Conversations with Big Rich

Send us a textJoin 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.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 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. Support the show

Send us a textSo 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 ways1:04:10 – Three boxes. We call that a triple transfer case, and no one had ever done this to go slow over the rocks.Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Send us a textAdrenalin-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.Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

Send us a textWe 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 all8:36 – 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.Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 hours1:16:05 – There are private landowners on the Rubicon, 40% of the Rubicon goes through private property, Common people like me don't know that. Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.  Support the show

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 younger11:50 – 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 money52:11 – It's not about stopping the bully, it's about being able to control yourself in those situations so things don't affect you. Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 most9:37 – 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 there48:20 –right now, it's just wide-open throttle, pushing YouTube and trying to grow my brand Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 gear15:23 – 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 line51:04 –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 Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 k*ll switch, the k*ll 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. Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 up16:08 – 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.Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 California12:11 – 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.Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 dad13:46 – 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 them34:15– 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.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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?”Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

 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. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 world8:14 – 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 more31:09 – 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 CraigslistSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.  Support the show

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 changer30:56– ***ALL THE DEETS HERE*** Rock race at Area BFE on Big Saturday during EJS 55:19 –Entries open on March 1Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 stuff41:05– “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 gearSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 terrible27:30 – I started paying attention to Dakar in 2020 when Casey Curry went over there, but I didn't really grasp it until this year41:02– 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?”Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

 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 destroyed32:11– 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 do56:52 – The story goes…I met Mike in the middle of the night under the moon to have him give me his wife's pantyhoseSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 Loren31:14 – 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 continent1:00:33 – 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 bad1:17:14 – we worked because we were desperately out of moneySpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 storySpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 together50:53 – 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 againSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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!”Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 that54:19 – the paradigm shift was when I realized my employees were relying on me to provide the opportunity that they were showing up forSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

 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. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 know26:20 – During the club years we met so many who bought this adventure vehicle and didn't know what to do with it30:57 – Our business had two parts, we run adventure trips and offer training courses37:23 – we've got big rig trips and beginner trips and not much in between, so we're trying to fill that gap46:22 – I love KOH, but I'm thankful we had something to do because we're not people who just sit around Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 country16:45 – 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. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

“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 that1:06:50 – 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 sponsorshipSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.All Automotive with Matt Clawson Automotive related topics. Anything from owning an repair facility to racing. Anything...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

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 life31:17 – “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 awaySpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 Hare28:28 – 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.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 driving31:59 – 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 May44:31 – 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 PresidentSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 serious21:10 – 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 present29:06 – 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 life39:10 – We take extra care of making sure I can see where she's at; it was a freak accidentSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 rockcrawling35:18 – 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 Montrose48:38 – 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 wasSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Support the show

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 life37:22 – all my life, it's all I've done – offroad and motorcycles and travel and design44:33 – 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 decisionsSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

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 trails45:40 – Any advice?  Yes, pay attention to those who are winning, listen, and be humbleSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 interested29:33 – 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.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

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 now36:02 – 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 communitySpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.

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 successfulSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.

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 truck1:06:42 – about halfway through the race, the suspension broke, but Jean Calvin had her thermos full of coffee that she always took with herSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.

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 instructor25:14 – 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 ExpeditionSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.

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 up26:29 – 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 south43:57 – my most memorable event from the NASCAR days was the '87 Winston 500 at Talladega1:01:18 – 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 backSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

“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 pain35:59 – my wife has plans for us to buy a diesel pusher, and hook the vehicle up and go have some fun37:37 – my simple rule of thumb: don't spend more than you make and be humbleSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.

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 tough31:49 – 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 OG1358:25 – that's when the Top Shelf chassis was bornSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.

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 such29:43 – …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 frustrating48:31 – 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 sport59:19 – I had the midnight to 2 am shift, we had just passed Bimini and started heading in a more Southerly direction…Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

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 diesel31:38 – 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 me49:20 – 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 CedarSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the Show.