The rocket City Rock Crawlers 4X4 club (http://www.tennessee4x4.com/rocketcity/) of Huntsville, Alabama is hosting a Summer Rock Challenge contest open to all properly prepared four wheel drive vehicles. Vehicles must pass a competition worthiness and safety inspection and are limited to DOT approved tires. Over night camping available at the contest site. Registration and inspection Aug. 2 (4 pm-12 midnight), Aug. 3rd (7am-8am). This is a one day event to be held on August 3rd. (8am.-until completion). Location: South of Huntsville-map available by request. Entry fee is $100.00 per vehicle, limited to the first 25 PAID entries. PRIZE MONEY (based on a 25 vehicle field) First place: $1000.00, Second place $500.00, Third Place $250.00. Scoring will be per established RCRC rules. (a copy of the vehicle rules and the event scoring will be provided upon request). For event entry forms, paid entries, rules and details-Contact:
Hugh Greene
hughg@charter.net
(256) 778-7175
PO Box 8
Somerville, AL 35670

sweet ... wish i could have my junk finished by then :( i'll definitely come out to spectate though ... and help if needed. let me know Doc ...

- jack

Cool. Glad to see the old alma mater hosting an event. Where will it be held-I don't remember many good wheeling spots in Bama.

Sounds good, I'd like to try and make it. Im glad competitions are finally showing up in the south-east, theres plenty of bad ass wheeling spots here for them.

Originally posted by morpheus
sweet ... wish i could have my junk finished by then :( i'll definitely come out to spectate though ... and help if needed. let me know Doc ...

- jack If your interested, contact Hugh - his email's in the post. We need marshals and various other help.

Originally posted by ARokCrwlr
Cool. Glad to see the old alma mater hosting an event. Where will it be held-I don't remember many good wheeling spots in Bama. Its on private property near Somerville, south of the Tennessee River.

sweet! ... i live 5 mins. from somerville :D

- jack

Originally posted by Alabamatoy
The rocket City Rock Crawlers 4X4 club (http://www.tennessee4x4.com/rocketcity/) of Huntsville, Alabama is hosting a Summer Rock Challenge contest open to all properly prepared four wheel drive vehicles. Vehicles must pass a competition worthiness and safety inspection and are limited to DOT approved tires. Over night camping available at the contest site. Registration and inspection Aug. 2 (4 pm-12 midnight), Aug. 3rd (7am-8am). This is a one day event to be held on August 3rd. (8am.-until completion). Location: South of Huntsville-map available by request. Entry fee is $100.00 per vehicle, limited to the first 25 PAID entries. PRIZE MONEY (based on a 25 vehicle field) First place: $1000.00, Second place $500.00, Third Place $250.00. Scoring will be per established RCRC rules. (a copy of the vehicle rules and the event scoring will be provided upon request). For event entry forms, paid entries, rules and details-Contact:
Hugh Greene
hughg@charter.net
(256) 778-7175
PO Box 8
Somerville, AL 35670


How many members are there in RCRC 4x4 club? I know there were only about 6 active members after myself and two others started it in '92. I don't think any of the founders are active anymore, but I kind of lost track after I moved in '93. I'm glad the club is still around and hosting this event. I plan on either participating or being a spectator-depends on whether I can get my junk back on the road.

We've got about 20 members-12-15 of which are very active. Who where the original 6 you mentioned? I joined in '92. Steve Curet

Originally posted by Titanic
We've got about 20 members-12-15 of which are very active. Who where the original 6 you mentioned? I joined in '92. Steve Curet

I remember you. You had the BIG suburban right? The other originals were Eric Thompson, George Hodges, myself (Kraig Pendleton), Mike Whitten, you...that's about all my memory is good for, but there were a couple others. We used to meet at Madison city hall. I still have family there and make it back quite often. I would love to hook up with you guys sometime.

Looks like fun.... Think I can have a vehicle done in time to compete? :D:D:D:D

David, No

Originally posted by TrailRunner
David, No :D :D :D
I am begining to think DRM is just a keyboard wheeler. He doesn't really have a 4X4 anymore....
:flipoff2: :flipoff2: DRM, get that thing rolling!

This event is now an RCAA sponsored event, the first in the Southeast!

is there still open spots, I'm considering the 10 hr road trip, jeep should be running again soon?

did the RRCA involvement change anything?

Originally posted by DRM
Think I can have a vehicle done in time to compete? :D:D:D:D

Can? Yes. Will? No. :D


TEX

Originally posted by Alabamatoy
The rocket City Rock Crawlers 4X4 club (http://www.tennessee4x4.com/rocketcity/) of Huntsville, Alabama is hosting a Summer Rock Challenge contest open to all properly prepared four wheel drive vehicles. Vehicles must pass a competition worthiness and safety inspection and are limited to DOT approved tires. Over night camping available at the contest site. Registration and inspection Aug. 2 (4 pm-12 midnight), Aug. 3rd (7am-8am). This is a one day event to be held on August 3rd. (8am.-until completion). Location: South of Huntsville-map available by request. Entry fee is $100.00 per vehicle, limited to the first 25 PAID entries. PRIZE MONEY (based on a 25 vehicle field) First place: $1000.00, Second place $500.00, Third Place $250.00. Scoring will be per established RCRC rules. (a copy of the vehicle rules and the event scoring will be provided upon request). For event entry forms, paid entries, rules and details-Contact:
Hugh Greene
hughg@charter.net
(256) 778-7175
PO Box 8
Somerville, AL 35670 sounds like good huntin i will be there reaper style super charged:bounce: :bounce2: :evil:

GO2GUY- We still have slots for the contest. Signing on with RCAA/ARCA did not really change anything. We were going by their rules and they just came by and taught us how to score each obstacle exactly like they do so our event could be used as a points event east of the Mississippi River. RCAA/ARCA keeps a point total and at the end of the year rewards a point champion. Steve

Could someone please post directions to the event? I will be coming from Auburn. Thanks in advance!:)

Yes directions from where you go when you get to Huntsville would be nice, thanks.

Take exit 328 off I-65 and turn east on Hwy 36. Travel east on Hwy 36 about 8-10 miles until to come to the intersection on Hwy 36 & Hwy 67. Turn right,(south), on Hwy 67 & follow the signs that will be posted by then. On a Rand McNally map, the event is close to Florette, AL on Hwy 67. Steve

So someone donate a vehicle, and I will drive it for you :D:D:D

Titanic thanks for the directions but where do you go when you take the exit to Floretine, or whaterever sorry im drunk, thanks for the help.

I just re-read and saw you said there would be signs after that exit telling me where to go...thanks

See you guys there- look for yellow purple and white!

I am so looking forward to this event. I am picking up a 77 CJ-5, just to enter in the event and have fun . I have to swap my motor, spring over, weld the diff, sawzall, add a front cage, as well as a few more things that I can't think of right this minute, in order to make it to the event. I pick the 5 up on wednesday or thursday. If anyone in Auburn would like to help make this happen call me at home #334-887-0997 or wrk # 334-954-6126. I am looking forward to meeting a bunch of folks from the bulletin board.:smokin:

Map to event is online at http://rocketcityoffroad.com/map.htm

The Hartselle (hwy-36) exit off I-65 is exit 328

I am planning on making it over to see the comp this weekend. However I see no mention about spectators anywhere in your info about the event. You are allowing spectators right?

Could someone give all of the info that would be important to someone who is planning to drive 4 hours to be there?

I just want to be sure that I don't show up to find out this is some kind of members only thing.

Sean

Only have a few more days left, so hopefully somebody that knows something about the comp will speak up.

So any idea on who all will be competing?
It would be awesome to check out some of the comp rides that I have been drueling over in my offroad ideas folder.

Sucks Frankie won't be able to compete. I guess he put on quite a show last week?

How hard is the wheeling where the comp is being held? Will there be some challenge for the unlimited rides?

This is my first time going to a comp. I was going to go last weekend, but it didn't work out.

Sean

Station-you are more than welcome to come watch the comp. Everybody is welcome-anybody can enter as long as their vehicle is safe and follows RCAA/ARCA rules. I'm in the club that's putting it on but I don't have the names that have entered-event director-(Hugh Greene) has that information

Thanks for the reply Titanic.

What is the spectator fee?

Sean

Sorry-$5/person

heres some links to a few pics from the No. Ala. Rock Challange.

Enjoy

Mo

ARCAA event 01
http://community.webshots.com/album/45757278TZHweJ

ARCAA event 02
http://community.webshots.com/album/45757671LryuWu

ARCAA event 03
http://community.webshots.com/album/45758372viZMIp

I will have some pictures up shortly as well.

We got allot of almost identical shots Rokcrler.

Except for you got a few shots of me that I din't get;) :rolleyes:

Sean

Did I meet any of you guys?- I was asking around as I talked with a lot of people- a lot of blank looks when i asked about the board.

We had a great time- the Jeep did not break and that's what counts. Still not sure what i think about the hanging balls instead of cones- probably needs to be a bit wider to account for body lean- they gave about 10" per side compared to cones but that gets exceeded fast when one side of the jeep is 3' higher.

I hope this whole RRCA thing pans out and they start having more series in our corner of the world.

I'm real happy for the young kid who finished first, he drove his little propane powered buggy pretty well from what I saw.

another class (and unexpected) act- they had full $$ payout even though they fell short of filling the class.

I didnt get to meet any board members, i was spotter for vehicle 13, we broke the t-case on obstacle 5 :(

Glad to see such a good turn out, and cant wait for the next one.

How did the course appear to you fellow competators? Other than the new gates (i didnt care for them either).

Hope to see more pics.

Mo

Go2guy-If you placed second then you know who I am. I was the judge on obstacle 5 that answered several questions about points. I thought you were going to win because you had low score on the last 3 obstacles. It was my idea to have the hanging balls as the gates. I've drove thru a rock crawl challenge and couldn't see any of the stupid cones on the ground and therefore couldn't tell how I had done at all. MO-I'll have a word with you for slamming my gate design at our next meeting-just kiddin. I should have pics up on our web site by Friday. Steve

I've drove thru a rock crawl challenge and couldn't see any of the stupid cones on the ground and therefore couldn't tell how I had done at all.
That's what your spotter is for. :shaking:

Originally posted by Rokcrler
I didnt get to meet any board members, i was spotter for vehicle 13, we broke the t-case on obstacle 5 :(

Glad to see such a good turn out, and cant wait for the next one.

How did the course appear to you fellow competators? Other than the new gates (i didnt care for them either).

Hope to see more pics.

Mo

Well, you did meet at least one board member. I was the one who gave you the pointer about moving the hydraulic steering line just before you entered stage 5:) . Sucks about the T-case dude. I guess you guys didn't , as your driver said, "stay in the money" :( .

Maybe see you again at the next comp?

Sean

Here is another pic of the damage to your T-case.http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/DSC00790.JPG
The pic on the site that you linked to really showed how extensive the damage was.

Sean

It sucks but thats the name of the game...

We should have it ready for this next weekend...

And thanks for pointing out the hydro line ;)

I do remember you- you're right, I questioned you a lot about grazing vs nerfing the tree's etc- a tough call to make as a Judge- I don't envy you being in that position.

Regardless of what anyone thought about the hanging balls it was consistent and visible. Someone with a skinny single seater (and single seat cage) would have had a significant advantage though. In some respects my tapered rear body likely helped me out. I did yank my antenna before i ran too.

It just shows that every point really counts, there was a seven point spread between our team and the first place guys makes you really mourn about the ball you just grazed. The inside ball on #3- I grazed with the top of my tire as it bounced up on the roll thru- A bit slower or crawling would have prevented that- but then again, I could have crabbed more and nailed it with the body- who knows- we had fun! Thanks to all your club members!

Originally posted by G02Guy
Did I meet any of you guys?- I was asking around as I talked with a lot of people- a lot of blank looks when i asked about the board.


I meet you Ken, didn't know you were on the board though. I was the guy with the long goatee ... we talked about your tcase clocking adapter and where you were from.

I also meet 350Samurai and talked to toploader (who I'd meet at the first EROCC event).

here's some pics I took:

http://www.megaone.com/morpheus/RCAA/

- jack

I went and had a blast! I believe I met quite a few of you there. I have more pics and some cool video! That first Bronco was one tuff shit! I can't believe it did not break. To all that entered Damn fine showing!

I agree, that first Bronco was TOUGH. He flogged that thing all the way to the top and didn't shed any parts.

- jack

I do remember speaking with you- I guess in all the excitement I was not consistent enough asking about the board.:D

Well anyone there probably either met me or saw me. I was the timekeeper/judge on section #2. I know I talked with Go2Guy for a while. You gave us some good ideas for next year. We will difinately do some thinking about gate design for next time. What I hated from a judge's standpoint was watching some guys thrashing about taking the gate out get about the same score as someone who crawled thru with finess, and then just graze a ball.

I'll say I liked Go2guy's strategy for our section. We had a longer time, so you got out and stacked rocks in the trouble spots first. There were lots of guys who just sat and dug some of those spots out. The way that section was, a little rock stacking went a long way.

Thanks for all the guys who came out and made this a success. Gives us lots of encouragement in making this a regular event. I guess personally I'll brag on the club a bit -- Not bad for a club of 18 member families.

Robert

I thought you guys did a great job for your first event Robert. Good job !

- jack

I agree- that was a great time had by all. I also had a great time. go-2-guy did a great job!! like he said earlier about the points being close- I missed 3rd by 12 points and wasent far behind Ken. I met some nice people overthere and did not realize there were this many of yall on this board??? I was the one in the blue TJ with the orange cage. I have always watched this board so I decided to join in on all the fun . I am also on the tennesseeoffroad board under the same name if your ever over that way, look me up.

Hey, have you had a chance to upload all your pics yet? If so when you gonna email them to me? salexander@bellmicro.com :p Do you remeber who I am?:p By the way I made the video last night, I got some awsome fotage!

RKCRAWLER, I talked to you several times on sat. I was wearing a hat and have a long goatee. i thought you did an excellent job driving. Showed many of the throttle-happy crowd that this was indeed rock crawling and not just throttle gouging.

- jack

Originally posted by bad80cj-7#2
Hey, have you had a chance to upload all your pics yet? If so when you gonna email them to me? salexander@bellmicro.com :p Do you remeber who I am?:p By the way I made the video last night, I got some awsome fotage!

Nope, I haven't forgotten you. I am going to upload the pictures today. You will be getting mail from me soon. I definitely want a copy of your video.


Sean

Thanks morephus!! I really had no choice but to crawl most of it being I onld have the stock D-30 up front(yuck). I can not wait till the next one this fall(hopefull it will happen) By then I hope to have my cage work done(by frankie fountain). :D Hey sean send me pics to @jeepin1433@aol.com--thanks How do I get a copy of the video??

You and I talked for a minute while waiting for your turn towards the bonus gate. We sat on the ground talking about our wives, and Jeeps of course. Anyhow, I wanted to tell you did an excelent job this past weekend. I could not resist to tell your spotter to move the winch cable up higher on the tree. With it as low as he had it you were not doing anythhing but loading up your suspension. I had to yell it out!! Anyway Good job on Crawling not Hammering.:)

DAAARNIIIIT!!!, this is the second time in the last 2 days, that I typed up a long post which the server lost while posting. I will have to retype/re-attach everything.

Here are some pics of the teams that are present here.

I got quite a few good pics of Ken Blume(G02Guy). What is your drivetrain Ken? Your engine sounded great, and your gearing seemed just about right in my opinion.

Ken Blume:
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%202a.JPG
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%203.JPG
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%204d.JPG


This is all the pics that the server will let me attach to one post, more pics following.

Sean

More Ken Blume

http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%204f.JPG
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%204g.JPG
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%204h.JPG


Sean

Limit of 3 pics per post sucks.
Last of Ken blume that I plan to post for now. I have more of Ken , but these last ones are the best as far as showing action/difficulty of terrain.

http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Blume%205a.JPG

Sean

Here is the Jeep that Rokcrler spotted for, I don't know his name or the drivers name.
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/GreenJeep%204.JPG
Here is where they blew the np-208 to peices.
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/GreenJeep4Hung-Toast.JPG
A chunk from their T-case that I picked up.
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/community/station/Broken%20T-case.JPG

Sean

Anyone else who was a competitor want to see pics of themself in action?

RKCRAWLER Man, I am so sorry, but I didn't get to see any of your run, and therefore didn't get to take any pictures of you. I was dissapointed, because I really wanted to see how a Jeep with a Dana 30(and 36's?) was going to hold up:nuke:. But after you ran, I was dissapointed, because by the sound of it you did pretty good.

bad80cj-7#2 Pictures coming soon. I have 92 pictures that I have deemed GOOD, so I am trying to figure out the best way to package them when I send them to you. If you recieve mail with a compressed package, don't freak out and delete it. It will probably be me.

Sean

My drivetrain is actually a bit too tall in gearing for the extreme rocks stuff, but I agree, seems to work pretty well in the middle of the country to the east side where we often need to roll through things a little more.

oil smokin 5.2 magnum (bone stock) with 46RH tranny to a stock Dana 300 (Rotated with my kit of course). Flowmaster makes anything with 8 cylinders sound good. 4.56's in the front and rear 35 spline 60's.

I've got some 7.17's in the shop that are about to go in- comes out close to 4.56's and the 4-1 t-cases that seem to crawl real nice. I hope it still works ok on the loose hill climbs, I guess that what's the 4-speed auto is for.

Rkcrawler- are you Joey in th TJ??

Oh Yeah, and I really liked your rocker panels, Ken. How did you make them? Are they tubing with heavy guage sheet metal filling in?

Sean

Ummmmm- Am I the only one with poison Ivy?? Thought I was careful!

:eek:

Sean- I made the rockers, 3/16 steel in a big brake. Multiple bends makes them pretty strong. They'll probably be for sale after the winter- going similar to Tracy Jordan's and Don Robbins, whacking the body off on a 45 degree angle, clean up the body mounts etc. Will finish the season as is.

Ken

Luckily I dont get Poison Ivy. I saw LOTS of it, and I was rolling all over the place in it trying to get good shots.

Sean

nice jeep ken.

Hey Ken (Go2Guy),
I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but did you think about protesting the Yota buggy that won. I mean he was illegal on several counts: no hood, no winch, no firewall, no floorboard, to name a few. All that stuff = weight and quite a bit of it. You were at somewhat of a disadvantage since you followed the rules.
It was $1000 afterall.

First off hats off to Rocket City. I as a spectator had a great time.
I hope to see more of this.
Everybody is bitching about the balls hanging, but didnt it make it easier for the driver to see the gates??? Again I was a spectator. Also if somebody had 44s, well who knows????

Originally posted by G02Guy
Ummmmm- Am I the only one with poison Ivy?? Thought I was careful!


you are NOT the only one Ken !! :(

- jack

Frankie- thanks for the Kudo's on the Jeep- my rear clip is spanking new- trashed the "stock" sheetmetal in the last event.

350 Sam- honestly, no, I had not considered it but perhaps if similar situations next yr??? This was a first event for these guys and in getting it together I knew on the front end they were being flexible with rules in the interest of opening up participation. I also had a few rule violations, though they really had nothing to do with weight or any other "advantage". Your point about the weight reduction is valid though, I'm a firm believer in light makes might.

If I recall, my own overlooked violations were seats being bolted to sheetmetal (factory style) and not the roll cage and my roll cage is kind of a grey area though I could make a case for it being way stronger than the specified halo with small gussets in each corner. I think all the other items were cleared with Bob Pratt and agreed to be acceptable.

As far as the balls go- they were OK just too close together- not enough spread for body lean- say your track is 60" and your cage is 7' tall (Pretty typical), put one side up 2' taller, that trigs out to your cage leaning over 33.6". If i remember right these guys gave an extra 10-12" per side over a "normal" cone width which results in a very tight course. You should also factor in that the typical outside track of 80" is about 10" perside wider than the cage width of 60"- that still leaves the course tight by about 10" per side.

Typically a course is laid out such that the right line and set-up, proper driving yield a possibility of a clean run. Some obstacles favor belly clearance, others long or short wheel base, low CG, approach and departure angles- it averages out. There were some gates that I would bet a six pack that you could take every driver, judge and there respective vehicles, give them 20 minutes and they could not make it without tagging a ball. With that said- it was consistent and therefore fair. It just makes for a more interesting and intense competition when some can make it and some cannot. Food for thought on the next one.

I'm not bich'n, just sharing my observations- I had fun and I'd do it again- though it'd be nice if there was not a Poison Ivy field to either side of the course (Itch- itch):eek:

Poison Ivey, I might as well have eaten it for lunch. It was so hot I had to wear shorts, I am paying for it big time! I have been itching like a SOB! Me and my buddy went up on Friday night hoping to meet some folks hanging around campfires. Just not a hole lot of campers. GO2Guy, I must say I liked your trailer allot. Anyone with that much time spent on a trailer deserves some recognition. Station, when you get a chance shoot me that email would ya!

Thanks for the Kudo's on the trailer- it is for sale if you know anyone interested- info is on the towing forum- 5th wheel or motorhome thread.

Just trying to reduce debt.:eek:

Reduce Debt! What's that? I must say I hear ya loud and clear.:laughing:

Go-to-guy-- Yes it is me(Joey). And I am sorry station did not get to see my comp. debute.:( Bye the way , my tires are 38's and the D-30 holds up very well.

Originally posted by RKCRAWLER
Go-to-guy-- Yes it is me(Joey). And I am sorry station did not get to see my comp. debute.:( Bye the way , my tires are 38's and the D-30 holds up very well.

I will just have to look forward to next time Joey. I will try to get you some good pictures next time.

I missed your run because I had to go down to the car to get something to eat. By the time I got back, I heard you running obstacle 5, and could not catch up with you. I also missed the Tan colored OffRoad Connection Jeep.

Sean

OH can anyone give me the official results of how everyone finished? I didn't wait around after the comp to hear the results. I had a 5 hour ride home.

Thanks,
Sean

Station--Here are the results via doc savage-----Well here are the results as they were sent to me.
1 Ory Stephens Toyota Rail Chattanooga TN 72
2 Ken Blume CJ-7 Lowell AR 79
3 Travis Smith Bronco Tube Hartselle AL 129
4 Joey Richardson TJ Memphis TN 141
5 Joe Duvall Toyota Rail Rossville GA 150
6 Lee Buffington CJ-5 Fort Payne AL 157
7 Vehicle #14 162
8 Ricky Bozarth Toyota Truck Woodville AL 166
9 Vehicle #15 172
10 Ricky Garrett Bronco Chickamauga GA 173

Thanks to everyone who made this a success, competitors/spectators/club members.

Robert

--------------------

President, Rocket City Rock Crawlers
Member, Middle Tennessee Trail Runners
--
98 TJ SE Locked, Loaded, Lots of stuff
01 TJ (wife's) soon to be moded.

This was off the TENNESSEEOFFROAD BB.

I helped build both of the Toyota rails. They were both built by Jimmy Smith in Chattanooga, TN. The first one is Joe's and it is running a ford 9 inch with 5.71's in the rear and a toy axle up front. The other one, the winning one, has 4.10's in with a marlin crawler. Those TSL's were brand new when Jimmy cut them. He used a modified sawzall blade to cut them with. He was able to do all 4 tires in 2 nights. The man can definitely build stuff. In the last 1.5 years, he has built 4 racecars, street stock dirt track, and 5 or 6 cab trucks, from the light weight toy rails, to a rail running a Caddy 518 inch motor, dana 60 and 70, and 46 inch cut turf tires to a cab truck running a Samurai body and tractor tires......

BTW both of those Toyota rails are running welded dif's front and rear. And for some reason, the stock birfields have not broken yet.... I don't have any cloue why they haven't

cab truck running a Samurai body and tractor tires
I think I have seen this truck you are talking about in Aetna one year. Is it running a big block with about a 160" wheelbase and a narrowed Samurai body where the passenger sits behind and above the driver?
If that is the one he had little trouble running the power line trails, with the steep hillclimbs.

Originally posted by Madmarx
I helped build both of the Toyota rails. They were both built by Jimmy Smith in Chattanooga, TN. The first one is Joe's and it is running a ford 9 inch with 5.71's in the rear and a toy axle up front. The other one, the winning one, has 4.10's in with a marlin crawler. Those TSL's were brand new when Jimmy cut them. He used a modified sawzall blade to cut them with. He was able to do all 4 tires in 2 nights. The man can definitely build stuff. In the last 1.5 years, he has built 4 racecars, street stock dirt track, and 5 or 6 cab trucks, from the light weight toy rails, to a rail running a Caddy 518 inch motor, dana 60 and 70, and 46 inch cut turf tires to a cab truck running a Samurai body and tractor tires......

BTW both of those Toyota rails are running welded dif's front and rear. And for some reason, the stock birfields have not broken yet.... I don't have any cloue why they haven't

Man, Some of those other rides would have been allot more fun to watch!! I don't know who designed the chassis, but seriously both of those buggys were dang ugly.

The older guy driving the buggy with 9" rear is an Idiot who should not be allowed to compete if the thinks running direclty head on into trees is cool. He ran into the same tree 3-4 times with the second of those times being a staight on run into the tree to try to help steer his buggy because it had a rediculously terrible turning radius. Maybe that is why no broken birfields, the wheels harldy steer on those buggys. Good thing back ups don't cost you points in the staging areas, because both buggys had to make 5+ point turns to line up to the gates.

If they had any courses that required maneuvering like the staging areas did, then Ken Blume would have taken the win easily.

OK rant off.

Sean

Originally posted by 350Samurai

I think I have seen this truck you are talking about in Aetna one year. Is it running a big block with about a 160" wheelbase and a narrowed Samurai body where the passenger sits behind and above the driver?
If that is the one he had little trouble running the power line trails, with the steep hillclimbs.

Not that one. This one had a full sammy bodywith the rear fenderwells cut out for some extra clearance. It was a blue sammy with bright green wheels. This truck had about 135 or so wheelbase and was running an 11.5:1 383 with propane. Jummy's sammy did better than the one your talking about. That narrowed sammy body did look cool though :-)

Station Wrote
Man, Some of those other rides would have been allot more fun to watch!! I don't know who designed the chassis, but seriously both of those buggys were dang ugly.

The older guy driving the buggy with 9" rear is an Idiot who should not be allowed to compete if the thinks running direclty head on into trees is cool. He ran into the same tree 3-4 times with the second of those times being a staight on run into the tree to try to help steer his buggy because it had a rediculously terrible turning radius. Maybe that is why no broken birfields, the wheels harldy steer on those buggys. Good thing back ups don't cost you points in the staging areas, because both buggys had to make 5+ point turns to line up to the gates.

If they had any courses that required maneuvering like the staging areas did, then Ken Blume would have taken the win easily.

OK rant off.

Sean

I agree, they are ugly, I did not design them, just helped build them. They were designed as they were built, and were laid out on a cement slab outside, kind of well, I think this tube should go here...For what he made them to do, they work well, but they are not comp buggy's. They were made to climb, not rockcrawl

Joe is definitely an idiot, he just likes rolling over, and drinking a bunch of liquid courage. I was not there this weekend, but from what I have heard, he was drinking beer out of a cup and was three sheets by the time he competed. I tried to tell jimmy, welded is fine to play with, but to compete you really need to be able to steer... This comp looked like it was basically in a straight line. The one at erocc was much better, and there is no way a welded front dif is useable with how tight the course is..