Day 1 Event 3
The Mud Pit
What it is and how it works: The one constant to our mud pit is that it's constantly different. Each year, we tweak our demented recipe of ingredients to keep competitors guessing. This year we threw everyone for a loop when we made it narrower and easier. Easier? Yep, we figured with all the powerful engines in this year's lineup, we'd make it a race instead of a bog. As we expected, everyone who competed made it through the goo. The straight-line course was approximately 150 feet in length and competitors were ranked by their elapsed time.
Lammers' Bronco
Swartz' Chevy
Wood's CJ-5
Finish Line Quotes
"I think that mud has something in it."
-Jeff Wood
"You can't get that ride at Disneyland."
-John Griffin
"That was messy. I like it."
-Brandon Lammers
"This is a pretty humbling event."
-Clayton Kraatz
The Nitty-Gritty
Beck's International: Did not run due to damage incurred in the Frame Twister.
Hair's Wagoneer: Came to the event with a hastily straightened tie rod. Last competitor to run. Tried to follow a line down the right side of the track but ultimately the ruts chose his path. Good run that netted a middle-of-the-pack finish.
Hulbert's Willys: Third competitor. Chose a new line down the right side of the track away from the ruts made by the previous two competitors. Progress was slow as the 49-inch IROKS clawed for traction.
Kraatz' Warthog: The big 54s pounded the mud into submission.
Lammers' Bronco: Hung to the far right side of the pit. The ruts from previous rigs kept trying to pull the rig into the middle of the pit, necessitating lots of sawing at the steering wheel.
Morris' Buggy: First competitor. At the start command, he reversed from the starting line several yards before going forward to get more momentum. Hugged the left side of the course and held high speed the entire course.
Naeger's Buggy: Strong run with the Ramjet 350 singin' and the TH400 trans locked in Second gear.
Swartz' Chevy: Lightning-fast run with the monster 540ci engine screaming. The Chevy had so much speed, it was barely visible through the flying mud.
Wood's CJ-5: Second competitor. Reversed off the starting line to gain momentum like Morris. Followed Morris' ruts.
| RESULTS (elapsed time or DNS) |
| 1 Swartz' Chevy | 8.50 sec. |
| 2 Kraatz' Warthog | 9.75 sec. |
| 3 Morris' Buggy | 12.05 sec. |
| 4 Naeger's Buggy | 12.18 sec. |
| 5 Hair's Wagoneer | 13.60 sec. |
| 6 Wood's CJ-5 | 16.00 sec. |
| 7 Lammers' Bronco | 18.40 sec. |
| 8 Hulbert's Willys | 28.47 sec. |
| 9 Beck's International | DNS |