Off-Road Racer Podcast JB15 Network

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Pearse Umlauf, CEO and President of Jeep Jamboree USA, a company that hosts 50+ off-road events a year, both domestically and internationally and has been instrumental in keeping the legendary Rubicon trail open for all to enjoy. Pearse and I discuss the company's history and its founder, Mark A. Smith, who was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1979. Coming into the present, we talk about some of the company’s current projects and the freedom the company maintains as a family-owned business. Pearse and I also talk a lot about the current state of the Jeeping community, focusing a lot on the constant battle to keep public land open to off-road vehicles, and how the release of the 4-door Wrangler has changed the Jeeping scene. Wrapping up, we talk about the effect off-roading has on your psyche and the importance of overcoming challenges. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road champion and badass Sara Price. We talk about her off-road career starting in motocross, and how her experiences in motocross set her up to excel in every other racing discipline she has done since. We then talk about her most recent accomplishment, winning a stage and finishing the Dakar rally in 4th place. Making here the first American woman to win a stage in the SXS class. Sara talks through step-by-step her road to Dakar, from gathering sponsorships and funding to run the rally as an independent, to running the rally for the first time as an American. Sara and I talk about the difference between the rally format in Europe versus the American Off-Road racing format. We also talk about her experience as a female in the off-road racing culture, being a role-model for other women in the sport, and the advantages she has as a woman on the race course. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road racer Dan Myers. The Myers family has been in off-road racing for decades, now spanning three generations. Dan talks about the significance of off-road racing for his family, and how they have stayed in it for so long. Dan also gives a unique perspective on the evolution of off-road from the perspective of being a second-generation off-road racer. We also discuss The Myer’s family business, Toyota of Escondido. Dan and I talk about the dealership’s involvement in action sports, being an avid sponsor of athletes in many disciplines, from surfing to motocross to MMA, and how these sponsorships have brought a lot of business for the dealership. We also discuss Dan’s conception of TE Motorsports, an aftermarket shop for Toyotas. Dan has been able to create a unique business model between TE Motorsports and Toyota of Escondido, pre-building trucks for the dealership, and providing a streamlined service for the customer. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with game-changing off-road builder Neal Mason. Neal and I talk about his history in off-road vehicle building, starting as a self-taught fabricator, and working his way all the way up to building his Mason All-Wheel Drive truck, the most advanced racing machine platform on the planet. We discuss his drive to be constantly developing and moving forward, his work ethic when tackling new projects and problems, and how these aspects of his character show in his builds. We also discuss the responsibilities a car builder has, building a safe truck that can handle the ultra-violent crashes we have seen in off-road racing. Neal then also teases at a new truck platform that he is working on, which he believes will be even better than his current AWD platform. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer 

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Class 1 champion and businessman Mario Fuentes. Mario talks about growing up in the off-road scene in the Juarez/El Paso area, and how it has fostered his obsession of off-road racing. Mario and I then talk in depth about class 1, and the significance of a high-level buggy class, compared to the other truck classes. We also discuss Mario’s recent career-defining victory at the 2024 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400, bringing off-road racing maverick Lalo Laguna aboard his team, and more. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast powered by Monster Energy.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Jerry Zaiden, co-founder of Camburg Engineering. Camburg Engineering is an industry leader in off-road suspension systems for the consumer market, with a history of testing their products in off-road racing. Jerry and I discuss the edge Camburg has gained from their involvement in off-road, and the history of Camburg's own race program. Going deeper, we talk about the newest iteration of their race program, supercharged by Magnaflow's recent acquisition of Camburg, and accomplished off-road racer Kyle Jergensen. Going into the business side, Jerry gives some insight into the significance of the Magnaflow acquisition, and Camburg's philosophy on designing new products. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast powered by Monster Energy.