Winning the Modified Stock class is an unsung glory, and is done in rigs on 35-inch tires built in a more real world style than those in the Legends or Super Modified class. This aluminum-bodied Jeep was driven by Dan Patterson, and not only did it take the First Place trophy, it also demonstrated excellent driver and spotter skills between Patterson and his spotter Bob Roggy. Check out that muddy climb and stack of pipes and try and tell us you wouldn't love to have that in your backyard.Winning the Modified Stock class is an unsung glory, and is done in rigs on 35-inch tires Imagine a concrete skate park where punk kids with baggy pants scoot around on wooden boards with little wheels. Multiply the park by 10, give the punk kids 10 to 30 years and turn those boards into conglomerations of tube, tires, and revving motors. Now you know what we saw in Ohio last fall. The World Extreme Rockcrawling Championship series (W.E.ROCK) Grand National championship event was held at The Roc off-road park in Columbus Ohio, and it was pretty dang cool, to put it bluntly. This isn't the first man-made rockcrawling course, but it is the coolest we've seen so far. Instead of the half pipes you or your kids used to ride, imagine full pipes up to 12 feet in diameter and nearly 60 feet in length. Plus there were stacks of pipes, concrete slabs, and rock all assembled and then sprayed with layers of concrete, forming obstacles with tons of different lines. Once again the father-and-son team of Big Rich and Little Rich Klein and their gang of judges and support staff put on a top-notch event with courses that not only pushed the skill and nerves of the competitors, but also gave the crowd (albeit small due to rainy weather) an exciting show. Think you're ready to test the cones and concrete in your rockmobile? You can find W.E.ROCK at www.we-rock.cc or call 530.417.5333. And if you want to go test The Roc yourself visit www.theroc4x4.com, or call 614.497.0756 and find out when the next open house is. Jesse Haines and Brian Howard took this simple front-engine buggy built at Badlands machine shop and whooped the competition in the Super Modified class with clean runs and excellent team work. We dig the flat olive drab and black paint, not to mention the front- and rear-steer Dana 60s. Sorry, but chrome's for Truckin' magazine.Jesse Haines and Brian Howard took this simple front-engine buggy built at Badlands machin So you think competition rockcrawling demands a high-dollar rig? We're not going to say it's free, but if you're ingenious like Randy Torbett and Eric Nixon, you'll build something with stuff no one considered cool, and show folks what you got. This buggy runs a 4.3L GM V-6 and tractor axles, and it's been working so well that Lovell Engineering got them to help test a new transfer case that is in the works. Stay tuned for the full story.So you think competition rockcrawling demands a high-dollar rig? We're not going to say it This is what Editor Rick Pewe has been calling for since competition rockcrawling started-man-made urban off-roading at its best. Keep the competitors and spectators together on property that the greenies won't raise a fuss about so wild wheeling trails don't get shut down due to competitive events. Concrete, pipes, and rock all mixed together into one big kids' playground. The Roc usually has one open house every few months for the public to come and try the courses as well, so give them a call if you are in Ohio.This is what Editor Rick Pewe has been calling for since competition rockcrawling started- One of the coolest things we've ever seen in a rockcrawling competition was this bonus line where drivers who could go inside a 12-foot diameter pipe, turn around inside, and drive out the same end they came in to get extra points.One of the coolest things we've ever seen in a rockcrawling competition was this bonus lin Many attempted, but only Bruce Zeller (the Buggy with Mad magazine's Alfred E Newman) figured it out in his rear engine moon buggy, and he didn't even have rear steer.Many attempted, but only Bruce Zeller (the Buggy with Mad magazine's Alfred E Newman) figu Driver Kim Sears and spotter Nathaniel Sears of Rock Out Racing were not afraid to attack obstacles with some right-foot finesse, and though it didn't have the results they were hoping for, it did help in getting their Maxxis tire-equipped Jeep some magazine coverage. The Rock Out team ended up in 10th Place in the Modified Legends class.Driver Kim Sears and spotter Nathaniel Sears of Rock Out Racing were not afraid to attack Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
