New rockcrawling series - WE Rock Australia

[Strange Rover]

With the success of the Put up or Shut event we ran this year, next year we are going to take this further and run a complete series. The competitions that we will be running are going to be sanctioned by a newly formed world rock crawling sanctioning body called W.E. Rock (which stands for World Extreme Rock Crawling Series). This body has been formed by the guys that own and run the currently very successful CalROCS series on the West coast of America. Our series here in Australia will be part of a world wide series where the top competitors will qualify for a true world championship that is going to be held in 2006 (I would guess that this comp will be held in USA for the first year). At this point it looks like the countries that are involved in this are from Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Mexico, Indonesia and of course USA.

I believe that this world wide series is really going to take the sport of 4wding in Australia to the next level. From now on rock crawling in Australia will be part of a very big picture. No longer will our events here be something that we are just doing amongst ourselves trying to develop a formula that suits our own needs in Australia. We are going to be on the world wide stage. We will be given the rules, we will be given the vehicle specifications and requirements and we will be given a formula of the style and nature of our competitions. We need to take our sport in Australia from where we are now to something that is going to be competitive against the rest of the world in little over a year and a half. I don’t know if many of you guys follow what the US guys are doing or the Europeans for that matter but we really have got some serious catching up to do. We want to be able to go to the World championships and we want to be competitive.


So here’s the plan:

We will be forming an organization that will have the controlling rights to the Australian rounds of WE Rock known as WE Rock Australia. The purpose of this organization will be to promote and direct the sport of rock crawling and make Australian rock crawling competitive on the world wide stage.

Initially this body will run and promote events itself with the future goal of incorporating other promoters into the scene under the same WE Rock sanctioning body to expand the sport throughout Australia.


In real terms how it will work is this:

The initial body that has the controlling rights to WE Rock Australia will be the same people that organised the Put Up or Shut Up event this year. The initial rounds of the series will be run under similar circumstances to how we ran the Put Up or Shut Up event. The biggest difference will be that we are going to be a lot more serious, a lot more professional and there will be a lot more publicity. Put Up or Shut Up provided us with massive amounts of experience and promotional material and we are going take this and expand on it in a big way. Initially we will only be running events in Queensland and northern NSW (like the current XRCC series) because for us to run events here it is very easy and very cheap. With the way our 4WD parks are setup and the ease in which they can get insurance for unregistered rigs and the already established amenities (camping, roads, toilets, showers etc) makes this the only practical low cost way to get all this rolling.

From there we will be looking for groups in other areas to expand the sport through out Australia. We have already been talking to different people and we should be running events in central NSW next year as well.

This will all be happening very quickly so spread the word and get behind us because in around one and a half years we will be competing against the rest of the world and we want to kick some arse. We got lots of work to do.

It looks like we will be running two classes. Supermodified (almost anything goes) and Legends (37in tyres, OME or RHS frame, steering box, 2 seats, no rear steer and no portals).

First event will be Rover Park on 12-13 March (date not totally firm yet)

Sam

[Link]

Good Stuff.. Hope it takes off

[Tazz]

This sounds good sam....

Better have a bigger think about operation buggie.....

[big red]

sounds like its gunna be an awesome series and being able to compete on a world level makes it even better.
do you have your specs yet and how do the existing buggies stack up spec wise ?

[POS]

Hows that guys, all those little hints i've been dropping have come true!!

I think the biggest thing that we are trying to do is get a STRUCTURED series going, that is well ran and VERY VERY well promoted.

You will not have to visit OUTERLIMITS to know about these events and this series. We know there are alot of wheelers out there that we need to get to.

For those of you that came to PUOSU and thought that was the best event ever, then make sure you get along and support this series!

Without YOU we will never make it!

[Strange Rover]

sounds like its gunna be an awesome series and being able to compete on a world level makes it even better.
do you have your specs yet and how do the existing buggies stack up spec wise ?

The specs will be very similar to what the current US rules are (can look at any of the big three - UROC, CalROCS or Prorock). UROCs are probably the most complete. http://www.uroc.com/new/pdf/rulesV33.pdf Their equivalent clasess are super modified and modified.

The tube buggies we are running at the moment (like my lockless, Tonys budgie, Adrians jeckle and Rods tractor) are probably comparable to their Legends rigs except ours dont have an RHS chassis that runs from in front of the front tyres to the centre line of the rear tyres. Now because our buggies dont have a RHS chassis that puts them into Supermodified class where the US rigs are way beyond ours. I think by the time 2006 comes around the Supermodifieds will be all single seat moon buggies and rigs with rear steer.

So this does create a bit of an issue on how we structure our classes here and how hard we make the courses. If we want to become competitive quickly (and really catch up) then what our current buggies are driving and that style of rig will become the Legends class (but with the RHS frames). Our current buggies would make competitive Legends rigs on the international stage. The tyres are limited to 37in so our upgraded toy and nissan and rover axles should be up to the task (but only just).

If we want to be competitive in the Supermodified class then we will have to start getting rear steer and single seat moon buggies.

Just thinking about it a bit more we probably could almost run the stock class which is very restrictive but say a nissan ute or hilux or zuke on some 35s would fit the class and you would probably have a lot of fun. Dont know that we would try to sent stock class rigs to the US for the world championship cause they probably wouldnt be able to mix it with their jeeps. Would also make it alot more expensive to send them cause we would have to send more than one container. I think we would be able to fit 2 supermod rigs and 2 legends in one container.

Hopefully within the next few weeks we should be able to announce that we will commit to sending the 4 rigs to the US for the finals fully paid for (at this stage we will only send the rigs and the drivers will have to pay their own way)

Once we make the announcement that we will send the top 2 supermod rigs and the top 2 Legends rigs to the US for the finals I think things will get very serious. Just got to talk to a few more people and we will be able to commit.

With people knowing that if they build a rig and compete well that they have the chance to win their way to the US then the competition will really hot up. And I think that alot of people should seriously look at the Legends spec class cause this is the class that really suits the sort of drive trains that we get here.

Sam

[Aza]

correct me if im wrong, but does this mean there will not be a puosu series or event next year? instead this will be taken its place?

btw sounds awesome

[Strange Rover]

Just one thing about the UROC rules that I linked to is that UROC has changed the frame rule for the modified class. Heres a cut and paste from the UROC forum on teh rule change.

EDIT: So this rule will become our Legends rule.


The Modified Frame restrictions are being replaced:

Old restrictions:

4.9.5. Modified Additional Restrictions:
4.9.5.1. Must use a boxed or semi boxed ladder type mainframe made of magnetic steel. Frames must be stock or stock replacement frames. Replacement frames must meet stock specifications or as defined below
4.9.5.2. Frame can not be shorter than the front of the front tire.
4.9.5.3. Frame rails cannot be modified between the axle center lines except as follows:
4.9.5.3.1. Custom brackets are allowed.
4.9.5.3.2. Custom cross members are allowed.
4.9.5.3.3. Custom coil buckets are allowed.
4.9.5.3.4. Notching the bottom of the frame for control arms or leaf springs mounted inside the frame is allowed.
4.9.5.3.5. Notching the frame 4.5” both sides of the axle centerline for coil over clearance is allowed.
4.9.5.3.6. Plating frame for strength is allowed.
4.9.5.4. Stock replacement frames must be approved by UROC Officials.
4.9.5.5. Frames cannot be drilled or punched to lighten them
4.9.5.6. Replacement frames must be readily available and approved by UROC Officials.
4.9.5.7. No custom frames
4.9.5.8. Frames may be narrowed but stock main framerails must be used.

New Restrictions:

4.9.5. Modified Additional Restrictions:
4.9.5.1. Must use a boxed or semi boxed ladder type mainframe made of magnetic steel.
4.9.5.2. Frame must be Rectangular or C-channel frame rails with a cross section measuring at least four (4) inches high by two (2) inches wide for custom frames. Stock frame rails have no minimum cross section restrictions.
4.9.5.3. Frame rails must extend to at least the front of the front tires and center of the rear axle.
4.9.5.4. Frames cannot be drilled or punched to lighten them.

Sam

[Strange Rover]

correct me if im wrong, but does this mean there will not be a puosu series or event next year? instead this will be taken its place?

btw sounds awesome

There will be a PUOSU event. And this event will be part of the WE Rock Australia series. We could even promote the first event at Rover Park as the PUOSU event.

We will promote each event with a different name similarly to what CalROCS does in the states. So we might have PUOSU at Rover Park and then Battle for the Rocks at Cruiser park etc etc.

Sam

[gurumon]

ABOUT BLOODY TIME

this can only be a good thing

[80lsy gq]

How good is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... it will improve the level of competitive wheeling in this country to new heights (or should i say bigger rocks).. cant wait for the first one ... i think now is the time to talk the missus into that buggy

[Strange Rover]

... i think now is the time to talk the missus into that buggy

Yep - thats right. But make sure you wait untill the WE Rock rules come out cause if you want to make something that has the engine in the front and two seats side by side then you may we well build it on a OME or RHS chassis with a steering box and 37in tyres and compete in Legends. That way you dont have to compete against people in single seat tube buggies with big tyres and big $$$$ axles and portals and stuff.

At the moment in the US they run both the Supermods and the Legends over the same courses. Generally the Legends just complete the courses with a few more reverses and a few more cones.

Sam

[XFACTOR]

sam- which rig would you compete in??? your buggy in the US..or lockless?

[POS]

sam- which rig would you compete in??? your buggy in the US..or lockless?

He's building a new one!

[Strange Rover]

sam- which rig would you compete in??? your buggy in the US..or lockless?

He's building a new one!

Yep - like I said - time to get serious.

Sam

[POS]

correct me if im wrong, but does this mean there will not be a puosu series or event next year? instead this will be taken its place?

btw sounds awesome

Aza,

PUOSU was always a one off event, its primary role was to see if we could do it and to see if it was a success!

The "W.E.Rock Australia" series is basically FOUR events that are run on th same format as PUOSU was. Only they will be BIGGER and BETTER!!!

So in other words if you like PUOSU your going to LOVE this series!!!!

[XFACTOR]

sam- which rig would you compete in??? your buggy in the US..or lockless?

He's building a new one!

Yep - like I said - time to get serious.

Sam

AWESOME!! ...what your building..moon stlye buggy??? single seater?

[Big Rich]

welcome aboard mates

Truly great to hear that everything is working out...................

Rich Klein
CalROCS/W.E.Rock United States

[redzook]

this is awsome news hope it really gets the ball rolling

so there are goin to be 4 events per year?

[antt]

so from what i gather, something like rods old ruggy would be allowed in the modified class as it used the rhs chassis? or if ya took something like the lockless, cut the lower tubes off and replaced them with rhs, you'd be able to run in modified class?

[CHOPZUKI]

good work sam this sounds awesome

i would have to compete in super mod with hydro steer and the frame not extending to the centre line of rear axle.

so what are you going to build sam? supermod or legends rig?


steve

[POS]

this is awsome news hope it really gets the ball rolling

so there are goin to be 4 events per year?

ATM YES!!!

We have all the Dates and Venues selected but we are just making sure that everything is perfect and works in well with everyone else!

We don't want to over commit ourselves and say that we are going to run a 6 event series with a final etc etc, we would much prefer to make sure these FOUR are simply AWESOME!

[POS]

welcome aboard mates

Truly great to hear that everything is working out...................

Rich Klein
CalROCS/W.E.Rock United States

No, a HUGE welcome to you Rich!!!!!

For all you guys out there, this is the person that did so much to support SAM on his trip to the USA and he is the Mastermind behind W.E.Rock and organises all the Calroc events in the states! He has also provided so much knowledge and support to get "W.E.Rock Australia" up and going!

[MissDrew]

Cool.


Man I need more money

[Big Rich]

No, a HUGE welcome to you Rich!!!!!

For all you guys out there, this is the person that did so much to support SAM on his trip to the USA and he is the Mastermind behind W.E.Rock and organises all the Calroc events in the states! He has also provided so much knowledge and support to get "W.E.Rock Australia" up and going!

Well, to be honest.... I just need a good excuse to travel

Rich

[OVERKILL ENG]

Sound awsum lucky i hadn't started building yet. Now what class do I want to be in
SAM

[beebee]

Have been looking forward to this in a BIG way! This should revolutionise rockcrawling and 4wding in Aus. No I'll just have to build a buggy so I can compete in both classes!

[dave]

Might be time to sell the truck and build a buggy
Or just look at having both.
I really hope this takes off big time.
Well done Sam Adrian and everyone else who helped in getting this going

[Rock Cat]

Good to hear that this is really happening and will be a true "world championship event".

But, I don't understand why you aren't including a stock class in your events also?

[Roctoy]

There goes the neighbourhood!!!!!

Well done guys, i'll be on the phone soon with a list of parts to order!

Cheers Chris