Conversations with Big Rich

Send us Fan Mail Hunter Miller has come a long way since dirt bikes and ATV’s to CanAms capable of racing Dakar and King of the Hammers. Join us for a great conversation of how a boy progresses from two wheels to four. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:44 – When I was two years old, we went camping on a compound where wolves were raised…  9:34– we were racing Oklahoma and the cops...

Send us Fan Mail  Sometimes, you meet a guy and just know he’s the real deal. As genuine as they come, Nick Cimmarusti has carved out a space for himself in off-road. Whether you see him on the trail sharing his knowledge with others, or in the shop doing the same, Nick will never lead you astray. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 5:33 – “make sure you don’t leave the keys in the gol...

Send us Fan Mail When you combine art and off-road, you wind up with Rory Ward. A fan since early days, Rory made connections that allowed him to combine his passions and thrive. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 5:37 – my dad would get Hot VWs magazine and I’d always look up the races, I missed being around that, even at 8-10 years old  18:29 – Ivan (Stewart) was the one that really...

Send us Fan Mail Most of our podcasts are full of stories, but not many cover the globe from end to end. Patricia Upton and her husband, the late Loren Upton, have completed expeditions that most of us only dream about. Patricia is still adventuring. Listen closely, the trips have twists and turns in countries many of us have never heard of. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 7:02 – I...

Send us Fan Mail Falling into automotive without a plan, Gary Haugley has made a career of buggies, cars, and off-road. From building to appraising, car show judging and building stories. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 7:52 – I had no clue, no clue what was going on…  13:33 – I walked into B&R Buggy, the guy who owns it says, “you’ve got to buy this place;” he goes, I got in t...

Send us Fan Mail Serial entrepreneur, John Williams, owner of Impulse Off Road shares the journey to now, with all the twists and turns. John has had some interesting experiences and is sure to have many more. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 5:08 – our front yard corner was worn to dirt; that was our goal, was to wear through the grass every year on our motorcycle  13:02 – when I g...

Send us Fan Mail Outdoorsman and Renaissance man, Andrew Paulson can do anything – if he’s interested. In the last fifteen years, we’ve watched Andrew build anything he set his mind to. The stories are fun. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:16 – this is why I always fought the educational institution, I had enough of it when I was a kid  10:08 – I was taught to earn my allowance, I...

Send us Fan Mail No matter your age, follow your passion. That’s what Toby Lavender has been doing for life. Automotive to hunting, Toby excels at all of it, and he’s not done yet. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 8:15 – I always preach to everybody that real formal education in the automotive repair industry is critical these days  18:17 – We flew in just so green to life and trave...

Send us Fan Mail The original hot-rod kid is still playing with V-8s; but now he’s taking them off-road. Tim Ryan, owner of the V8 Swap Shop is revving up as your go-to guy. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3;36 – I got knives pulled on me daily because they knew I had a nickel for milk money  12:08 – they organized the high school drags and all the high schools were invited to part...

Send us Fan Mail  From the garage to where it is now, everything happens with hard work and innovation. Aaron Wedeking shares the PRP Origin Story and where they are going now, through the ups and downs and twists and turns. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.  9:58 – I did well in school, but mostly, I was just waiting for the weekends!  16:53 – I’ve never set a goal, I just analyze t...

Send us Fan Mail We love couples that work together. Paul and Keri Porter have been together since high school, now with the kids grown, they’ve dropped into four-wheel drive with a vengeance. Training trips, shows, and adventures keep them away from home for more than half the year. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 8:35 – It was definitely a struggle in those days, but we had a lot...

Send us Fan Mail Jeff McKinlay, a man of experiences, from milking cows to construction; building steel buildings and rockcrawlers. Jeff has the work ethic to knock everyone out of the park; he’s the best at all he has done. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 5:38 – Wrestling was what I was good at; ended up four-time state champion, that’s what taught me a good work ethic is the wres...

Send us Fan Mail Tuff Country has been through some changes, from the founding 35 years ago to it’s purchase by a private equity firm to being back in the hands of the founder, Kelly Davis. Kelly shares all the details and what’s coming next. We wish him all the best in his reboot! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:07 – I guess we’ve always been off-road entrepreneurs  6:54 – He sa...

Send us Fan Mail Blue Ribbon Coalition Executive Director Ben Burr gives the low-down on what BRC needs right now and shows us how we can be successful in our land use fight. It’s a fascinating take on what is going on in the real world. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.  4:16 – my ancestors settled the Moab area; the Burr Trail is named for them  8:01 – I was always an advisor on th...

Send us Fan Mail “I just wanna go fast,” Chris Ridgway. Chris joins us from the road as he’s hauling multi-million-dollar cars all over the US. If it’s got wheels, Chris has raced it, from motorcycles to Porches. Some great stories in here. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 6:35 – I wasn’t the most popular guy, I wasn’t the least liked guy, I was just one of the guys.  10:38 – I was...

Send us Fan Mail Helper should be his middle name; always one to give an assist, Bryan Crofts shares life from family Crofts to family Campbell and all the twists in between. Some great stories in here. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:39 – when I was a young kid, I always wanted to be a garbage man; they make good money.  15:51 – I had a buddy I went to school with, him and I wou...

Send us Fan Mail If International Harvester made it, Jeff Ismail knows about it. From printed manuals to Scouts and Travelalls, Jeff has his finger on it. A self-made man, Jeff understands that happy is a choice, join us for a conversation on episode 237. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:29 – my friends were playing and swimming, but not me and my brothers, we were with Dad – raki...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Rowland from Indiana is a bit of an anomaly. A communications major in criminal justice, attends XJ conventions without an XJ, and a builder of fabulous bonfires! Join us for some Midwest history on Episode 236. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:35 – …that might be part of the reason I’ve always had affection for Jeeps  13:50 –my freshman year, we lost to the...

Send us Fan Mail Two-for-one this week, George and Lora Leyner are bumbling along the rockcrawling trail. With challenges and trials getting them to the support and friendship they didn’t even know they needed. Join us for a fun conversation with a great couple. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 8:48 – Gone in 60 seconds  11:45 –I had two instructors who really cared about their stud...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Michael Brassanini, the newly crowned WE Rock Unlimited Champion; all-in family man, keeper of dreams, and seeker of goals. Michael fulfills his kid's dreams, too. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:07 – As a kid there didn’t seem like there was a lot to do, looking back, the world was our oyster.  11:11 – It was hard as a kid being taken away from your fa...

Send us Fan Mail There are just too many stories to write notes about; Andy Myers is one of the believers, a man who knows what it’s like to try, to build, to succeed, and to try again. Much respect for a man who walks the walk. Join this self-proclaimed introvert for a wild ride around the world. Thanks, Andy. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 12:56 – I’ve never had a job and I’ve n...

Send us Fan Mail Mitch Guthrie Sr. was raised a cowboy and became a Champion UTV Racer. He shares life in the fast lane with us on this episode of Conversations of Big Rich. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:27 – We were always riding horses, I was constantly getting pulled out of school.  8:34 – I heard about Azusa Canyon, back then, it was a wide-open four-wheel drive place     ...

Send us Fan Mail To keep up with Tracy Valenta, you’re going to need to step up. At 84, Tracy is still the ultimate salesman. On Episode 231, Tracy shares highlights covering the racing years with the Party Ice team. Tracy was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2016. Tracy is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 4:20 – I bought...

Send us Fan Mail Phil Rawlings has his hands in a lot of things, he has embedded himself in off-road, like many of us. You’ll find him at Salt Lake Off-Road Expo, At Your Leisure, and many other places where voices matter. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 6:38 – I’m generally a very mellow and chill dude, but I definitely have an adrenaline addiction side  11:52– I got busted for a...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Jensen, founder and engineer of Off-Road Innovations is on Episode 229. Without a background in off-road, Mark got launched into it accidentally. It’s been a heck of a ride. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:32 – I lived in the mountains with redwood trees, coming to Toelle was like being dropped in the middle of the desert, left for dead  11:56– I built an ou...