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We dont usually get so lucky as to catch a rollover during the Tough Truck races, much less when they come right at us. The stuffed dog hanging out the window got a snout full of dirt, but no one else was seriously injured in this crash. |
The Tough Truck racing is side by side and the trucks cross paths with each other midway through the course at this location. This hard-charging S-10 has some better-than-stock axles and horsepower and is typical of most entrants. Big-buck sponsors still play as hard as beaters for the win. |
Dodge is back into monster trucks in a big way with the Raminator. While side-by-side racing is quick, the real fun is watching the freestyle event. |
The Black Stallion is jumping backward over the dirt, not coming in for a crash landing. |
We really thought this custom rig was an old Datsun, due to the grille and headlight placement. But thankfully, it was an early Bronco with a hand-fabricated grille. We dont know why he chose the import styling, but the rest of the Bronco looked like it could work well on the trail. |
We fell in love with Jerrod Agners M715 with a J10 civilian cab. Even the inside was done up right with the military dash and floor switches, as it should be. We looked for about an hour to find the two batteries, and liked the AMC 360 that had been swapped into it. |
Slinging a bunch of mud on the NMRO-sanctioned track is always a sight, but this flatfender blew its lid at the green light. We usually get pelted by mud when the paddles start churning, but this time we swear we had flaming lifters raining down on us. |
The majority of fairground showings are custom trucks, even though none of them could match this Chevy for all-out show-truck status. We swear that the bed would probably dance to the thumping stereo if the right wires were crossed. |
When was the last time you drove your Bronco around with the windshield off? We dug this styling Ford, as did the riders. Most people cruise the fairgrounds for hours by foot or vehicle, just looking at what the show has to offer in vehicles, food, and people. Plenty of vendors are ensconced at the manufacturers midway, giving great deals on tires, parts, and stereos. |
The spring season marks the beginning of the 4-Wheel Jamboree series, and we snuck out of the office in May to the Lima, Ohio, event for a look at monster trucks, Tough Truck racing, and a field of readers rigs polished and primed for summer. This State Fairtype of event for 4x4 owners brings scores of show trucks, real wheelin rigs, monster trucks, NMRO mud racers, and Tough Truck competitors to one area for a grand time. If it werent for the record-breaking cold temperatures we encountered this year, we may have stuck around for some trail rides, but sandals and snow arent a happy combination.
Regardless of the weather, these shows bring out more spruced-up trucks and custom creations than we ever see out west. Even though some of them neglected to hook up the front driveshaft, the awesome amount of work these talented owners have put into their rides is amazing. The professional competitors were the magnet to the grandstands. Mud drags and exhibition cycle jumping kept the crowds attention, and monster trucks jumping backwards ensured carnage on the racetrack. For more information on this years series of 4x4 happenings, contact Family Events at 317/236-6522 or on the Web at www.familyevents.com.