for great quality bumpers.
1:55 – A pivotable moment
5:30 – Every kid wants to be a fireman or baseball player, right?
11:03 – sixteen years old on the Rubicon (with no supervision)
16:32 – You learn from the best teachers – learning to weld
19:06 – What do you mean we have to compete in Unlimited, we only have 35” tires?
27:30 – new car blues
34:45 – The highlight event of rockcrawling
38:47 – two events, three trophies, and a near-death experience
44:50 – Baja, baby!!
58:45 – Street outlaws in the parking lot
62:34 – putting Jason Berger in the car for the first KOH win
72:04 – Opportunities that come
80:08 – The Ford team
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The Iceman Cometh…Dean Bulloch, all-around adrenaline junkie is on this weeks episode with stories for days. This one is a long one, but there’s so much good stuff, you’ve just got to listen. Dean is a world champion in so many disciplines and part of the 2020 class of Off-Road Hall of Fame inductees. We are proud to call him a friend. Listen in on your favorite podcast app. If you don’t know how to listen, go to the pinned post on this page for more info.
2:11 – What I really wanted, and how hard I worked for it
7:16 –You passed, so what?
8:56 – I used my paycheck for parts
12:56 – You better be careful throwing out a challenge to Dean
15:32 – The beginning of a long and fruitful friendship
19:07 – hash marks before GPS
22:25 – From trials bike to drag bikes
25:50 – no one is going to taunt me now
36:12 – we flipped for it
42:23 – hold my beer, the water is getting deep
51:36 –The Discovery channel takes up residence
55:15 – Clicking together
57:47 – new car blues
1:00:53 – the start of KOH
1:08:51 – September 21, 2012, the accident that changed everything
1:12:48 – Polaris vs. Artic Cat
1:17:33 – a big to-do at Horsepower Ranch
1:23:54 – the importance of Dean’s nomination to ORMHOF
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
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Dixie Four-Wheel Drive Founder, Milt Thompson shares his story this week. It’s not just about four-wheel drive, it’s about raising a family, hiring well and being around at the beginning of the competitive scene. Now with two shops in Utah, St. George and Moab, Milt and family have built a terrific business. If you are in either area, and need some work done, these are the people you go to. Capable, trustworthy and always working with you in mind. https://dixie4wheeldrive.com/
2:21 – Growing up in St George, when it was still small
3:52 –Figure 8’s in the field gave us away
9:42 – the things we sell for love
12:25 – A pioneering family
22:01 – A bad habit working on my own stuff
23:25 – Why I was packing at 2 a.m.
27:13 – It was time to get a Jeep
37:31 – Can you do that to my Jeep?
44:15 – My mail-order bride
49:23 – Hiring solid crews
1:07:41 – Broken bones and ARCA
1:10:41 – Why didn’t you tell me that before?
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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www.4lowmagazine.com
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Hi, if you don’t know me – I’m today’s guest – I’m Shelley Krehbiel, the one who writes the Show Notes and does the Transcription, and generally is Big Rich’s partner in crime and life and love and everything else. Rich interviewed me a while ago so I could tell some of our story. How we got here, all the things we’ve done to arrive at this place. Can I tell you, it’s weird to talk about yourself this way. But here it is, a bit of history of the Rich and Shelley show, these are stories we tell all the time with company and friends. Hope you enjoy.
2:02 –I am not an off-road girl
3:18 –Thank you Dr. Warren
5:18 – Do you still want to get married? Or how to plan a Surprise wedding
8:49 – How to Unscript your life
11:51 – My identity crisis
15:13 – The rebirth of WE Rock
22:57 – How 4Low came to be with a little help from our friends
29:42 – Industry, Competition or Enthusiast – which are you?
34:22 – Working toward Strategic partnerships
35:51 – Wyatt Permberton gives a push
38:35 – What I love most is the family
43:48 – Wednesday’s are my favorite
You can catch Shelley on a number of websites: www.unscrpt.com for help in your online business; reservations at www.masonsquarehotel.com; magazine subscriptions at www.4lowmagazine.com and coming soon, her own author website at www.shelleykrehbiel.com Don’t forget, for all things WE Rock, go to www.werocklive.com and if you are needing some all natural skincare products – check out www.thehealinghippy.com or www.trailnaturals.com
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BigRich)
Today’s guest, Kenny Blume, recorded this interview with us last November, the very first interview done (I’ve learned a lot). Since then, he’s made good on his promise to judge at WE Rock and move to Florida. At the time, none of this other nonsense was going on, so no reference to “COVID” in this one! Kenny has been the longest running competitor at WE Rock – beginning in 2006 and retiring with the 2019 season, no one else has consecutively run so many seasons. Good friend, great competitor.
2:22 –Getting started with an old Craftsman
4:51 – How’d you get up here?
11:13 – We all have this friend….
15:39 – Huh, maybe I should get a locker?
17:47 – a beater CJ7 takes second in points
20:42 – At the end of the day, people don’t want to be measured, because it’s no fun if you come up short.
28:11 – from second to fourth in a nanosecond
31:22 – this was a proud moment, getting the better of Shoupl
39:03 – I was a nobody
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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How does a native Englishman make a difference in America? He falls in love with the natural habitat. Tim Green shares his love for all things Rubicon in this latest episode. Tim is the owner of the Rubicon Gazette page on Facebook, he collects and shares history of the Rubicon Trail over there and shares some of that with us. Give it a listen.
3:50 –You heard it here first, “America is the best country on the planet!”
6:48 – Hooked on a feeling…
9:04 – Stainless Steel Dave to the rescue
13:58 – Why YOU matter to the trail
17:17 – Spider Lake was an awakening
21:59 – Steaks and Stories
26:41 – the purpose of the Rubicon Gazette
30:39 – protecting a piece of the Trail
35:43 – there’s no substitute for true friendships
37:40 – what we’re missing on the trail (p.s. we see this a lot)
41:21 – Snow wheeling on the Con
52:07 – HAM radios save lives
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Not all off-roaders start in four-wheel drive, some come over from Hot Rods. Meet Steve Sasaki, founder of PowerTank. An industrial design engineer by nature, Steve took the leap to start his own business knowing he had limitations, like we all do. Congrats on over 20 years of success and growth. www.powertank.com
3:23 – Daydreaming about Holley (carburetors, that is)
5:13 – This must be the end of the trail
9:34 – Learning all the things in off-road
14:34 – From bicycles to 4WD
16:35 – the inspiration for PowerTank
19:56 – are you a drug dealer?
23:35 – my BIG mistake
27:07 – my BIG break
37:35 – Mrs. Kravitz and the HOA
43:16 – Businesses need rules too
49:01 – Tightening the wheels of the train
59:52 – Lessons in taking care of the customer
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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The youngest of a family of legacy desert racers, Shelby Hall, granddaughter of Rod Hall, joins us for this episode. While that is a title befitting royalty in the Baja scene, Shelby has skills of her own. Check out this desert racer and see what she’s learned and accomplished.
3:54 – Faster, daddy, faster
10:15 – Inspired to do the Rebelle Rally, getting out of my comfort zone
17:39 – Stockish vehicles on the Rubicon
19:49 – Getting coached by grandpa
23:41 – Learning from your mistakes
25:56 – UTV’s are where it’s at!
28:19 – Virtual reality
32:41 – New experiences
37:05 – Racing the Bronco R
45:04 – Making memories in Baja
55:17 – Anybody need a driver?
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This is a fun one, Rob Bonney, OG rockcrawler from Arizona. He’s a trail breaker on those big waterfalls you’ll find there and goes back to the early, early days. Find out some strategies the best spotters use, and call him for your resto work – on Anything – you want to build.
3:17 – never doubt the determination of a 14 year old with a new to him truck
5:16 – Learning from the best of the best
6:44 – Who’s the king of the bump?
10:46 – Something to be said for having the most fun
14:24 – That was Hot!
25:01 – What impacts how trails change the most
36:36 – respecting the judges, but listen to the strategies as well
45:31 – If it makes sense, we’re NOT doing it
52:32 – tell me about rear-steer
Rob Bonney Fabrication, Peoria, Arizona www.robbonneyfab.com
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Like so many things this year, Easter Jeep Safari was canceled, but it was one of the first things off the list for off-roaders. We caught up with George Schultz, a member of the Red Rock Four Wheelers to talk, not only about EJS, but also about trail building in Moab. As a second-generation wheeler in Moab and part of the founding families, it’s a little bit different perspective. Come take a listen, there is some great insight here.
3:46 – the formation of the Red Rock Four Wheelers
6:45 – Easter Jeep Safari, the early years
11:08 – Slick Rock bike trail was for Motor”bikes”
13:26 – Did you know Potato Salad Hill was part of Hell’s Revenge??
17:17 – digging holes…
21:58 – lesson for today, never trust your older brother
25:57 – trail ratings and how they change
30:34 – the lesson taught by “built or bought”
35:04 – flying through an arch
40:04 – we should all, maybe, follow the rules for wheeling we share with others
51:28 – where do you wheel now?
The record books are going to have an ** next to 2020 as we continue to work through the off-road cancellations. In all the years, EJS has never been canceled and only one trail has been. 2021 needs to be a banner year for our industry to keep everyone and everything afloat. Start prepping now!
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Larry McCrae joins us from St George, Utah – his retirement home, to talk about rock crawling in the early days, Poison Spyder, his battle with throat cancer and what he’s up to now. And no, retirement isn’t really on the list. Check out https://www.zionjeeptours.com/ next time you’re in Southern Utah, that’s Larry’s latest endeavor that keeps him connected to Jeeps.
3:52 – everybody mods a Datsun pickup, right?
7:07 –the back story to Larry’s first Wrangler.
10:33 – meeting John Bondurant on the trails
17:40 – the impact of John nelson on the professionalism of the sport
23:49 – race advice from Rob McCachran
29:10 – When opportunities present themselves, the start of Poison Spyder for Larry
35:30 – the definition of “lightening in a bottle”
37:50 – what precipitated the sale of Poison Spyder to Transamerica
41:01 – shocked by the diagnosis
48:40 – “Get off the course!” – racing KOH
57:14 – what’s next after three years of retirement – how fast it all happens
Catching up with Larry was a lot of fun, it’s fascinating to hear the rest of the stories that we all know just a little bit about.
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Bruce Shallis is a stand-up guy, partner in both Rausch Creek and Burning Rock Off-Road Parks, Lacrosse Coach, rockcrawler, and East Coast defender. Bruce gives some insight to what it takes to fill all those roles. Join us for another Conversation with Big Rich on your favorite podcast channel. Be sure to Subscribe so you’re reminded every Thursday when a new episode drops.
2:45 – It’s always the wife’s fault
4:39 – Credit where credit is due.
8:08 – Define “Modified”
14:17 – Property is easy, red tape is the tough part
19:36 – Sometimes the things you’re forced to do end up being the best choice, who knew?
25:07 – How creative do you gotta be to pass tech some times?
39:47 – Here’s where my competitive career started
44:48 – What’s next for Rausch Creek?
50:42 – You’re all invited – July 25-26 – old-school reunion at WE Rock, come down Saturday night
52:33 – That’s NOT east coast!
Conversations with Big Rich is all about the history, catching up with the folks who are the foundation of rock crawling. Bruce Shallis continues to fit that description. We appreciate you, Bruce!
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Jeff Mello is not just a rockcrawler, hear him tell his story, with some laughs along the way. If you can get through it with out laughing, you deserve a prize. Jeff shares some great stories and his philosophies on the four eras of Jeeps and which one we’re in now.
4:20 – I don’t think Jeff really “remembers” this trip…
7:12 – The perfect second date, guys, don’t hand your girl the keys unless you mean it.
11:07 – “We would play, who can go furthest in two-wheel drive?”
14:32 – Spend $2200, make $40K – I’ll take that deal all day long
20:50 – how to keep up with all the different rule books, CalRocs, ProRock and UROC
25:07 – How creative do you gotta be to pass tech some times?
28.52 – You lied to me…
45:28 – the best co-dawg ever! Keep listening, you’ll be laughing outloud (sorry Jason!)
56:34 – The Budget Rental
1:07:51 – The evolution of Jeeps – the four eras
It’s always so good to catch up with old friends, you’ve heard of Jeff Mello, get to know him better here. Truly an original, and an OG as well. Great Stories!
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From Paragon to Badlands, Kyle Knosp shares his philosophies on life and business, with some rockcrawling and some crazy stories thrown in. Attica, Indiana is the place to visit if you want it all.
4:52 – The start of the off-road obsession
9:59 – The REAL difference between East and West off-roading
14:45 – The best part about rockcrawling – it’s always family
19:41 – Count your blessings
30:45 – how Kyle really ended up at the Badlands in Indiana
35:51 – The many parts of being a leader
47:08 –Taking the family to Glamis, oh, what a ride…
55:56 – Kyle goes on a roll…old time rockcrawling stories
If you haven’t been to Attica in a while, it’s time to go back. Kyle has created a first-class facility with all the amenities. Lots of terrain challenges, and if you time it right, you might be able to avoid the mud. Check out. https://badlandsoffroad.com/ for all your offroading needs.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Mr. Maxxis, himself, joins us this week – Creighton King – the founder of Griplock Ties and former tire guy shares a lot of insight regarding sponsorship, new business and how a Jeep started it all. Be sure to tune in and enjoy the conversation. Creighton has a special offer at the end.
3:08 – Christmas Day surprise.
12:20 – How a Jeep saved my life…
17:54 – Mr. Maxxis is born
27:31 – We are not an “orange wannabe tire company”
38:21 – how three Mormons from Utah scored 12 quarts of moonshine for their sponsor
48:22 – What it’s like to be the Tire Czar
57:56 –The origination of GripLock Ties
1:14:51– Creighton’s life advice…Racing makes you a better man…
So great to hear Creighton doing so well, and don’t miss his special offer. FREE SHIPPING on Griplock Ties by using the code BIGRICH at checkout. www.griplockties.com
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Family-owned businesses don’t always successfully split into pieces, Currie Enterprises is the exception. We talk with John Currie about the future of Rock Jock 4x4 and the history of Currie Enterprises. From rockcrawling to racing, the family has been involved in it all. There are lots of little gems in this one. Stay tuned for more.
4:43 – The things you do for love…love of motorcycles, that is…
8:03 – Can you imagine being the first one to drive Highway 91?
17:10 – How many kids can you fit in a Burro?
27:08 – How do you develop a product line? You give the customers what they ask for
42:37 – My friendship with Phil Howell and how that began
54:22 – The Rocky Road had a secret weapon
1:18:00 –You’ll want to listen to John and Gerald’s experience at KOH
1:42:16 – Business changes and how the kids got involved
John Currie has such a great history with rock sports, taking Rock Jock forward is good for the industry, be sure to check them out at www.rockjock4x4.com and check out the Industry Profile in Issue 33 of 4Low Magazine.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Lovell Racing’s Brad Lovell shares his history in rock sports and desert. There isn’t much he hasn’t done, from rockcrawling to Pike’s Peak to racing spec trophy trucks. The consummate professional tells us more about what it’s like to be a professional racecar driver. It’s never easy. But great things come out of hardwork. Brad alludes to stuff we’re going to get to hear more about soon. Join us on your favorite podcast channel.
3:41 – The start of the Ford obsession
10:16 – Is there anything that can go more wrong on your first day of competition?
22:49 – What every woman wants to hear on the day she gives birth to twins – Honey, I quit my job!
27:24 – I can go to Baja, but I’ve only got three days
32:47 – The start of my ProLite career and advice from McGrath and Greaves
42:43 – Advice from the best of the best – just let it go, man
53:10 – A bet with JT on Pike’s Peak – listen to see who wins?
1:04:03 – Desert karma, it’s great when it blooms!
Keep up with Brad Lovell all over the internet – just Google Lovell Racing and you can’t miss him – on FB, in images, on Ultra4 – Brad has really made a name for himself.
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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New Shirt alert – we’ve seen tons of them over the years that say, I know Bender…new ones are going to say I Really Know Bender. Rob ‘Bender’ Parks joins us from Alabama with some history about rockcrawling and the Tin Benders. There are times when you think truth is stranger than fiction, there are some moments in this episode that are going to surprise you.
6:10 – He talked a lot faster than he rode
10:49 – Working for free, wrecking cars and buying new ones
14:48 – A million live viewers on Truck Night
20:24 – You can’t afford to go racing…nobody can
29:24 – Why do exo’s have to be so ugly?
46:02 – The definition of family, much love to the Tin Benders
Want to know where Bender is after Truck Night? You’ll find him at https://motobilt.com/
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No doubt you’ve already got the t-shirt….everyone I know has a Lasernut or Lasertown t-shirt – our next guest is famous for giving them away. Please welcome Cody Waggoner to the show. Cody brings his history of rockcrawling, the formation of Laserut and the building of Lasertown to the show this week, together with his plans for the future and an opportunity for you – the listener.
2:11 – Ugh, who’s dad didn’t do this??
7:27 – Applying for your last, best job at 18
11:48 – Where’s the road?
25:30 – The origin story for Lasernut
36:33 – the future of rockcrawling – who’s your driver?
42:36 – There’s no private property on the lakebed? Or is there?
51:40 – an offer you shouldn’t refuse….
If you’re in the market for anything lasercut – from one part to 1,000,000 parts – contact Cody at Lasernut https://lasernut.com/
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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One of the biggest influencers in off-road joins us for this episode. Lance Clifford, founder of Pirate 4x4 shares the origin story of how it all began. At one time, Pirate was the source for all things rock sports. Check out the latest episode of Conversations with Big Rich.
1:54 Sometimes all it takes is a mud puddle to catch the off-road bug
4:17 Pirates of the Rubicon, drinking club with an off-roading problem, is born
6:07 How America Online influenced off-roading with their marketing ploy
13:51 A giant computer nerd changes everything
30:49 Baja challenges everything
47:15 The sale of Pirate, including Camo becoming a Pirate
If you’re in the market for a house in St George, Utah – Lance is your go-to at https://www.stgeorge.properties/
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
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Only a few can claim to be at the start of competitive rockcrawling, Ranch Pratt is one of those. Ranch, founder of ARCA, shares some insights on how competitions drove innovation, why dads matter and his goals now. Listen as Big Rich catches up with Ranch.
3:06 Guilted in to his first four-wheel drive
7:38 How Ranch bought an event that hadn’t even happened yet
15:44 The secret revealed: how rockcrawling promoters build a course
17:56 Another saga of prior BLM management getting it wrong
31:59 Walker Evans makes a valid point
45:45 If you’re in the aftermarket, you should be paying attention here
53:15 The number one question Ranch gets asked, How’s your dad?
1:04:45 Relive the most memorable moment of ARCA history
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We’re kicking it old school this week with one of the OG competitive rock crawlers, Charlie Melchner. Charlie comes with a unique knowledge of cars and what they can do, but a limited sense of how to build “I can measure with a yardstick, mark it with a crayon and cut it with a torch.” He left the finesse to the builders. Join us for a great conversation while Charlie fills us in on wheeling with all the greats of the sport.
3:16 Lessons learned: Never compliment a salesman on his truck, you might end up changing careers.
4:43 The moment Charlie’s life changed forever and what Bigfoot had to do with it
10:49 What do you mean you’re out of gas money? You only made it to Indiana…
16:29 Lost in Johnson Valley, this is starting to be a common theme in our podcasts
30:53 BFG introduces a new unobtanium tire to rock crawling
47:34 Why you shouldn’t test the buggy the night before a competition
54:04 Introducing the Poop Chute
1:06:39 How Charlie came to race KOH by accident
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Sometimes it’s your parentage that leads you into a career. Lil’ Rich Klein didn’t get a lot of choice in whether he was going off-roading. Listen to father and son talk about how it all began and where, Rich the younger is now. Trail Hero, TORN and how it all works together to promote the sport of rockcrawling.
1:56 How old were you when you first rolled over?
10:04 Meeting Shannon before Shannon was Shannon…
18:26 The real origins of Trail Hero, wouldn’t it be cool if?
32:38 Listen to a local explain the difference between Sand Hollow and Moab, it’s not what you think!
48:11 Celebrity drivers, are they as good as you think?
Listen on your favorite podcast player and don't forget to Subscribe.
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Professional athlete since age 17, Dustin Webster shares his cliff diving adventures, rockcrawling and what it takes to be a professional athlete. The stories are all here, from diving off platforms in Croatia to racing King of the Hammers. Join us to here the inside track on the life and times of Dustin Webster, the first North American Red Bull athlete.
we’re still new to podcasting and didn’t realize a chirp had developed in the recording of this episode. Stick with it, the interview is that good. We’ve fixed it for future episodes.
Season 1, Episode 2, guest Dustin Webster
6:48 Want to know who the ‘Sugar Daddy’ of rock-crawling is? Dustin tells us what he thinks
10:51 A how-to on how get the girls in three easy steps
15:06 How Captain Speedo got Red Bull’s attention
25:53 How Dustin tricked his wife in to being a rockcrawler
33:02 What it really takes to take care of your marketing partners
44:00 The biggest risk I ever took in a car. You’re not going to believe what Dustin had to do
51:46 How HGTV ruined house-flipping
1:14:39 Sharing the spotlight, Dustin proves his class yet once again.
Be sure to visit www.bigrichklein.com for a full transcript of the show.
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The first, the pillar episode of the Big Rich podcast is live! In this episode Shelley interviews Big Rich about the beginning of rock crawling for him. It’s a perseverance story, a succeed at all costs, a bootstrapping, I want this so bad, I’ll do whatever it takes. Almost twenty years later, WE Rock is still strong. Come along for the journey, see where it all began.
Season 1, Episode 1 with Big Rich Klein
7:20 Who yells “What’s the name of your club?” to guys he’s never met before?
16:56 Cease and desist ordered delivered at his very first rock crawl
24:32 You want how much money? How a county judge helped us out.
30:13 Why we needed a 'Noise Study' at a gun range
33:39 The penalty for being trashy
42:32 The birth of WE Rock, but not without some controversy
52:31 No sleeves allowed! Reno Rocks is off the hook
54:31 Debacle in Farmington 2009
64:39 The Taj Mahauler lives
74:36 Dirt Riot is born
82:44 2020 begins, here's what it looks like
85:34 How 4Low Magazine comes with 20 years of plans
92:14 The history of off-road and why it matters
Be sure to visit www.bigrichklein.com for a full transcript of the show.
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