We had an opportunity to attend a fundraiser earlier in the year for Wingshooters.org and it impressed me so much, I had to get the founder/CEO on the podcast. Greg McClelland shares his story and how he finds solace in the woods. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

2:29 – It’s humbling to see the support from folks who, honestly, don’t have any skin in the game at all

8:36 – I was taught to respect fences, but if there weren’t any fences, I just assumed that it was free

13:34 – My roommate dared me to come with him, I didn’t want to be a cop. I ended up doint it on a fluke and just kept passing these interviews, even though I was half insubordinate and pretty cocky.

22:28 – The outdoor recreation, hunting, being in the woods, gun smoke, campfire and bro time, talking sh*t. It makes me feel better. It’s got to help these same guys, right?

28:20 – My goal is to build a network of like-minded organizations where we can plug folks in.

40:33 – Anything any organization can do, as long as it’s honorable and for the right reasons, man, I’m all for it; any way we can partner and help, I’m glad to do it.

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Self-described, average trail wheeler, Jon Larson, shares the insights that he’s gained with 25 years of running Cherokees. If you ever wondered how you could get involved in off-road, Jon shares his path. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

5:59 – Dude, did you know that mom and dad were in a cult? I was like, I don’t think it was a cult.

11:18 – I pretty much have OCD when it comes to XJs, I know every part on the XJ by heart, every bolt-size by heart.

22:46 – I remember some high-speed chases late at night, going through private property, where someone came out with spotlights in some big pickup truck and chased us for 10 miles.

32:41 – I think the Scout was the only rig I’ve ever sold that I made money on.

38:56 – I would go to Pick and Pull and take things apart and figure it out. That was my own little personal learning class..

46:03 –I would grab a 30-pack, a buddy or two would come over, and we would part out a whole Cherokee, chop-shop style in 10 hours

1:16:05 – There are private landowners on the Rubicon, 40% of the Rubicon goes through private property, Common people like me don’t know that.

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This week’s guest may have a weak connection to off-road, but that string is still attached. James Patience is an ambassador for Bikers Against Bullies, and their message is clear – know who you are! I couldn’t think of a better man who knows. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

4:05 – I think you look back and realize that a lot of what you become as an adult is created when you’re younger

11:50 – I truly believe that everything in the world is a pendulum. If it’s pushed one way, it goes back the other way with equal force

20:04 – I went to work every day. And I learned that…so when you don’t have balance, and you don’t have structure, you have to find something as an anchor. That was work for me.

27:21 – I can be average and stay where I’m at, or I can kill it and move forward; and it’s the exact same investment for me. Why not move forward?

36:53 – Imagine like a chocolate Easter Bunny. You pour the chocolate in the mold and you spin it around, and then once it dries, you pull it out. That’s what we do with these tanks.

47:53 –I have to find a way that nobody can boss me around because of money

52:11 – It’s not about stopping the bully, it’s about being able to control yourself in those situations so things don’t affect you.

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Dirthead_Dave from the Dirthead Shed joins us for Episode 265. Let’s talk about building cars from hot rods to offroad, Join us and support the other Dave Chappelle. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

4:46 – The off-roading is the one thing that’s stuck and put me on the map the most

9:37 – Saturn was its own little weird community, compares to the girls with their IG handle on the side of the hood

15:32 – I ended up sabotaging the Sentra so it wouldn’t pass smog because my dad didn’t want me to get a mini truck, he knew I’d be broke forever after that

24:00 – Got my first Jeep in 2005 and that was the kickoff for all the stuff I’m doing now

30:05 – I told them I’d prep the Bronco and haul it to the start of UA if I got to go, that’s how I weaseled my way in there

48:20 –right now, it’s just wide-open throttle, pushing YouTube and trying to grow my brand

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Super spotter, Steve Hastings, was smooth, smooth, smooth. A driver in his own right, he spent a lot of his career as Jason Bunch’s spotter. OG rockcrawler who got started in the 60’s behind the wheel of his dad’s CJ5, Steve has seen a lot of rock. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

5:44 – Two pillows behind and two pillows underneath and low, low, low gear

15:23 – I’m one of Craig’s disciples, one of those rigs he bought high and sold low

29:12 – More like a lot of tequila and a lot of tacos

35:40 – Jason’s wife called and said, “Jason was a basket case, don’t you ever leave him behind again!”

42:36 – We’d look at an obstacle and find the hardest spot, then work backwards to get the right line

51:04 –we weren’t looking for fast, we didn’t care if we finished in nine minutes and 59 seconds, as long as we finished. Smooth, smooth, smooth was our battle cry

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Part Two. Stories so big we need two episodes to tell them! Jason Bunch of Tri-Couty Gear has a storied history and he shares it with us. Rockcrawler, racer, business man, enthusiast, Jason’s been part of the OG crowd. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

7:06 – For once, I’m the guy, not the guy on the outside of the fence, I’m the guy on the inside.

19:08 – Damn, why didn’t anybody tell me I was doing that?!

24:14 – I owe a lot to learning about mechanical things and driving different vehicles.

31:42 – I’m on Junkyard Wars, right? And they had us build a land speed vehicle/rockcrawler that could be a boat!

48:01 – I’m screaming at them, “the k*ll switch, the k*ll switch!”.

54:34 –At one point in my life, I had race face where I was pissed off because I wasn’t winning, I was taking it too serious.

Special thanks to Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.

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Stories so big we need two episodes to tell them! Jason Bunch of Tri-Couty Gear has a storied history and he shares it with us. Rockcrawler, racer, business man, enthusiast, Jason’s been part of the OG crowd. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

4:47 – We’d take about everything trying to make them faster, we’d grind the rod on a lawn mower and hold it wide open to see if we could make it blow up

16:08 – A cop rolls up and goes, “this brings new meaning to shade tree mechanic!”

21:04 – my Flat Fender had a healthy 350 in it and a 300 shot of nitrous oxide in it. It was fast.

30:59 – One night we clocked ourselves going through Sledge Hammer, did the whole trail in 51 minutes and one beer stop included.

36:25 – I watched Steve work with people and I thought, I need that guy for something, but I don’t know what.

46:34 –I used all of my knowledge of Jeeps and the things I’ve done to build that Jeep, no blueprint, just all in my mind.

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King Randy Slawson kicks off Season 6 of Conversations of Big Rich – that’s episode 261. Hear about the sheltered kid who turned his aggression to the rocks. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

5:49 – I was extremely sheltered, kept away from the world until I got married and moved to California

12:11 – my dad was busy and he wasn’t into mechanical anything, so I didn’t have somebody to mentor me and teach me how to do stuff

19:34 – Seven of us went in five rigs and wheeled the Rubicon, if I wasn’t hooked before, I was definitely hooked after that.

27:47– At the time, I was way into the Toyota scene, I’d had 20 different Toyotas, most of them basket cases.

37:59 – I knew Marlin, but not well; I took him out to check out a weird noise, he was like, “Oh, Randy, I can’t believe the stress this transfer case is under. Oh, Randy…”

42:21 –I don’t want to call myself a know-it-all, but I just think that I can do it better.

46:34 – More power, more speed, that spoke to me. That was my style.

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