RockStar Run with DIRTsports/Off-Road.com and Poison Spyder Customs

Apr. 13, 2006 By Jaime Hernandez

For weeks now their has been buzz about the DIRTsports/Off-Road.com VIP run lead by RockStar Clifton Slay from Poison Spyder Customs. Well today was the day DIRTsports Magazine and Off-Road.com would rock the house.

The 50 rigs were made up of off-road industry leaders and innovators, Jeep® and Toyota Motor Co., Advanstar Off Road Group supporters and advertisers. We would have loved to bring the whole town of Moab with us, and trust me, we would have—but Clifton strongly recommended we limit it to 50 because anything over that would have created a boring and slow run.

We did, however, sneak in a few thousand of our closest friends under the radar—You, our loyal readers on Off-Road.com. So get ready as we give you a dose of the secret trail Clifton likes to call “Twisted Sister”.


Early in the morning, we headed out 13 miles north from town on Hwy 191 to where X marked the spot. An energized crowd was already waiting and lined up before the 8 o’clock check-in start time. DIRTsports and Off-Road.com along with the Poison Spyder Customs crew were there with their wicked rigs greeting the wheelers that would be doing the run.

The TOP SECRET run was such a secret, we didn’t even know exactly where we would be heading—but we were confident Clifton had a crowd pleaser up his sleeve. After lining up the group, lunches sponsored by Tuff Country Suspension were passed out to the crowd. The drivers meeting was at about 9am and everyone was briefed on what the run would be and how it would be led. Drivers and riders climbed up into their rigs and started their fire breathing engines. I got to hitch a ride with Clifton in his Suicide Sally. The Poison Spyder “Bruiser” 5-seater chassis is by far the greatest rock buggy I have been in yet—it’s literally a shot of pure adrenaline.


The group lined up and headed north on Hwy 191 towards the trail head. Looking back, I could see the long web of rigs that spanned over the greater part of the highway—it trailed over 2 miles. We turned off the road and hit the dirt, following a twisted road which took us to the trail head.
Getting out there was interesting…we hit a long stretch of open road so the Jeepers got to open it up a bit before we got to the serious stuff. Once we were at the trail head, the group was directed to wrap around wagon wheel style so we could fit all 50 rigs on our run. “Air Down” Clifton said over the CB to the group…so they did. From the top of the mesa we sat a few hundred feet looking down on what appeared to be sand dunes. What the hell are sand dunes doing out here? I thought Moab was all rock—I said to myself. Clifton had purposely brought us out here so we could mix it up a bit with a variety of terrain: open dirt roads, slick rock, water crossings, and sand dunes—the ultimate test of trail worthy rigs.

After everyone was locked and loaded, we shot down the hill into the White Wash Sand Dunes. This place was off the beaten path—a little over 20 miles from our meeting place in the morning. Clifton was a very good and conscious leader. He kept a pace that allowed for people to play, but didn’t leave everyone behind. He had also assigned some of the Poison Spyder crew to assist with leading the run—there was a middle leader, and tailgunner bringing up the back.

We hit the dunes and pegged the peddle to the metal. Pitching Suicide Sally sideways on the dunes, Clifton led the group like a group of army ants over this oasis. The group was having a blast. Curt LeDuc, Off-Road racer, felt right at home and began to play in the dunes. From the dunes, we headed to our first obstacle. To get to it, we had to cross some water, some dove right in, and other tested the water first. Kickin’ up some red mud, Clifton approached the face of the rock ledge, and clawed right into it. Sally’s 502 Ram Air and 40in Mickey’s climbed up the 80 degree ledge like they were old friends.

Getting the rest of the group up to the next level was fun, some took a shot at the way Clifton had gone, but soon realized it wasn’t going to happen. There was some carnage with crushed front ends, and head jarring crawlin’. Many had to take a bite at another lip just a few feet away that had less of a radical approach angle and slippery face to it.

The transition from dirt, to sand, to mud, to rock had everyone smiling and talking. Curt LeDuc told our video camera man that this experience was the closest encounter he has had with DAKAR. He was loving it, and so were we.

The “Twisted Sister” trail then led us up some slick rock linking up to some more sand dunes. We had to descend of a 100ft razor back into a valley that led to a V-rock valley with a major rock climb at the end. Toyota Motor Co. was having a great time on this run with their new FJ Cruiser. The terrain was amazing and the panoramas were intense.

The cool blue skies and radiating heat made it a beautiful day for wheelin’. The run was getting hot in more ways than one. It got so hot that one of the Rhino buggies on our run lost its rotors and broke. We did a quick fix, and got it back on its way. There were some fuel pump and brake line problems, but those rigs where also patched up to the points where they could get back on the trail and back to camp.

By about 1:30pm the day had given us a great sun tan, and was overheating our bodies, so it was time to split the group and take some people water rafting, and for those that getting wet wasn’t in their agenda—they could continue on the “Twisted Sister” run with Clifton. The decision was hard—but our VIP’s liked having options, especially those that had family with them. The kids had been waiting for the water rafting all day. So the group was split, and about half of us headed back to that morning’s meeting spot. When we got there two buses where waiting to take us to the Colorado River. What could be better than having the experience of xtreme wheelin’ and river rafting all in one day—only in Moab.

The guys and gals changed into their shorts and swim suits—and loaded the bus. Heading back into Moab on Hwy 191, we then met up with Hwy 128 and headed north about 20 miles to meet the water rafting outfit. The water rafting was sponsored by Randy’s Ring & Pinion, and led the group on a 2 hour tour down the Colorado River through some mesmerizing red rock canyons and valleys.

The 83 degree weather we had warranted for a wet n’ wild party—and that’s exactly what it became. The group of rafts left the shore and floated down the river like a big party barge. There were some white water sections that rocked the raft and got them wet.

After they were done with their water rafting adventure, the participants climbed out of the raft with excitement and a sense of camaraderie. The laughing kids and grown-ups with radiant smiles really made it all worth while. It put things in perspective at the end of the day; off-roaders are nothing more than a big family that loves the great outdoors and having a good time. We’re glad we had the opportunity to get this group together, and help them become even closer as fellow off-roaders. Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and friends—the Off-Road Nation.


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