After years of sanctioning-body rivalries and arbitrary rules changes, rock crawling is trying to change its "flying by the
seat of its pants" image. Spearheading this effort are W.E.Rock's Dustin Webster and Lil' Rich Klein. The endeavor has being
going on behind the scenes for months, but it was out in the open for all to see at tech inspection for W.E.Rock's season
opener in Perris, California. The record number of entries suggested that the teams respect W.E.Rock's efforts. All 55 vehicles
in the competition were weighed at each corner and subjected to a rigorous examination by head marshal Lil' Rich Klein, complete
with the rubber glove. "Fuel containment seems to be the biggest issue," Klein commented. "All infractions have been noted
and must be fixed by the second event."
END OF AN ERA
SQUASHED: Lil Rich Klein continues to hone his skills as a course designer and challenged teams at the season opener. Often
times it was necessary to hit a cone in order to complete a course.
The longest line at contingency was not the premiere Unlimited class, but instead, the smoking-hot Pro Modified division.
Neither "Tiny" nor "Scrapper," the two Jon Nelson-built moon buggies that revolutionized rock-crawling competition five years
ago, were present at this event. Jason Scherer parked Tiny for his new Campbell Enterprises-built JK buggy, and Scrapper owner
Bruce Zeller retired over the winter. With only 11 drivers competing in Unlimited, over half the field was guaranteed a place
in the Shoot Out at the end of the weekend to determine the winner of the event.
As predicted on the pages of this very magazine, Pro Mod has eclipsed the Unlimited class in terms of competitors, pay out,
and now in marquee names as well. "Just as people associate more with Trophy-Trucks than Class 1 cars," Webster noted, "Pro
Modified vehicles look more like what the fans have in their own driveway." Former moon-buggy pilots like Scherer and Tracy
Jordan joined the swelling Pro Mod ranks that already includes stars like Brad Lovell, Brian Errea and Dean Bulloch. To highlight
the disparity between classes, consider that Twisted Customs alone had nine vehicles in the Pro Modified division. Their segment
has grown so large that the shop even created an informal "TC Cup." The tongue-in-cheek contingency program rewarded the top
driver of a Twisted Customs vehicle.
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