War is a dirty business, and when it's a 4x4 war in Cass, Arkansas, it's slop and hop all day long. We hadn't been back to the Ozarks since we covered the Rocktoberfest way back in the late '90s, and couldn't wait to greet the mud, bugs, humidity, and great wheeling that the South is known for. Bob Hazel of Sports In The Rough had told us about this event, and his marketing and promotions director, Heidi Soults, showed us the course and where the best action was to be had. This new event was held at Byrd's Adventure Center, a premier mud arena with a great obstacle course and a big-time rock and boulder course set up by the Rockcrawlers 4x4 Club.
The two-day event only had about a dozen competitors, but the crowd cheered them on through the rocks and slime, making it feel like a much bigger event. The competitors were separated into Modified Stock and Trophy classes. The Trophy class is nearly unlimited, but the 4x4s must have a winch, lockers, and safety equipment. The Modified Stock class is intended for street-legal vehicles staying within the factory design, with a maximum tire diameter of 35 inches, wheelbase within 211/42 inches of stock, and no full hydraulic steering in addition to other requirements and safety equipment. This class can be even more fun to watch than the Trophy class, depending on the obstacle.
With engines singing and tires spinning, the rocks, mud, and bugs of the local trails were churned like butter. Rollovers, side driving, winching, and swearing were some of the highlights, and the entire event was action-packed. For more information on the next 4x4 Wars or any of Bob Hazel's events, visit www.sports-in-the-rough.com or call 800/556-2801.