2/16/06-

It's Been a long time since my last post... but WHOA!!! - What a hornet's nest I've opened up in the past few days.  If you follow Pirate Board, you know I'm smack in the middle of  "Crawlergate" - with folks I've never met coming out of the woodwork to bash on me.  For all those who read the boards, - I make this somewhat lengthy post:

I have never once denied the fact that I let my temper get the better of me at the 04' paragon finals.  I apologized to Kyle for putting him in that situation within days -if not hours- of the incident.  

My frustration stems not from owning up to the mistakes I've made - but with the fact that I'm being blackballed by people who I've never met- and have nothing to do with the post I made. These people hear something through the grapevine, and suddenly they were there next to me when it happened... just like when there's a car accident- everyone was there and saw the whole thing... and is more than willing to tell the police their story. Heck, the guy almost hit one woman's dog... she swears it. You know how things get - Clearly none of these people want me to drive/spot for their teams (if they have one) - and I'm fine with that. Does that mean that they should make it their goal to keep me from working?

I came on this board posting a simple thread - and if you check all my posts I have never once said anything negative about anyone - with the exception of defending myself from my attackers. I've made every attempt to keep that off the boards as well. I'm not the guy you think I am. I have the utmost respect for others in our sport, anyone who's wheeled with me will tell you that. If any of these guys would take the time to get to know me rather than bashing me to pieces on the boards, they'd see that. That's why I posted my phone number... not to call people out on some kind of macho ego-trip... I just want these people to get a chance to know the real  me as opposed to what they heard.

I agree my image is a bit rough around the edges. I take to things more aggressively than most of the other guys - but that doesn't mean I won't help you fix your rig if it breaks, or that I'm not out there being buddy-buddy with the 10 year olds signing autographs and promoting the sport to the best of my abilities. No one wants to mention the positive. I love rock crawling, and I know I have the necessary skills to succeed.

My image is an extension of my aggressive nature -  it's meant to differentiate me from the rest of the guys out there - and it does a great job. (I guarantee none of you confuse me with anyone else after this).  If you look at all other forms of sports & entertainment, there is controversy, there are disagreements - but that doesn't detract from the fact that when it comes down to it they are good at what they do. My site is not meant to offend anyone in particular.  It doesn't name names or single anyone out and attack them personally. Any comments I make are blanket statements venting my frustrations about the way things get handled, etc.

I'm ok with people not liking my image - so long as they don't take it to a personal level. I wish people would take the time to speak with me regarding their feelings, rather than bash me to bits in public with half a story.

That Said,  I invite all of you  to contact me anytime - for straight talk on any subject.  I think you'll find  I'm nothing like the picture the nay-sayers are painting of me. 
 

This kind of hoopla is precisely why I sign every post with.... "SHUT UP AND  WHEEL YOUR JUNK!"  

Kick the tires and light the fires... save the drama for your momma and make it happen! 

11/1/04 -

    Go figure, we got kicked out of the Neuroc finals at paragon yesterday for doing a burnout at 10 mph.  Last time I checked there were no rules stating you can't make noise and spin your tires at 10 mph... Nor did anyone feel that adhering to what is written in the rulebook to be necessary.  I got no initial warning, I got no 5-50 point penalty, I got no ability to challenge anything.  What I got was a bunch of uptight assholes yelling and screaming that I need to leave and never come back, and 100 points for my last 2 obstacles for not showing up.  All this after paying to compete... What a bunch of bullshit.  Keep trying to hold me down with nonsense like that... Next time I'll come out swinging.

10/24/04 -

    Well we got screwed at Supercrawl on obstacle #1 (the wall of death). The judge claims we didn't break the plane of the zero line with our rear tires..... which we did. Immediately thereafter I rolled the truck hard, bending the chassis and putting us out for the rest of the event. (Pictures can be found here - Roll Pictures 1   Roll Pictures 2).   The resulting 40 points bumped us back 5 places in the standings, and no one cared to acknowledge my protest. So in the end we placed 55th (allowing for 4 ties above us),  5 places back from where we rightfully should be.  Check out the ESPN2 coverage of the event, Dec. 16th at 4PM EST on ESPN2.  For what it's worth, the entire event was a mess.  Ranch and the rest of the folks at UROC did their best, but I think they weren't fully prepared for everything involved with running an event of that size and caliber.  Lots of changes need to be made for next season in regards to rules, safety, and scoring if the sport is going to continue to grow.

7/9/04 -

    We're gonna wind up missing this weekend's NEUROC due to my broken elbow.  I'm hoping it'll be healed in time to run the August UROC in Huntsville, Alabama.  On a positive note, our team page is now up on the UROC site.  Also, the New York Times ran a multi-page article on rock-crawling today, and the UROC events are now being aired on ESPN2, starting yesterday at 4:00 and 4:30 PM, EST.  The Times article can be found  in section F1 (the "escapes" section) and is titled - "Between a Rock and a High Place" - by Anna Bahney.  Lastly, next week's NEWSWEEK (July 11-17) contains an article on rock-crawling on page 53 that is titled - "Rocking, Rolling and Roaring" - by Vanessa Juarez... Yet another thing to look at. (And people say this sport isn't going anywhere).  Links to all this stuff are posted below...Be Sure to check them out.

Our UROC team page -   UROC team page

NY Times Article -  Between a Rock and a High Place

Newsweek Article -  Rocking, Rolling and Roaring

ESPN2 UROC TV Schedule:

7/8/04 - St. George, UT - 4:00 PM EST

5/17/04 -

    Matt Hasson of the Delco Daily Times feels the need to hide our existence from all you people... Way to research your story Matt... Call his punk ass and tell him who really rock and rolls this sport - (610) 622-8800.

Click Here To Read The Article:  Delco Times Rock Crawling Article 5/17/04

Click Here To E-mail The Times & Bitch:  newsroom@delcotimes.com

Our 2004  event schedule:

May 22-23 - Paragon Adventure Park, Hazleton PA 

June 5-6 - Badlands Off-Road Park, Attica IN

July 10-11 - Paragon Adventure Park, Hazleton PA

We are team number 143, in case you manage to miss the bright orange truck or the big banner in front of our tent, and have to ask some official vest-wearing yo-yo where to find us.  Get off your lazy ass and come out to support the team.

If you need Directions or more information... check out the links below.