Friday, November 1, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
The Road To SEMA and Beyond...
The Rockett Raptor is my daily driver for now. I believe that it is the kind of truck that that you can off road one weekend, take camping the next, tow your bikes, over land across the desert and still take your kids to school Monday morning. Radical can be usable and I am out to prove that. Why? Maybe I should have been a marketing guy? Oh, that's right. I am! (See: Rockett Drum Works)
On November 5th, SEMA begins. However, several days before that, The Rockett Raptor must be completed. We still have a ways to go and Brian Rider (Rider Graphics) and I are actively seeking to finish it! I am being 100% transparent about this build. Meaning, no games with sponsors. I am being 100% honest and will do my part in making my end of the bargain solid. If I say I will show up and promote the brand, I will. I won't endorse any brand that I don't believe in and won't take things for free just because they are free. I have a vision for this build and it has to make sense. It's also about the relationships at these companies, how they interact and if they keep their word.
First up was Magnaflow. Magnaflow exhaust is a front runner across the world. Magnaflow was the first company to come to the table and get involved. I am glad to be part of the team at this year's SEMA.
The following companies have come on board and I feel that they are some of the strongest names in the business. The have made this project a sure stand out.
On November 5th, SEMA begins. However, several days before that, The Rockett Raptor must be completed. We still have a ways to go and Brian Rider (Rider Graphics) and I are actively seeking to finish it! I am being 100% transparent about this build. Meaning, no games with sponsors. I am being 100% honest and will do my part in making my end of the bargain solid. If I say I will show up and promote the brand, I will. I won't endorse any brand that I don't believe in and won't take things for free just because they are free. I have a vision for this build and it has to make sense. It's also about the relationships at these companies, how they interact and if they keep their word.
First up was Magnaflow. Magnaflow exhaust is a front runner across the world. Magnaflow was the first company to come to the table and get involved. I am glad to be part of the team at this year's SEMA.
The following companies have come on board and I feel that they are some of the strongest names in the business. The have made this project a sure stand out.
MagnaFlow - http://www.magnaflow.com
One11Ink - http://one11ink.com
Phoenix Pop Up Campers - http://phoenixpopup.com
Firestone - http://www.firestoneip.com
Addictive Desert Designs - http://www.addictivedesertdesigns.com
Method Race Wheels - http://www.methodracewheels.com
Rigid Industries - http://www.rigidindustries.com
Airaid - http://www.airaid.com
Odyssey Batteries - http://www.odysseybatteries.com
Whistler - http://www.whistlergroup.com/default_us.aspx
Auto Anything - http://www.autoanything.com
Saturday, September 7, 2013
St. George, UT > Vegas > Calico Ghost Town
St. George, UT > Las Vegas, NV > Calico Ghost Town, CA
After a well deserved morning shower, some nasty KOA camping coffee and a nice breakfast at Cracker Barrel, the Bug and I headed off.
Vegas
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| Bugsy at legendary, Uncle Bob Spina's shop in Las Vegas. |
We ended up meeting for a quick lunch with Uncle Bob Spina in Las Vegas before going onto Calico Ghost Town. My pinstriping mentor, Uncle Bob took us to a Mexican place that accommodated Bugsy's yerning for a grilled cheese.
Calico, CA
After spending so much time around green, it was a bit of a re-adjustment to be back in the semi desert of California. The Calico Ghost Town camp ground was almost empty. With the exception of two rent a campers at the far end, Bugsy and I were all alone. We loved it! We could blast music, blast my Rigid Industries LED lights, walk around in our underwear and like idiots. No one to bother us! This is my kind of camping... removed from the rushing world!
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| Bugsy plays with Legos as the Calico sun sets. |
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| Rigid Industries LED bar lights up the night. |
Well, a decent nights sleep an make a man a bit overconfident! Case in point... I decide, "That there brim, would be a good place to take a pic of da truck!" Duhhhhhh! 1,327 extra pounds on the back of a truck changes things. Within seconds, that damn soft dirt has us locked in and sinking. I tired every conceivable 4x4 combo. Slow wheel spin, fast wheel spin, brake/throttle modulation, etc, etc. End result... STUCK! I tried digging the soft dirt out from under all four tires... nuttin'! Park ranger comes by, "Hey, do that crap out there, not in the park!!!" I say, "Sorry, but my four year old is in here and the temps are climin' every 10 minutes." He tells me that he can ask his boss to help or I can call a tow truck. Niiiiiceeee. That means, we are here two hours. No Calico Ghost Town. :-(
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| Stuck as F@%k! |
I say to myself, "Self, you can get outta here. I know you!" It was then that it dawned on me. "Hey, what about the camper shell jacks??? Maybe on a dem will work?" I dig one out from under the pile of suitcases and dirty clothes in the back of the truck. I prop it under the Addictive Desert Design Stealth bumper (and Yes I am pimpin' them! If it wasn't fir this bumper We'd be part of the ghosts!).
Anyway, I catch an edge of the bumper and begin jacking the thing up. I get about 6 inches up and try and gun it in reverse. It moves, but no cigar. Back to the jack. Up another 4 inches. Ohhhh, it's gettin' scary! I jump in, (by now Bugsy is about sick of sittin' in there.), Reverse> throttle> BAM! We are out! Yep! Out! Buuuuuutttttt, the right rear tire was sitting on top of a rock and spinning thus digging a nice little valley into the center. Rubber was hangin', but the tire was still holding air. Park Ranger comes back about then. "Hey, boss can't help." Yeah, I don't need it!", I say. "Thanks anyway for all the help!" - Off to the Ghosts...
Calico Ghost Town
They say it's haunted, but there aren't many ghosts who really want to stick around an old mine shaft in the 95 degree heat, I'm sure of it! All in all, it was fun to walk around and see the old town. Bugsy enjoyed the sights and the railroad. The breakfast place rocked and all the people were nice. After about two and half hours, it was time for our little road trip to come to an end. First, though, a trip to Barstow to put on a spare tire was in order. Hope it doesn't blow!!!
 
In the end, this was a trip that I hope Jude (Bugsy) will always remember. It's doubtful at four years of age. I will remind him and hopefully he will have that fuzzy feeling when he hears the word "camping". He will have the pictures, always. Bugsy was a trooper and I commend him. Not all kids can ride in a truck for four days and camp in a 6 foot bed pop up camper. The rig worked pretty well and as long as I remeber that it isn't an RV and it isn't tent camping. It's somewhere in between and it's just perfect for the Bug and I. Cheers from us both!
Below are some pics from Calico Ghost Town:
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Grand Junction, CO > St. George, UT
Grand Junction, CO > St. George, UT
The day started as a sunshiny promise that quickly merged into a massive downpour in and through the canyons of beautiful Utah. The sky would clear, then cloud, then rain, then dry. This was a repeat process throughout the day, slowing us down to even 20 MPH at times to be safe. Even so, it was a productive drive. At day's end, we stayed at another KOA Campground just to get set up and out of the mess. The campground people were very nice, but I'm not much for KOA style places. To me, this type of camping is like Tailgating with camping amentities! Not my cup if tea, but an oasis when you REALLY need to brake camp. Bugsy played with his Star Wars Legos and I planned the next day's plan of attack to California's Calico Ghost Town.
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| Welcome To Utah! |
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| Ahh, no rain! |
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| Bugsy blowin' off some steam at a rest stop. |
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| Jammies and Star Wars Legos. |
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| Nice, helpful folks here. |
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Denver, CO > Grand Junction, CO
Day #2
Showers and breakfast after a restless night sleep. New time zone, too much coffee, who knows!
At any rate, we take off with Rob from Pheonix Pop Up around 9:30 or 10:00 and see the truck camper for the first time!
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| Bugsy enjoying the free breakfast buffet! |
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| Front w/ Camper Down |
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| Side w/ Camper Down |
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| Rob, Cari and I |
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| Beautiful Colorado! |
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| Bugsy playing in the cab-over bed. |
Monday, September 2, 2013
Detroit > Denver
DAY #1
On the flight. A slight bit delayed, but all good!
Bugsy Chillin'
Bugsy Waiting for the shuttle.
Introducing The Rockett Raptor
While this post is entitled "Introducing The Rockett Raptor", really this project has been an ongoing process for several months. My 4 year old son, Jude (Bugsy) and I will travel to Denver from our stay in Detroit today. There we will meet up with Cari and Rob, the owners of Phoenix Pop Up Campers to get the Raptor. The Raptor has been with Phoenix Pop Up for several weeks having a custom pop up truck camper installed along with Addictive Desert Design "Stealth Bumpers" and Rigid lighting. Rob at Phoenix Pop Up was also courteous enough to install a Whistler power inverter as well.
Bugsy and I will meet up with Cari and Rob Tuesday morning, go over the mods and then travel back to our home in Castaic, CA. The trip is 15 hours and since Bugsy is only 4, we will take 3 days getting back while trying out the new camping package along the way. Perfect way to find out what we really need, right?
So, this is the plan... Denver, CO > Grand Junction, CO>St. George, UT >Littlefield, AZ > Castaic, CA!
Our Proud Sponsors!
Phoenix Pop Up Campers - http://phoenixpopup.com
MagnaFlow - http://www.magnaflow.com
Firestone - http://www.firestoneip.com
Addictive Desert Designs - http://www.addictivedesertdesigns.com
Method Race Wheels - http://www.methodracewheels.com
Rigid Industries - http://www.rigidindustries.com
Airaid - http://www.airaid.com
Odyssey Batteries - http://www.odysseybatteries.com
Whistler - http://www.whistlergroup.com/default_us.aspx
Auto Anything - http://www.autoanything.com
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