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2008 Eastern Put Up or Shut Up Shootout
The location lies within a mile or so of the central/eastern
time-zone line and a number of fans from the western side showed up late on day one, not realizing the
time-zone was an issue. By the time we started, we had about 500 fans there and as many were returnee’s
from day 1, they were already in tune with the storylines and had already chosen their heroes.
I watched as they looked around to see which team was starting where and then they migrated to that
obstacle accordingly, which is something that we’ve always hoped for within this sport. The fun thing
is, fans chose their favorites based on driving style, storyline, underdog, excitement, etc…not just by
who was winning. That meant each team pretty much had their own separate fan club and that really was
cool.
As we got rolling into the event, the teams had calmed down a bunch from their higher-throttle attacks
we saw on day 1. I think that they realized that too much was too much and that if they wanted to be in
the game when the finals came around, they needed to play things cool and smart.
Negron found frustration right away as he had planned on taking a big bonus and found that neither of
his ARB’s were working. With fully open diffs, he somehow made a tough climb and then a bonus drop, but
instead of turning back uphill for the next bonus, he played it smart and took the easy line to finish
the course. He REALLY needed that bonus but it turned out that he got burnt by a mismatched air seal
that allowed his air tank to drain.
Barton was up soon on that same obstacle and got nailed by taking out the left hand cone…he knew he
needed to clean it in order to keep his son from gaining any additional points on him, but ouch, he made
a mistake and opened the door for a couple of extra points. Sure enough, Chicky comes along and cleans
it…
Next course was the time-based course. No backup penalties, only cone and RS penalties, but every ten
seconds equaled one penalty point. Barton SCREAMED through it…he was so amazingly fast and clean that
he just made everyone look silly…the only problem was he nailed the throttle through the final technical
section and hit a cone when the moonbuggy bounced on an off-camber that had a 4’ height difference
between the left and right tires…oops…Chicky was watchin He plays it cool and gains a couple more
points on dad!
Meanwhile, Jake Gochenour and Travis Wilson are both having amazing days in their buggies, just
playing it cool and safe and cleaning house on points. They know that they stand a good chance of
making the shootout by playing the strategy game…as they came down to their final course, both of
them were on the bump to be knocked out and both kept their cool, staying in the game. Negron was
also on the bump and pulled off a nearly perfect last course and got himself in as well.
Wes Kean was the driver of Wide F’n Open that had put on such an amazing show the day before and we
wondered if it was luck or skill that had put him in the game on day 1. Even with a way-too wide / way
too long buggy, and with a style that isn’t usually successful in rockcrawling, on day 2, he kept
himself clearly in the game. He took pretty much every bonus and laughed his way along, much to the
pleasure of the crowd as he nailed the throttle every chance he got. The judges learned very quickly
to keep their distance.
Alex Vaughn, brand new to crawling pulled off some amazing driving on day 2 and unfortunately, suffered
a broken transmission on his third obstacle that caused him some frustration. He and the crew busted
tail and got it back together with ratchet straps, just well enough to complete their last course without
issue. Unfortunatly for them, even with a GREAT finish and bright future, they were just out of the points
running for the Shootout.
Troy Smith was another one that really showed a ton of skill and had a buggy that preformed quite well.
Even without a twin-stick, he was making the courses look easy…on their final course, they cleaned it as
fast as Bill Barton had, but in the exact same location as Bill had hit that cone on the speed course,
they tipped it on the side and NAILED the throttle…bad timing as nailing the throttle with the front
left tire down in a deep hole, the axle didn’t stand a chance. OUCH…still, they got the buggy righted
and truly gave the course hell…but no luck, they didn’t finish and it kept them back in points, when
they would have moved up a number of spots with the AWESOME run they had going. Those guys are very
talented!
Darren Cantley also found frustration in the exact same spot, doing the exact same thing…busted the
front left in the same hole while on their side, but even with the frustrating end to their weekend,
came away with a big smile as they had learned so much and had taken on even the bigger bonuses with
some good success. Learning a new buggy is never easy, especially with a time clock running, but they
walked away with some good idea of how to improve their performance. 2009 should be a good year for
them once they get the bugs worked out.
Barry Beadle is in a similar spot. By the end of the weekend, Barry clearly learned one thing, and that
was throttle control. On day one, every climb finished with a full-throttle blast through the gate but
on day two, the second the rig was up the ledge, they hit the brakes and crawled the next section,
exactly how they should have. Normally, that takes far more time to understand but once Barry calmed
down a bit and found his groove, he did very well. I think he and that LS1 will be a good match as
learning control is key…he’s got it already and now should be able to take advantage of that engine
without getting too far in over his head.
Scott Lang…the bright green Jeep CJ…well, what can I say except that guy ROCKS. I would have no problem
turning him loose in one of our competition rigs and I’d be willing to bet that with his raw talent and
good instincts, he’d be in the top of the game against the seasoned pros. If he decides to compete in
the Mountain Extreme Series, everyone else just may find themselves battling it out for second place…first
may already be locked up, depending on how the vehicle classes fall into place!
Mike Hale, well, it’s Mike Hale…what more do I need to say. Even with the huge disadvantage he was at
with a broken ring gear and ZERO sleep, he kept on truckin through those courses and somehow stayed in
the game. He ended up missing the shootout by only a few points and clearly, it was a shoulda/woulda/
coulda situation with his breakage holding him back. He is one of the most talented drivers out there
and I was bummed to see him miss the finals course…
Finally, saving the ultimate underdog for last, Matt King…what an amazing and sad story all in one. Sad
thing was he went through something like 5 different driveshafts in one weekend of competition. That
Exo-Cage Toyota was so capable that he was crawling the coolest lines…unfortunately, every time he needed
to use the throttle… …another shaft exploded. The crowd LOVED him and his “2 Drunk” team, but in the end,
he just couldn’t complete nearly enough courses to be in the game. Regardless of his main event finish,
he still walked out of there a big winner…EVERYONE in that crowd will remember his day-one BonusLand
performance where he schooled the big boys in their $$$ toys.
By the time the Shoot out rolled around, the crowd is still HUGE and is ready to see the new BonusLand
course Lil Rich put together. As we looked at it from the bottom, it was a wall climb heaven 100 yards
wide, with 11 different bonus options available. 4 were easier and all SHOULD be able to complete those.
3 were medium and most SHOULD be able to complete those. 2 were difficult and a couple should complete
those. 2 were insane and if anyone completed either of them, they would walk away EVERYONE’s hero! By
the end of the ShootOut, 10 of the 11 were done, but not all by the same team…the most any team got was
7 bonuses…a PERFECT balance!
FYI, each bonus was worth 5 points and each team began with 10 minutes on the clock and had to “check-in”
by passing through the finish gate before heading up to get the next bonus. This location proved to be
perfect for this kind of course…I doubt it would work anywhere else.
Early on in the ShootOut was Jake Gochenour and George Negron. Both played pretty hard and collected a
number of bonuses each, both with thrilling runs on the #2 bonus line that was incredibly steep. George
had a last minute loss of front whel drive coming down to collect his final bonus and ended up missing
the last of his 5 point bonuses by just a couple of seconds…it was a bittersweet ending to his run but
the crowd went wild over the drama. Jake was basically Jake. Clean driving, no major mishaps, an amazing
effort on the big bonuses even though he was in his daughters’ CJ…it was impressive for sure but ended a
couple minutes early when he lost his steering and could not continue. He was RIGHT THERE, nipping at
George’s heels, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and he’d end up in 6th place. George did pull off
the #1 bonus, which was quite unexpected as that was one of the insane bonuses that were just thrown in
as “sucker lines”…he was a hero for sure by pulling that one off! George pulled off 5th.
Wes ran third and as expected, he put on an INCREDIBLE show, taking his high speed, high horsepower
attacks on numerous lines, schooling 6 of the bonus lines within 4 minutes…it was off the hook and the
crowd was wild about his run. On his 5th bonus however, he snapped a front axle and STILL chose to
continue in 3 wheel drive, on lines that were insane even in 4 wheel drive. SOMEHOW, he still managed
to pick off two more bonus climbs and it was due to amazing driving and a huge throttle foot. As he
came down to collect his 7th bonus, BOOM goes the rear output shaft and within a few feet, his awesome
run was over, even with 4 minutes still left on the clock. He held onto 4th place with his run and
fully put the pressure on Travis, who was up next. If travis didn’t have a good run with at least 5
bonuses checked in, Wes would move up into third.
Travis was in a spot to be able to move from third into first and made the most of his run, pulling
down 7 bonuses in a far more methodical method than everyone else. He was not rushed, was playing
strategy for the most part, and put down a clean run…UNTIL on the big downhill return to check-in,
he dives off the diagonal ledge and snap goes a knuckle… both tires instantly faced opposite directions
and the resistance on the front wheels caused the back to rise up off the ground on the steep descent.
Somehow, he got it settled down, worked the steering, and found his way to the finish gate to check in
his extra points. That finalized Wes’ spot in 4th place, and really put the pressure on both Chicky and
Bill, who would need to check in 6 and 4 bonuses respectively, in order to hold Travis off. Travis’ run
was just that good and now he was sitting in the spot to take over and win.
Chicky was up next and took that rig of his and worked magic with it. Fast, clean, and using perfect
throttle control, he pulled on 7 bonuses of his own, including a one-shot hit on the #4 wall which had
stumped most people time and time and time again. He has really gained some amazing skill over this
last season and in this bonusland scenario, stands out in a big way as a master hillclimber. His finish
here assured him first or second depending on how his dad Bill did. Travis was on the bump for either
second or third according to Bill’s finish. Bill needed 6 bonuses to beat Chicky, 4 bonuses to beat
Travis…we all knew that his capable moon buggy and strong performance all weekend should enable that.
Bill crossed the start line full throttle and within 2 minutes had completed 3 of the bonuses needed.
It was clear at that point that with 7 minutes to go, he would pass up Travis and take second at least…
with that much time left, he should easily pass Chicky as well…or would he?
Bill moved onto the fourth bonus and nailed the throttle HARD…with that much throttle, it was instantly
a huge worry as he’s probably going to end up rolling over backwards on the 5 foot vertical his front
tires were starting to go up when he hit the throttle…I instantly knew he was doomed…
Like magic however, he let out of it and that moonbuggy hovered right up that climb in the smoothest
manner I have ever seen…it was INCREDIBLE. Well, he’s up the 4th bonus and is ready to turn downhill to
check in and pass Travis, moving on to eliminate his son. With over 5 minutes on the clock, he hits the
throttle to jump up the next step and make his turn and b’rapppppppp……then nothing…
And when I say nothing…I mean nothing…no sound, no wheels spinning, no motion…nothing…except for a
collective ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh from the crowd…
His moonbuggy dies and everyone in the crowd begins to sweat. Well, you know it, rigs stall all of the
time and I’m laughing it up, knowing it’s a dramatic moment that gets the crowd riled up…it’ll take a
second but will re-start and continue…no big deal, it’s all good drama. With a very worried crowd, Bill
nails the starter and the engine turns over…and when I say turns over, I mean it turns over at the speed
of the starter….for minutes solid…OH SHI_____________!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Four minutes to go…BILL,
WHAT IS IT!!!! Three Minutes to go…CUMMON BILL!!!! Two Minutes and we’re praying the engine will fire
and he’ll run his miraculous run…ONE MINUTE LEFT!!!!! Just then, it’s clear Bill’s going to tell us he’s
figured it out, but instead pulls off his helmet and puts his arms up in surrender. He’s checked in three
bonuses…Chicky then realizes he’s won his first competition, and Travis will take second in his first
ever time on a competition course. WHAT A WEEKEND of thrills and drama!
In the end, Bill’s demise turned out to be a 10-cent fuse that was buried under the panels. His spotter
Todd Fuson had spotted an amazing weekend, Bill had driven so well that he was a shoe-in for first place,
and the buggy was running so strong, it would take something unexpected to take them off of their game…
unfortunately, welcome to motorsports guys! You did so well but got beat in the pits by one of those
gremlins that they already knew they should have fixed long ago by putting in circuit breakers where
they can bee seen by the driver.
The awards ceremony wrapped up nicely with a big crowd still there. Day one’s antics with the early
bonusland, the mud wrestling, and the evening’s festivities only set the stage for a great day two. I
was happy to have a guest announcer there this weekend, Steve, a circle track racing announcer from
Chattanooga came down to work with me and was a GREAT addition. The sound system was terrific, the
vendors had lines the entire weekend, and the competition area was set up professionally so it not
only provided a great competition course, but also reflected well on W.E.ROCK as a professional event.
The judges, volunteers, and recovery team were professional, considerate, and enthusiastic, and of
course, the Kizzars are the best of the best when it comes to being humble hosts. Even the crowd made
an effort to show their appreciation with constant good comment’s and thank-you’s, including from many
who had been there at the last event for the disappointing rain-out. They said that this weekend’s show
had turned them into lifelong fans of the sport and for that, we owe a ton of thanks to the entire group
of volunteers, teams, fans, media, W.E.ROCK, concessions, vendors, EMT’s, and the Kizzars…it was a
complete and total success and goes down in my book as the best all-around event I have ever been to.
No, it wasn’t the biggest, no, it wasn’t the flashiest, no, it wasn’t the most publicized, yes, it was
an incredible personal experience with everything going down just right…not too much, not too little,
and everything in a positive direction. Thanks to everyone involved for the great weekend!
And spotters, please, as you read this, I don't discount your work one bit...its just easier to write
the story going off the driver name. Without you, we all know that much of what was accomplished would
have been impossible. Cograts to all of you on a job well done!
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OFFICIAL
W.E.ROCK 2009 STANDINGS (click on an image to reach the latest National Championship scores) 
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