Rebels Take Cedar City

Third Annual RCAA Competition

Text and photography by Dave Strawn, teledyn@mindspring.com, September 2002

Click on the images below to see the full sized pictures (about 80-100K each). As an RCAA Judge called out the final seconds, Chris Durham hurled his rig at the unyielding earth time and again in a brazen but ultimately unsuccessful effort to complete this obstacle before the clock ran out. Walker Evans' S10 crawler nimbly negotiates a boulder field. Upon reaching the bottom of obstacle 1A, Shaffer gently nudges his crawler sideways by skillful manipulation of gears, throttle and steering. Mike Weaver idles his Sniper while waiting his turn at the bonus obstacle.

Cedar City, Utah, USA, July 11-13, 2002

Moments after the official 9:00 am start time, the dry air was punctuated with the rumble of regiments of unbridled horses as drivers and spotters began pitting their skills against the most evil course that RCAA Marshal Phil Collard's twisted mind could concoct. Jaws dropped to the ground when Team Shaffer, trusting to a volatile mix of luck and creative genius, executed a high-stakes maneuver to complete the very formidable obstacle A-1 with a near perfect score.

On the very next obstacle, the team suffered a setback. Fans were stunned when the air rang out with the sickening report of a Dana 44 axle succumbing to excessive torque. Ironically, this occurred after a flawless run, as Mike guided his now legendary Suzuki-based crawler down the narrow chute toward the yellow exit cones.

Experimental high-tech tires from BFGoodrich, rear-steer, and portal axles from Mercedes and Avalanche Engineering were among the exotic array of performance enhancements embraced by competitors to meet escalating demands on man and machine. Flexible off-road sway bars are now standard equipment on many rigs. The wide application of this motor sports technology to rock crawling can be attributed to John Currie of Currie Enterprises in Anaheim, California. Like many innovations, Currie's "Anti-Rock Sway Bar" was initially met with jeers from vocal critics. Four years after its introduction and one Team Currie ARCA* title later, the off-road sway bar's contribution to the sport is rarely questioned and often promoted.

Another proven factor in performance is weight. It is no accident that the rigs occupying the coveted positions at the top of the heap are ever lighter. Steve Rumor's cutting-edge Assassin tips the scales at a scant 3,100 pounds. Mike Shaffer's entry weighs approximately 2,600 pounds, and Ken Shupe's machine, recently rebuilt by Jason Paule's South Dakota business "Twisted Customs," weighs a mere 3,000 pounds.

It should not come as a surprise then that most entries are built upon sturdy but comparatively light weight tube frames adorned with brightly accented body panels cut from thin aluminum or plastic sheet. The needs of a competition rock crawler can be met with a five or ten gallon fuel supply. Compact fuel cells like those found in the Summit Racing Catalog have all but replaced full size gas tanks. The weight advantage of the smaller vessel can pay performance dividends.

Mike Shaffer and spotter Lance Clifford failed to extend their unprecedented back-to-back winning streak. Ken Shupe, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and spotter Kevin "Moose" Nalley took first place in a dramatic upset. On the morning of day-one of the competition, Team Shupe, following immediately behind Team Shaffer in the order, wiped out on A-1 and finished wheel-side up in a spirited flurry of metal, rubber and loose rock.

Yet despite the early setback, Ken and Moose rallied to end the first day with a very respectable score. They accomplished this in part by compiling an impressive number of points from credit gates and the successful scaling of the only bonus obstacle. Team Shupe carried their relentless assault into the second day of competition, finishing with a sufficient number of points to put them solidly in first place for the event. Shaffer still ruled for the season in total points, ahead of second place Shupe by just 14 points.

The fourth and final event for the year 2002 was held September 19th through the 21st in Johnson Valley, California. Team Shaffer took the gold.

* Footnote - The name ARCA or American Rock Crawling Association has recently been changed to RCAA or Rock Crawling Association of America.

Assassin shows portal axles to advantage.	Click on the images to see the full sized pictures (about 80-100K each).   Steve Nantz & Rob Bonney of 4-Wheeler's Supply in Phoenix, Arizona, show what their light-weight flexy crawler can do.
Ken Shupe and spotter "Moose" begin their attempt on A-1. Shupe plants his rig on its side against the wall, narrowly missing the lower cones as it shuffles along on side-walls.	Shupe fails to return his rig to the upright position, eventually coming to a stop rubber-side up.
Spectators and staff help Mike Harmuth clear his vehicle from obstacle A-1.	RCAA's Marshal Phil Collard organizes the cleanup following a tumble.

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