This is the new sweetness, the latest trend, the hot ticket, the game all the cool kids are playing. This is rock racing. Take one part rockcrawling, two parts motocross, three parts desert racing, and four parts tough trucks, mix it all together on a closed course on private property, and drop the flag. It's a simple contest, two side-by-side tracks outlined by banners where two buggies or Jeeps face off, but each driver races the clock. Yes, there are cones, but not the tight, narrow technical cones found in a rockcrawl. These cones are a good 15 to 20 feet apart because it's the fastest one to the end who wins. We caught up with the finals of the X-treme Rock Racing Association (XRRA) outside of Colorado Springs last fall and found it to be one of the most exciting new motorsports happening. Of course we love old-school rockcrawling, but this is different. By adding the time/speed element the action is more visceral and the carnage more extreme. It's not uncommon to see one or both buggies on their roof per run, and all this action quickly brings the crowd to their feet. We're sure the damage list and costs only increase as the speed does, so rock racing isn't for everyone, but it's currently the hottest young thing out there and we hope to see it stick around. Find out next year's XRRA schedule at www.xrra.com. This is what it's all about in rock racing. Full-throttle assault resulting in tires off the ground and fans going wild.This is what it's all about in rock racing. Full-throttle assault resulting in tires off t Mike Cox was driving the Sam's Off Road rock racer and having a good run at it before an endo sent him to the showers. This unique ride is based off a sprint-car chassis with a stout small-block up front and Dana 60s sprung with Rancho coilover shocks. We especially like the fully plumbed fire-suppression system to protect the driver and vehicle should a blaze break out since getting out of the buggy quickly when fully harnessed in is not always easy.Mike Cox was driving the Sam's Off Road rock racer and having a good run at it before an e Even though the courses are run side by side with two vehicles leaving the starting line at the same instant, each driver is actually racing the clock to get the best time. The total of all times is added up and the lowest number wins the whole shebang. Of course running two trucks at once also creates a more exciting event to watch.Even though the courses are run side by side with two vehicles leaving the starting line a The Lovell racing team is known in the rockcrawling world, and with their home base right around the corner in Colorado Springs, they couldn't miss this chance to bring out their comp rig and run some laps. In the end, they came away with Eighth Place with their Fabtech Rock Ranger.The Lovell racing team is known in the rockcrawling world, and with their home base right Shannon Campbell makes his living building rock buggies and made his name driving them. From back in the day when he drove in the Four Wheeler Top truck Challenge with a pink Jeep up through the years of desert racing and rockcrawling, Shannon has always had a heavy right foot, so it's no surprise that he ended up in a rock racer and came home with both the weekend event title and the season championship points.Shannon Campbell makes his living building rock buggies and made his name driving them. Fr The other great thing about rock racing is that it's almost more applicable to a wider group of competitors. Almost any guy with a trail rig could come out and play. Of course not everyone would be competitive all the time, but having wide-open courses with big climbs, steep descents, and banked curves mixed in allows a variety of vehicles an opportunity to show off.The other great thing about rock racing is that it's almost more applicable to a wider gro The cool part of rock racing is the variety of terrain-from mud holes to loose dirt climbs to big boulder fields-it's always a test for driver and machine. This Poison Spyder Customs buggy driven by Aaron Dusenbery is outfitted with a rotary engine, custom flipped 9-inch axles, and KMC wheels.The cool part of rock racing is the variety of terrain-from mud holes to loose dirt climbs Ryan Pierce and his copilot showed up with what we can only refer to as a tetanus shot waiting to happen. We've seen some pretty ratty rigs show up at trail rides, but it takes true guts to show up to a competition-where some buggies run in the over $50,000 range-with your battered old Jeep held together with pieces of chain, and take a run for the money. Big props, guys. Way to keep it real.Ryan Pierce and his copilot showed up with what we can only refer to as a tetanus shot wai Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
