One of the best events to watch is the side-by-side course racing. Powering up and over jagged and rain-covered rocks, competitors raced up and back down each lane of the course in hopes of snatching the lowest time.
From the first compression cycle of the engine to the last panic rev right before a rollover, rock racing is one of the most exciting and extreme off-roading spectacles that you will ever see. With the courses designed to challenge the drivers and keep the spectators on their toes, the MOROC extreme off-road racing series is designed to push everything from stock trucks to tube creations to their utmost limits. Though not exactly something you want to drop your daily driver in the midst of, it is an event that you can bring the whole family to watch. By creating a spectator-friendly series, MOROC president Nathan Davis hopes to bring in people from all walks of life to show how these man-made creations match up against the natural challenges of Mother Earth. Recently we got the chance to head out to Superlift ORV Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for one of the MOROC series stops, and after spending some time with the drivers and mixing it up with the crowd, one thing was certain, these events are not only exciting for the participants, but the spectators as well. For more information about MOROC and to find an event near you, visit www.moroc-us.com.
Buddy Daugherty is a man that knows how to put on a great show. Though you can usually find his orange Unlimited buggy lifting a wheel or two, you won't find him without a smile on his face. This guy is what rock racing is all about.
Even after multiple rolls, flops, and winch-cable breakage, no one was seriously injured. Each and every vehicle that participates in a MOROC event is required to have a rollcage, and drivers and codrivers are both required to wear helmets and safety harness. This keeps participants safe and our wheeling lands open!
We're suckers for big rigs so when John Loyd rolled out his Vortec-powered Scrambler on 44-inch TSLs, we had to watch. Spinning tires and roaring engines are all part of the MOROC series as the driver with the overall fastest time takes home a new piece of bling for his trophy collection. | 
Sam Patton from Sam's Off Road was on hand in an '06 one-seater Maxim Buggy. Although Sam put on a great show for the crowd, number four got the better of his buggy as it devoured the front pinion yoke blasting up one of the ledges. |
The MOROC series is open to all types of vehicles and build levels. This creates a true drivers' class for participants like Derek Melton and his stock series '89 Jeep Cherokee. | 
When you combine racing and rocks you can expect a fair amount of rollovers and flops. And just because a racer goes over doesn't mean he's out of the race. As long as the driver and codriver can safely right the vehicle in the allotted time, they can keep on racing. This is a great time to make some noise when you're a spectator. |
Though they call it a Jeep Liberty, this racing creation is about as unique as the teen that sits behind the wheel. Yep, that's right. While most 16-year-olds are still learning the basics of keeping your hands at 10 and 2, Levi Shirley is blasting up ledges and making a name for himself as a top-level rock racing competitor. Makes you wonder what kind of big wheel he had growing up? | 
While most of the rock piles would require even a veteran wheeler a minute or two to crawl over, these buggies annihilate them in seconds. This is a testament to how stout these buggies are and the extreme nature of the event. |