Conversations with Big Rich – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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If International Harvester made it, Jeff Ismail knows about it. From printed manuals to Scouts and Travelalls, Jeff has his finger on it. A self-made man, Jeff understands that happy is a choice, join us for a conversation on episode 237. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

3:29 – my friends were playing and swimming, but not me and my brothers, we were with Dad – raking leaves and edging lawns, doing what we had to do to earn a living 

8:50 –some grew up in Ford, some Chevy, some Dodge – we grew up in IHs             

17:17– You don’t forget people who race in Scouts; we won a couple of seasons, and it was always by attrition. It looked like the Turtle and the Hare

28:28 – my dad came to me and said, I want to take you back to the home country to get married; I’m like, I’m not ready to get married! 

36:36 – my dad goes, “why don’t you just fix up that pole barn out there and start working on Internationals again?” If I got Dad’s blessing, why not?

43:27 – we’ve always had this thing, “If the job makes sense, we’ll take it!” 

49:38 – people don’t know me, but they know my truck.

57:23 – Some people are like, Oh, I can’t wait for the future. I know good times, I’m living in good times.

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Matt Rowland from Indiana is a bit of an anomaly. A communications major in criminal justice, attends XJ conventions without an XJ, and a builder of fabulous bonfires! Join us for some Midwest history on Episode 236. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

4:35 – …that might be part of the reason I’ve always had affection for Jeeps 

13:50 –my freshman year, we lost to the big high school in Fort Wayne by over 100 points             

18:49 – everything auto mechanic-wise, I learned from working on the junk we were driving

31:59 – Tony bought a ’99 TJ and started taking it to the Badlands, in Attica, Indiana 

39:24 – In 2005, I got on the police department in Fort Wayne, and I’ll have 20 years next May

44:31 – I had to borrow $1500 from my parents to pay off the loan on the XJ because they said Modified Cherokees were worthless 

51:02 – I had a buddy who said, “Hey, are you ever going to settle down and get married?” and I’m like, I guess, maybe.

1:03:45 – The LJ became the family truckster for wheeling, and we changed the bylaws when I was NAXJA President

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Whitewater to Off-road, the background of our guests is always fascinating. Join Rich and Chris Walker from Overland Training Canada for more adventure on Episode 227. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.

4:51 – very quickly, I found my passion was the outdoors – mountaineering, kayaking, flying, diving, caving and what have you 

12:34– Gosh, I hurt myself a lot, nearly died a couple of times             

17:37 – I’m not doing what I’m doing without their grit and determination to kick me into shape to be a good off-road driving instructor

25:14 – just jump out right here, grab your stuff, someone will come get you – I’m literally in the middle of nowhere, there’s no one in sight, I have no cell service and no idea where I am 

37:36 – that’s a really hard question, I’ve never found a concise answer…

55:01 – I’ve been doing a lot with a big expedition called the Transglobal Car Expedition

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Of all the titles Ryan Miller carries, internet fact checker is one of my favorite – it’s not that he’s a smartass, he just remembers everything. What rock to turn at, which race was won by whom, how many turns of the wrench gets you the exact ride height you need. Ryan is smart and talented, listen in to this rockcrawler/navigator/racer/husband/dad/rattlesnake bite survivor, I promise you’ll learn some things!

10:31 – I don’t like to suck at stuff

17:44 – “I want you to be lost to find me”

24:54 – the idea of the Arizona Wildcat Off Road club was if you go out into the desert and get stuck, at least you have some buddies to come get you unstuck 

33:15 – I was like, I don’t know how I’m winning, but I am

39:43 – all those Southwest guys didn’t even know what mud and trees were

50:37 – it’s easy to go our and break something, but just as easy on the equipment and get through it

1:00:24 – how do I tell Bailey that her race is over?

1:05:36 – oh, yeah, you wear out the refresh button. Refresh, refresh, refresh!!

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Bailey admits to not being very interested in motorsports as a youngster, but once she got the bug, it’s been a steady rise to the top. It’s a great place to be for this girl!  A talented driver and a great role model for all, Bailey Campbell shares her interests with us on this episode. Give it a listen on your favorite podcast app.

3:53 – my dad told me I couldn’t race unless I got down to the shop and got my hands on some of the cars myself

15:42 – my Uncle Nick spotted for me and I accidentally ran him over

23:55 – my dad’s biggest thing was always throttle control 

33:25 – my favorite part is probably pre-running because you’re going at a slow enough pace to really see the terrain change

42:17 – I can’t believe how far they’ve come in technology and way they work with us

50:42 – I just have these main goals that I need to accomplish – the first is to be the first Queen of the Hammers

54:06 – I grew up with a never quit attitude

59:50 – every co-driver I’ve had, every spotter I’ve had, has taught me something new

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“You don’t know what you can do until you do it, right?” Our man, Rob Usnick is still pushing the limits. From Ranger School to Bridal Fashion, and everything in between.  No, seriously, this renaissance man is throwing things up and hitting them out of the park daily. 

4:35 – I put all my cards and chips in the middle

9:55 – small towns are bad when they are your small town

14:50 – it’s hard to get into a firefight 

22:18 – when you’re with people who are badasses, you don’t realize you are one too

33:13 – the paparazzi’s here, it was a training distractor

41:32 – then I did King of the Motos, which is up there in the five dumbest things I’ve ever done

45:13 – there’s not many days to make your whole nut for the year

52.25 – “what are you doing in here, boy?” I’m here to get some fabric, I’m like, “daddy can sew!”

1:00:06 – one thing I hate is when people say, “oh, you can’t do that”

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Ready for an adrenaline rush? Tom Wayes is living a storied life, it was great to hear some of that tale. Want to hear how he fought off a bear, we’ve all heard part of the story, Tom tells all right here.

5:41 – the first person to introduce me to skiing, and I was completely obsessed with it

8:48 – I wasn’t planning on staying

12:28 – as long as I had my ice tools, my crampons, and a rope, I dropped into anything 

18:57 – we chartered a Russian heli…and just pointed at stuff and landed on it and skied whatever we felt like

21:21 – Putin’s coming, Putin’s coming…

29:28 – I kind of enjoy just keeping people guessing on where I’m going to qualify

35:08 – never grab your gummy snacks with your race gloves…

38:31 – I gather up some lawn chairs, I gather up a golf cart, and then…

42:16 – always use the best equipment

54:25 – the bear encounter

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Humor is how you get through the tough stuff.  Chip MacLaughlin of Rufus Racing shares memories of early KOH, racing with friends, making memories, and Zandy Willems. This is life and how we live it. Thanks, Chip for a beautiful reminder.

6:25 – we built a lot of fences, dug a lot of holes

9:44 – I got pulled out by four train cars

17:25 – oh, by the way, it has to float 

21:33 – I sold the buggy, then you called and said I had a spot at Hammers

26:06 – the Crawling Chaos guys out of Central Texas were my first race friends

37:38 – don’t be afraid to ask somebody questions

46:17 – we were meant to be together

49:08 – almost all males get prostate cancer, the majority die before they know

55:36 – we did it with humor, and I think we helped some other people

57:13 – the whole point of the team was, let’s go make some memories and find friends

1:08:08 – my last words to Zandy while I was standing in the spotter stand at Crandon…

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Our personal pit crew captain for many years, Shawn Rants shares stories of KOH, raising kids and working on high end equipment. One of our favorite because of his pure generosity of spirit. Listen up to see what makes the man.

5:26 – if it snowed 4 feet, the bus came to get us with chains on, there were no snow days

14:07– it was trying to do things differently…but a lot of times you end up drifting back

17:45 – Top Eliminator Sand Drags, that’s high horsepower, 3000 HP; 300 ft in under 2.9 seconds 

23:28 – these are around $5 million , we have well over 100 of them…

28:17 – it was enjoyable, but I can’t say it was easy

32:05 – “well. I went and paid your entry fee today, so you have to go.”

39:56 – you might drive 2000 miles to make two 3 second runs

42:34 – my life long goal was to win KOH (in the 4500 class)

47:22 – we always want to do whatever it takes to finish

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Master communicator, Matson Breakey, shares growing up in California’s various cultures; car culture in Japan; MetalCloak’s history, and aspirations as a father of youngsters in his 50’s. It’s a great listen.

5:07 – You think back and go, wow, I’m still alive

8:45 – I learned early the value of communication and communication skills

17:37 – it’s easy to say you care, it’s harder to actually demonstrate that you care 

26:46 – my goal in life was to become a starving artist

34:17 – there was a general sense of being self-oriented, it was a survival mechanism

51:06 – I had this bright idea that I needed to be more professional

57:09 – by hour five there was too much beer

1:08:43 – we got so flamed because it was ugly, so we listened and responded

1:30:45 – Today we live in a world where ’70s is like the new ’50s

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