The 1999 Goodyear Extreme Rock Crawlers Championship
By Tony Salvemini
- The Place - The slick rock surfaces of Farmington, New Mexico
- The Time - The 23rd through the 26th of September 1999
- The Event - The Goodyear Extreme Rock Crawlers Championship
A
merican Rock Crawling Association (ARCA) set the stage for this year's extreme rock crawler championship in Farmington, New Mexico. Extreme, what an under statement. Compared to the terrain of last year's event(not sanctioned by ARCA), held in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this terrain is completely different. An overheard description of "this is the road to Moab" seemed fitting with its picturesque, mountainous and slick rock facade. Unlike Farmington, last years event in Las Cruces provided the competitors with loose rocky conditions, typical of the southwest.
The list of attendees read like a who's who in the world of off-roading. Ned Bacon, Shannon Campbell, Pat Gramillion, Sonny Honenger, Chip Munk, and the list went on. The vehicles all were prepped to the "T" and all appeared to have gone through massive changes for this years event. Beefy axles, full lockers or spoolers, meaty tires, ratty motors and lots of patience were the orders for this event. Like a can of mixed nuts, the slick rock in Farmington was like and unlike that of Moab, UT. The surfaces were the same, but the southwest arid climate takes its toll by adding riverbed silt, dust and sand to the surfaces making for some interesting breakover traction.
With ARCA sanctioning this event, it was well organized and well prepared. Folks such as Kevin Hawkins, the owner of the ever-popular teal green flat fender we've all seen, helped design the course to make it fun and difficult at the same time. Bonuses such as standby ambulances, EMS personnel, lottery drawings for starting numbers and other things were noted.
DAY 1:
With the competitors drawing their starting numbers, this years lucky recipient of the pole position was Scott Sides from Tucson with his big green Cherokee. After tech inspections, Scott and the rest of the field were lead to the trailhead by ARCA officials and were then divided into two groups, equaling some 25 rigs each, and sent to two different courses. This is the start of some serious axle snappin', u-joint crackin', body bendin' damage. The most popular criticism noted was shear 
silence when the contestants met the way too vertical surfaces. Most obstacles, almost twelve of fourteen of the "qualifiers", required pulling the winch cable on these waterfall type obstacles. This year's rules hit the entrants with a twenty-point deduction when they winched. Other deductions were similar to last years with a 1 point deduction for stopping, 1 point for backing up, 10 points for knocking over or moving a gate and so on. Time outs and not competing in a particular obstacle meant a swift punishment of 50 points added to an easily growable point total.
On the first day, Randy Ellis and his super trick Jeep buggy, sporting a new flamed paint job, grenaded a left front axle and rear drive line. Although Randy was able to repair it, it wasn't quite fast enough as disqualified for that day. Not to our surprise, the axle carnage grew as the day went on.
Rollovers were plenty and thankfully there were no serious injuries. As mentioned previously, the ARCA folks had total safety on their minds with ambulances, quads, EMS, medical supplies, and rangers present and ever vigilante.
By the end of the day, the top rock crawlers had close and high scorings other than last years winner Jeff Waggoner, who managed to only have a score in the high seventies.
DAY 2:
Day two had the two groups switch courses and go at it again. Seven obstacles, oodles of gates and no lack of excitement. Being that we were now wheeling on a Saturday, the crowds were unbelievable. At one obstacle, an estimated twenty three hundred people were on hand to watch!! It had the atmosphere of a major sporting event, which I personally believe this sport will turn into. The team from Stage West Four Wheel Drive did very well on this day. Joel Snider and Joe 
Shaff came equipped with their Wranglers. This was Joel's first event and Joe's second. Harold Off was as tough as nails with his reliable Jeep Scrambler. He navigated his way through the toughest stages as if they were small bumps. As with day one, winch lines were thrown about like monofilament at a bass tournament. The crowds made it tough for the drivers to concentrate with their incessant cheering. Rants and raves from the crowd pushed the driver's to go as far as possible before breaking, rolling or winching their rigs. On occasion, the surmounting pressure was just too much as carnage continued this day with parts giving way to the stresses. From motor mounts and axles to complete destruction of transfer cases and drivelines. With this day coming to a close, the parking lot was slowly thinning out due to attrition. Given the attrition, the breakage, and the rollovers, the participants were in good spirits while waiting in anticipation of the score totals, which would decide the final twelve rigs for the crawl off on the third and final day.
Day 3, the crawloff:
After the scores were posted, the final twelve participants entered the final days competition. The trails were more difficult than the first and second days and so was the competition. Wrapping up the three day, brutal event determined the finishing order of this events winners.
The following list is the top twelve finishers in order of points.
1) Shannon Campbell
2) Dan Dunaway
3) Steve Rumore
4) Rich Hedson
5) Jeff Waggoner
6) Ian Liljeblad
7) Rod Pepper
8) Ken Shupe
9) Chris Durham
10) Ned Bacon
11) Charlie Copsey
12) Dana Verdoom