Rock Crawling: Who Does This Stuff?By Jessika Toothman, HowStuffWorks.com
WIPEOUT!VideoHowStuffWorks.comWho Does This Other Stuff?For most people, even those with supersized SUVs, driving up to the base of a 20-foot-high embankment that's so steep even a mountain goat might not feel at home there means they're going to be turning around and finding another route. But where many see the insurmountable, others see the greatest rock crawling course they've ever laid their eyes on. The Origins of Outrageous According to W.E. Rock, the World Extreme Rock Crawling Championship Series, this extreme motorsport traces its early roots back to the days following World War II, when ex-military folks had reportedly grown fond of the big four-wheel drive vehicles they cruised around in during the war. The market responded, and soon all sorts of people were off-roading across the country. When casual enthusiasts started overrunning the trails of diehard off-roaders, the determined sought out bigger and better vehicle components so they could continue blazing their own trails over increasingly challenging terrain — competing against each other all the while. Rock crawling was officially born when Phil Howell set up a point penalty system — the lowest score wins — and the first nationally recognized rock crawling event was held in 1998. The Incline of Insanity Spectators new to extreme rock crawling can see easily how it tests the mental and motor skills of a team's driver, but it also challenges the innovativeness and strength of a team's spotter. The spotter, sort of like a navigator, works out the plan of attack. While in some aspects rock crawling is all about brute force and tricked-out vehicles, in many ways it's also about finesse. After all, even if there's a way to scale the most challenging runs, sometimes it takes an eye on the ground to find it. A few well-placed rocks can make all the difference when a truck is grappling to gain a little traction in the face of a steep incline, and some outside advice can help a driver through a sticky situation. Teams are penalized points if a spotter needs to touch or move a vehicle (like if it flips, for example), but some quick assistance can be the key to a good finish. While drivers start their engines, spotters search for the solutions to what is perhaps the ultimate slippery slope. |
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