Mud bogging
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mud bogging, also known as mud racing and mud drags, is a form of off-road motorsport popular in 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.
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[edit] 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 drivelines 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.
Current American National Mud Racing Organization (NMRO) recognized classes are listed below.
| 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 |
[edit] History
Mud bogging is a common off-road activity which led to being an organized competition. In the 1970's, organized mud bogs first became popular, as four wheel drive vehicles in general became more popular. Most mud bogs took place at county fairs along side tractor pulls. By the 1980s, promoters like the USHRA and USA Motorsports began building mud pits in arenas and stadiums, increasing the exposure of the sport. TNT Motorsports also had mud racing for a while, but it was withdrawn.
The National Mud Racing Association was formed in the 1989 to create a standard rule set and form a national championship. This championship is the top honor in mud racing. From 1988-1996, the USHRA and USA Motorsports also held mud racing championships for Class V vehicles, with the USHRA championship usually garnering more exposure (during NMRO races shown on Trucks and Tractor Power on TNN, Army Armstrong would refer to the USHRA champion as the "Indoor series champion"). Today the NMRO is the only national championship for mud racing.
Due to many mud bogs being held in conjunction with monster truck events, several former mud boggers became well known monster truck drivers, including Tony Farrell, Paul Shafer, and Tom Meents. Dennis Anderson's first Grave Digger was also a mud bogger. Mud racers have also moved into the IHRA ranks. Mike Comella, former driver of Bonkers, now runs an IHRA funny car, and Steve Bareman, former driver of Chemical Reaction, now drives for Jim Oddy's Pro Mod team. Dave Ray, former driver of the Midnight Magic vehicle, now drives an NHRA Alcohol Funny Car.
[edit] Notable mud racers
- Tom Martin - Mud Patrol and Super Trooper: Four time USHRA Champion, 2 time NMRO champion, considered a revolutionary in modern mud racer design
- Paul Shafer - Mud Patrol: One time USHRA Champion and Monster Patrol creator
- Tom Meents - Shake Me and Mud Patrol: Four time NMRO champion and current Monster Jam champion Maximum Destruction
- Tony Farrell - Blue Ribbon Bandit: Two time USHRA champion and current driver of Blue Thunder
- Tim Wheelus - Simply 2: 3 time defending NMRO Class VI champion and 2 time NMRO Class V champion
- Chuck Courty - Mud Missile: NMRO Class V champion (2001 & 2002) and NMRO Class VI champion (2001)
- Keith Mitchell - "Mudgician": Many time NMRO Class IV champion
- Mike Erdelyi - "Mud Shark": Heavy hitter back in the late 1980's and early 1990's with his Corvette bodied machine. Known for always having wild passes and being near the top.
