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Photos and Article by Kimber Rau
Edited by Randy Wheeler
Rock'n The Ranch
The finale for the CalRocs season was the last chance for many to qualify for the first annual Super Crawl. In the weeks preceding the Donner event, internet bulletin boards and chat rooms were full of talk from competitors that were taking roll call across the States to see who was going to be there in an effort to gauge the likelihood of placing in the top 10 and earn the sought after honor of being worthy. Upon arrival to the Friday night inspection area, it was plain to see that even though many had already earned their place on the roster for this heralded “World Championship”, the fear of cataclysmic breakage preventing them from competing in the big event a mere two weeks away did not keep them from showing up and trying to garner enough points to put them on top of the points race for the CalRocs series. As impressive as those that were on hand to risk desolation to a good year’s run was, equally notable were those who took the weekend off to insure their rig was ready for the “Big One” in Farmington, New Mexico.
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Competition started Saturday morning with the obligatory drivers meeting and last minute preparations by the teams and the event organizers. Rich Klein had found an amazing mountainside for Bob Roggy to work his evil ways with in designing the courses that would serve as site for the weekend’s havoc. As spectator barrier tape and course cones were being set-up, the crowd was welcomed via a radio frequency broadcast from the announcer’s booth atop the stunning Donner Lake granite hillside. With the courses being set so far up the hillside, CalRocs had even provided two shuttle vans courtesy of Thompsons Car & Auto Center to help keep traffic off the dirt road and out of the way of competitors and pedestrians, not to mention, reduce the amount of spectator suffering from the grueling walk up the mountain to the various obstacles. Those of a hardier physical condition faithfully trudged up the hill stopping from time to time to gasp for oxygen and rest their leg muscles.
As an appetizer for the spectators and a foretaste of what they would find behind the trees and at a higher elevation, the volunteer crew had set the first course just inside the entry gates. Here they could take perch on a series of hay bales and watch as team after team of drivers, spotters, and rigs attempted to traverse a man enhanced course that had large boulders craftily tossed into a natural run-off trough to thwart the most aggressive of competitors. This course while looking meek and mild proved that looks can be deceiving as it challenged crowd favorites to bring forth their most technical skills to conquer the pitfalls and rolling rocks it put before them.
After making the journey up to the main competition area, it was difficult to follow the action. As soon as you got to the scene of one crowd pleasing competitor, there was another roar of approval from beyond sight and a hike away. Many chose to spectate from one particular vantage point while still others tried to follow a favorite. No matter which course you were at or what competitor you followed however, your wait would be rewarded by an amazing feet of some form or fashion. For instance, you could have followed Kelly Clifford and seen the first roll of the event or later, on another course, her spellbinding success at grenading the famed CTM u-joint! Or if you were of the wandering persuasion, perhaps you got to take in Chris Durham’s skillful traversing of a crevice that swallowed many others who ventured forth. Moving on to yet another course set you up to see Walker Evans showing that he does “earn” his place in the sport of Rock Crawling by flashing his suspensions flexibility and stuff-ability.
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Being no stranger to crowd pleasing, the Stock Class wasn’t going to let the “Big Boys” have all the cheers. Cody Waggoner from Capistrano Beach, with his Dad (Jim) as his spotter, put up one impressive fight to concur the courses on the first days qualifying. Not to be out done, fellow Stocker, in the Currie built Rocky Road Jeep, showed what 4-wheelin finesse is all about as he walked through some of the obstacles laid before him.
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If you have a taste for front and rear steer theatrics, there was plenty of that to be seen. Watching competitors, like Jeremy Faber, well versed in the capabilities of this handy tool maneuver around cones that would otherwise meet their demise wedged between meaty rubber tread and Donner granite is amazing. While having a vehicle that can tip-toe around point robbing hazards is a sight to see, witnessing the last ditch maneuvering of a non-rear steer equipped team is well worth the cost of admission as well.
One of the courses for the weekend that was “The Unconquered” for quite some time was dominated by the likes of Chris Durham in his usual show stopping, hammer down, who gives a rock fashion. It mattered not what side of this obstacle you were on, front or back, you got to see Chris launch into the air several times as he cleared the top, after trying to do so with both sides on the granite surface at one point or another. A handful of others also made it over this wall of pain and destruction, such as Scott Lentz in “Brutus”, Brent Bradshaw in his 8 wheeled orange “Crustacean”.
The courses had so much carnage and time delays on the first day that several of the competitors didn’t have time to get all 6 of their required qualifying courses in by sunset the first day. To ensure they had the chance to go on to the final rounds, the CalRocs Official set an “Oh-dark-thirty” start time for those who needed to finish up. Unlike the pristine beauty of the first day, Mother Nature decided to test the endurance of everyone that showed up on her mountain that day with staggeringly low temps, wind chill and cloud cover. Add the early start into the equation and the hike up the hill to the course sites was a much needed body temperature elevator!
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Despite the prevailing weather conditions they did show up to compete. They also put on one heck of a show! It wasn’t long before the snap of CTM’s breaking, wheel stands being averted and near, as well as completed, rollovers leaving the masses roaring with enthusiasm had the cold temps at the back of our minds. Once again the CalRocs crew had the Stock Class chomping on the courses that the other two classes had qualified on from the previous day, as their finale. In the meantime, the Pro-Modified and Open/Unlimited were faced with 4 all new courses to scratch their way through and gain the top spots for the event.
Once again Boggy Roggy’s courses kept the crowds cheering and roaring as the competitors gave their all to conquer the courses he had laid out. Whether it was Jay Standish’s flawless run through the course that had many after him grasping futilely for traction or Chris Durhams incomprehensible flop and subsequent recovery to finish the course within scoring criteria, the “Big Dawg” divisions gave the crowd their moneys worth. Fellow Stock Division teams, Ron Kirby/Jeff Fretwell and Phil “Voodoo”Pasciak”/Jeff Michalak made sure they put up a show to rival the theatrics that were happening on other courses as they flaunted maneuvering skills and sheer fun factors of competing in this sport.
To see the dedication to this sport that is sweeping the nation, you only had to watch Dustin Webster and his Red Bull sponsored rig, complete any course. Look closer and you would see the cast on his left leg. Crowd comments ranged from “That’s just crazy” to “Wow, he’s tough!” Perhaps it was a little of both, but regardless, it stems from a love and dedication to the sport. Then to add sportsmanship into the mix, you get to see competitive rivals spooling out a winch cable, breaking out tools or spare parts and event loaning out spotters when another rival team needed it.
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As for the always spectacular, yet brutal probability of carnage, it too showed up for the festivities. From the multiple CTM eruptions, rollovers and shifters giving way to breakage, this sport has its pitfalls. Most of the teams had there rigs repaired and back on the courses in short order. If they were missing the necessary parts or pieces to continue, another team often would pillage their own parts stock to lend a hand.
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We are happy to report that the injury list was short and all are recovering well. All ambulance trips resulted in appropriate care and continued recovery for even one of the toughest ladies of the sport, Kelly Clifford. Her illness, not related to competition, is no match for her will to compete again. We are confident that we will see Kelly back behind the wheel soon.
My nephew, Zachary (aka “ZAFR”), told me with all his 4 year old wisdom, “The one with all the tires was going to win!” For a rookie attending his first competition, he shows an intuitive knowledge that will be rivaled by none. He was right. Every team that finished in the top 5 places for each division did indeed have “all” their tires. In fact even those that took top honors for the series seemed to have the same characteristic. ZAFR is all knowing.
Roc’n The Ranch Winners
Stock Class
1. Jason Scherer2. Kevin Hawkins
3. Cody Waggoner
4. Ron Kirby
5. Phil Pasciak
Pro Mod Class
1. Chris Durham
2. Mike Schaffer
3. Jason Bunch
4. Jay Standish
5. Troy Faber
Unlimited Class
1. Tracy Jordon
2. Bryan Bonnett
3. Scott Lentz
4. Brent Bradshaw
5. Bill Rowlette
CalRocs Series Finalists
Stock Class
1. Kevin Hawkins
2. Cody Waggoner
3. Ron Kirby
4. Jeff Mello
5. Jason Scherer
Pro Mod Class
1. Walker Evans
2. Troy Faber
3. Jason Bunch
4. Chris Durham
5. Terry Scheets
Unlimited Class
1. Tracy Jordan
2. Bill Rowlette
3. Scott Lentz
4. Tony Kasabasich
5. Don Robbins
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