Speeding ticket to Slow Jeep to Fast Racecar, Matthew Slyngstad on Episode 288
Description
This week, Big Rich sits down with rising Ultra4 racer Matthew Slyngstad. Born and raised in San Jose, Matthew shares how a teenage speeding ticket steered him into a slow Jeep—and a fast off-road life. From cello and wrestling in high school to wrenching summers in the family construction business, he built the fabrication chops that power his racing today.
Highlights:
· Early days: Bay Area roots, yearbook photo editor, wrestling, and a love for the outdoors.
· Montana years: slower pace, more dirt—fishing, wheeling, and hunting. - Dogs and discipline: competing in Schutzhund with a powerhouse German Shepherd. –
· First Jeep mods: rock sliders as his first welding project; Rubicon trips that sparked bigger builds.
· Ultra4 entry: mentored by Jack Taggart and welcomed into Jason Scherer’s Rage 4 team; pit crew to Baja 1000 with Ford’s programs.
· The leap to racing: buying a 4800 car just weeks before KOH 2025; pre-running, shock tuning, and sponsor hustling.
· Race day rollercoaster: comms failure at the start, blazing desert pace, a boulder impact and broken rear upper link, pit heroics—and a proud finish, 18th in class. –
Shoutout to the entire Rage 4th crew—and old-school legend Jeff Mello—for making the dream real.
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