Road to the Hammers by Larry Gipson in Seattle

[DoveTail96]

Larry Gipson's ROAD TO THE HAMMERS STORY

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Well for all the work that has been done by everybody involved in my build I hope that we atleast finish. SO FAR this is the story. It is terribly un-edited and I am sorry for this.



So before I know it I am buying and selling Toyota trucks, bought my 04 Dodge Cummins 4x4, then traveled to Ca and bought the 2002 Ultimate Adventure Tacoma that you all may know as "booger welds and bilsteins". I wheeled it a few times finding out very quickly that a open cockpit is not the way to go in washington. I was told by a friend that there were tough truck events coming up that had jumps and obstacles. Well that was right up my alley with my previous motocross background.Traveling to this event I find it to be a miserable mudfest. In practice I get stuck in a mudhole because I had lost a driveflange at some point Well there was a rock pit there that was 20x90' long that everyone was crawling through. I hit that jump in front of it as fast as that little LC22R would go with the rocks flying under me at 20-30mph. WOW that was easy I thought. Well the second time I hit the massive pile. The front diff ended up striking a bolder and flipping my buggy. This event generated the largest crowd response of the day from what I have been told. There is a video on Youtube under Larry Gipson. Anyways that was the start for me.

I had been hounding the Myspace page of Crawl Magazine's Brandon Foster--who I did not know--to come cover these redneck Washington events. He didn't write me back for some time but then when I told him that wanted to build a truck for the Top truck challange he responded with "what are you going to do with your old rig?" "I might have something I want you to do. There is a race that we are putting on in California called the King of the Hammers. I will see if I can get you in" well I had heard of this mythical place called the Hammers from Crash and my other friends here in Washington. Nasty place, with many trails I had been told. Awhile later he writes me and says I am in. He "the owner of Crawl magazine" had one choice, and that was a young kid with fire in his eyes from his home town. So that was last September. My buggy is in no shape to go against the best rock racers in the country I told him. So he sets me up with Patrick of Those Guys rod and customs in Bremerton,Wa. He was building a engine cover for Brandon's new Jeep. I went and met Patrick with anticipation. Here it is the start of fall and this guy is wearing shorts in a metal fab shop. Surrounded with trucks and cars including the Crawl cover Jeepster.We look over my buggy and he tells me to bring it by in a month. well when I drop it off he decided that there is not much worth saving on this garage built hero other then the coilovers. He and I decide to start building a new rock racer chassis that will accept the same Tacoma skins that were on my old ride.

So began the adventure in October. Patrick asked me to fly down to the Pomona 4x4 expo. I did and got to the airport finding that my car I reserved was not available and I was 15 miles away from Partrick. So he sends his wife to retrieve me. Frustrated as I was, she was all smiles and happy which was a relief to me. We got lost traveling back to the hotel where Patrick was at. We picked up a cast of characters that were at the bar close to the expo. In the truck climbs the guy making it all happen for me Brandon and then there is Ian from Xtreme 4x4 tv. This is someone I have been watching all the time. I was with the X girlfriend that thought my dream was a waste of time. Well I was living it. We all had dinner at red Robin with Jeff,Dave,Ian,Pat,Tim,Tom,Brandon and a the Rock-Wear crew. sitting there thinking wow what a chance in a lifetime to be sitting here among monsters in the industry. They all are talking of the Hammers and I am sitting there eves dropping which I got busted for. Brandon tells dave that I needed an answer whether I was in or not and I thought I was in but the choice was really Dave Cole's to make. Well with some persuation I was in for sure.

So I stay up all night building my little profile packets to hand out to vendors the next day. Brandon takes me around to some different people and tells them who I am and what I am doing. I recieve a mixed response as I am new and never done any of this before. Being fairly good at talking to people I go home with a good feeling. Several sponsors wanting to work with me and be involved in the article that Crawl will be running on me, "the average Larry" young kid thats chasing his dream to race trucks for a living. well atleast race trucks period. I live to go fast and take chances. If there is a pile of rocks that cannot be crawled I look to jump, a chance to pass a truck with a half second before you hit a rock wall I will take it. I am not scared of any other driver and will go as fast as I can with Alan flueger's words in my head that you have to know when to let off a little, and that slower is faster sometimes. With the right mindset you can do anything. I hope I get the chance to help out a young man like myself, that just needs a chance someday. So in the past two months I have sold most of the trucks I collected the past year for a profit and spend everything I had and a lot on the plastic on this new truck Patrick is crafting for me. it is a work of art and thanks to my sponsors this is happening for me. You will not find a racer out there that is competing in the King of the Hammers that has more desire and drive then I do. I will be on the lakebed as equals to the best in the world and they should know that I will be bringin da heat! I will do anything to win and I'm almost as excited to sit around the campfire with these guys and hear their stories as the night passes by. My trip with Bobby Long and Odie to the Hammers during Thanksgiving was one of the most memorable times of my life and I can't wait to do it again in that beautiful desolate place called the Hammers.
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Ya--but I think he's going to get us both killed--no better way to go"Crash"

Dear Crash....it's been nice knowing you..R.I.P.

What the hell were you thinking!!?? have you seen Larry drive?? "Odie"

[samota87]

You have way to much time on your hands....

[megatoy66]

I will tell you this............YOU ARE DETERMINED!!
Good luck with your dream Larry, don't give up.
Odie.

[samota87]

Originally Posted by megatoy66

I will tell you this............YOU ARE DETERMINED!!
Good luck with your dream Larry, don't give up.
Odie.

This is true...... he might not have a house to come home to and might be in dept for 20 years but aleast he is going to run the hammers.

Good luck larry....if i make it down for koh ill help you out when im there.

[ZukIzzy]

You sure take the long road. I just go up 247 and turn right on Boone rd.

Good luck Larry don't hurt yourself or anybody else.

Wayne

[DoveTail96]

We will see how the dust settles come 2/22/08 I edited my post as it was found to be unedited and offesive to some of our Pirate friends. Please do not mistake me for not knowing when to appriciate something. I was and am sponsored for racing dirtbikes and my attitude and drive are how I was accepted and supported so well in the sport.

[cactuscj]

well at least you will have a good long speech prepared for last place

[samota87]

Originally Posted by DoveTail96

We will see how the dust settles come 2/22/08

You better do really good with how much hype you bring to the table........Id say just be quiet from here on out and see what happens at the end.

[DoveTail96]

In none of the posts I have written never have I said I was going to do well or win for that matter. I only say what I have done in the past and that is the only thing that it is. THE PAST. I will be there hoping to do well and atleast finish the thing all the while not getting either of us killed. So I will just see ya'll down there.

[shoyrtt]

If you mention a video, at least give the people a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R7wFZYiivo

[Jeff Knoll]

I enjoy it. The kid has passion. We need a long shot. Long shot Larry!

[cactuscj]

Originally Posted by DoveTail96

Larry Gipson's ROAD TO THE HAMMERS STORY

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I will be on the lakebed as UNEQUALS to the best in the world and they should know that I will be bringin da COFFEE AND DONUTS! - long shot larry

there ya go!

[DoveTail96]

I will have to remember to bring some donuts for sure. You guys have any funny words for me like "long shot" underdog" coffee boy.. Something funny to put on the back of my buggy that way when you get passed by me you know for sure who it was?

[cactuscj]

hey man, way to take it all in stride!

[ZukIzzy]

Originally Posted by DoveTail96

I will have to remember to bring some donuts for sure. You guys have any funny words for me like "long shot" underdog" coffee boy.. Something funny to put on the back of my buggy that way when you get passed by me you know for sure who it was?

Dude if you just put "Long Shot Larry" on there we will all know. Good luck you have a great attitude about it. No dancing though please.

wayne

[Big Rich]

Originally Posted by DoveTail96

sitting here among monsters in the industry.

This is a classic line, Not how I would put it, but you've got to love it


Larry, good luck and keep living the dream....We all are

Big Rich

[Goatman]

Larry, there's a few more of us first time competitor's in this race. Good luck to you and to the rest of us. You at least have competition experience in another area, I have none. But, I've been rockcrawling, putting together events, and running the Hammers for many years. We'll see how we stack up against the big name boys, it will be fun.

20 some miles of rough crawling is much different than the short courses of competition, it will be a challenge for every rig and every driver. Preparation, durability, good judgement, and good luck will be key factors.

I need to get back to the long list of things yet to do to get ready.

[DoveTail96]

Well I am glad I am not the only one running this thing. Also glad that everyone is still working on their junk. RJ is getting new housings. Another fella is getting a whole mess of stuff.. WELL all the parts for mine are on the way now so we will see. Here is a picture.

[samota87]

Originally Posted by DoveTail96

Well I am glad I am not the only one running this thing. Also glad that everyone is still working on their junk. RJ is getting new housings. Another fella is getting a whole mess of stuff.. WELL all the parts for mine are on the way now so we will see. Here is a picture.

Looking good larry......You picked one of the best guys to work on it. Mine will be there next weekend for some of his excellent tube work. Im excited to see what he comes up with for the tubing on my sami.

[DoveTail96]

I wanted to say thanks to all of the sponsors that have helped me along this road.

Those Guys Rod and Customs
Pitbull tires
Spidertrax Axles
Randy's Ring and Pinion
T-Maxx Winches
PSC Steering
Powertank
Longfield Axle
ARB
Stak 4x4
JB-Conversions
PRP Seats
F.O.A. coilovers
Trail-Gear
Winchline Viking offroad
Advance Adapters
Ballistic Fabrication
Dirty Dan's Tranz
RacerX Motorsports
12Voltguy.com
Jim's Performance
Rod End Supply

Without the help of these companies my truck would have only been a idea.

[samota87]

Originally Posted by DoveTail96

I wanted to say thanks to all of the sponsors that have helped me along this road.

Those Guys Rod and Customs
Pitbull tires
Spidertrax Axles
Randy's Ring and Pinion
T-Maxx Winches
PSC Steering
Powertank
Longfield Axle
ARB
Stak 4x4
JB-Conversions
PRP Seats
F.O.A. coilovers
Trail-Gear
Winchline Viking offroad
Advance Adapters
Ballistic Fabrication
Dirty Dan's Tranz
RacerX Motorsports
12Voltguy.com
Jim's Performance
Rod End Supply

Without the help of these companies my truck would have only been a idea.

You also forgot one very big sponsor.........VISA

[pbmcauliffe]

^^^^ Now that's funny

[DoveTail96]

I have paid cash for a little less then half of this build so far and the rest will be paid off when my old buggy sells

[DoveTail96]

Anybody readin this thr ead know about LS1's more then we do? Any info on these engines and tricks,tips, anything for them is appriciated. I heard there are oiling issues with them in another thread. Possible windage tray items that need to be addressed.

[Longfield]

Looks good Larry, and good luck.