Conversations with Big Rich

“If I’m going to weld, it might as well be for myself,” we couldn’t agree more. Join Todd Gronsdahl from Aqualu Industries and Big Rich on Episode 225. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 6:57 – I took any job I could get because I really didn’t have any skillset 11:15– Rich: I asked your wife, “Is that your boyfriend?” She says, God, no, that’s my husband, my boyfriend would be way older and way richer! 13:30 – I bought a dilapidated Land Cruiser, and I was driving home one day when the roll cage fell through the wheel well onto the tire. 19:06 – the hardest part is just getting the aluminum body as close as you can to replicating the original 30:18 – the biggest challenge of being in Canada and exporting is location, we are packed in a little town in the middle of the mountains, so transportation is a real pain 35:59 – my wife has plans for us to buy a diesel pusher, and hook the vehicle up and go have some fun 37:37 – my simple rule of thumb: don’t spend more than you make and be humble Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Derek Trent, master fabricator and owner of Trent Fab joins us on Episode 224. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:11 – a couple of times I got in some trouble with the law and was told to push my motorcycle home 16:16– I was 21 years old and I hit a point where I had to make a “What am I going to do?” decision 24:31 – out of the box, a YJ was pretty damn tough 31:49 – Jason Berger was driving my car and eneded up breaking the TH400 case, I was really disappointed because all I was looking at was all the things that went wrong, that I didn’t do right 38:18 – I was working a job after college and woke up one day and realized that if I didn’t get out then, that was all I was going to do with the rest of my life. 49:03 – I got the invitation to go the very first King of the Hammers, but I really wanted to take my new car and it wasn’t ready. So I missed the very first one, it would have been 14 instead of OG13 58:25 – that’s when the Top Shelf chassis was born Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Bart Jacobs hails from Utah and has participated in every extreme sport the state offers – from skiing to mountain biking to OG rockcrawling. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:41 – I decided, as stupid 16-year-olds do, that drag racing would be fun. 10:40 – I was still ski-jumping and ended up hurting my leg, for rehab, I started mountain biking, and doing longer and longer rides 18:46 – XJ’s didn’t have a great reputation, and still don’t for the people who like frames and such 29:43 – …we watched a lot of other teams, and there was nothing in the back…and the light bulb went on and I thought “OH, maybe if we took some weight out of this thing, it might do a little bit better!” 40:21 – In my first six events, I broke on the first or second obstacle on every event, it was frustrating 48:31 – I got so much from this sport, I feel blessed. The friends I’ve met, the relationships I have and the fun we’ve had doing it – I felt like I needed to give back to the sport 59:19 – I had the midnight to 2 am shift, we had just passed Bimini and started heading in a more Southerly direction… Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Diesel mechanic – because he had to be – Logan Backus shares life in the trenches, the rockcrawling trenches, with all of us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:48 – We were known for the kids in the neighborhood to build the biggest, baddest jumps out there. 14:43 – my dad’s like, “I don’t know why you want a truck like that? They’re expensive and they break.” 25:47 – this is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done – but the owner took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of all things diesel 31:38 – my first trip to Moab, you either have to go far right and get really sketchy or take the big undercuts – I’m sitting there thinking what did I get myself into? 41:46 – that YJ progressed me so much in wheeling that it scared the sh*t out of me 49:20 – why would I spend money to go beat the crap our of my own vehicle – why does that sound like it’s not that fun? 1:01:38 – I hate Cedar City, it’s like 30 minutes from where I live, but I have this vendetta with Cedar Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Meet the Desert Rat in his Desert Toy, John James, D-Toy in the old Pirate days shares his history in rock-crawling. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:57 – We learned how to fight early, and we were little guys, so if one us got in a fight, both of us got in a fight. 15:09 – one of the best things I did, not just going to school in Phoenix, but just moving to Phoenix, it was literally the biggest city I’d ever seen, and living there on my own with my parents six hours away, life lessons! 21:05 – the most awesome part about Pirate 4x4 was the diverse amount of people I met 29:28 – my brother still talks about Lion’s Pride Park, holding on to a ski rope and being lawn darted over the top of this rise 38:20 – it was an off-road race with these clapped out Toyotas all the way to Wrecking Ball 49:42 – Marlin was good at a lot of things, but competing in rock crawling wasn’t one of them, I think his mind just went too fast – I thought, I could drive that rig for him! 58:49 – Back then it was such a foreign thing to do all the Hammer trails in a day, I had an advantage, I knew where they all were. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Cal Wells III on Episode 220. Such a privilege to interview Cal Wells. We talk about all the racing, racing, racing that Cal has been a part of. Cal was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2020. Cal is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 5:13 – I could get from Westminster to downtown LA in 35 minutes, and now it takes 3 hours 10:43 – I rode up there, it was like going to heaven; here’s this line on both sides lined with red, white, and blue off-road vehicles 20:23 – my first trip to Baja… 29:07 – That was the first time we raced, we were running down the highway and the engine blew up 43:24 – And if I had a do-over, I would have done things very differently 48:00 – I’m going to go hire Ivan Stewart or Malcolm Smith 1:03:22 – We got the deal for 180 grand, and that first year, I spent 360 1:23:44 – Everything was our own, our own shocks, our own everything. Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

From multiple subscriptions to multiple books – Sean P. Holman, writer, editor, businessman, dad. Follow his journey through the media. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 5:06 – growing up, you could get yourself in as much trouble as you wanted to 8:57 – what can I get away with before my mom would get mad at me for spending money on something I probably didn’t need? 15:38 – offroading was like freedom, you were away from the road, no street signs or anyone telling you what to do 31:28 – At the end of my career, I had been there for 20 years, and I was overseeing all the truck and off-road magazines when they decided to dissolve that part of the business 40:32 – The romanticism of off-roading started for me in the magazine; the problem is we used to be influencers before there were influencers 53:35 – My favorite is the Raptor story, it goes back to 2007, starting with “how did you know?” Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Support the Show.

Skyjacker President Lonnie McCurry, Jr. shares his faith, family, and future with us on Episode 218. A strong family man, he brings West Monroe, Louisiana, to life for us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 2:45 – this area of Louisiana is all about hunting, fishing, and family 9:14 – my parents were great about not forcing me into the business – y’all go make an education, get a college degree, and decide your own career path 24:27 – I learned two things doing the competitive side of rockcrawling: 1. It is a lot of work, and two, it’s hard to be competitive if you don’t have the seat time 34:54 – the way my dad worded it 40 years ago, if he built a lift kit, he wanted to feel like he could hand his daughter the keys and her go drive it, knowing she’d be safe 42:20 – We started working with Willy long before Duck Dynasty 54:15 – we focused on the marking side for many years, but we feel like we need to focus more on the manufacturing side for the next few years. 58:04 – let’s talk about family Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Support the Show.

Our very own people person, Alan Johnson, has spent a lifetime helping people. With good listening and great photography skills, Alan is a storyteller. I’m proud to call him my friend. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:03 – my dad took typing because that’s where the pretty girls were; he claims typing saved his life. 10:32 – I really wanted to be on the radio, so I showed up at 16 with my FCC disc jockey license and played country music 14:43 – I had my life all planned out, then I fell asleep driving home and broke my face 23:03 – Just because someone has a leadership role or not, doesn’t mean they’re better or worse than you. Every role is important. 31:36 – That’s always my MO at work, start at entry level, work hard, prove who you are, and then move up rapidly. 39:59 – That’s when I discovered my first Jeep, it was basically a motorcycle, but with a roll cage. 48:01 – who’s the one person on your team who never puts their phone down, won’t shut up and can’t build anything? They all laughed and pointed at me! 56:02 – I started working with promoters because my job was to help tell the story of something I was passionate about and loved. 1:07:47 – Imagine life as a piece of paper, most people fill it from top to bottom, left to right, there’s not a blank space anywhere – but life happens in the margins Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Rich Minga got his start in off-road racing, then turned it into a career in the movie business. Stuntman to the stars, winners do daily what losers do occasionally. Rich is a winner. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:57 – I thought I’d learn from the school of hard knocks. I was a better student of the universe than the school system 12:43 – It’s not O-N-E, it’s W-O-N; it means WE won the race! 17:24 – he got me across Diablo Dry Lake by Morse Code with a horn, it was crazy 25:10 – It was life-changing; I ran out of gas and had to walk out of Baja, it was horrific 36:28 – The people, the culture, there’s something magical about the people of Baja; I think we’re always celebrated, never tolerated 48:05 – I’ve been k*lled a bunch and k*lled a few people as well. That’s what I do; I work as a stuntman in the movie business 52:53 – I was the stunt coordinator for a TV show with no stunts – it makes me a lifeguard at the car wash 1:02:26 – You got to be in the FBI – friends, brothers, or in-laws! It’s the way it works Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

World champion speed skier turned rockcrawler, John Hembel, shares techniques in improving all skills on Episode 215. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:48 – I worked ski rentals, at the end of the day there’d be a huge pile in the middle of the ski shop; my job was to pair them all up together and put them awayl 17:30 – I actually got a soccer scholarship to a school in Mississippi, but I didn’t like the school 22:40 – the fortunate part is the auto detailing end of things gives you the ability to bring in day-to-day business without knocking on doors 28:57 – It’s the south, so really all you’re wheeling is mud, which is terrible. I hate mud. 36:11 – We’re fortunate in the people we know that we have a lot of really responsible friends who want to save the lands 48:44 – I always knew I wanted to be a pro skier, I loved it so much. 58:01 – when they brought a speed skiing competition to Snowmass, I was like, I got to go out and do that 1:01:55 – I yelled down to the kid, in French, I think I have mad cow disease…then I took my run. 1:08:27 – 2002, I set my record, 2003, I was world champion 1:18:28 – Almost every time we go out rockcrawling, even three and a half years later, I’m learning something new. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Brent Bradshaw is a master with many things, known for supporting the Samurai community as the hands behind TrailTough, he’s transitioned to a cancer-free simpler life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:24 – my dad was real proud of the parts he was able to sneak home 11:57 – my whole life, I would nail tricycle wheels or lawn mower wheels to 2x4s to make go-karts, whatever rolled, I loved. 18:17 – in those days, I was allowed to get 3 pages of citations, now you get 3 tickets and you’re out. 30:48 – in this neck of the woods, a 4WD vehicle that’s light, nible and small gets you in areas where other people don’t go. That was the key. 37:42 – the builds were mostly to support the Samurai community, I never intended to start a full-on company called Trail Tough, it just blew up. 44:46 – we built the Crustacean, everything was perfect! 57:08 – the first event I won was Tucson, it was not a happy day for Tracy 1:02:56 – life changed when I got cancer. While I was having surgery, Linda was doing research. Cancer feeds on low oxygen, high acid, high sugar environment. Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Justin Hall began as a rockcrawling and racing competitior. Moving from a Suzuki Samurai to an Unlimited car, then jumping over to the 4500 class, Justin grew up in rock sports. If you’re looking to do the same, listen in for some great advice. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:42 – I watched it go from small town to big town with a ridiculous amount of people 8:07 – every break I got, winter, spring, summer, my dad had me work at his company, and I got all the crap jobs, but it taught me a trade 12:42 – my parents knew I’d get myself in trouble with anything more than a 4-cylinder, we settled on a 1988 and and-a-half Suzuki Samurai 18:33 – we picked up a Campbell car and got it put back together, and that car was on the podium every event 23:07 – there are a couple of climbs at Oroville that I was the only person to do unassisted 26:21 – My all-time goal was to beat Tracy 38:13 – It was the biggest waste of money to go 10 miles, but it was the most fun 10 miles I’ve ever had 44:26 – when you’re racing at 100% against somebody, knowing that they’re going to hold their line, it makes it so much more fun 50:29 – at a certain point, you try not to drive with your wallet on the dash Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Land use warrior, Amy Granat, Managing Director of CORVA (California Off Road Vehicle Association) joins us for a discussion of what’s on the table for off-road and why it matters to her. Amy is a leader in the fight to keep public lands open to the public. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:47 – You have to be more calculated, …I call it being pointed but polite 10:17 – not being able to walk was a difficulty until a friend said, “You have a Ford truck, it has four-wheel drive, what are you waiting for?” 13:07 – it’s very tiring having people look at you and what you can’t do, they were looking at me in my truck and seeing what I could do, and that’s a very big difference 18:50 – when people talk about off-roaders, it really upsets me because they’re mischaracterizing our generosity 28:42 – …there are a lot of states like Nevada and Utah that didn’t go through the process, their areas are more at risk 35:07 – this is policy, not politics 49:21 – why wasn’t there access to the Cleveland National Forest for Riverside County? Everyone forgot. 59:24 – if you’re constantly saying not o everything, you end up getting excluded from the table; being at the table is key Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Ivan Stewart on Episode 211. Such a privilege to interview the Ironman. We talk about all the dreams and adventures, and the timing, the all-important timing! Ivan was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Ivan is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 2:19 – the race is almost secondary, the pre-running and the adventure is the real story 10:42 – an automobile is so cool because you can get in your car and set the radio station exactly like you want, and the heater, and… 19:29 – without GPS, you had to remember the course, and the better you were at the that, the more successful you were going to be 26:09 – I said, “Charlotte, the sun should never be rising on our right-hand side!” 35:55 – it wasn’t going to cost a whole lot more to build a desert truck, although it cost a lot to campaign them 40:09 – Sometimes you hit the timing just perfect! 45:21 – You got to have a dream to have a dream come true. 50:47 – I wanted to race off-road, I didn’t want to talk about it! Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Born to a family of Italian immigrants, Butch Arciero and his brothers understood the value of hard work. A lifetime of commitment to that landed him in the Hall of Fame. Butch was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2019. Butch is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 3:23 – my mom was on the last ship that came out of Naples to the US before they stopped all the shipping when the war broke out 13:26 – “Listen, Frank, if you get good grades next semester, I’m going to give you a present.” 20:13 – my dad always wanted to own a race car 27:23 – Well shoot, I can compete with these guys, and then start winning 32:07 – I remember everybody telling me, if you’re in an area with lots of people, watch for booby traps 43:14 – One of the things with me, if I’m going to do something, I don’t just want to do it, I want to be able to win. 57:25 – I’ve got one more story I have to tell, it happened in Mexico…. Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

After four full years of podcasting, we bring you the most important episode to date to kick off Season 5. An interview with Sean Pond, the de facto leader of the Halt the Dolores Movement shares why stopping this National Monument designation in its tracks. Please listen on your favorite podcast app and follow-up with the Call to Action. Sean needs our help. 6:12 – what the Navy doesn’t tell you is that you’ll see a whole lot more water than you will see of the world 11:28 – I worked in building 771 at Rocky Flats, the most dangerous building in the world at the time 15:57 – if my close friends were to describe me, they’d tell you I do two things – I hunt and I wheel 23:11 – if you like to hunt and you like off-road and you like the thrill of the chase, it’s a hard habit to break 24:54 – HALT THE DOLORES – let’s talk about what it is and why it matters! 36:29 – it stifles ranching, mining, outdoor recreation, hunting – it affects so many people, it’s a shame 43:53 – google the 30 by 30 agenda and the America the Beautiful Act; over 100 million acres of public land will lose access to for all time 53:36 – if we were standing around at an event talking about this, you’d think it was a conspiracy theory 1:01:49 – CALL TO ACTION: Sign the petition, call your congressman, Share, Share, SHARE, help fund the fight Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Wrong seat filler, Chris Rea, shares perspective on what it takes to be lucky. Listen in as one of the Lost Boys shares how going all in (on whatever you’re doing) has an impact on life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:25 – my dad had to pull me out of t-ball because I was too competitive 9:45 – for my sister and I, sports were life. 13:24 – if you want to play football, you’re 100 pounds. 21:41 – my first foray into offroading was a high school club called Unauthorized 28:36 – in 2005, I realized I was going nowhere and I was going to be nothing, so I joined the military 32:52 – if there was a rule, it was black and white as far as I was concerned. 41:14 – one of my favorite things is that Tracy Jordan is still scared of me 54:17 – I’m just here to stay fit so I can beat my dad 1:05:48 – I’m just some random guy who’s been really lucky to work with amazing teams Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

A warrior in all respects, Ray Moon fought in Vietnam and continued fighting for our rights when he returned. Land warriors were as important in the beginning as they are now. Ray was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1979. Ray is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 3:12 – I had my first encounter with a Jeep in Vietnam and I didn’t know how to drive the damn thing 7:41 – it worked out very well, the military structure, I got it, I grew up. 16:29 – I live in Simi Valley now and volunteer at the Reagan Library, the Presidential Library 29:11 – PTSD is what they call it today, and we all have problems with that, I was no different 35:43 – I became the conservation chairman for Cal Four Wheel Drive 41:23 – There was a woman who was so happy we were closed down so she could take her Buick out and enjoy the posies, and the BLM guy was like, no, if we restrict them, we restrict you 47:16 – we wanted to take a reasonable attitude toward all that 53:51 – you don’t go into any of this stuff for the glory Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.

Mastercraft has had some powerful owners, from founder Jack Miller to daughter, Peri Kalar, to ORMHOF inductee Robbie Pierce. Hear about how it began all those years ago and the forces behind it. Peri shares some life-changing experiences with you. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:16 – he was in the army and became a parachute rigger, that’s where he learned to sew 9:53 – I worked at Mastercraft as the janitor; but my brother fired me a lot. 13:50 – we used to have soda cans taped to the rollbars, and they would have stuck stubs and tickets. 17:43 – we made a PSSS kit – a Personal Sanitation System in a little brown bag 21:19 – that was the worst and best year of my life because I found out I could survive anything 29:57 – Robbie was my supplier forever, so when I wanted to sell the company, it was perfect 38:13 – when dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s he said, I’d like to make a list of things that are important that I want to remember… Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the Show.