In case you're wondering where our contingency coverge went, you can thank Sprint for the lack of a working phone number ("technical difficulties", they said). Since there was no driver's checkin report yesterday, I will combine yesterday and today into one update. Driver's Check-in
Present but not driving for this event is Chris Durham, who will be spotting for Brandon Gillen. No word on why he's not competing this weekend. Not present is Amy Bulloch, who wow'd the crowd at Vernal, UT last weekend. She has loaned her "She-J" rig to Cathy Baucom for this weekend's event. Cathy was involved in a serious rollover in Vernal and is in need of a temporary competition rig. Husband Jeff says she will have a new rig available for RCAA-Cedar City in July. At last count, there were 53 teams signed up to compete this weekend.
We also got a glimpse of the new tube-frame buggy from Dave Burling and Dan Brown. Details cannot be disclosed at this time, but the new secret weapon is scheduled to be completed in the next two weeks. Just in time for a trip South of the Border to Baja California (more on this trip and the new buggy in the very-near future.....)

Day 1 Action
Friday's mayhem began bright and early just after nine am and from the start it was evident that the course set up by Craig Stumph was going to make for a long and frustating day for most of the competing teams. Driver Jeff Price and spotter/brother Scott began the day with two solid runs on obstacle's five and six, only to suffer the fate of many other teams on number seven. The big difference was that Jeff planted his rig nose first and stayed put. It took more than driver and spotter to right the vehicle. Not so for two of the three ladies competing today. Jennifer Little, being spotted by her husband Todd suffered the fate of others and rolled her '43 Willy's on obstacle 7. This is Jennifer's second-ever competition. Her first event was in St. George, UT where she finished an impressive tenth and in doing so qualified for the SUPERCRAWL in October. (This was also her second-ever rollover.)

Competing for the first time ever is Kinsey Beard, who rolled on her first obstacle ever (obstacle 7). Slightly shaken, she emerged from her "Jeep-N Stein" painted yellow rig ready to take on the next obstacle. Asked how she felt about her first rollover, she said "What a rush!" Said one of her supporters, If you're not rubber up occaisionally, you ain't trying hard enough." Little Success on the Rocks
The rocks have not been kind today. One of the days' victims was Jeff Baucom who broke the short end of a 35-spline Dana 60 and suffered one of the more severe rollovers on the day. Said Jeff, "This weekend's obstacles are harder than last week's Vernal event. "I came out here to have fun, not see how much winching I can do, or how much I can break. The obstacles need to be set up to test a driver's technical experience, when everyone has to winch up an obstacle it's obviously too difficult". With sixteen events between UROC, ProRock, CalROCS, and EROCC, breaking every weekend is becoming too costly." Even Craig Stumph was surprised at the number of teams using their winch today. He had driven every obstacle in his Commando prior to the start of the event.

One newcomer to rock crawling was amazed at what a well-built rig and experienced driver spotter team can do. "I'll skydive, but I would never get into one of these rigs - this is truly amazing" Sounds like rock crawling has gained another fan. Standing's for Friday
John Gilleland leads the pack in the UNLIMITED class his Jeep Liberty with an amazing 13 points. A close second is Scott Gadsen 43 points. In the LEGEND class, Garrett Sisson leads the field of twenty teams with a score of 84.
Here are the Top Five finishers after day one: LEGEND
Garrett Sisson, 84 points
David Laws, 119 points
Dean Bulloch, 122 points
Von Werrett, 123 points
Jeff Rector, 138 points UNLIMITED
John Gilleland, 13 points
Scott Gadsen, 43 points
Chris Monk, 46 points
Mike Bailey, 84 points
Jennifer Little, 87 points

The Memorial Weekend Mayhem wraps up tomorrow and we will be bringing a second report after the day's event and will announce the winner. Stay tuned as the drivers battle each other and a very brutal course in hopes of taking home the First Place trophy.....

Rock@Off-Road.com