Off-Road Racer Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This is an old episode pulled out of the Mad Media Archives, recorded back in 2019. Jim Beaver and Josh Martelli sit down with Motocross, X-Games, and Short Course legend Brian Deegan. The three of them discuss Brian’s history, touching on the key moments in his life, talking about his accomplishments in Motocross and X-Games, the start of Metal Mulisha, and more. Moving closer to the present, they talk about Brian’s transition into fatherhood, and his children starting their own careers in motorsports. At the time, Hailie Deegan was starting her career racing in NASCAR, and Haiden and Hudson were just getting into Motocross. Brian talks about the balance of supporting his kids while still advancing his career. This is the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Polaris Factory Team racer Brock Heger. Brock is part of the next generation of off-road racers, starting at 7 years old in Trophy Kart. Now, only in his early twenties, Brock has over a hundred wins and over a dozen championship wins under his belt, both in short course and desert racing. Now, Brock races for the Polaris Factory Racing Team in the desert, picking up the SCORE Championship the first year he raced with them in 2023. We talk about Brock’s history in short-course racing, and how that has translated into his desert racing. We also discuss the Dakar Rally, as Brock will be racing next year. 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 legendary fabricator Craig Stewart. Craig Stewart, son of the legendary Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, had a very early introduction into the world of off-road. From a very early age Craig was building cars with his father and worked for the great Johnny Johnson building and maintaining off-road race vehicles. Craig did incredible work there, sharpening his skills becoming a very skilled fabricator. With these skills, Craig would go on to create a whole new genre of off-road vehicle, the ‘luxury prerunner’. Craig’s prerunners are used by the biggest names in our sport, like the McMillins, the Menzies, TSCO Racing, and more. Craig’s level of craftsmanship and attention to detail has also led to work outside of the vehicle building world, fabricating installations for the Rosa Parks Metro Station, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, to name a few. We talk about Craig’s entire history, his design philosophies, inspirations and more. 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 my business partner and cousin Kilian Hamlin. We start the episode talking about Kilian’s accidental start in off-road. Kilian planned on visiting California for a concert, and ended up staying for the next 15 years, pursuing a career in off-road media and event promotion. Moving up to the present, we talk about the current state of the Mint 400, both as a race and as a spectated and sponsored event, and give some insight into the inner-workings of the events we put on. We then talk about our future plans as an off-road racing series, putting on more events in the future, and how we plan to increase the production value of our current events moving forward. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, My Brother and partner Josh Martelli returns to the podcast to talk about his recent appointment to the California BLM Desert District Advisory Council (DAC). This council advises and gives recommendations to the BLM office, on issues such as fire management, land use planning, and what we are obviously interested in, off-highway vehicle use. This appointment is essentially a seat at the table, with direct communication with the BLM offices, to make sure our voice as off-roaders is heard, and another part of the effort to keep land open for OHV use. Josh and I also talks about other efforts going on right now, from organizations like Tread Lightly and the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), and the clean-up events we host at our own races. 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 vehicle fabricator and designer Morgan Clark. Morgan stands out in the fabrication scene because of his dedication to a supercar level of design finish work in his vehicles, stemming from his ‘form follows function’ philosophy. We talk about how he came to embody this philosophy, originally studying design, working through the fabrication industry, and eventually starting his own business. Morgan and I then dive into the importance of aesthetics in a vehicle, often seen in street cars, but often lost in off-road builds. Morgan then gives us some insight into his design process, and where he gets his inspiration. We also discuss how the art of design has progressed into the modern era, with computers taking over most of the design process, and lowering the barrier of entry for new designers and fabricators. Looking forward, Morgan talks about his future plans and builds, including a mid-engine, AWD Prerunner. 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 Greg Cotrell, founder and CEO of Rugged Radios. We start the episode talking about Greg’s start in the communications business, and how he carved out a whole new industry in the off-road world. We talk about the significant effects Rugged Radios’ products have had on how people race and recreate off-road. Talking more about Greg himself, we talk about how his personal experiences have shaped his incredible work ethic, and how that work ethic permeates throughout the work culture at Rugged Radios; Specifically, Greg talks about his history in martial arts, and how that has cultivated an absolute ‘no quit’ attitude in him. 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 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.