Conversations with Big Rich

Big Rich Klein
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Hear conversations with the legacy stars of rockcrawling and off-road. Big Rich interviews the leaders in rock sports.

  1. 6D AGO

    Episode 293 with RJ Jackman of the Idaho Vintage Jeep Rally

    Send us a text RJ Jackman of Pocatello, Idaho—flat-fender fanatic, trail leader, writer, and organizer of the Idaho Vintage Jeep Rally. RJ grew up riding dirt bikes with his grandpa’s Simplot-sponsored moto crew, exploring lava fields, caves, and old mines—fueling a lifetime of off-road adventure  Event spotlight—Idaho Vintage Jeep Rally - Free, low-friction, three-day gathering in Pocatello each August includes a Friday evening meet-and-greet, Saturday scenic trail + potluck, Sunday trail (Shelley Rocks/“Blackfoot Dump” or Lake Channel dunes); Vintage preferred (flat-fenders welcome), but all Jeeps play a role—newer rigs often sweep or help with recoveries - No registration, no fees: just show up, be helpful, and expect vapor lock, fuel pump fixes, and 45-mph  Support the show

    1h 11m

  2. OCT 30

    From Navy Chief to West Virginia’s Country Roads Champion, Jerry Bain on Episode 292

    Send us a text Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Jerry Bain joins Big Rich to talk adventure, public access, and preserving West Virginia’s unmaintained road network. Jerry shares how high school mud trucks led to a lifelong passion for motorized recreation, a 20-year Navy career seeing 51 countries, and ultimately founding the Country Roads Coalition to protect and promote legal access to historic state roads. Highlights:  - Discovering off-road early; the draw of adventure and going where few can  - Building capable rigs: XJs, a Comanche on 37s, and the iconic “Boogie Van” Econoline  - West Virginia’s unique resource: legal unmaintained state roads rich with history and scenery  - Country Roads Coalition’s mission: stewardship, access, and education—not just “overlanding,” but motorized adventure tourism  Get Involved: - Find Country Roads Coalition on Facebook and Instagram - Bring a group to West Virginia—Jerry loves to guide and share the state’s history and hidden gems. Support the show

    1h 26m

  3. OCT 23

    Johnny Rocha is all-in on off-road in Episode 291

    Send us a text From SoCal surf breaks to the rocks of Johnson Valley, fabricator, racer, and builder Johnny Rocha shares a lifetime immersed in dirt, water, and horsepower. Johnny grew up riding desert singletrack, surfing with his dad, and turning wrenches young—then parlayed a career in operation engineering into nights and weekends fabricating Jeeps before going all-in on off-road. Hear how a 16-year-old Baja road trip lit the fuse, an ’84 CJ-7 changed everything, and magazine-era shop-hopping led to friendships with icons like the Curries—and ultimately to co-building the legendary 88 Savvy car that dominated King of the Hammers EMC. Johnny dives into race-craft, why plans win races, the evolution from crew chief to team manager, and mentoring young talents like Chase Caprera. He’s candid on heartbreaks (DNFs, exploding lockers, bad juju cars), the irresistible pull of KOH, and why he’s transitioning from racing to premium rock-crawler builds. Support the show

    1h 45m

  4. OCT 16

    UTV Pioneer Jon Crowley Jr in Episode 290

    Send us a text 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.  Support the show

    54 min

  5. OCT 9

    West Virginia Wheels with Jack Sloan on Episode 289

    Send us a text 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    Support the show

    1h 9m

  6. OCT 2

    Speeding ticket to Slow Jeep to Fast Racecar, Matthew Slyngstad on Episode 288

    Send us a text 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. Support the show

    1h 18m

  7. SEP 25

    Lance Gilbert on Tribe 16, Racing, and Community on Episode 287

    Send us a text 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.  Support the show

    54 min

  8. SEP 18

    Chris Holloway has always thrown parties, listen to the progression in Episode 286

    Send us a text 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: chris@mooreexpo.com  Support the show

    1h 8m
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4.9
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

Hear conversations with the legacy stars of rockcrawling and off-road. Big Rich interviews the leaders in rock sports.

Information

  • Creator
    Big Rich Klein
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    293
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Clean Air Media and Publishing
  • Show Website
    Conversations with Big Rich

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