Scott Smith tells us that 6,300 people showed up in 2005 and although the numbers haven’t been tallied just yet, he is thinking that 10,000 would be a fair estimate for the 2006 event. This of course was not including the major manufacturers that pulled in half million dollar rigs to get a piece of the action. Some of the names included Yamaha, Bombardier Recreational Products and Arctic Cat.

The events would be laid out for all levels of competition. It did not matter what rig you might have because there was something for everyone. The classes were determined by size and displacement, as well as youth stuff to keep the kids happy. The classes went a little something like this:

• EPI Suspension Sled Pull
• DynoJet Bad-to-da-bone Competition
• Maxxis Mud-o-Cross
• Team Gorilla Run
• Super Trapp Mud Bog
• Bulldog Off-road ATT Mud Chic Shootout
• Diamond RV Kiddie Bog
  
  

The results were:

Open over 1,000lbs: 1 st Mike Walker

Open up to 999lbs: 1 st Mike Walker

4x4 Class over 1,000lbs: 1 st Justin Clark

4x4 Class up to 999lbs:1st Mike Walker

RUV Open Class:1 st Harley Olandese

Towards the end of the night on Thursday there was an old-fashioned poker run. This was called the HighLifter Pro Series Poker run. This is kind of like a free run to four or five stations with a five-hour time limit. Each player would draw a card at each station and get the card punched by an official for scoring. Then when the first person gets to the last station his hand is judged and scored. The person with the best hand wins. Even the best card sharks were subject to the draw. You had to play the hand that was dealt you. Sounds like something my Dad would say! The high hand went to Cody Wheeler and the low hand belonged to William Harper.

In the Mud-o-cross open class John Cannon wrestled through the slick track the fastest on his Bombardier Outlander and Matt Olsen would trail in second. Seems Mike Walker wasn’t going to give up though, as he pressed forward and took third place with a smile. A muddy smile that is!

I couldn’t believe it when I heard there was a class for the Yamaha Rhino’s. This was the RUV class and Mike Howland wasn’t going home with anything but first. Eric Dutton and JR Pullam found themselves fighting it out for second and third. Yamaha Marketing’s Steve Nessl must be proud to see his side-by-side’s showing their stuff and getting some big time attention. These things are awesome, and for them to get in and back out of Maxxis Mud-o-cross track it just goes to show you that even they can be a load of fun.

The IRS class or the Independent rear suspension class had a day of fun for John Cannon once again as he piloted his Outlander to yet another victory. I hope Steve Cowen at BRP is watching this guy because it seems he has a talent for the mud-racing arena. He schooled Jamison Price to “second grade” and then sent Jerry Vines home with third place. No one ever knew riding in waist deep mud could be this fun.

There must have been hundreds of men try the Bogg and sink, but in the Solid Rear Axle class, Ava Rice has been winning since she started back in the first HighLifter Mud nationals. Ava Rice would take home first and her closest competition was Shelley Kutina on her Yamaha Big Bear. Aimee Thorton powered her Honda Rancher out to a third place finish. The IRS class (this has nothing to do with April 15 th), had a few ladies fighting for the gold and Angela Adkins made it clear where she wanted to be as she grabbed first place from Sherry Vines who would have to settle for second. The Muddy Mamas were out in force and I can tell you this, in every sport there will be a few fast women and guys will bow to these ladies even when they don’t want to.

Well I guess the kids had fun, right? Does a cat have climbing gear? Darn tootin! The Diamond RV Kiddie bog had lots of kiddies ready to play in the dirt again as several classes had been set up just for them.

Class one went something like this: Only quads up to 89cc’s as set by the manufacturer. Class two had 90cc machines up to 125 cc’s and nothing larger than that.

Class three showed off quads up to 400 cc displacement and riders 14-15 in age could participate. So here are the results:

Class One : 1 st Randon Conner

2 nd Landon Rice

3 rd Jason Silvey

Class Two : 1 st Hannah Robertson

2 nd Seth Fowler

3 rd Mallori Arellano

Class Three : 1 st Justin Miller

2 nd Treyce Keys and Keavin Richard

For at least one weekend, moms around Northeast Texas would not mind if boys were boys and girls were too!!

So where will you be next April when this event rolls around? Probably the same place I will - in the mud with ten thousand of my friends at the Highlifter Mud Nationals..

Until then, here’s Mud in yer eye!!

-rs

*Thanks to Lexie Coulter for all the great Pics