It would be fun to do especially if there was a "stock" or "close to stock" class and the courses were close. I'd like to do it but I can't take the time off of work to make all the events (or even two of them). It would be a blast to have a class where you don't need a $40k buggy to compete. Good luck. Oh, and howbout "Team Sawzall"!

 

the stock classes at rockport arent as stock as you think they are.

 

Andy, may I suggest that you go and watch an event before you start making provisions. I don't think "stock" means what you think it does. I could be wrong, I have never seen an event. But, I know some people that run the "legends" class. It sounded harmless enough until I saw what their "stock" TJ on 35's looked like.

Good luck.

 

Andy, did you say "crawl"? That's not exactly your style, is it?

 

Andy
I'm a judge at the ARRCA, Az Rock Crawlers Assoc. The suggestion about taking a trip out to see a "stock" class is greatly advisable. I don't know what you have in your rig but usually stock referes to the type of equipment that come on your rig ie: leaf springs, ok that would mean anything from 1/4 to 3/4 eliptical or any variation as long as it was a "leaf" spring. Get the picture, that holds true with the rest of the equipment.

Several years ago you could bring a faily stock unit to the crawls and do pretty good but now there has been a great influx of engineering, $$$$money, and specific build shops finding the quick way that pushes a lot of us locals out of the picture.

But hey give it a shot!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Stock class is 35's, full cage, winch, lockers, limited body trimming, maximum 4" spring lift, 3" body lift, wheelbase with in 2" of stock. I knew that when i started thinking about competing that a "stock" comp rig is on 35's. My jeep is on 35's, has a 4" spring lift, has a winch, will have a cage and front locker and i have a welded rear waiting to go in. There are a million things i could do to make my jeep more competive and i will try to do them as i have the money. I'm not too worried about my jeep and getting it within the requirment, i know the carb will be my major down fall but hopefully i can make due, most of their pictures looked like there wasn't a ton of vertical involved.

 

I'm thinking GO FOR IT, Andy.
If you can afford to build it enough to be competitive, all the better. But if not, I'm pretty sure you'll still have a great time trying.
What's to lose?

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

I say go for it as well. What's the worst thing that can happen? You find out that your rig is more stock than the rest which limits your ability to compete? Well, even if that were the case you gain experience and learn through first hand experience what you need to do to become more competitive.

As a side note, I read somewhere about someone in PA wanting to develop a 3 run series for stock rigs. If I recall correctly, he proposed rules that restricted the driveline to stock, limited wheel size, and would not permit "belly-up" skid plates (for a jeep). This seams like it would be an inexpensive way to compete at an amateur level.

Good luck and get lot's of pictures...

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

I'm pretty sure i'm going to do it, i just have to come up with a couple grand before march for rig mods, gas to the events and the entry fees, i figure each comp will run me $500-600 between gas, $100 entry fee, food, camping, and little stuff. Anybody want to sponsor me?

I'm a seat of the pants person and i like learning by doing, so i might as well jump in now before it's really hard and expensive to get into the sport.

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

contact sawzall maybe they'll sponsor you.

its actually not all to tough to get sponsorship if you are serious about getting it. just tell them what you are going to do (you have to do it tohugh, or they may ask for thier money back), what you need from them, and that you'll put their name really big on your rig. At the End of the Season send the corporate contact a nice frames picture or something with a thank you card and you'll be assured that you can use them again next year. when i was on the Baja Racing team and the Robotics Team at NIU we got Duck (brand) tape to sponsor us, as well as Locktite, and a bunch of other small names

rember too that sponsorship can come in the way of services too....like a machine shop might make you custom parts...you just pay for material, they do work for free....in some racing circuits they give free oil and stuff....

i wonder if they do contingency awards in rock crawling yet...where if you win using thier brand product (tires for example) they give you money. Subaru does it big time in Rally Racing....if you register and Win with your subaru you get money from them....i like the idea.

anywho...i say go for it if you can afford to do it. you'll learn a lot and have a good time.

I'm sure a few from the BBS will pop in to watch a championship if you compete

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

Yeah i've thought about trying to get sponsorship, the only thing i'm afraid of is if i don't compete then i'll have to give back the $$. In the higher level comps (calrocs, prorock) there's a fair amount of contingency money but the rock port comp is much more on the lower level.

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

If you really want to do it, then you should at least give it a try.
But I will warn you, that it is more time consuming and expensive than you can ever predict going into it.
Getting sponsors is not easy by any means, but it is possible once you establish yourself. However once you have their money or parts, your committment to them, makes the pressures to perform even greater.
Competing is by no stretch of the imagination the same as goin out and driving hard trails, it is extremely hard mentally to stay focused under all of the pressures of preparing and financing your endeavors. It will easily take what used to be a relaxing hobby and past time into the realm of a stressfull full time job.
Just something to think about.

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

I say go for it Andy.

Someone posted Stock Rock Challenge on our club board and I was thinking that's something I'd like to try. I don't know if I can get everything I need in time but I'm gonna try.

 

Re: Thinking About competitively crawling

Hi Andy,

Go for it! Do it while your young and don't have bigger responsibilities such as wife, kids, house, etc. you'll never regret it! Yeah.. the budget will be a little tight but why not, just don't make it your priority over school like I did. My forced mid life career change was hard to do without my degree being complete!

 

Step, step, step step stepping up to my soapbox....

ahem........hello.........is his thing on?
.
.
.
.
Andy I want to yell "go for it". I'm sure you could learn at a decent pace and do well.
But I can't............at least right now.
I know you...........and your mom.(GREAT LADY ask many on here)

(public spanking time)

LEVE STYLE ON </font color>
1. your in school
2. mom and dad pay for most if not all of it
3.

In reply to:

Off to go drop off a resume for a job.

[/ QUOTE ]
4. if any questions reread 1,2 and 3
LEVE style off

Andy don't defend yourself on this (or I'll call your mom and have her back me up. (yes they do love you and want the best for you)

GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN right now. If you want to whel, fine. But don't take away from any of this with comp time. It's worse than crack. YOU said you were looking for a job. It's hard enough to even get good grades AND hold a job. But to add a comp sport that takes time & $$$$ too. Come on. Your like my little bro and you know that. I just want you to do the "right" things in your life right now. School IS IMPORTANT. I'm sure there are plenty on here that will give you testamonials about what we wish we had done different. I know I can.
Your young, single and have plenty of time to play hard in life. Do it after you get out and have more time and coin to rub together. Right now worry about perfect grades.

Feel free to post up pics of the nonstop perfect grades with job paystubs and receipts where you paid for school and I'll STFU. Other than that you OWE it to YOURSELF and your parents to do the best you can to make the best of/for yourself.

stepping off the soapbox now

 

Im with Dirt Dog on this one. Im in college and am only in my second year. I have also dreamed about competing in rockcrawling. Its so hard when your younger and you really have an interest in something that you have decided you want to do but cant because of certain reasons. I dont know your situation but in my home state we have a scholarship that pays for our college if we have atleast a 3.0 average. So my parents are not paying for my college now but if I started competing, then I know my grades would drop because of all the time I would have to spend on my Jeep and the sport. And thats not fair to my parents, casue they would eventually be stuck with the bill if you know what I mean. But I can tell you this, one day I will compete, but it will be under my own time and money. But, the best of luck to whatever you decide.

 

andy like dave said take care of school frist get that out of the way and then go for it your family has put a lot in to your future school frist and then fufill your dreams you know all of us from S.W.B. well support you. And thanks for stoping in on your way back to school it was nice to see you agen and to meet your girlfreind tell your ma and dad we said hi and happy holidays

 

Very few can make a career out of rock crawling - or any type of cometition for that matter. Make LIFE your priority = that means your education. Win there!

Those things you suggested as expenses are just the start. Sure, the first couple times friends go with you -- but you have to feed and house them. Then they get bored, now you have to pay them. Else you find they get "too busy" when you need them the most. You need spotters and a pit crew you can count on. You cannot do it alone.
And then, you need a good trailer to get the broken thing home -- and something to tow it with. Once home you need the things to fix it - not to mention more improvements.
That all takes lots of $$$$$$!

I tried all that with Sprint cars - without trying to go to school at the same time. All my money and time went into it - purses and contigency money barely pay to keep you going -- and only if you are winning! Fortunatly I was able to "almost" break even. Once we started traveling the circuit it became break-even -- but the expenses were unbelievable! If you drop out of the top contenders, it's surprising how fast sponsors leave you hanging. They forget your name overnight!
How'd you like getting dropped 2000 miles from home? I've seen it happen way too many times.

Eventually I sold my car and started driving for other race teams - that's the only way I actually could make money at it - at 40% average. Even then --.

Work hard at college - get that degree - meanwhile plan on what you are going to field, go to as many events as you can - take lots of pictures of what works and what doesn't.
Once you graduate and get a good job, you might be able to afford it.