W.E. Rock Round 1 April 12th-13th [Archive]

Desert Jewel

04-27-08, 12:23 PM

Oops! Just realized I never posted a report on this...

Wowie wow wow!! What an awesome weekend! I volunteered to judge the W.E. Rock event this past weekend and it was another dream come true. On Saturday, I was an assistant judge with one of their best judges. We had a couple roll overs on our course and a few breaks. The 2 courses right next to mine had rollovers all day long!! After the competition was over I was lucky to hang with the Websters again. Becca let me be her "shadow" for the evening, watching her do interviews, live pirate show, and then go walk the courses for Sunday's run. It was so much fun being on the courses with her and her spotter, Mike, planning out there routes for the next day. It was about 10 pm when we finally got back to the trailer and I said I needed to head home. Becca didn't like the idea of me driving home and invited me to stay in her trailer again. They let me shower, fed me, provided me with an air mattress and bedding..just awesome!
On Sunday, I was able to switch courses and assist with Dennis because his course was just too much for one person. After a few rigs went thru, we had one that was short on time and trying to get thru the last obstacle. He did a burn and floored it, kicking up a huge dust cloud and throwing rocks everywhere. He nearly ran over Dennis and I have no idea where his spotter went. All I know is that I was hit with about an 8" boulder in the chest and right wrist. My wrist had and instant 3/4" bump on it that made my arm look completely deformed. The medic took me away to check me out. I ended up with an ice bag taped to my wrist and went right back on the course to continue judging. About every 30 minutes or so the medic would bring me new ice for my wrist. It was so hot this day that we went thru water like crazy. Finally, in the afternoon it was Becca's turn on our course. She made it thru to gate 3 and then the ROCKhER died. It was quite the bummer. I managed to make it thru the injury and heat to the 3rd to last vehicle we had to judge and began to get dizzy and light-headed. I felt really bad leaving Dennis to suffer thru the last 2 vehicles, but it was safer for me to not be on the course in case I did pass out. I went and sat in the shade, and the medic came by to check on me - gave me cold water, new ice for my wrist and an extra cold water to hold on my neck. I sat there for awhile and finally started feeling better. They got Becca's rig started by a jumper and she was able to finish the last course. Being a judge, I was able to get over to the course to sit and watch her. This was the scariest of them all with the final bonus gate having a 15 foot drop off. She got the best score on the course!
Afterwards, they have a shoot out with the top 6 from the weekend, it was really interesting to watch. Then they did the awards ceremony and then I got the treat of a lifetime!! Becca said, "You ready to take the DJ out on a course?" Wow!! I aired down to 10 psi, cleared out my passenger seat and was ready to go. Becca hopped in with the headsets and we headed over to course C4. On the way over, we ran into Chase & Myla who followed us and took pictures. Anyway, Becca set me up with the headset and then hopped out of the Jeep and spotted me thru the course. I think Becca had as much fun as I did! She was laughing and really enjoying having me take the DJ to her limits. She had me so off-camber, flexed, teetering, etc and was giggling thru it all. The neatest thing was she talked me thru every step telling me exactly what was going to happen or might happen and what to do if the "might" happen did happen. I am so ready to get into these competitions!!
And then it even got better, Becca said whatever events I want to attend/judge, they would love to have me along. Wow!! Soooo, I will be going to all the Western Regional events! Hopefully the more involved I can get, the quicker I'll be able to compete myself!

Becca checking out the clearance:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie4.jpg

Steeper than it looks:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie5.jpg

Becca saying "Way to use your undercarriage...that's what it's for!"
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie6.jpg

Testing out the flexibiliy:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie7.jpg

More off-camber than it looks:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie8.jpg

Almost over it:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie9.jpg

Becca was say "Nice flex...your Jeep looks Narly - hehe"
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie10.jpg

Just before this picture the DJ was teetering big time:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie11.jpg

And she made it:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie12.jpg

Becca telling me what is next:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie13.jpg

Big climb to test out clearance:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie14.jpg

Little scrapin:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie15.jpg

Still full traction:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie16.jpg

And making it over:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/thedesertjul/Becca%20Webster%20spotting%20the%20DJ/Julie17.jpg