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Big Rich sits down with UTV media pioneer and racer Jon Crowley Jr. to trace his unlikely path from water-ski kid and UCSB computer science grad to one of the most influential voices in the UTV world. Jon shares how a first ride at Sand Mountain hooked him on off-roading, the evolution from ATVs to sand cars to early Yamaha Rhinos and Polaris RZRs, and building DuneGuide and UTVGuide into trusted resources just as social media transformed the industry.

Jon’s career blends tech, storytelling, racing, and exploration—proof that passion and persistence can turn weekend rides into a lifelong off-road lifestyle. 

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Big Rich sits down with West Virginia history buff, Ford fanatic, and long-time off-roader Jack Sloan. From learning to drive in a ‘73 Wagoneer to 22 years with his beloved Ford Explorer “The Raisin,” Jack shares how small-town roots, family campouts, and a love for the hills shaped a life behind the wheel.

-            Growing up in Fairmont, WV (home of the pepperoni roll), coal country culture, and early outdoor adventures 

-            Jack’s path from auto parts counter to independent collision center manager—and building a life around cars and trails 

-            The Explorer addiction: TTB, SAS, 37s, and why “simple” builds win on long trips - Ultimate Adventure stories: getting picked, guiding at Good Evening Ranch, and the friendships that fueled Adventure Wheelers East (AWE) 

-            Policy matters: WV Senator Mark Maynard’s pro-motorsports legislation and why legal access plates help keep trails alive 

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This week, Big Rich sits down with rising Ultra4 racer Matthew Slyngstad. Born and raised in San Jose, Matthew shares how a teenage speeding ticket steered him into a slow Jeep—and a fast off-road life. From cello and wrestling in high school to wrenching summers in the family construction business, he built the fabrication chops that power his racing today.

Highlights: 

·       Early days: Bay Area roots, yearbook photo editor, wrestling, and a love for the outdoors. 

·       Montana years: slower pace, more dirt—fishing, wheeling, and hunting. - Dogs and discipline: competing in Schutzhund with a powerhouse German Shepherd. – 

·       First Jeep mods: rock sliders as his first welding project; Rubicon trips that sparked bigger builds. 

·       Ultra4 entry: mentored by Jack Taggart and welcomed into Jason Scherer’s Rage 4 team; pit crew to Baja 1000 with Ford’s programs. 

·       The leap to racing: buying a 4800 car just weeks before KOH 2025; pre-running, shock tuning, and sponsor hustling. 

·       Race day rollercoaster: comms failure at the start, blazing desert pace, a boulder impact and broken rear upper link, pit heroics—and a proud finish, 18th in class. – 

Shoutout to the entire Rage 4th crew—and old-school legend Jeff Mello—for making the dream real.

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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Texas native Lance Gilbert traces his winding path from small-town Keller and church-band guitars to VW shops, GM dealerships, architecture school, homebuilding—and a post-9/11 pivot back to off-road. Lance shares formative years at Sunray Engineering with the late Tom Ellison, a decade at PSC with Tom Allen, and deep roots in early Ultra4 and King of the Hammers.

Highlights: - Early days: fishing, bikes, first wrenching job at a VW/Audi/Porsche shop; first rigs from Suburbans to Isuzu pickups and Jeeps. - Career pivots: dealerships to homebuilding; how 9/11 led to Sunray and custom axle innovation; later years at PSC and into Tribe 16. - Racing stories: Class 3 in Baja, the early KOH era, and a memorable Vegas to Reno with the Texas crew. - Tribe 16 name: a nod to 4x4 (“the 16”) and the “night shift” culture of building with friends. - Today at Tribe 16: customer Jeeps, high-end builds and restorations (Scout, ’72 Commando, CJ-7), gear and maintenance, and two new Tribe chassis trail cars. - Community first: Texas trail rides, shop trips, the legendary Crawfish Boil, and why local shops collaborate more than they compete.

Lance’s take: passion fuels the work, but relationships sustain the business—and the off-road family is the heartbeat of Tribe 16. 

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In this episode, Rich sits down with Chris Holloway, the founder of the Midwest Overland & Off-Road Expo (MOORE) in Springfield, Missouri. Chris shares his unlikely path from ice cream truck entrepreneur and diesel tech to building one of the Midwest’s premier overland and off-road trade shows. 

Highlights - From Massachusetts to Missouri: family, music roots, and early hustle - The “40 Licks” ice cream truck, party wagons, and learning business young - Tech school turnaround: graduating top of his class in diesel electronics - Grease to growth: from shop broom to youngest service manager running a dealership - First rigs, JK life, and discovering community through wheeling and camping - Throwing trail events, fundraising, and the mentor who sparked MOORE Expo - Launching MOORE: 50 vendors, 2,000 attendees, then doubling during COVID - Vendor retention, event fatigue, and why brands cycle regions - Expanding into PowerSports and the “dot…dot…dot” of overlanding (hiking, hunting, bikes, kayaks, shooting sports) - What’s next: big reinvestments and a major reimagining post-2026 

Event + Contact - MOORE Expo: April 17–18, 2026 — Springfield, MO - Info/Vendors: mooreexpo.com (contact form goes to Chris) - Email: [email protected] 

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CALL TO ACTION DEADLINE: September 15, 2025
www.blueribboncoalition.org/hammers

Host Big Rich Klein sits down with BlueRibbon Coalition’s Ben Burr and longtime Johnson Valley advocate Shannon Welch to unpack a fast-moving proposal that could reshape recreation at the Hammers. The U.S. Marine Corps has requested permanent Special Use Airspace (SUA) over Johnson Valley—from the ground up to 8,000 feet—split into four corridors (A–D). While framed as limited use, the Environmental Assessment (EA) seeks a permanent designation via the FAA, not a temporary, training-only restriction.

What’s at stake - Medevac and search-and-rescue flights for everyday users, not just races - Backcountry aviation, personal drones, and private landowners (20,000 acres impacted) - Commercial filming/testing (e.g., Ford), ranching operations, and year-round OHV access - The integrity of a Congressionally Designated OHV Area and its $71M local economic impact. A precedent of closure-by-airspace has been seen at White Sands and Yuma Proving Ground.

Community action - Comment deadline: September 15 - Submit via blueribboncoalition.org/hammers – Blue Ribbon guarantees your comments will be shared. Share widely with your OHV, aviation, ranching, and local business networks

Key points - EA claims “no significant impact,” but provides no enforceable safeguards - Marines told some stakeholders “60 days/year,” yet the EA seeks permanent SUA – Blue Ribbon’s reasonable alternative: a 1,500-foot buffer from ground/elevation to protect civilian use

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In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, we dive into the fascinating world of motorsports with Danny Thompson, son of the legendary Mickey Thompson. Danny shares his storied journey from racing quarter midgets at the age of nine to breaking land speed records at Bonneville. As a pillar of the off-road racing community, Danny offers a unique perspective on the evolution of the sport and the legacy of his father, Mickey Thompson.

·       Danny's early years in racing and the influence of his father, Mickey Thompson.

·       Mickey Thompson's contributions to off-road racing and the foundation of SCORE.

·       The evolution of stadium truck racing and bringing the excitement of off-road racing to the fans.

·       Danny's journey to breaking the land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats.

·       The technical and personal challenges of racing at such high speeds.

·       Reflections on the Thompson family legacy and its impact on modern motorsports.

Tune in to hear more incredible stories from legends in the off-road industry and visit our website for past episodes. 

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The Coyote Creek/Prairie City Solar Project Controversy 

Guests: - Rose Winn, Natural Resources Consultant, Cal Four Wheel Drive Association - Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing and Consulting, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee 

Episode Summary: In this special edition of Conversations with Big Rich, host Big Rich Klein dives into a critical issue affecting the off-road community in Northern California. The episode focuses on the contentious solar project proposed by Desri Energy at Prairie City State Vehicle Recreational Area (SVRA) in Rancho Cordova. This project has sparked significant concern among off-road enthusiasts, conservationists, and the local community due to its potential environmental impact and procedural oversights. 

Project Overview: The solar project, initiated by Desri Energy, is set to affect Prairie City SVRA, a beloved off-road park, due to its scale and proximity. – 

Stakeholder Concerns: Both Rose Winn and Don Amador express alarm over the lack of communication with key stakeholders and the absence of environmental considerations in the project's planning. 

Environmental Impact: Key issues include dust and water usage, potential encroachment on park land, and the impact on the local ecosystem. 

Call to Action: Listeners are urged to participate in the OHV Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025 at 9 a.m. in Redding to ensure their voices are heard and to help protect the future of Prairie City SVRA and other similar sites. 

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In this episode of "Conversations with Big Rich," host Rich Klein sits down with Mathew Giltner, the executive director of the Nevada Off-Road Association. Mathew shares his fascinating journey from upstate New York to Nevada, detailing his diverse experiences in the Coast Guard, aviation, and the off-road industry. Listen in as they explore the importance of community, the challenges of land access, and the future of off-road recreation.

Mathew's Background:

•  Grew up in New York, enjoying snowmobiling and outdoor activities
• Served 20 years in the Coast Guard, gaining skills in navigation and rescue mission planning.
• Transitioned into aviation, racing airplanes, and flying business jets

Off-Road Advocacy:

• Role at the Nevada Off-Road Association, focusing on multi-use land access.
• Challenges with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource management plans.
• Collaboration with stakeholders to ensure harmonious use of public lands.

 Community and Volunteerism:

• The declining trend in volunteerism and its impact on recreation.
• Importance of fostering relationships between clubs and government agencies.

Exciting Projects:

•  Battleborn Trail System: A new initiative to promote rural Nevada through off-road trails. 
• Upcoming Nevada Off-Road Summit in Elko, a platform for education and collaboration.

Mathew emphasizes the value of community engagement and responsible recreation to preserve access to Nevada's beautiful landscapes. His work ensures that future generations can enjoy the same trails and adventures.

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Join Big Rich Klein as he sits down with Alan Johnson, President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, in an engaging conversation about his adventurous journey from street racing to becoming a new We Rock rock-crawling competitor. Alan shares his personal history, the influence of his family, and how he transitioned from a life centered around fast cars to one focused on the off-road lifestyle.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Early Life and Influences:
  Alan's childhood moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to various states due to his father's job. 

         His early exposure to cars and racing through family, especially his grandfather. 

• Transition from Street Racing:
  Alan's experiences with street racing in his early 20s, the challenges, and eventual realization that led him to change paths.

         His first off-road vehicle and the eye-opening experiences that followed. 

• Off-Road Adventures:
  Alan's journey into rock crawling and his first competitive experiences, including participating in CalRocs and We Rock events. 

        The story of acquiring and preserving a significant 4Runner with personal and emotional ties.

• Leadership and Contributions:

        Alan's involvement with the Rubicon Trail Foundation and his progression to becoming the President

        The importance of maintaining and enhancing trail access for the off-road community. 

• Personal Life:
  Alan's family life, including his two children who share his love for off-roading.

         Balancing his career as a mechanic with his passion for rock crawling and family adventures. 

Closing Thoughts: Big Rich and Alan discuss future plans, upcoming events, and the importance of community involvement in preserving off-road trails. 

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