Serious Southern Rock-Racing Showdown

131 1302 01 Serious Southern Rock Racing Showdown Green Tube Buggy Climbing Hill

Rock bouncing is becoming more popular, especially in the Southeast. It’s all about big horsepower, big tires, and big air. These rock-bouncing tube buggies are purpose-built to do just that: bounce. They are generally 500 hp or more and built with bombproof drivetrains to withstand launching into the air off of rock ledges and such.

Capture the excitement of rock bouncing in an organized racing environment and you’ve got the Southern Rock Racing Series (SRRS). The SRRS began after seeing these drivers launch up trail obstacles at full throttle in an attempt not only to climb the obstacle but to do so in a fast and spectacular fashion.

131 1302 02 Serious Southern Rock Racing Showdown Adam Adairs Buggy Climbing Hill

After competing in the first two SRRS events and getting a DNF each time, Adam Adair put on his game face for the finals. He was able to lay down the fastest time on Course 1 and tie for the overall win for the day in his Mini Monster.

After competing in the first two SRRS events and getting a DNF each time, Adam Adair put o

The SRRS is a “run what ya brung” grassroots-stlye racing event. An element of showmanship is also prevalent—think Monster Jam meets hillclimbing. These guys love to put on a show. The SRRS consists of four races at four off-road parks around the Southeast. The rules are simple: The fastest rig to the top wins. No penalties, just a simple DNF if you roll over or time out. Courses are short hillclimbs and are electronically timed with lasers for precision.

This race at Superlift Adventure Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, marked the final event of the season. The outcome of the race would determine the series winner and who would walk away with $10,000 as well as the title of Southern Rock Racing Champion.

It’s all about big horsepower, big tires, and big air. These rock-bouncing tube buggies are purpose-built to do just that: bounce”

131 1302 03 Serious Southern Rock Racing Showdown Rick Muns Posion Spyder Buggy

Rick Muns recently acquired a Poison Spyder Bruiser chassis and made it a point to find all the weak links as efficiently as possible. He now knows he needs to redesign his front and rear four-link suspension.

Rick Muns recently acquired a Poison Spyder Bruiser chassis and made it a point to find al

Rock bouncing is arguably one of the most brutal types of off-roading. With the amount of horsepower these buggies produce and the driving style they are subjected to, stuff breaks often. Parts that were considered unbreakable shatter when these drivers are at the wheel. The sport is evolving quickly and is pushing hard for the innovation of better and stronger parts.

Manufacturers are working hard to design new parts that will survive the abuse. RCV Performance, for instance, has been working with Jordan Tanner on a new larger CV bell and true 40-spline 300M axleshafts. Technology and parts from other forms of motorsports are being integrated into these rock-bounce buggies as well. For example, plan to see buggies with SCS straight-drive transfer cases from the monster truck industry hitting the trails soon.

131 1302 04 Serious Southern Rock Racing Showdown Hillbilly Deluxe Buggy

Affectionately named Hillbilly Deluxe, Justin Tune’s rig was built by Smith Motorsports in Chattanooga and was sent out to Missouri, where he quickly adopted the Southern full-throttle, hill-killing driving style. Tune runs custom GM 14-bolt axles front and rear on 43-inch competition compound TSL SXs.

Affectionately named Hillbilly Deluxe, Justin Tune’s rig was built by Smith Motorsports in

Thirty competitors signed up for this event from all around the country. Not all competitors were the typical rock-bouncer type. Some Ultra4 desert race–style cars, some trail buggies, and even a W.E.Rock-style rockcrawler ran this event. The series points leader was Peter Basler in his BTF buggy. He took the lead in points early when he made a strategic decision at the first event and kept that lead throughout the rest of the season. Bobby Tanner was close on Basler’s heels all season driving the ColeWorx-built rock bouncer buggy Screamin’ Blue.

The first year of SRRS went better than the promoters expected. The series is quickly gaining popularity and fans. They are busy working on new ideas to improve the series next year. Be sure to check out more online at www.southernrockracing.com and Superlift ORV park at www.orvpark.com.

Disco Derek West signed up for some bouncin’ in his Jimmy’s 4x4 Ultra4 car. It would not be very surprising to see more Ultra4 racers wanting to enter SRRS next year. West broke a ring-and-pinion early, which ended his day.
Disco Derek West signed up for some bouncin’ in his Jimmy’s 4x4 Ultra4 car. It would not b
You might think the color pink on a mean-looking buggy like this is odd, but not when it’s driven by 21-year-old Shelby Tanner. Her Smith Motorsports buggy is powered by a Ford 351 V-8 on propane, and it never missed a lick as she throttled up each course.
You might think the color pink on a mean-looking buggy like this is odd, but not when it’s
Ken Blume took his W.E.Rock purpose-built rockcrawler to see what it would do in the SRRS world. He made some clean runs in his very capable lightweight buggy, but he just didn’t have the horsepower and speed to finish among the fastest times.
Ken Blume took his W.E.Rock purpose-built rockcrawler to see what it would do in the SRRS

Arguably one of the most exciting drivers in rock bouncing is Bobby Tanner. His “never lift” driving style is good for a show but is really rough on equipment. The guys at ColeWorx dropped in a fresh 388 small-block stroker with Dart heads and Big Stuff fuel injection. The result was a sheared rear output shaft on the Atlas transfer case.
Arguably one of the most exciting drivers in rock bouncing is Bobby Tanner. His “never lif
“Nothing runs like a Deere.” Richie Keith is a farmer with countless green and yellow tractors in use, so a John Deere–themed buggy was only appropriate. Definitely a crowd favorite, he used every bit of his Dart small-block’s 755 hp to climb the bonus Showtime Hill, but the top section proved too steep and loose for the 44-inch cut TSLs.
“Nothing runs like a Deere.” Richie Keith is a farmer with countless green and yellow trac
Cole Shirley had Jim’s Garage build this LS-powered JK buggy a few years ago, but his wife, Lori, quickly commandeered it to race the entire SRRS season. With a 6.0L LS motor, CTM 300M axleshafts, and 39-inch BFG competition compound Krawlers, she had no trouble putting down some very competitive times.
Cole Shirley had Jim’s Garage build this LS-powered JK buggy a few years ago, but his wife

Perhaps one of the most inspiring drivers is Randall Key in his buggy Blaze. He attends most events around the Southeast and competes among the top drivers in the SRRS, all while driving with hand controls. Blaze sits on 21⁄2-ton Rockwell axles and has a dialed-in 5.7L GM engine.
Perhaps one of the most inspiring drivers is Randall Key in his buggy Blaze. He attends mo
Rollovers are common in this type of event. Joe Lawson, owner of Dirty Turtle Offroad Park, took a bad bounce that sent him rolling down the hill, and then caught fire when fluids got on the hot exhaust. It was nothing a fire extinguisher and a highly motivated man with a tree branch couldn’t handle.
Rollovers are common in this type of event. Joe Lawson, owner of Dirty Turtle Offroad Park
A 60-degree dirt hill with a 4-foot-tall ledge makes for a bad combination. Brandon Dillon assaulted Showtime Hill full throttle. The cut 44-inch Goodyear Turf tires on the rear hooked in the dirt, which unfortunately sent him hard into the ledge. He took two end-over-end rolls back down to the bottom, but Dillon and his rig survived just fine.
A 60-degree dirt hill with a 4-foot-tall ledge makes for a bad combination. Brandon Dillon

Peter Basler took the overall series win in his Blue Torch Fab–built Ultra4 buggy. Basler’s 600-plus-horsepower race car runs Spidertrax Spider-9 fabricated axlehousings front and rear. He had Blue Torch Fab in Birmingham, Alabama, install a new 10-inch ring gear Spidertrax front axle just for this event because he kept breaking 4.10-ratio 9-inch gears.
Peter Basler took the overall series win in his Blue Torch Fab–built Ultra4 buggy. Basler’
Jordan Tanner has earned himself the nickname Air Jordan. His ColeWorx buggy is frequently subjected to full-throttle launches into the air and violent beat-downs, yet always seems to come out unscathed. One of the spectators joked, “Jordan didn’t trailer his buggy here, he flew!”
Jordan Tanner has earned himself the nickname Air Jordan. His ColeWorx buggy is frequently
Another Smith Motorsports chassis that has found its way to the Midwest is Josh Robert’s LS6-powered buggy Snow White. He was one of the few to attempt the bonus climb and was perhaps the closest to making it when he timed out.
Another Smith Motorsports chassis that has found its way to the Midwest is Josh Robert’s L

Youtube Heroes
If you’ve ever seen Southern rock-bouncing videos online, chances are it was a MadRam11 YouTube video. Cole Shirley started that YouTube channel years ago. He has been involved in this type of wheelin’ since the beginning, and his over 50 million video views show it! Check out all the high-flyin’, parts-killin’, Southern wheelin’ action at www.madram11productions.com.

131 1302 17 Serious Southern Rock Racing Showdown Todd Puckett Buggy Roll Over Sequnce One

Todd Puckett took the nastiest roll of the weekend. His supercharged Buick 3600 and cut TSL Boggers were the perfect combination for loose hillclimbing, but then he launched the buggy, took a bad bounce, and went for a wild ride.