RRock Mafia

This past Fathers' Day (June 15, 2013), RRock Mafia had its 10th annual Road way trail run. An estimated 600-800 people were in attendance for this rugged yet festive occasion with food and beverages for all. Featured Jeep competition was three class rock crawling events and a women's/children rock crawling event. The latter competition raised funds for cancer research.

Photos courtesy of James T. Smith Photography

"The teams put on an amazing show and the RRock Mafia were top notch, as always," Hannibal Rocks' Debbie Wombles said. "Tom (Wombles) and I were both very touched by our 'family' which also includes the New London Fire Department and the devoted fans that stuck it out in the heat. "With the thunder and lightning at the end of the event, we can all say that we ‘Went out with a bang!'"

The results of the competitions were as follows:

ProMod
Branden Blume - 1st place
Joshua Crowe - 2nd place

Legends
Dale Unnerstall - 1st place
Travis Snider - 2nd place
Michael Johnson - 3rd place
Paul Figge 66
Steve Thornton 69
Adam Costigan 150
Anne Klouzek 157

Mod Stock
Duane Garretson - 1st place
Bryan Cooper - 2nd place
Canyon Cooper - 3rd place
Glen Thornton 70
Drake Garretson 144
Nathan Jones 174

Photos courtesy of James T. Smith Photography

The RRock Mafia also held its annual "SheRock" competition that is a women's/child rock crawling event for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It was interesting and incredible seeing the children and the new women drivers taking on the rocks for the first time. Several did very well and all the time with smiles on their faces. SheRock 2013 raised $1175 for a SheRock grand total of $22,305.54 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The results of SheRock 2013 appear below:

ProMod
Sara Brown - 1st
Nick Angell - 2nd
Sara Snider - 3rd

Legends
Caleb Good - 1st
Jessica Brandt - 2nd
Debbie Dust - 3rd

Mod Stock
Heidi Olson Cooper - 1st
Nathan Jones - 2nd
Gina Guccione - 3rd
Jamie Gower - 4th

Many in attendance as well as those who competed expressed the idea about the fun experience they enjoyed. "We had an awesome time at Hannibal Rocks,” Duane Garretson said. “It was great to see the RRock Mafia and all the competitors again this year. We love competing at Hannibal Rocks and wish it were a full season there, but we understand and we hope a miracle happens and we can return soon.

“Tom and Debbie have put all their heart and soul into this series for many years and we are glad that we got to meet them, compete in the series and make some lifelong friends along the way,” Garretson lauded.

“Saturday, I did one of the most exciting things I have done in a really long time,” SheRock competitor Sandi Anderson beamed. “I got to drive Canyon Cooper's rock crawl truck up the rock wall and back down. It was so exhilarating! I think I am still floating on an adrenalin rush.”

The RRock Mafia is an extreme rock crawl series that is presented every year by Hannibal Rocks. This year’s event, although culminated with thunder and lightning, began as a bright, sunny, hot day. It made for a fun Jeep experience for those who attended.

Joseph Wright is a copywriter with Transamerican Auto Parts in Compton, CA. He has been a professional journalist for over 20 years. He lives in Los Angeles.