Conversations with Big Rich

Ivan Stewart on Episode 211. Such a privilege to interview the Ironman. We talk about all the dreams and adventures, and the timing, the all-important timing! Ivan was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Ivan is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.2:19 – the race is almost secondary, the pre-running and the adventure is the real story 10:42 – an automobile is so cool because you can get in your car and set the radio station exactly like you want, and the heater, and…             19:29 – without GPS, you had to remember the course, and the better you were at the that, the more successful you were going to be 26:09 – I said, “Charlotte, the sun should never be rising on our right-hand side!”35:55 – it wasn’t going to cost a whole lot more to build a desert truck, although it cost a lot to campaign them40:09 – Sometimes you hit the timing just perfect!45:21 – You got to have a dream to have a dream come true.50:47 – I wanted to race off-road, I didn’t want to talk about it!Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Born to a family of Italian immigrants, Butch Arciero and his brothers understood the value of hard work. A lifetime of commitment to that landed him in the Hall of Fame.  Butch was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2019. Butch is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:23 – my mom was on the last ship that came out of Naples to the US before they stopped all the shipping when the war broke out 13:26 – “Listen, Frank, if you get good grades next semester, I’m going to give you a present.”             20:13 – my dad always wanted to own a race car 27:23 – Well shoot, I can compete with these guys, and then start winning32:07 – I remember everybody telling me, if you’re in an area with lots of people, watch for booby traps43:14 – One of the things with me, if I’m going to do something, I don’t just want to do it, I want to be able to win.57:25 – I’ve got one more story I have to tell, it happened in Mexico….Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

After four full years of podcasting, we bring you the most important episode to date to kick off Season 5. An interview with Sean Pond, the de facto leader of the Halt the Dolores Movement shares why stopping this National Monument designation in its tracks. Please listen on your favorite podcast app and follow-up with the Call to Action. Sean needs our help.6:12 – what the Navy doesn’t tell you is that you’ll see a whole lot more water than you will see of the world 11:28 – I worked in building 771 at Rocky Flats, the most dangerous building in the world at the time             15:57 – if my close friends were to describe me, they’d tell you I do two things – I hunt and I wheel 23:11 – if you like to hunt and you like off-road and you like the thrill of the chase, it’s a hard habit to break 24:54 – HALT THE DOLORES – let’s talk about what it is and why it matters!36:29 – it stifles ranching, mining, outdoor recreation, hunting – it affects so many people, it’s a shame43:53 – google the 30 by 30 agenda and the America the Beautiful Act; over 100 million acres of public land will lose access to for all time53:36 – if we were standing around at an event talking about this, you’d think it was a conspiracy theory1:01:49 – CALL TO ACTION:  Sign the petition, call your congressman, Share, Share, SHARE, help fund the fightSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Wrong seat filler, Chris Rea, shares perspective on what it takes to be lucky. Listen in as one of the Lost Boys shares how going all in (on whatever you’re doing) has an impact on life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.4:25 – my dad had to pull me out of t-ball because I was too competitive 9:45 – for my sister and I, sports were life.             13:24 – if you want to play football, you’re 100 pounds. 21:41 – my first foray into offroading was a high school club called Unauthorized 28:36 – in 2005, I realized I was going nowhere and I was going to be nothing, so I joined the military32:52 – if there was a rule, it was black and white as far as I was concerned.41:14 – one of my favorite things is that Tracy Jordan is still scared of me54:17 – I’m just here to stay fit so I can beat my dad1:05:48 – I’m just some random guy who’s been really lucky to work with amazing teamsSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

A warrior in all respects, Ray Moon fought in Vietnam and continued fighting for our rights when he returned. Land warriors were as important in the beginning as they are now. Ray was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1979. Ray is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:12 – I had my first encounter with a Jeep in Vietnam and I didn’t know how to drive the damn thing 7:41 – it worked out very well, the military structure, I got it, I grew up.             16:29 – I live in Simi Valley now and volunteer at the Reagan Library, the Presidential Library 29:11 – PTSD is what they call it today, and we all have problems with that, I was no different35:43 – I became the conservation chairman for Cal Four Wheel Drive41:23 – There was a woman who was so happy we were closed down so she could take her Buick out and enjoy the posies, and the BLM guy was like, no, if we restrict them, we restrict you47:16 – we wanted to take a reasonable attitude toward all that53:51 – you don’t go into any of this stuff for the glorySpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Mastercraft has had some powerful owners, from founder Jack Miller to daughter, Peri Kalar, to ORMHOF inductee Robbie Pierce. Hear about how it began all those years ago and the forces behind it. Peri shares some life-changing experiences with you. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.4:16 – he was in the army and became a parachute rigger, that’s where he learned to sew 9:53 – I worked at Mastercraft as the janitor; but my brother fired me a lot.             13:50 – we used to have soda cans taped to the rollbars, and they would have stuck stubs and tickets. 17:43 – we made a PSSS kit – a Personal Sanitation System in a little brown bag21:19 – that was the worst and best year of my life because I found out I could survive anything29:57 – Robbie was my supplier forever, so when I wanted to sell the company, it was perfect38:13 – when dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s he said, I’d like to make a list of things that are important that I want to remember…Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Family legacy racer, Mark McMillin, chairman of the Board of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame shares life in the McMillin family. It’s all about people, with a few race cars and some river-time thrown in. Mark was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Mark is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.2:46 – My dad used to say, if you want to get something done, give it to somebody who’s busy 12:11 – when I graduated college, there were no jobs for me, interest rates were 19-20%, we weren’t building houses             20:44 – Racing is a big part of our life. It’s not our whole life. 23:07 – why we’ve been successful is because we try hard at everything we do26:43 – I was never the fastest guy in a buggy, but I always found the finish line40:54 – “What is your legacy?” Good people!44:10 – I think this off-road racing fraternity is 99% people cut from the same cloth49:01 – You don’t have to have a cheat sheet for things you really care about.Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Johnny Campbell, 11-time Baja Champion, Johnny has raced, supported, and managed the American Honda team. A fun listen, Johnny shares stories from around the world. Johnny was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Johnny is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.9:17 – at a local level, I had a couple number one plates. I had a few mentors, I was always following them and watching what they were doing 13:13 – I was 21 when I finally got noticed by American Honda, and a guy who became my absolute hero and mentor             24:26 – Bruce was super humble, super organized, super smart 31:32 – we were professional at pre-running and racing and following ribbons and arrows, but we were novices at trying to navigate off a roadbook41:57 – I call it 11 time, 17 gives people the illusion I rode it all53:35 – We’ve built a program around Rancho Santa Maria, the school and orphanage that every year we do an event called the Baja Beach Bash59:56 – ORMHOF was a really big point in my career; I think as a racer, it’s more than just racing, it’s how have you impacted the sport?Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

TV Personality, Brendon Thompson, enlightens on us on the finer points of being on American Chopper – the builds, the craziness; but that’s not all, we get insight into his early life and his parenting, throw in a little 5150 racing and you’ve got the full meal deal. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.3:24 – my older brother was always the helping hand for me, picking me back up when I was doing wrong; he kept me on track 8:47 – I almost got fired because I didn’t know fractions, couldn’t read a tape measure      18:47 – My boss wanted to semi-retire so he passed off the gas tanks to me, I just started doing my own thing. 22:19 – in 2010, that’s when I got that phone call to see if I wanted to come build a bike with Paul Jr. on television36:13 – you don’t need to create the drama, the drama was there, it was craziness.48:41 – We did a lot of cool stuff, I’ve had a lot of cool experiences with the show, with Paul.51:47 – it was a big deal because we parked in Tracy Jordan’s spot, they’re like, you gotta move, Tracy’s here – we were like, okay, whatever.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

FigSpeed honcho, Les Figueroa dishes about drag racing, off-road, and being at “that” level with the big boys. It’s a great listen, plenty of stories to keep you entertained. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.5:17 – I still have the car that my dad raced and bought in 1970 16:59 – knowing I always loved drag racing, I took the position at Mallory Ignition making minimum wage; about $4.25 an hour             20:32 – all the events I was able to work at, I was also able to race at. The people on the West Coast thought I was an East Coast racer…I never told anyone I was new. 23:48 – so leaving the starting line as close to perfect as possible was the name of the game28:17 – being there for Speed Week was awesome, we stayed at the Speedway Motel by the Brickyard, Mario Andretti’s room was down the hall, and Jeff was next to him, once you were in at that level, it was one big, huge family.34:28 – Our company Fig Speed had a great relationship with Lucas Oil42:51 – I got kicked out for one of the Pedagon Brothers, the thing is, nobody told me I was kicked out, I had to read it in National DragsterSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

All American racing family, we’d like to introduce you to Andy DeVercelly – numbers, 2,3,4, and 5.  #2 is 93 years young and raced in the first Baja 1000; #5 just graduated to go-karts from mini-dwarf cars.  It’s a fun listen of four generations of racers. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.3:14 – Andy 2 – the bullfighter is my car, I hit a bull on the highway just before LaPaz 12:48 – Andy 2 – I had no idea at all where I was, there were like three street signs down there             19:00 – Andy 3 – my grandpa was an Ironman kind of guy, no one else could drive the car 25:06 – Andy 3 – Now that I’ve retired, I get the pleasure and fun of it all to go work with my son31:36 – Andy 4 – so as far as 4 wheels, he’s still a few years out – he’s just tall enough now to start learning39:26 – Andy 2 – the big thing was the energy, the energy that the people have down there for the 1000 is next levelSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Our favorite pirate, Todd Young, shares life in the hood, work, rockcrawling, and unexpected life changes. This is a great one, if you’ve ever had a chance to be around Todd, you’ll appreciate that he tells it like it is. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.3:57 – My dad was always a brawler, So I was born with the expectation that you solved everything with a good fistfight. 10:58 – I kind of fell into the weld shop, they had us welding right away             19:20 – I don’t do rules and politics very well, at I stage I got fed up and wallpapered the whole back wall of the shop with all those memos and stuff 30:12 – I got into a six-foot snowbank and slid off the edge, and that 4Runner wasn’t nearly as capable as I thought it was38:42 – So off we go to Goldendale, and sure enough, Big Rich and Little Rich are throwing the biggest rock crawling soiree…and I’m like, that’s my kind of people right there45:59 – Next thing I know, we’re rounding up rocks and culverts and throwing some fun crawls in our backyard for our local rockcrawling club53:27– Well, ditch the bike and I’m going to shoulder roll this wreck out; I hit a lot harder than I thought59:33 – My whole world was shrinking, the doctor goes, I’m just going to throw this out there, not to alarm you, but we can cut it off and I’ll have you back to work in six, eight weeks.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Mary McGee is a legend in off-road racing; solo’d the Baja 500 on a bike as the first person to do so; a woman who never learned to quit and always said yes to everything offered. She thinks she’s the luckiest woman ever, her history is a great story. Mary was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2023. Mary is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:31 – My 9-year-old brother and myself (age 5), by ourselves went on the steamship from Juneau to Seattle19:29 – Vashak said to Dan, Mary, she should road race the motorcycles, make even smoother than the car.                                24:45 – Women couldn’t have credit cards in their name, they couldn’t have anything in their own name. 29:41 – “Are you motorcycle people?” yes, “You have to leave”34:24 – my friend, Steve McQueen, said, “Mary, you have got to get off that pansy road racing bike and come out to the desert.”  Will I have to get dirty?55:48 – We only made it to El Arco and it was freezing; I went around and around that fire and got myself nice and hot and went right over to those two guys sleeping on cardboard and slithered right in between them1:10:34 – Once you start something, you should see it through to the end, however it goes.Special thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Cowboy Matt Deas, one of the OG rockcrawlers hails from North Carolina where he raises kids and horses. Matt shares with us some great stories about rockcrawling in the early days.. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.5:16 – Man, I love my childhood going to school and stuff, there were 89 of us in my graduating 10:43 – Once I got healed, I started ordering parts and got me a trail rig             17:11 – from 02-03 the sport evolved more, more participants and stuff 22:07 – Jellico was always my favorite because that’s where it all started for me29:44 – Probably the WE Rock in ’07 we ended up third, but I remember the level of competition was huge38:56 – I want to say it was ’10 a lot of people were coming back, they caught their breath and was like, hey, we survived the storm47:01 – I’m going to treat myself for a while, I’m going to treat myself for a while, I made it three weeks57:44 – We ought to put a show on, get some sponsorship and really pump it up – you woulda been proud of me.Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Nicole Pitell brings her own brand of hype to every conversation, she shares the inside scoop of Total Chaos to the podcast. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.6:12 – at the end of the day, it’s what makes each of us individually happy is what’s going to elevate you and take you to the next level12:05 – I want noted for the record, I suck at driving in mud             19:47 – our product line comes from having to build better parts for our friends who were pitting for us 25:44 – I think you need good competition to elevate your innovation and your passion32:50 – they just let me go full stupid down south of the border41:33 – An all women’s? That sounds horrible was the first thing I said to her.46:03 – I really like to have fun in life, no bad days55:12 – I don’t hang around with people that aren’t motivated, inspired, and driven every daySpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Glenn Classen made a big move from South Africa to the US to expand his market for shock absorbers – almost 20 years in, he’s continued to grow and develop Radflo for the off-road market. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.3:46 – as a kid, being aware of anything socially or politically about how the country ran you weren’t aware of until much later11:44 – let’s fire this thing back up, we made parts and started selling shocks             13:01 – in any business, there’s massive swings of good luck and bad 16:11 – that’s how I sold it to my wife, we’d come over to the US for two years and then go home23:04 – I came over here and very quickly realized that this was a massive pond and I was a very small fish33:23 – we are just a shock manufacturer38:44 – we make shocks to suit the different lift kit manufacturers, we don’t do genericSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Stan Haynes has rock sports under his skin; a long-time supporter of both series and competitors, Stan shares life in a family-run business with us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.6:07 – I thought I was getting drafted to go die in Vietnam11:24 – 57’  Chevy, I hot-rodded the heck out of it             15:52 – we still continue with Branik doing foundry work and ceating master tooling, molds, and dies making thousands of parts and a foundry and castings 19:50 – in starting a business you’re going to go through hard times, but be prepared and try to always have the attitude of don’t give up28:49 – I started going to King of the Hammers in ’09 and two years later we’re racing32:17 – I love free market, I love capitalism, it really enhances a business to be better.41:52 – What a beautiful place of God’s Green Earth, everyone needs to experience the Rubicon, am I right?Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Steven Adams is a lighting master; one of the founders of Rigid Lights, he’s stepped up again with Nacho Offroad Technology. The world is brighter with Steve in it, be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.5:33 – I’m sure he thought I would just throw my life away because I wasn’t being an airline pilot17:16 – I pulled up Bender’s How to Bend Tech 101 and taught myself how to make a light bar             21:38 – Hey, if you’re going to do this, here’s what you need to do…  28:14 – We need to make this an American made light38:38 – not that making money is a bad thing, but that was the only thing48:24 – I didn’t realize you don’t have scientists growing week, you have stoners growing weed57:18 – We’re not going to do anything if we don’t have fun doing it!Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

YouTube star Nicole Johnson brings a load of experience to her channel, she’s on a mission to drive everything – but we shouldn’t be surprised she’s already mastered race cars, rockcrawlers, and Monster trucks! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.5:36 – Snow? People live in snow, that must suck!16:20 – Frank would just…it was really cure, he would stand up and be like, “that’s my wife!”             23:25 – we’re just enthusiasts, we love to target shoot  29:04 – the buggy we bought was so capable, it out drove me every time35:37 – that $400 is going to cost you how many hours to really get that relationship where it needs to be45:48 – “when I lower my arm, floor it and go 20 feet.” when you floor it, it’s going to have some torque squat1:00:51 – I was always telling my kids, you guys should appreciate me more, I’m super cool!Subscribe to Nicole’s Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleJohnsonsDetourSpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Don Amador has been a land user for a lifetime, and a land use warrior for almost as long. Don was inducted into the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2016. Don is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.5:24 – the happiest day of my life being a Native Californian was moving back to Northern California12:00 – I guess my activism scared a couple of board members, so I got uninvited from the board                                16:23 – I was appointed by Pete Wilson in ’94 to be on the OHV Commission of State Parks 22:30 – moving from unmanaged to managed recreation has really benefited OHV on a national scale30:53 – a lot of our offroad opportunities occur at the local level with decisions made by local land managersSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show