By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
Overton resident Larry Skaggs took home bragging rights and some prize money from a trip to Parowan, Utah last weekend where he participated in the 15th annual Mud Bog Race that, each year, kicks off the Iron County Fair. The race, held at the Iron County Fairgrounds Grandstand, brings dozens of competitors from all over southern Utah to brave the mudbog seeking the prize.
In this year’s races, Skaggs entered his 1986 Ford F-250 “Mud Digger” in two different divisions: the Open Class and the Super Stock Class. Skaggs took first place in the Open Class and second place in the Super Stock.
Mud Bog Racing entails driving a vehicle from a dead stop through a 150 foot long, 15 foot wide mud pit. The winner is the one who gets through in the shortest time.
Of course, that is assuming that he gets through at all. At the Parowan race, they like their mud deep. They soak down the ground until there is more than 2 feet deep of mud.
“That one had to be the deepest pit of the year,” Skaggs said. “When I was finished, my truck was just covered with mud. It was up-to-the belly caked in it. I’ve still got some work ahead of me to clean it all up.”
Over the past year, Skaggs has travelled to various places to compete in Mud Bog Racing events including Cedar City, Utah; Price, Utah; Carlin, Nevada and more.
“It’s a fun activity to do with the whole family,” he said.
Skaggs’ grandchildren come to visit him from out of state each summer for about a month. This year, he took them to the races and allowed them to participate in the youth ATV class of the events.
His seven year old grandson Matthew Novak, of Chisholm, Minnesota, actually won first place in the 125-500 cc under age 12 division at Parowan.
“The mud was so deep, none of the ATVs made it through all the way,” Skaggs said. “They had to have a backhoe come in and pull each of them out after their run. So the prize went to the one that go the farthest through the pit.”
That ended up being Matthew who won a trophy and a total of $300 in prize money.
This was actually the second weekend in a row at the races for Skaggs and his family. On Saturday, August 9, they all travelled up to the Battle of the States Mud Race in Price, Utah. At that race, Matthew Novak also won a first place award in his division. In addition, Skaggs’ 12 year old granddaughter Brianna Boike, of Boise, Idaho, took third place in the same youth division.
At Price, Skaggs also let his daughter drive his Mud Digger truck in the Powder Puff division. She took third place in that division.
Skaggs attributed some of his success to a local group of automotive experts who have helped him with his truck. He thanks mechanic Mike Hemingway at Logandale Tire and Auto as well as Mike Cook at Overton NAPA Auto Parts.
Skaggs is the organizer of the Dirty Nasty Mud Race which had its first event at the western end of the parking lot at the Logandale Ballfield Complex last September. Now he is in full gear getting ready for the second annual event which is scheduled in the same place this year on Saturday, September 27. Stay tuned to the PROGRESS for more information as that event approaches.
