King Challenge

[waynehartwig]

I have to thank the people that showed up to this event today - they really make it!! That goes for the competitors and the spectators equally. I would also like to thank the King Krawlers for hosting it and devoting so much time and resources to put it on. They did a really top notch job!! For those of you who didn't show up, you really missed out on a really good time and a LOT of really cool prizes and gifts. Oh, speaking of which, thank you to the many sponsors!!!

I'm not really sure who won what, so I'll let Scott post that up. But I won...
1st in the mud pit (made it through in 10 seconds)
1st in the tire pit (I made it about 76', great improvement over the ~10' I did last year )
2nd in the truck pull (I pulled 21', first place pulled an AMAZING 45' - with open diffs!!! Third place I don't think pulled even 10', but Scott has that info as I'm not sure)
2nd? in the rock garden (I went 75' I think and first went 77'?)
2nd? in the log cross (I made it look like a walk in the park and only had to even bump it once. At the very end I bounced off the log, which ripped the steering wheel out of my hand and before I could grab it I hit a cone - instant 20 point deduction)
4th? in the baja course (broke a shock doing it, first thing in the morning)
1st in the Gauntlet
..and King of the daily driver class which got me a set of Parnelli Jones 33x12.50-16 tires

Since I had a broken shock, I didn't have anything to limit my suspension, so I kept losing a coil in the rock garden and gauntlet. In the garden, they had to keep lifting me up, slip the coil in, and then turn me loose - I timed out on this event. The Gauntlet, I knew I lost it, but since it's a timed event, I kept goign and didn't stop until I finished. Then I had to flex out on a rock and put it back.

But anyway, thanks again to EVERYONE that participated in this event and I'll see you all again next year!!

 

[Crinco]

Way to go Wayne! Sounds like you did very well overall, and had a good time doing it. I would love to have come down but had other obligations. Maybe next year.
Chris R.

 

[moabrangler]

GR8 JOB WAyne!!! wish I could have been there . My son came home for the weekend from Phx. next son comming home from the far East end of June. We should be there in Force next year with 3 rigs.Mine an theres.TJ,YOTA,S10.

 

[great scott]

I still don't have all the stats yet, but I do think it went very well . The Best King 4X4 Challenge yet! We are estimating over 2000 in attendance, great competitors, great help and great sponsors. Oh and a yes Wayne truly did rock. He ran in the largest class of which he was consistently at the top. Wayne was also the very first to run the Gauntlet. After his run I was worried that the Gauntlet was to easy, due to the fact that he made it look like a Sunday drive. My concerns were soon gone as the Gauntlet seemed to prevail casing loads of carnage and excitement including roll overs, blown beads, and more. Now I want to see some pics! Who's got-em?

 

[waynehartwig]

I did have a great time! I had a great time last year as well. But this year I think it was more coordinated, not as hot and up until the dust storm, I think the crowd really liked it!

I was really surprised I did as well as I did on the Gauntlet. Walking the course, I thought the tire pit would stop me and IF I made it through the tire pit, the rock wall you had to climb out of the mud pit was going to stop me. Neither did. I slowed a little bit on the rock wall, but it didn't stop me. I was also very worried about being the very first to run it. Not having the opportunity to watch the others complete/fail. But now that might have been an advantage, having to pick my own lines and etc...

DEFINATELY looking forward to next year!!!

 

[redrocktj]

Wow, what a day. All i can say is that was the best day of wheeling ive had in a long time. Started at 6 am driving down there and then watching and competing for 8 hours. I got 1st in the Mini Baja for daily drivers and then im not sure what else in everything else. Broke my front spider gears on the rock garden halF way through the comp and did the last three events in 2 wheel drive haha. Got about 10 feet from the end of the mud pit, finished the logs but hit two cones, and got half way through the tire pit all in 2 wheel drive which was a huge surprise to me. finished 2nd overall in the daily drivers but only 2 points in front of 3rd i think. It was a great time and i want to thak everyone for everything. At the end of the day me and my partner had to start fixing my rig, we cleaned out the diff of all the crap and thought we might be able to make it home like that (all the way to salt lake) but the diff was making to much noise for our comfort (didnt want the front end to bind up at 70mph) so we decided to take out the axleshafts and ride home like that, couple hours in the K Mart parking lot and we hit the road by 1 am. Loooooong day. Thanks again

 

[Caleb]

Wow, what a day. All i can say is that was the best day of wheeling ive had in a long time. Started at 6 am driving down there and then watching and competing for 8 hours. I got 1st in the Mini Baja for daily drivers and then im not sure what else in everything else. Broke my front spider gears on the rock garden halF way through the comp and did the last three events in 2 wheel drive haha. Got about 10 feet from the end of the mud pit, finished the logs but hit two cones, and got half way through the tire pit all in 2 wheel drive which was a huge surprise to me. finished 2nd overall in the daily drivers but only 2 points in front of 3rd i think. It was a great time and i want to thak everyone for everything. At the end of the day me and my partner had to start fixing my rig, we cleaned out the diff of all the crap and thought we might be able to make it home like that (all the way to salt lake) but the diff was making to much noise for our comfort (didnt want the front end to bind up at 70mph) so we decided to take out the axleshafts and ride home like that, couple hours in the K Mart parking lot and we hit the road by 1 am. Loooooong day. Thanks again

Even though there were some good runs throught e mud pit (like Wayne's) I would have to say I was most impressed by your run RedRock...you nearly made it in 2wd...most the guys didn't make it half as far as you in 4wd

It was a great event and a great day. Scott and the King Crawlers did a good job at putting on this event. We should have some pics soon, courtesy of Herzog's mom.

Big Thanks to the King Crawlers for orchestrating this event.

 

[waynehartwig]

I was also impressed by his show in 2 wheeld drive!! Very nice indeed!

 

[great scott]

I was also impressed by his show in 2 wheeld drive!! Very nice indeed!

Bummer I missed that one, but then again I missed about 1/2 of the runs. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining, it was fun even for me. Maybe one day I can compete again.

 

[kyojin]

Sounds like you had a blast. Looks like you did really good Wayne. We need to see some pics.

 

[redrocktj]

Even though there were some good runs throught e mud pit (like Wayne's) I would have to say I was most impressed by your run RedRock...you nearly made it in 2wd...most the guys didn't make it half as far as you in 4wd

I was also impressed by his show in 2 wheeld drive!! Very nice indeed!

Thanks very much I had a good time for sure, something to look forward to for next year. I also want to thank wayne for giving me a new set of spidergears he had lying around for my front since that is what i broke. But upon further inspection when i was working on it today i noticed the ring and pinion is missing a tooth too so its also shot. I'll get a pic of my carnage up soon.

Here's the only pics i know of so far... http://www.caveart.com/060603KingCrawlersChallenge/Page.html

And a couple teasers.....

 

[Kiel]

Sure does look like fun! Maybe next year. I hope all the events in price don't end up with mud people!

 

[waynehartwig]

Thanks very much I had a good time for sure, something to look forward to for next year. I also want to thank wayne for giving me a new set of spidergears he had lying around for my front since that is what i broke. But upon further inspection when i was working on it today i noticed the ring and pinion is missing a tooth too so its also shot. I'll get a pic of my carnage up soon.

Here's the only pics i know of so far... http://www.caveart.com/060603KingCrawlersChallenge/Page.html

And a couple teasers.....

Now I see why you took 1st on the Baja course! lol I got after it pretty good, but I don't think I ever had a wheel off the ground... If I remember right, your time was 1:48 and mine was 2:00 even. That's fast for two laps on about a 1/8 mile course... Just so people know, it's not a oval! lol The backside is straight, but when you come around the front, you have several tight switch backs that have very loose dirt and even off camber.

 

[redrocktj]

Now I see why you took 1st on the Baja course! lol I got after it pretty good, but I don't think I ever had a wheel off the ground... If I remember right, your time was 1:48 and mine was 2:00 even. That's fast for two laps on about a 1/8 mile course... Just so people know, it's not a oval! lol The backside is straight, but when you come around the front, you have several tight switch backs that have very loose dirt and even off camber.

Yeah I love the rally part, i was all over the place though cuz i was stupid and aired down to 8 psi, i almost hit the cement barrier that was after the third switchback and had to throw it in reverse and get back on course, and then on my first lap, on i think the third switchback, i got both driverside tires about a foot in the air and almost rolled.... that was fun. and then i was told i caught quite a bit of air when i was doin the logs but to bad i havent seen any pics of that yet.

Heres all my photos from the and then my carnage

 

[redrocktj]

Continued.......

My carnage

As i was fixing my rig some said not to pul the axle shaft to ride home and some said to do it. i decide the diff was making to much noise and wanted to pull the shafts for safty, and it was fine but heres what a jeep looks like with no axle shafts ahha
Passenger side

Pics are fun, everyone that went try and post some up if you have them

 

[I Lean]

As i was fixing my rig some said not to pul the axle shaft to ride home and some said to do it. i decide the diff was making to much noise and wanted to pull the shafts for safty, and it was fine but heres what a jeep looks like with no axle shafts ahha

Pics are fun, everyone that went try and post some up if you have them

So you made it home OK then, right? There's nothing actually holding the front wheels on if the outer axle shaft isn't there. Ask Wayne.

 

[waynehartwig]

So you made it home OK then, right? There's nothing actually holding the front wheels on if the outer axle shaft isn't there. Ask Wayne.

I was just thinking the saaammmmeeeee thinnnngggg!

APPARENTLY the stub shaft holds the unit bearing together (sandwiches the two halves). So good to know you made it home!! I didn't even make it out of the fairgrounds after doing it! I'm thankful it happened then, and not 15 minutes later in Price canyon, though!!!!
Carnage count -
Outer knuckle
Caliper & bolts
Brake pads
Brake line
Unit Bearing

I also replaced the ball joints while in there, because while I had the tire off, I noticed some slop and dragging it on the ground chewed off half of the bolt. I honestly thought I would be changing the housing as well (from a damaged inner knuckle or bent housing).

 

[redrocktj]

Yeah i made it home fine. After thinking it through the wheels bolt up to the hub, which bolt up to the knuckle, the hub is only held on by three bolts which is scary but i figure that three bolts is better than some axles designs which have a c-clip or cottor pin holding eveything together. We stopped a few times to makes sure nothing was heating up to much and to makes sure everything looked alright visually, and it did fine.

 

[redrocktj]

I was just thinking the saaammmmeeeee thinnnngggg!

APPARENTLY the stub shaft holds the unit bearing together (sandwiches the two halves). So good to know you made it home!! I didn't even make it out of the fairgrounds after doing it! I'm thankful it happened then, and not 15 minutes later in Price canyon, though!!!!
Carnage count -
Outer knuckle
Caliper & bolts
Brake pads
Brake line
Unit Bearing

I also replaced the ball joints while in there, because while I had the tire off, I noticed some slop and dragging it on the ground chewed off half of the bolt. I honestly thought I would be changing the housing as well (from a damaged inner knuckle or bent housing).

Oh yeah i remember see those pictures of your jeep i didnt realize it was becasue you had taken out the axle shafts.... Do you think something else could have been broken beforehand on yours Wayne? cuz mine seemed fine going about 65mph the whole time, I consider myself very lucky then if thats what happened to yours.

 

[ChestonScout]

WOW!!

That was the most fun I have had wheeling.......I would say ever! Where else can you run so many different things in one day. I was VERY impressed with the courses. Top notch for sure! I learned a lot and considering I only had 3 wheel drive for half the event I am very satisfied winning 2nd overall in the modified class. I think the only reason I got second is because I killed everybody on the truck pull. 72 feet! I think the next best was 45 in all the classes. I guess the Internationals just got along!! LOL
As for the gauntlet.........FUN!!!!!!! I was very apprehensive to enter knowing that I had a blown hub but I am SO glad I did. If I wouldnt have hit that last rock with so much speed and blew my tire off I would have made it. I wouldnt have beat the pink jeeps time of 58 seconds but I would have finished. I broke a shock, blew a tire, made my t-case whine like a little girl with a skinned knee, and maybe burned up my winch pulling me out. I cant wait for next year!
I have a few pretty good pics I will try to post later after I get home from work.
But again. Thanks to everyone who made this event possible. It was a huge success in my opinion (please dont get rid of the truck pull!!!)