Conversations with Big Rich

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

Buggy builder, Joe Thompson lays it all out in Episode 190; self-taught welder and bike enthusiast, Joe brings his varied background to the winningest drivers. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.4:08 – I would think to myself, there’s a bada**, I want to be like that!13:19 – even when I was a BMX grom, I was glued to ESPN watching the Baja 100021:24 – “Are you any good?” Well, I’ve been told I have a good hand.  29:18 – We’d always park the buggy on the street with a giant welding sign and an arrow pointing to the shop; I got lots of work from that.39:35 – I know what’s wrong, I can fix it, Marcos totally blew me off53:58 – the Gomez brothers and I are partners in winning, that’s what we’re partners in58:50 – I see the fully independent cars being the future.1:16:31 – The uniqueness of our sport is incredibleSpecial 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

Ed Pearlman was ahead of his time, creating the first Mexican 1000 which later translated into NORRA; he founded the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, as well. Today we remember him with a conversation with his son, Mike Pearlman. Ed is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:10 – we never saw a Land Cruiser before, it was a real Tarzan vehicle back then.8:18 – if we can only get 60 entries, at $100 an entry, that’d be enough to pay for the event                                11:37 – you misunderstood, this is the Off Road Rally Association, it’s not a race, it’s a rally 22:11 – why don’t we just put on a vintage race?34:43 – it all started because Dad wanted to take his kid huntingSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

I don’t want to say Val Douglas is a catastrophe because wherever she is, there’s a whole lot of fun going on.  Listen in on some great stories from this off-road maven; and her connections to some of the biggest brands in off-road. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.7:17 – I would take my 88 t-bird and follow the guys, my dad loved me for that.20:46 – I was shell-shocked, Grand Junction to Laramie to Atlanta; I was over it.             24:38 – go pack these bearings full of grease, then stick them in this tube, and don’t drop them on the floor! 37:55 – in Colorado, you have to stay on the trail, it’s not like an open OHV area, Colorado is a big stickler for that45:21 – the start of the yard sale at Potato Salad Hill….{be sure to listen to this one}1:04.35 – competing was a whole different ballgame1:10:35 – queen of the Rubicon Rodeo; champion bull rider1:19:59 – my giant black German Shepherd is a personal protection dog; he won’t bite you until I tell him to1:31:54 – what is the sweep team?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

Rebelle Rally 3x champion, Melissa Clark, shares her life in off-road from Pritchett Canyon to the Glamis Sand Dunes. A Ford-sponsored driver, Melissa brings Tread Lightly! policies to everyone she teaches. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.5:00 – I still consider myself an OR nurse9:05 – …it got me close to Magic Moab             16:56 – my real gateway drug was definitely Moab 23:28 – we teach good, solid off-road techniques and then the nuances of the Bronco35:37 – I’m very competitive by nature, so I like games40:57 – the suffering aspect of the Rebelle is what makes the finishing so sweet49:42 – your vehicle is your third teammate and there are pros and cons to every person on the teamSpecial 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

Some men are always motivated, Clyde Bynum, the godfather of rock-bouncing shares his best advice on Episode 186. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.9:17 – the truth is, I enjoy work13:45 – we focused on mini-trucks until about 10 years ago             17:59 – climbing hills is something I’ve done since the days of the three-wheeler 24:52 – if it went bad, you were going to cartwheel multiple times back to the bottom35:03 – Timmie Cameron has been probably the biggest name43:17 – Bobby Tanner gave my son CJ the chance to drive49:36 – I studied for 24 hours and became a national satellite installer so that I can cross this bridge at my first eventSpecial 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 champion of vocational education, Scott Taylor is a winning short course racer, race shop owner, and manufacturer of performance competition parts. Congratulations to Scott Taylor, a 2022 inductee into ORMHOF; Scott is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.5:41 – I would take things apart I shouldn’t take apart10:38 – I advocate deeply with high schools on how important it is to keep the five things of vocational training…                                19:29 – I had a really good car and I drove the wheels off of it 27:29 – He was a lot faster than me, but I had my eyes set on somebody I had to beat36:26 – we weren’t cheating, but we were building our own stuff and ahead of our times45:25 – it’s like an old girlfriend calling you up after 10 years and wanting to start dating againSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Some personalities just transcend the airways; Chris Bolger is one of those. Always a storyteller at heart. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.7:26 – when I say I was a nerd, I mean mathlete, academic decathlon, and all the nerd stuff you could possibly do10:12 – I never really got into breaking stuff off-road until I got in the army             16:05 – legal drinking age is four foot six, as long as you can see over the top of the bar 21:00 – George was a genius, he figured he couldn’t get enough tires from all the manufacturers, so he would just make his own31:36 – you had two larger-than-life personalities trying to make something awesome happen38:33 – the best thing about my time with KOH was the friends I developed43:50 – I tried to quit the industry, Rich, I really did49:14 – I’m 20 whatever years old, doing bikini model fittings because I can sew.54:54 – My daughter is scary, she’s 12 years old, running her own business, and she goes with me to midget wrestling matchesSpecial 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

We can’t always plan our lives, an accident near the start of his career put Evan Evans in a wheelchair. But that didn’t slow him down; Evan went on to win 57 times and six Championships! Congratulations to Evan Evans, a 2023 inductee into ORMHOF; Evan is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.5:40 – when we stayed in Ensenada as a kid, I would use stickers like money7:50 – it was John Nelson who gave me my shot at racing                                12:31 – “you driving this pre-runner Datsun, which isn’t even a real race truck, is like you winning overall” 20:15 – I went through rehab in four months…two days later, I was in the race truck at the Baja 1000 starting line26:34 – I needed a hell of a brake system to get enough power to stop the vehicle with my arms30:35 – I only had $8K to go back and race a full season37:33 – at this point, only myself and Dale Earnhardt, Sr had two contracts with Chevrolet as spokespersons and race car drivers47:07 – all my heroes are in ORMHOF; to be included is a huge honorSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

What do glitter and rockcrawling have in common? Only the lightning strikes of Erik “Camo” Linker – Camo is the co-founder of Pirate 4x4 and a good friend; we are thrilled to have him on the podcast (finally!)  Buckle up; you are in for an adventure. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.7:26 – growing up in the era was magical; I tease my mom that we raised ourselves15:34 – “the bad news is you don’t have enough credits to graduate, the good news is we don’t want you back”             23:46 – Over the next 18 years, we turned the business into what everybody knows as the Glitter King 28:40 – I broke my neck crashing, I was better at crashing than winning31:20 – that was my first connection on Pirate with my fake internet friends became real41:16 – we just went with the mindset of destroying sh*t52:29 – the thing I’m most proud of with Pirate years is how it enabled so many people to make a business out of something they loved1:07:37 – that’s what the internet is best at and Pirate was the best of the best1:16:37 – the offroad angels (this is one of my favorite stories EVER!)1:40:11 – the sale of Pirate 4x4Special 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

Warning:  For mature audiences only. To say Jody Everding has a storied past is an understatement.  Jody tells it like it was and it’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.5:26 – I played a little flag football with the after-school kids, but I was always the last kid picked15:34 – being a punk, skinny little kid, they used to call me Wormy              22:40 – “how are you going to buy parts? Offroading is expensive!” – I’m gonna be famous! 30:57 – I hauled my stuff up there and I had intended to compete but I just petered out40:09 – nobody talks to the new spotter guy, you’re like a second class citizen, low level flunky48:14 – it was an unfair advantage for me56:15 – it was a little of what I’d learned from Dustin about looking like a million bucks!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

Land use warrior Matt Westrich brings his Army experience to the battlefields of organizational combat. Matt has great experience and knowledge to share with all of us. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.4:44 – Al Bundy is modeled after me8:30 – Utah, where the heck is Utah?              22:36 – I get into announcing because nobody else in the club wanted to pick up a microphone 26:54 – Craig goes to push me, and I’m like, what are you doing?39:27 – In the land use community, we have had to fight heavily to keep the area from being developed45:39 – Land use is a fickle thing; nobody wants to talk about it53:17 – I did $19,000 worth of body damage to my PowerWagonSpecial 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

Advocacy and education are what ORMHOF inductee Jim Bramham, brings to the table. Leading the fight for years in preserving public lands, Jim does the hard part, a walking encyclopedia of OHV knowledge and land use, we are pleased to introduce him to more than California. Congratulations to Jim Bramham, a 2018 inductee into ORMHOF; Jim is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.6:51 – my neighbor bought a Jeep and I spent hours in his garage asking questions11:29 – “You’re not going to college; you’re coming to work here.”                                15:34 – to this day, I’ve never seen anything that would do snow like that Travelall. 20:19 – you can’t ruin what you want to play with26:32 – it really hurt to see somebody so dedicated to a place…have to accept that it was just going to go away38:36 – the fact that a law enforcement presence exists, helps not just with OHV management, but with the management of all potential problems in the forest43:15 – it’s the campfire circle that’s going to push this information to the public49:40 – that’s going to be the push, to eliminate the randomness55:44 – the Senate is the War Zone over land use, it always will beSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

ORMHOF inductee Curt Leduc, Class of 2015, shares some great storytelling; living life to the best of his abilities, Curt has made his own luck along the way with hard work and dedication to his craft. Congratulations to Curt Leduc, a 2015 inductee into ORMHOF; Curt is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:10 – between mini-skirts and mary jane, it made for a very challenging time8:58 – the entrepreneurs in this country are C students…looking out the window…thinking about what they’re going to do                                14:58 –come outside, I want to show you something… 24:10 – “What scares you?” I had to think, the only thing that scares me is failure31:13 – there’s two ways we can do this…41:42 – oh, I want to go to Dakar54:28 – I call it Paul because I’m stealing from Peter to build Paul1:01:22 – when my boys started racing, they had to go to every sponsorship meeting, because I wanted them to hear what the people wanted1:18:24 – his immune system is down, but his spirits are upSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Classic over-achiever, Laura Butcher, shares an unparalleled perspective into off-road. Currently heading up VORRA and Farmy’s Off Road Park, along with her full-time gig at Tread Lightly! Laura is a wonder. Listen in on the experience she brings to the table. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.5:05 – “are you willing to give welding a shot and be on the Ag Mechanics team?”22:09 – In EMS, if you can make it in Vegas, you can make it anywhere. I became addicted to the chaos              30:41 – it was 58 below, I ended up with second-degree burns along my rib cage 36:03 – when my brother said, Can you please come home, I came home.47:24 – everything forward became very serendipitous, starting with the Rebelle Rally59:41 – We had the VORRA name, now what?1:09:19 – It all ties together between VORRA, Tread Lightly! and Farmy’s – what led me there was my constant difficulty with BLM permitting.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

There’s never a direct path to the finish line. Don Moss started in Demo Derbies, raced Circle Track, and then found his way to Class 3 Championships. If you’ve ever wondered how to get into off-road, this is what it’s all about. It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.7:50 – It’s a long ways to any parts stores in Bishop13:28 – I think I was in college before I bought a car that I actually drove home              25:53 – we figured out how to save the cars and how to build the cars and what cars to start with 32:15 – each time you add a person, you add about 30 minutes to your departure time44:19 – we talked about what it would take to do a 2000-mile race and came up with the ’79 Bronco52:49 – we’ve got five of the Toyota True Grit awards for finishing all the miles of all the races in the season56:26 – we’re never going to be able to catch anybody to hit anybodySpecial 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

ORMHOF inductee Chris Collard, Class of 2015, shares some great storytelling, which is right in his wheelhouse. Who knew  you could go from UPS driver to premier magazine editor and writer?  That’s my favorite part of the story, how Chris gets invited and takes the opportunity to get in the room. So grateful to interview long-time history-makers in the industry. Congratulations to Chris Collard, a 2015 inductee into ORMHOF; Chris is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:00 – surfing or milking goats, which would you do?9:03 – I worked since I could walk                                19:54 –The UPS guys were the world sex symbols 29:14 – I’m on a first-class flight, and Mark Smith was querying me; the finale – damn kid, get off your ass and do it!32:21 – if you’re going to be a photographer, you better be a writer, too!39:45 – good storytellers put you in the seat with them49:22 – The story starts…I remember being in Zambia (be sure to listen to this one!)53:46 – I’m historically an optimist, but I’ve had some moments…this one time in Morocco (another great story!)59:06 – I’ll take some morphine for the road1:07:03 – The runway is like a worm, but don’t worry, the pilots have some vodka before they landSpecial thanks to ORMHOF.org for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.Support the show

Renowned automotive photographer Boyd Jaynes is a publisher, off-road racer, and head of the Dusty Times publication.  It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.8:03 – I really aspired to be an artist like my mom, but I couldn’t draw to save my life13:16 – I bought myself a little Honda scooter before I had a driver’s license and railroaded my mom to thinking it was legal              20:45 – I had a one-in-a-million photography teacher in high school 34:22 – hey dude, you can’t send us film anymore, they were insistent42:48 – I went to places that back then were crazy to go to… every time they told us not to do something, that’s exactly what we did49:45 – and then I learned I can make a living shooting automobiles – this is so cool!56:28 – we should find an old truck and try to do that, well, we should get an old Bronco, and that’s what we did1:04:20 – what dusty Times used to be was not lost on me, what it was was a revered publication. 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

Have you been looking at portals for your Jeep, Bronco or Tacoma, we found your source. Quinn Pultz at 74 Weld gives the low-down on building his business. Great stories, good insight.  It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.5:45 – I followed my brother's footsteps in everything he did, if he wanted to do it, I naturally wanted to do it too18:22 – If you really want to prepare somebody for college, hand them a packet of information and say, we’re going to test you on this, go study.              23:47 – the engineers we’re training nowadays can draw a doorknob, they have no idea how it works or how it’s made 32:20 – I got into a Jeep, broke the rear track bar mount, paid $500 to fix it and broke it the next weekend, I thought, I can’t afford to do this!40:53 – making your living off somebody’s hobby is a difficult thing to do48:26 – I was so focused I couldn’t make it out of my shop for anything, so I peed in a bucket in the corner53:51 – it’s really how I got where I got is asking questions of the right people who are willing to teach me along the way1:26:21 – I believe if I’m going to develop a product, it’s got to fall into one of three categories…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

Technically homeless, Travis C. Bunch lives in Moab with his ten cars. Yep, that says cars, not cats. Travis produces the Flat Fender Aficionado, a storytelling periodical. He’s got great insight into the world of Jeeps.  It’s a great listen, be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app.3:35 – with a Jeep you can turn it off when you’re getting over your head12:29 – I’ve had over 62 cars so far, around 30 of them have been Jeeps              21:47 – You guys are living in a school bus, right? 27:29 – it took me a while to get over the programmed fear of getting shot on private property to be able to explore public lands35:12 – we call those guys freegans41:15 – I always say you got to have a love for pain and suffering if you’re going to be a flat fender driver58:13 – the Go Devil Run is more of a reenactment of what the people do with the WWII stuffSpecial 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