Conversations with Big Rich
Hear conversations with the legacy stars of rockcrawling and off-road. Big Rich interviews the leaders in rock sports.
From Family-Filled Jeeps to Deadman Off-Road: Bryant White’s Recovery Journey
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Bryant White shares the story of his path from Maryland childhood memories and a career in aerospace engineering to becoming an off-road entrepreneur.
Bryant talks about working on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, relocating his family to San Diego, and discovering the freedom of wheeling in Southern California. He explains how a four-door Jeep Wrangler became a “clown car” for his family of six—and how the challenges of carrying passengers, a dog, and recovery gear inspired a new product...
From Ohio Roots to Rock-Crawling Champion: Matt Dickey’s Off-Road Journey
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Matt Dickey shares the story behind his life in the off-road world. Raised in Ohio and later relocated to Utah, Matt describes how early experiences with four-wheelers, dirt bikes, and muddy farm trails shaped his passion for adventure.
He discusses building a successful framing business from the ground up, the risks and lessons of expanding into multiple businesses, and why hard work, loyalty, and perseverance have guided his career.
Matt also recounts his first unforgettable trip through Moab’s Pritchett Canyon—a ch...
From Street Racing to King of the Hammers: Josh Whitesides’ Off-Road Journey on Episode 341
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Josh Whitesides joins Conversations with Big Rich to share his unconventional path through the automotive and off-road worlds. Growing up around his father’s dealership, Josh developed an early passion for cars, wiring, racing, and anything with a motor.
He discusses his years in car audio, national competitions, high-powered import street racing, and the serious injury that reshaped his life. Josh also recounts discovering off-roading through the Texas Rock Crawlers, building and wiring rigs, and eventually getting involved with Dirt Riot, Ultra4, and King of the Hammers.
The conversation in...
From Rubber Plantations to Off-Road Entrepreneurship with Justin “Aussie” Khoo on Episode 340
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Justin “Aussie” Khoo shares the winding journey that took him from growing up on a Malaysian rubber plantation and swimming competitively in Australia to working in mining, commercial diving, railroading, and the motorcycle industry.
Justin talks about discovering his passion for off-roading, adapting to life in the United States, and returning to the trail through vehicle builds, 12-volt installations, and overlanding adventures. He also recalls guiding Australian filmmakers through California’s Rubicon Trail and introducing them to American off-road culture.
The conver...
Trials build strength in Episode 339 with Sue Lee Bun
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In this inspiring episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Sue Lee Bun shares her remarkable journey from fleeing Laos as a young child to building a life rooted in family, resilience, and the off-road community.
Sue discusses growing up in a large Hmong family, adapting to life in America, overcoming bullying, and balancing cultural traditions with American life. She explains how she and her husband, Chai, discovered off-roading, raised their sons on the trails, and launched Bunn Welders after fellow off-roaders began relying on their trail-side welding expertise.
Sue...
Finding comfort in the chaos, Tom Gattuso, SEMA’s VP of Events on Episode 338
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Tom Gattuso, SEMA’s Vice President of Events, joins Big Rich Klein for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey through automotive events, off-road culture, and the evolution of the SEMA Show.
Gattuso shares stories from growing up near Washington, D.C., touring Europe as a jazz musician, playing varsity football, and developing the improvisational skills that shaped his career. He explains how a bold cross-country move in a ’66 Impala convertible led him from automotive sales into event production.
The discussion explores his years producing auto shows and Off-Road Expo, incl...
Jeff Knoll’s Off-Road Journey on Episode 337
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Jeff Knoll joins Big Rich to share the winding path that took him from a childhood spent riding motorcycles and dune buggies in Southern California to becoming a major figure in off-road racing and land-use advocacy.
Jeff reflects on growing up in Menifee and Glamis, his early experiences at the Boardmanville Trading Post, working through school, starting a family young, and overcoming periods of homelessness. He explains how plumbing, Jeep clubs, rock crawling, and desert racing eventually led to the creation of the California Rock Crawling Association and the early days...
Master Fabber and Rock Bouncing Champion Tim Cameron on Episode 336
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In this episode, Big Rich Klein sits down with rock-bouncing champion Tim Cameron, a Tennessee native whose passion for off-road racing began with four-wheelers, Jeeps, and hill climbs.
Tim shares how he learned fabrication from Brian Cole and built his first full-tube-chassis buggy, Fat Girl. He discusses the evolution of his rigs, including Jenny Craig, Moon Rover, Hellraiser, Showtime, and Game Changer. His innovative use of a ProFab drop box helped redefine rock-bouncer drivetrain design.
The conversation follows Tim’s transition from wild hill climbs to competitive racing. After ex...
Ski Hall of Famer, Glen Plake talks individuality in sports with Big Rich on Episode 335
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Glen Plake joins Big Rich Klein for a wide-ranging conversation about skiing, off-road racing, rock crawling, and the unexpected opportunities that shaped his life.
A member of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, Glen reflects on growing up in South Lake Tahoe, learning to ski at age two, and finding inspiration in the hot-dogging revolution and early ski films. He discusses his iconic mohawk, resisting the pressure to conform, and the importance of individuality in sports.
Glen also shares how family, mechanics, water skiing, and Baja influenced...
Episode 334 features the trusted voice of Keith Purmal
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Big Rich Klein talks with Keith Purmal, a 2025 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee and one of off-road racing’s most trusted voices.
Keith shares stories from growing up in Las Vegas, developing an early interest in electronics and ham radio, and working in communications at Area 51 and Nevada Power Company. His lifelong passion for radio technology eventually connected him with legendary promoter Casey Folks and the Las Vegas 400.
For more than four decades, Keith has coordinated race communications across Nevada, Ar...
(Still) Growing Up Rockcrawling with Lil Charlie Melchner on Episode 333
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19-year-old rock crawler and son of off-road legend Big Charlie. Lil Charlie grew up in Carmel, New York, competing in rock crawling events since childhood. Currently pilots a Jesse Haines Moonbuggy in national competitions.
Early wheeling at Todd's property in Pennsylvania began around age 3. Started driving buggies at age 8, learning from his father. First rock crawling competition at Field and Forest in New Hampshire.
The family owns a marina in New York passed down through generations. Charlie helps with boat maintenance, deliveries, and buggy preparation. Took welding classes in h...
Robert Keller — From Mud Trucks to Rock Crawling on Episode 332
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Robert started in mud trucks around 1998 with coworkers in South Florida. Progressed through multiple vehicles: K10 Stepside on 38-inch Groundhogs, a Jimmy, and eventually a YJ and square-body GMC truck. Attended his first Ultimate Adventure in 2015 (the last pay-to-play year) and was accepted to subsequent trips. Discovered passion for genuine rock crawling rather than mud bogging.
Adventure Wheelers East
After feeling disconnected from the Florida Adventure Rigs group, Keller partnered with Jack Sloan to merge their communities into AWE – Adventure Wheelers East, combining adventure seekers from multiple off-road ne...
Building Community Trust with Chad Roy on Episode 331
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Chad had a nomadic childhood with nine moves across the US by age 10. Played competitive soccer through college; choosing sports over academics. Family of machinists and farmers influenced hands-on career path.
He started as a mechanic, working through transmission and fabrication shops. Became premier Hemi Jeep installer during the modification craze, but was laid off unexpectedly, then built first personal off-road buggy after failing a rock crawl in his JK. Chad still drives that original buggy.
Zeus Off-Road was founded in 2016 after his wi...
Marketing entrepreneur and off-road media veteran, Cole Quinnell, on Episode 330
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Cole shares his 35-year journey from car enthusiast to magazine editor to automotive marketing business owner. Starting with dirt bikes in the New Mexico desert, he became editorial assistant at Hot Rod Magazine in 1990 before launching 4x4 Power—where he built an entry-level off-road publication alongside Trent McGee and Tori Tellem. After twelve years at Peterson Publishing, he transitioned to Chrysler, where he worked in PR for engineering and traveled globally with executives. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Cole started CQ Marketing and now serves clients including Flexlite and Dynatrac, while launching passion projects li...
Family Guy John Mathews from Auburn Auto on Episode 329
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John grew up in Auburn, Washington with a passion for automotive work. He excelled in shop classes and purchased his first car—a 1968 Camaro—at age 14. After high school, he worked at a quick lube shop before joining an automotive repair facility. When the owner retired, John's parents bought the business, and after navigating early challenges, John eventually took over. The shop celebrates 30 years in business this year.
Auburn Auto Repair and Off-Road operates as a 50/50 split between general repairs and off-road specialization. With three technicians and 7,500 square feet, they focus on d...
Creating Content for the everyday build, Colt Clewley on Episode 328
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Colt Clewley is a YouTuber and off-road enthusiast from Farmington, New Mexico. He runs the channel "Colt Builds It," creating fabrication tutorials, trail guides, and adventure content focused on making off-roading knowledge accessible to everyone.
Colt grew up in tiny Divide, Colorado, worked in the oil field for 18 years, and later transitioned to full-time content creation. He's known for his DIY approach, building vehicles with hand tools in driveways and sharing practical fabrication techniques through detailed YouTube videos on axle builds, roll cages, and suspension work.
He's competed in...
Matt Adair on Episode 327: A Life of Off-Road Adventures and Unlikely Friendships
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Matt Adair sits down with Big Rich Klein to discuss a life shaped by cars, languages, and the off-road community. Beginning as an exchange student in Germany at 16, Matt's fluency in automotive passion led him to abandon an Air Force Academy appointment for car sales. What started as a snowy day test drive of a Jeep Cherokee evolved into decades of off-roading, racing, and journalism—including pivotal roles at King of the Hammers and Crawl Magazine.
Matt shares stories of serendipitous friendships forged at lakebed campfires, a memorable medical emergency at KO...
In Episode 326, Adam Arsenault gets comfortable being uncomfortable.
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In this episode, Adam Arsenault shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in North Carolina to becoming a key figure in off-road motorsports. His path spans 20 years in Marine Special Operations, four combat deployments, and a thriving racing career.
Adam grew up in Asheville, NC; joined the Marine Corps at 18 and served 20 years, including intelligence work and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He transitioned to Racing, discovering off-road culture in California; competing at King of the Hammers seven times and racing in the Baja 1000.
He now manages the...
Explore Scott Rehn's Motorsports Journey on Episode 325
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Scott Rehn joins the podcast to discuss his colorful career across multiple motorsports disciplines—from motocross and late-model dirt track racing to short-course off-road, water skiing, Monster Jam, and beyond. Learn how an unplanned career launch led to decades in broadcasting.
Early Racing Years
Scott tried motocross as a teenager but found his true passion in late-model stock car racing. At just 17, a car appeared in his driveway—courtesy of a customer at his dad's grocery store—launching him into racing with zero experience. After five years racing dirt tr...
The Road to Recovery with YouTube sensation Rory Irish on Episode 324
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Rory Irish is the owner of Trail Mater and Moab Motorsports, an off-road recovery operation based in Utah. In this episode, he shares his unconventional path from surveying and pipeline welding in Colorado to becoming a YouTube sensation and industry figure.
Rory bounced between Moab, Utah and western Colorado throughout his childhood. After dropping out of high school, he earned his GED (scoring highest in Colorado that year) and spent five years as a surveyor before transitioning into construction and the oil field, where he learned welding.
...
Community Builder Cody Folsom on Episode 323
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Cody Folsom grew up bouncing between Colorado towns and Texas, attending over 10 schools while working alongside his father in automotive shops. He was introduced to rock crawling through Jason Feuilly and Jimmy's 4x4, learning the philosophy that completing obstacles mattered more than keeping vehicles pristine—a shock after his dad's show-and-shine approach to cars.
From Spotting to Racing
Cody became a renowned spotter for rock crawling competitions, spotting for various drivers, including Feuilly and Rick Dermo. He transitioned into racing through Dirt Riot, building a Jeep Cherokee ca...
Blame it on the Samurai, Thomas Meiser on Episode 322
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Thomas Meiser is a rock buggy fabricator and off-road enthusiast from Magna, Utah. Once a competitive baseball player coached by his father, Thomas shifted to fabrication after discovering the Suzuki Samurai at age 16—a pivotal moment that redirected his passion entirely.
Early Career Path
Thomas worked under influential mentors including Casey Beach (Beaches Off-Road) and Ben Hanks Racing, where he learned welding fundamentals and tubing work. After Caterpillar's internship program and structural steel fabrication, he found his true calling at Midnight 4x4 with JC, working with CNC burning ta...
From Backyard Bronco to Desert Racing Champion, Nate Williams in Episode 321
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In this episode, Big Rich Klein sits down with Nate Williams to explore a life immersed in off-road culture. Growing up in Logan, Utah, Nate caught the bug early—rebuilding a 1975 Bronco at just 15, complete with body work and a custom Chevy engine swap. What started as weekend trail runs evolved into competitive rock crawling, and eventually into full-scale desert racing.
Nate shares the origin story of Mount Logan Off-Road, the shop he built with his brother John, and the pivotal lessons learned through business challenges and partnerships gone wrong. After ten...
Episode 320 features Fire Captain extraordinaire Chris Mercer
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Chris Mercer, a fire captain and body shop manager from Craig, Colorado, shares his journey from a Southern California native to a well-rounded off-roading enthusiast. He discusses his passion for mechanics, competitive four-wheeling, and his goals to become an off-road instructor.
Chris grew up immersed in motorsports and outdoor activities including snowmobiling, motocross, and desert racing. He worked as a computer technician after earning a degree in computer science and business management.
Chris gives 100% in all he does and was recently named Fire Chief of his volunteer fire department, h...
Building an Off-Road Empire with Brent Goegebuer on Episode 319
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Brent Goegebuer joins Big Rich Klein to discuss a life dedicated to the off-road industry. Raised in rural Washington, Goegebuer's passion for trucks and the outdoors led him to open his first four-wheel drive shop before age 21, working his way up from a graveyard wire mill shift to corporate success.
The interview follows his two-decade journey at Four Wheel Parts, where he transformed event management into profit centers and grew the company from 40 stores to 125 under leadership of Greg and George Adler. Known for its family-oriented culture, Four Wheel Parts became...
Episode 318 features native Kentuckians Kim and Nathaniel Sears, OG East Coast rock crawlers
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Early Life & Background
Kim and Nathaniel grew up in rural Kentucky, meeting in high school with lockers across the hall from each other. They worked together at a local Winn-Dixie grocery store before college, where Nathaniel pursued psychology and Kim studied occupational therapy. Both eventually moved to the Lexington area after graduating.
Rise in Rock Crawling
The couple stumbled into competitive rock crawling through friends in Lexington, entering their first competition—NeuRock at Paragon in Pennsylvania—in a stock class YJ. Kim finished 3rd out of 3...
Bronco Dan of Venom Aire joins Rich on Episode 317
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Dan Whittington, founder of Venom Aire, shares his journey from mechanics work to pioneering air intake technology. Born in Santa Rosa, California and raised in Salt Lake City's Cottonwood Heights, Dan developed a lifelong passion for off-roading through family camping trips and motorcycle adventures.
After high school, Dan worked at a service station, became a stonemason, and held roles in insurance and automotive retail before joining Hinkley Dodge and Larry Miller as a technician. A knee injury forced a career pivot, leading him to pursue his longtime passion...
Episode 316 features Paul Dilley, off-road entrepreneur, author, and Raptor specialist
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Paul's journey spans car audio, home theater systems, e-commerce, and high-end audio installations during the housing boom. He transitioned to off-road work after joining a Raptor community in 2010, turning hobby expertise into business ventures.
Paul started by rebuilding Raptor shocks when demand exceeded Fox's turnaround time. Developed an exchange system, expanded to a shop in Loomis, and created shock guards, alignment kits, IWE silicone lines, and his signature cabin air filter kit. He recently opened a new company in Reno focused on cabin air filters and ongoing truck development.
...
Innovating From IndyCar to Rock Crawling with Jonas Burnett
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This week on Conversations with Big Rich, we dive into the inventive world of fabricator and racer Jonas Burnett. From humble beginnings on a Texas ranch wrenching on a Honda Fat Cat to building engines at 16, Jonas charted a path through the School of Automotive Machinists and into AJ Foyt’s IndyCar program—handling front-end setups, meticulous wiring, and pit crew duties. After seven intense years in pro racing, he returned home to launch Black Smoke Garage, where his imagination meets metal across hot rods, off-road rigs, mini boats, and more.
High...
OHV Program Manager in the Inyo National Forest, Adam Leidy on Episode 314
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This week, Big Rich chats with Adam Leidy, Off-Highway Vehicle and Over-Snow Program Manager on the Inyo National Forest. Adam’s NorCal roots run deep—raised by a forestry biologist, he grew up camping, chasing garter snakes, and logging time in an Isuzu Trooper before wrenching on a K5 Blazer and falling hard for Land Cruisers. After 9/11, Adam joined the Marine Corps as a motor transport mechanic; post-service he ran a landscaping business, then supported military aircraft logistics before finding his way home to the Forest Service.
It’s exciting to highli...
Kicking off Season 7 with grit and ingenuity, meet Mike Dieu on Episode 313
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Tempe-raised fabricator and spotter Mike Dieu shares a life built on grit, ingenuity, and community. From paper routes and roofing a family home at 15 to becoming an all-state football standout, Mike’s hands-on roots led him into automotive school and early work converting fleets to natural gas. That tech savvy set the stage for a pivotal chapter: wiring fuel injection for the Campbells—starting with Shannon’s legendary “Pinky”—and ultimately spotting alongside Shannon through ARCA, WeRock, UROC, ProRock, and more.
Mike shares the stories that led him to a well-earned retirement...
Episode 312 with Don Rycroft, founder of RPM Steering
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This week, Rich sits down with Arizona native and RPM Steering founder, Don Rycroft, for a candid, high-horsepower story of resilience, faith, and community in off-road. From BMX racing and desert motos to early marriage, entrepreneurship, and a life-reset at 50, Don shares how setbacks forged a family-run brand that’s now a national name in steering and suspension.
Don’s story is a masterclass in grit: lean into faith, serve the community, build cool parts that work—and have fun on the trail.
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Letzroll OffRoad Founder, Andrew McLaughlin, on Episode 311
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This episode dives into the life and legacy of Andrew McLaughlin—builder, racer, event host, and founder of Let’s Roll Off-Road. From a cross-country upbringing to ASU and into the Arizona off-road scene, Andrew shares how a love for the outdoors turned into a lifestyle and multi-faceted career.
From the early years of skiing, boating, and bikes to his first Jeep Wrangler; Andrew always jumps in with both feet. He’s built a business empire with Letz Roll Off-Road at the lead, adding Let’s Roll Venture Rentals, LM1—Letz Roll Metal...
Off-road lifer breaks stereotypes in multi-states, Cameron Chin on Episode 309
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Conversations with Big Rich welcomes fabricator, racer, and shop owner Cameron Chin—an off-road lifer who broke stereotypes to build a career around cars. Born and raised in Houston, Cameron cut his teeth on a rough ’67 Mustang, studied studio art at UT Austin, and dove headfirst into off-roading by co-founding the Longhorn Off-Road Club. After early shop experience and the dot-com bust, he launched Crawltex (2006), helping grow Texas’ wheeling scene with everything from bolt-ons to axle and engine swaps.
Cameron shares first desert race memories supporting a Hooters-backed team at the Baja 5...
A Life Steeped in Off-Road Legacy, Josh Hall, on Episode 309
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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Josh Hall shares a lifetime of off-road stories shaped by growing up in the iconic Hall family. From pumping gas at his dad’s ARCO stations in Hemet to riding shotgun with the legendary, Bill Stroppe, Josh recounts early Jeep and Bronco days, Riverside memories, and an unforgettable Baja 1000 chase van run to La Paz before the pavement existed.
So many memories, from Hummer highs to GM’s bankruptcy lows, followed by an Australasian Safari that sparked international ambitions. Josh has spent years scou...
Episode 308 features Jeff Furrier – racer, entrepreneur and preservationist
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Big Rich sits down with Tucson native and lifelong off-roader Jeff Furrier—board member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF), racer, entrepreneur, and preservationist of vintage race machinery. From a childhood in a tire-shop family to building UPR into a go-to racing safety and equipment supplier, Jeff shares the journey, lessons, and stories that shaped his life in off-road.
With roots in the desert, Jeff grew up one of eight kids in Tucson, learning hustle and car culture from his Air Force-pilot-turned-entrepreneur dad. Hear about the spark that set his...
Navy Vet, Land-Use Warrior, and Indie Author Todd Ockert on Episode 307
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This week, Big Rich sits down with Todd Ockert—a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran turned oil-and-gas professional, land-use leader, NAMRAC facilitator, and indie author. From small-town Michigan to Top Gun-era Miramar, Todd shares how vocational electronics led him into Naval aviation, working on EA-6B Prowlers, a rough stint in recruiting, and later a long chapter at Lemoore before transitioning to Chevron and moving to West Texas.
Todd dives into his off-road journey: early Bronco days, discovering advocacy through Del Albright’s volunteer training, and leadership roles with UFWDA and the...
West Virginia State Senator Mark R Maynard talks life, politics and a lifetime in off-road on Episode 305
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Mark shares growing up at his family’s Union 76 service station, early Jeeping and Baja Bug adventures, club rides every Sunday, and a childhood shaped by mud, mountains, and motors.
State Senator Maynard has a storied history in off-road, including wrenching at NHRA, Gravelrama memories and fighting for expanding OHV opportunities. Fighting the good fight in the state of West Virginia, Mark supports private parks, national advocacy and lessons learned everywhere being shared with all.
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From Baja Beginnings to the ORMHOF Board, Steve Kelley on Episode 305
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Off-road legend and 2021 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kelley joins Big Rich to trace a lifetime in the dirt—racing, rules-making, giving back, and globe-trotting.
From his first Baja 1000 in 1969 that hooked him on racing to helping build a Class 11-style VW and taking it 200+ miles before limping it back home. Steve ironmanned a Class 1 from Ensenada to La Paz—no driver change, no flats, 20+ hours; 2nd in class, 3rd overall in 1979.
There is much more to a lifetime of racing. Listen in for dusty silt-bed memories, class...
Let’s talk history with Ben Hanks in Episode 304
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Old-school rock crawler and Utah native Ben Hanks joins Rich to trace his journey from growing up feral in a small, mountain-side town to becoming one of the OG competitors in competitive rock crawling.
From first comps in the late ’90s and the rowdy hotel-party era of rock crawling to Farmington’s SuperCrawls raw energy and the milestone SEMA SuperCrawl. Ben got to crawl with all the big names, but like many, Ben pivoted during the ’08 downturn, inventing and patenting an HVAC efficiency system (up to 45% gains), plus marine accessories. If you’re...
