Mud bogging

Mud bogging (also known as mud racing, mud running, mud drags, or mudding) is a form of off-road motorsport popular in Canada and the United States in which the goal is to drive a vehicle through a pit of mud of a set length. Winners are determined by the distance traveled through the pit or, if several vehicles are able to travel the entire length, the time taken to traverse the pit. Typically, vehicles competing in mud bogs are four-wheel drives. The motor sport is overseen by sanctioning bodies like the American Mud Racing Association^[1], and the National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO)^[2], that oversee each class, develop and maintain the relationship with track owners to provide a racer and fan-friendly facility, ensure the sponsors get a good return, and help govern the sport.

Vehicles

A modern top level Class V or VI mud racer is a dragster-style "rail" design, with a supercharged engine and/or nitrous oxide injection. Engines may be in the front or the rear. Vehicles are required to have four wheel drive. The sole difference between Classes V and VI is the tire type. Class V racers have D.O.T. street legal tires which are modified by cutting off chunks of rubber to achieve an optimum shape for traction. Class VI vehicles have paddle tires, similar to sand rails.

Early mud boggers were pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles modified with lifted suspensions and larger tires, and classes exist for such vehicles today. Engine upgrades were also common. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, large tractor tires became popular, and the drive lines required to run such tires led to some of the first purpose-built mud bogging machines. By the late 1980s, many sanctioning bodies began giving precedence to vehicles with modified, and lower, dragster-type "rail designs", as they had increased in popularity. At the same time, superchargers first became widely used, leading to the modern top-level racer.

In the late 70's and most 80's mud bog events, there was generally a class that was for running tractor tired trucks. Trucks like the Arizona Outlaw, Goldbricker, Six Pack, Arizona Sidewinder, Instant Motion, Mud Lord, Mud Pup, Wild Thing, Nasty Habits, Unnamed & Untammed, and the legendary Cyclops were frequent competitors. Some of these trucks would later be modified to be Monster Trucks.

There are many types of mud bogs, from Hill and Hole, Flat or Progressive Track, to Open Bog. They come in many shapes and sizes from 150 feet (46 m) to over 300 feet (91 m). Hill and Hole is just as it sounds, usually 60 feet (18 m) wide 200 feet (61 m) long, a series of hills and holes, and is challenging to each truck. All NMRO tracks are Flat or Progressive tracks, more like a drag strip, or sand drag. Open bogs come from Florida and are mostly natural. These tracks have little organization.

Hill and Hole classes range from 4 and 6 Cylinder, Street Stock, Hot Street, Renegade, Super Street, Small Tire Modified 36" and below, Big Tire Modified 37" and bigger tire, Unlimited, X Class, and More. There are many class usually set but the tire size, and engine.

Most Unlimited and X classes are run with what you want in the safety rules. These trucks have big power engines, built just for that class and are not limited to what can be added to the truck. The truck must pass all safety rules and be safe to put in a show and not hurt the crowd.^[3]

National Mud Racing Organization is currently one of the only major professional championship series left. Their rulebook is the general basis for most other mud racing competitions.

Checkered Flag Productions claims to be the best indoor series currently running.

USA Motorsports and USHRA ran professional mud racing series, both referred to as the Indoor Series, for many years until it was phased out of events around 1995. They would occasionally have mud bogs as part of later events, but not on the same scale as before.

Classes

Current American National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO) recognized classes are listed below.

Current NMRO Recognized Classes

Class	Vehicle	Engine	Tire
IA and IB	Stock	Stock, but allowed to have mild mods such as headers	D.O.T. legal
II	Modified Stock	Mild modifications, but nothing severe	D.O.T. legal
III	Pro Stock	Factory production automotive type engine, mods permitted	D.O.T. legal, no cut tires
IV	Pro Modified	Factory production automotive type engine, naturally aspirated only, no turbo or supercharger, nitrous oxide allowed	D.O.T. legal, cut tires permitted
V	Unlimited/Cut Tires	Any automotive type engine, mods permitted, turbocharged and supercharged permitted, nitrous oxide allowed	D.O.T., any cut design
VI	Unlimited/Paddle Tires	Any automotive type engine, mods permitted, turbocharged and supercharged permitted, nitrous oxide allowed	Paddle or Scoop

Rules

There are different rules for different classes although some rules are consistent across the different classes.^[4]

Television

In March 2007, Mud Truck Television was created with the specific purpose of providing media coverage for the sport. The show airs nationwide on a weekly basis on the Untamed Sports TV Network and several cable networks across the Mid-West. The show is hosted by Brian and Lisa Austin and is filmed and produced in Arkansas. Mud Truck TV features races and events across the United States and is considered a valuable tool in providing exposure and promotion for the sport. There are many more classes for mud bogging.

In 2008 a new mud racing sanctioning body was formed to crown a national champion. In 2009, The Mud Racers Association (MRA) held a national points series with races across the country in the following states: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The points classes were as follows Pro-Stock DOT Tires, Modified Cut Tires, and Open Paddle Tires. Mike Lane (Attitude) of Botkins, Ohio was the Open Class National Champion and also set the new MRA National and World Record (MRA, NMRO, & PROBADD) for 200' with a time of 2.110 seconds at the Kansas Badlands on Saturday August 22, 2009. Randy Roberts (Unpredictable) of Richton, Mississippi was the Modified Class National Champion and he set the new MRA National and World Record (MRA, NMRO) for 200' with a time of 2.484 seconds at the Kansas Badlands on Saturday August 22, 2009. Chad Wren (Dirty Sanchez) of Christmas, Florida was the Pro Stock Class National Champion. The MRA maintains national records for all of its classes from street stock to open in both mud bog and fast track races.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Off Road Race Park, a 30 acre race complex located 12 miles north of Natchez, Mississippi is the home of outlaw mud racing and mud drags. Sanctioned by the Southwest Mississippi Mud Racing Association, the park draws crowds from all over Mississippi and Louisiana.^[5]

Mud Bogging Events

Mud bogging has gone from back yard mud holes to events that host upwards of 40,000 people in a weekend. It is no longer just a participant sport. It has grown into a multi-million dollar spectator sport complete with high paying sponsors. There are many annual, monthly and weekly events such as Vermonster 4x4, South Florida Slingin', Triple Canopy Ranch and Truck Night at Yankee Lake.

References

1. ^ [1]- AMRA; Retrieved April 27, 2011
2. ^ [2]- NMRO; Retrieved April 27, 2011
3. ^ [3] Mud trucks; Retrieved April 27, 2011
4. ^ [4]- Classes and rules; Retrieved April 27, 2011
5. ^ [5]- Mississippi mud racing;Retrieved April 27, 2011