Conversations with Big Rich
Big Rich Klein
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Hear conversations with the legacy stars of rockcrawling and off-road. Big Rich interviews the leaders in rock sports.
Available episodes
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4 days ago
Emme Hall entertains in Episode 192, join this media darling for some great stories.
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Nov 30, 2023
Land Use warrior Don Amador on Episode 191
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Nov 23, 2023
Episode 190 brings us Joe Thompson, buggy-builder extraordinaire.
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Nov 16, 2023
The founder of NORRA, ORMHOF, and “off-road” Ed Pearlman is remembered in Episode 189
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Nov 9, 2023
The Valtastrophe herself, Val Douglas on Episode 188
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?
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
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Nov 2, 2023
Three-peat Champion Melissa Clark on off-roading, Rebelle skills and Ford
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
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
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Oct 26, 2023
Clyde Bynum, on Episode 186 doesn’t waste time on negatives.
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
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Scott Taylor, 2022 ORMHOF inductee on Episode 185, winning champion short course racer
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Oct 12, 2023
He tried to quit us, turns out he’s back in off-road, welcome Chris Bolger on Episode 184
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Oct 5, 2023
Barrier breaker, Evan Evans, newest ORMHOF inductee on Episode 183
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Sep 28, 2023
Lightning strikes often with the King of Pirate 4x4 and Glitter, Erik “Camo” Linker on Episode 182
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…
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Sep 21, 2023
Super spotter turned competitor Jody Everding brings concrete advice to Episode 181
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!
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
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Sep 14, 2023
Combatant Matt Westrich brings his experience to land-use on Episode 180
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Sep 7, 2023
Jim Bramham is preaching to the Campfire on Episode 179
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 problem…
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Aug 31, 2023
No fear, no failure, Curt LeDuc on Episode 178
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…
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Aug 24, 2023
Small-town girl, Laura Butcher, shares big-city experiences on Episode 177
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…
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Aug 17, 2023
Class 3 Champion Don Moss on Episode 176
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
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and…
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Aug 10, 2023
Traveler, photographer, and storyteller, Chris Collard on Episode 175
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 su…
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Aug 3, 2023
The Master of Photography, Boyd Jaynes on Episode 174
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 p…
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Jul 27, 2023
Quinn Pultz at 74 Weld on Episode 173
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
5…
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Jul 20, 2023
Flat Fender Aficionado, Travis C. Bunch, on Episode 172
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
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
Be sure to liste…
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Jul 13, 2023
Another ORMHOF OG, Brian Chuchua, class of 1978 on Episode 171
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…
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Jul 6, 2023
Industry pro and fellow podcaster, Tyler Laursen on Episode 170
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 –…
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Jun 29, 2023
ORMHOF OG, Vic Wilson, class of 1978 on Episode 169
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 promoter 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 sp…
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Jun 22, 2023
Jimmy Lewis, off-road motorcycle racer extraordinaire on Episode 168
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…
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Jun 15, 2023
Episode 167 features the Milkman, Nate Hurst
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,…
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Jun 8, 2023
Looking for a family – Mike Shatynski knows all about it on Episode 166
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 M…
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Jun 1, 2023
Racing pioneer, Larry Minor on Episode 165
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
37:1…
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May 25, 2023
Ryan Maxfield explains all the deets about Delta Classic Rock Crawl on Episode 164
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorit…
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May 18, 2023
Bob Ham, CORVA pioneer and state legislative lobbyist on Episode 163
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 o…
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May 11, 2023
Meet the Ricks – Deremo and Gersch on Episode 162
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 thei…
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May 4, 2023
We honor Frank “Scoop” Vessels in Episode 161
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…
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Apr 27, 2023
Enter the Sand Man, Herman Booy, on Episode 160
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…
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Apr 20, 2023
Wheel man Chris May has done it all, listen in on Episode 159
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 –…
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Apr 13, 2023
Episode 158 features Duane Garretson from Come Get Ya Some In Arkansas
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 spon…
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Apr 6, 2023
Tribe 16 Founder, Adam Scherer, shares Texas wisdom and fun in Episode 157
Self-taught, all-in kinda guy Adam Scherer, founder of Tribe 16 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
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this po…
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Mar 30, 2023
Episode 156 features Skinny Lunn; OG rockcrawler, trophy truck driver, fab guy
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…
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Mar 23, 2023
Tire guy, Jeff Cummings shares tremendous knowledge and insight on Episode 155
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 i…
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Mar 16, 2023
The Grand Ol’ Dame of Off-Road Racing, Judy Smith, on Episode 154
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
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…
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Mar 9, 2023
All things Land Cruiser with Kurt Williams of Cruiser Outfitters on Episode 153
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.
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the sho…
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Mar 2, 2023
On Episode 152, a Man with Many Talents, Marty Fiolka, Wearing Many Hats
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…
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Feb 23, 2023
Rob McKenney: rockcrawler, racer, bump skier, crane operator; great stories for all on Episode 151
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
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
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Feb 16, 2023
Episode 150 with former Four-Wheeler staffer, Robin Stover
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…
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Feb 9, 2023
Brian Ellinger on Episode 149 features Toyotas, rockcrawling and Front Range Offroad
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show
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Feb 2, 2023
Episode 148 with Taylor Anderson features, company culture, off-road racing and lights
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Jan 26, 2023
RTF President, Ken Hower, on Episode 147
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 Sh*t 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…
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Jan 19, 2023
The Brown Guy, Armando Verdugo, on Episode 146
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.
www.maxx…
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Jan 12, 2023
CORVA President Michael McGarity explains Land Use you can understand on Episode 145
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 th…
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Jan 5, 2023
Outlaw Desert Racings Chris Brahs and Drew Garcia on Episode 144
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.co…
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Dec 29, 2022
First generation car guy, Bryant Blakemore on Episode 143
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lo…
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Dec 22, 2022
From 4th place to champion, rockcrawler Dave Wong on Episode 142
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
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
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Dec 15, 2022
Rich in storytelling, Episode 141 features Sue Mead, Off-road Journalist Extraordinaire
“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…
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Dec 8, 2022
Krawlzone.tv host and creator, Nathan Riddle animates life in Utah on Episode 140
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…
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Dec 1, 2022
Family-man, Levi Shirley shares life in Dodge City and on the racecourse in Episode 139
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
We want to…
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Nov 24, 2022
Episode 138 features Tech Tim Lund as the luckiest man in the industry.
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
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
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Nov 17, 2022
Internet fact checker, Ryan Miller, on Episode 137
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 – o…
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Nov 10, 2022
The Darling of the Campbell Racing Royal Family, Bailey Campbell, on Episode 136
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 c…
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Nov 3, 2022
Renaissance Man, Rob Usnick, will surprise and delight you in Episode 135
“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”
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tire…
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Oct 27, 2022
Tom Wayes takes us around the world on skis, mountain bikes, and race cars.
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com…
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Oct 20, 2022
Rufus Racings Chip MacLaughlin on Laughter, Living, and Loss
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…
We want to thank our s…
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Oct 13, 2022
Shawn Rants, 4500 class driver running the ship on Episode 132
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
w…
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Oct 6, 2022
MetalCloak co-founder, Matson Breakey communicates on Episode 131
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorit…
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Sep 29, 2022
Crossfit coach and KOH champion navigator, Jason Berger, on Episode 130
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 f…
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Sep 22, 2022
Sports photographer Steven Bisig on Episode 129
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
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 th…
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Sep 15, 2022
Jason Blanton in constant motion on Episode 128
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your…
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Sep 8, 2022
Electronics Wunderkin Steven Lutz on Episode 127
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…
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Sep 1, 2022
Join Scott Steinberger on Episode 126 as PCI celebrates 50 Years
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…
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Aug 25, 2022
HiLift Jack President/CEO Austin Harrah joins us for Episode 125
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
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…
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Aug 18, 2022
Green and yellow look good on David Adams on Episode 124
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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Aug 11, 2022
Land Use Advocate, John Stewart, on Episode 123
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.Support the show
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Aug 4, 2022
Business Builder, Dan Dubose, shares his insights on Episode 122
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-r…
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Jul 28, 2022
Racing, Tuning, Racing, Speed, Repeat, James Schofield on Episode 121
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 yo…
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Jul 21, 2022
Episode 120 with Roger Lovell shares the future of racing with the Lovell family
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sur…
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Jul 14, 2022
Mid-west wheeler, Steve Sharp, has an important message for you in Episode 119
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be s…
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Jul 7, 2022
Meet the Browns on Episode 118
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podca…
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Jun 30, 2022
Trail Ready’s Larry Trim escapes to the dirt on Episode 117
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
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
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Jun 23, 2022
Frank DeAngelo, the King of Motorsports Marketing, on Episode 116
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.
Support the show
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Jun 16, 2022
Maintaining control of the outcome, Kevin Yoder joins us for Episode 115
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.Support the show
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Jun 9, 2022
Uncle Tom’s Cabin caretaker, Rance MacFarland in Episode 114
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 sp…
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Jun 2, 2022
Episode 113 features Ned Bacon and his adventures around the world
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…
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May 26, 2022
Goatbuilt founder Drew Burroughs on Episode 112
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 podcas…
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May 19, 2022
No stranger to hard work, Clifton Slay is back in off-road, on Episode 111
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.Support the show
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May 12, 2022
Work ethic should be his middle name, Nate Hunt, on Episode 110
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
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May 5, 2022
King of the full-size GMCs, Stephen Watson on Episode 109
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
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Apr 28, 2022
Classic over-achiever, Tom Yash, shares his life on Episode 108
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 than…
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Apr 21, 2022
WE Rock Spotter, Russell Battles, making great decisions on Episode 107
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
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Apr 14, 2022
Low-voltage electronics and off-road, with Mike Stump on Episode 106
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
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Apr 7, 2022
Competitive newcomer, Skip Scott, on Episode 105
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…
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Mar 31, 2022
Season Two Recap for Episode 104
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…
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Mar 24, 2022
Epic Phil Norvold of Max-Bilt fame on episode 103
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…
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Mar 17, 2022
Off-road videographer, Crazy Doug Hayduk, on Episode 102
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.S…
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Mar 10, 2022
Warn’s PR Manager, Andy Lilienthal, on Episode 101
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.Supp…
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Mar 3, 2022
Modern Jeeper, Corey Osborne, on Episode 100
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 importa…
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Feb 24, 2022
Alan Woodson of Axis Fab on Episode 99
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
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Feb 17, 2022
IH8MUD founder, Brian “Woody” Swearingen, on Episode 98
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…
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Feb 10, 2022
Rusty's Off-Road, Rusty Megois talks strategy and friendships on Episode 97
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
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Feb 3, 2022
Multi-faceted, Poly Dave Schlossberg tells his story on Episode 96
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…
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Jan 27, 2022
East coast native, engineer Scott Trimarco on Episode 95
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
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Jan 20, 2022
Living life on his own terms, Randy Ellis on Episode 94
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
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Jan 13, 2022
Christian Hazel of MotorTrend Group on Episode 93
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 a…
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Jan 6, 2022
All-American badass, JT Taylor, on Episode 92
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.…
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Dec 30, 2021
Trending on Episode 91 is Lee Riser, Senior Director of Marketing at Truck Hero off-road brands
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 indu…
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Dec 23, 2021
Serial Entrepreneur Chris Overacker on Episode 90
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
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
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Dec 16, 2021
Your Off-Road Connection, Keith Bailey on Episode 89
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?
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
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Dec 9, 2021
Austin "Fish" Farner, the FishDood, on Episode 88
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magaz…
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Dec 2, 2021
VORRA champion from days passed, Steve Sullivan, on Episode 87
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
ww…
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Nov 25, 2021
A Man in Uniform, Del Albright, on Episode 86
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
1:17:4…
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Nov 18, 2021
On Episode 85, Ricky Artes, the Kingpin of Florida wheeling
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??
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
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Nov 11, 2021
Current president of Terra Del Sol Jeep club, Bill Kassler, on episode 84.
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
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
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Nov 4, 2021
Madagascar, Egypt, and tech on Episode 83 with Verne Simons
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
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
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Oct 28, 2021
Energetic entrepreneur, Greg Higgs, on Episode 82
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
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
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Oct 21, 2021
Rebelle Rally Champion, Nena Barlow, on Episode 81
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?
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favori…
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Oct 14, 2021
Lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Kurt Schneider, in Episode 80
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
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
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Oct 7, 2021
Frank the Tank on Episode 79!
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 – yo…
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Sep 30, 2021
RJ Brown rounding out the trio of Farmington celebs on Episode 78
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
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 sho…
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Sep 23, 2021
Are you driver enough? Ask Phil Collard, the original ARCA course designer
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low…
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Sep 16, 2021
Taking care of Business, Richard Jenkins in the Four Corners Region
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…
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Sep 9, 2021
80 Years of Adrenaline with Jack Bettio on Episode 75
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.c…
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Sep 2, 2021
Helluva nice guy, Matt Hodges, on Episode 74
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to liste…
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Aug 26, 2021
Episode 73 with Don Alexander: Trainer, Racer, Journalist
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?
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.
S…
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Aug 19, 2021
Episode 72 features architect Cora Jokinen, owner of TorqMasters Industries
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…
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Aug 12, 2021
Jason Conover of the PNW is tending to unfinished business in Episode 71
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 – b…
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Aug 5, 2021
Everything is Figure-outable with Jesse Haines in Episode 70
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…
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Jul 29, 2021
45 Years of Sales, Marketing and Media with Jim Ryan on Episode 69
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.co…
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Jul 22, 2021
Powerful words from Tom Campbell on Episode 68
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 – vaccine…
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Jul 15, 2021
Ladies Offroad Network founder and media mogul, Charlene Bower, on Episode 67
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 busin…
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Jul 8, 2021
Teraflex President Ben Falkner in Episode 66
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
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
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Jul 1, 2021
OG Rockcrawler still in the comp scene, Steve Nantz on Episode 65
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 ho…
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Jun 24, 2021
Disco Derek West spills on family, racing and why he's retired now
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 “d…
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Jun 17, 2021
Dynamic duo, Kruse and Chapman, of K2, Katemcy Rocks
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…
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Jun 10, 2021
Parallel paths and Awesomeness with Casey Scherer on Episode 62
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…
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Jun 3, 2021
Our own Greatest Showman, Trent McGee, on Episode 61
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…
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May 27, 2021
Prayer, Positivity and Perseverance with Clay Egan on Episode 60
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 st…
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May 20, 2021
Jeep Enthusiast Jim Horne in Episode 59
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 – S…
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May 13, 2021
Yellow Hats and Gas Tanks with Tony Pellegrino on Episode 58
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:…
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May 6, 2021
Preeminent rockcrawling spotter, Chris Poblano, on Episode 57
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 –…
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Apr 29, 2021
Man of Many Talents, Bob Bower, continues with us for Episode 56
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 i…
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Apr 22, 2021
BFG pits founder, Baja racer Bob Bower on Episode 55
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…
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Apr 15, 2021
Brad Williams and his Hobby job at Maxxis on Episode 54
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…
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Apr 8, 2021
Quiet Man, Ben Bower, making a ripple through off-road in Episode 53
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis Tires and 4Low Magazine.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podca…
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Apr 1, 2021
From Birfield Rings to Spider 9's, Thomas Kingston in Episode 52
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…
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Mar 25, 2021
Big Willy Jeep Builder, Burner, and Flat Fender enthusiast, Ian Liljeblad on Episode 51
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
We want to thank our sponsors Maxxis…
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Mar 18, 2021
Off-Road Innovator and Industry Leader, Pat Gremillion, on Episode 50
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
i3…
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Mar 11, 2021
Expert in drivelines, Jim Reel, joins us on Episode 49
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?
We want to thank our sponsors Max…
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Mar 4, 2021
Trail Mom, Barbara Rainey, executive director for the Off-Road Hall of Fame on Episode 48
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…
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Feb 25, 2021
BFG Performance and off-road guru Richard Winchester in Episode 47
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 Magaz…
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Feb 18, 2021
Raceline's Greg Mulkey educates us on Tires and Wheels, Episode 46
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be su…
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Feb 11, 2021
Family man, Announcer, Mod Stock Champion, All-around Good guy, Jake Good on Episode 45
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 – Opportuni…
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Feb 4, 2021
Jokester extraordinaire, Eric Filar, on Episode 44
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 a…
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Jan 28, 2021
Bombs and off-road and Harry Wagner in Episode 43
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.
www.m…
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Jan 21, 2021
Returning from his long road of Recovery, Kevin Carey, in Episode 42
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.
www.maxxis.c…
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Jan 14, 2021
Intense, fun-lovin' Doug Bigelow on Episode 41 talks football, kids and competition
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Jan 7, 2021
Trail Boss, Jacquelyne Bebe White, on Hummers and Land Use
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Dec 31, 2020
Industry icon, Clayton Walters, in Episode 39
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 Mill…
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Dec 24, 2020
Making Shifting Great Again, Rory DesJardin on Episode 38
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Dec 17, 2020
Revolutionizing an Industry with Jon Bundrant in Episode 37
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Dec 10, 2020
Episode 36 features Jason Childs, jumping right to Unlimited
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Dec 3, 2020
New WE Rock Competitor, Jeff Houser, highlights his first season in Episode 35
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show
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Nov 26, 2020
Dirt Every Day's Fred Williams in Episode 34
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 4L…
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Nov 19, 2020
The Godfather of competitive Rockcrawling, Phil Howell, on Episode 33
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…
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Nov 12, 2020
OG Rockcrawler turned desert racer, Mike Shaffer, on Episode 32
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 4L…
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Nov 5, 2020
Super-spotter Randall Davis of Lasernut Racing and Axial RC Cars
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Oct 29, 2020
Champions Kaleigh Miller and Teralin Petereit give us the scoop on their win at the 2020 Rebelle Rally
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 spons…
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Oct 22, 2020
Rebelle Rally Founder, Emily Miller, Episode 29
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.
www.maxxis.com
w…
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Oct 15, 2020
Spotter Extraordinaire, Josh Wilson shares the "secrets" of spotting for top drivers in Episode 28
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Oct 8, 2020
OG Rockcrawler, Fab Guy, Magazine Hero Chris Durham on Episode 27
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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Oct 1, 2020
Team Smiles Captain, Jeremy Hammer of Fly-N-Hi in Phoenix, Episode 26
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.
www.ma…
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Sep 24, 2020
Three time KOH Champ, Jason Scherer, Episode 25
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 a…
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Sep 17, 2020
The Iceman Cometh, Dean Bulloch on Episode 24
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 togethe…
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Sep 10, 2020
Dixie Four Wheel Drive Founder, Milt Thompson talks family and business, Episode 23
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 sponsor…
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Sep 3, 2020
My partner in crime, Shelley Krehbiel, on Episode 22
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…
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Aug 27, 2020
Longest running competitor at WE Rock, Kenny Blume on Episode 21
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…
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Aug 20, 2020
Rubicon Enthusiast, Tim Green, Episode 20
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.co…
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Aug 13, 2020
PowerTank founder Steve Sasaki, from Industrial Design to Off-Road
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
Support the show
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Aug 6, 2020
Baja racer, Shelby Hall, on growing up with Grandpa Rod, Episode 18
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?
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
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Jul 30, 2020
Breaking Arizona Waterfalls with Rob Bonney, Episode 17
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
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
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Jul 23, 2020
Founding Family member, George Schultz talks EJS and trail building in Moab, Episode 16
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…
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Jul 16, 2020
Poison Spyder's Larry McCrae, Episode 15
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 ret…
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Jul 9, 2020
Bruce Shallis, Foundation of the Industry, Episode 14
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 hist…
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Jul 2, 2020
The 4 Eras of Jeeps, Where does Jeff Mello fit? Episode 13
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…
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Jun 25, 2020
To the Badlands from Paragon, Kyle Knosp shares it all, Episode 12
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.
www.m…
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Jun 18, 2020
The Original Mr. Maxxis, Creighton King on Episode 11
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on yo…
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Jun 11, 2020
John Currie shares his history with rock sports and the formation of Rock Jock, Episode 10
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.roc…
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Jun 4, 2020
Learn what it's really like to be a Professional Racecar driver with Brad Lovell, Episode 9
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…
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May 28, 2020
I Really Know Bender! Rob 'Bender' Park on Episode 8
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/
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
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May 21, 2020
Lasernut and Lasertown explained with guest, Cody Waggoner
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen o…
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May 14, 2020
Pirate 4x4 Origin story with Lance Clifford
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.
www.maxxis.com
www.4lowmagazine.com
Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show
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May 7, 2020
ARCA Founder, Ranch Pratt shares some history
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 historySupport the show
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Apr 29, 2020
Kickin' back with an OG rockcrawler, Charlie Melchner
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 acci…
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Apr 26, 2020
A Shared History, an interview with Lil Rich Klein
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?
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Apr 26, 2020
A conversation with Dustin Webster, the original North American Red Bull athlete
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…
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Apr 24, 2020
A personal history of rockcrawling and off-road, 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 Maga…
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