| Imagine it: the sleek, shiny bodies, all in | | | | stock four-wheel-drive vehicles all the way |
| peak condition, battling it out in filthy, | | | | up to non-street-legal paddle and scoop tired |
| mud-slinging competition, emerging heated, | | | | madly-modified vehicles. |
| covered in mud, and victorious even if they | | | | |
| lost. No, these muck-covered beauties won't | | | | Bog tracks can range across a variety of |
| be on the cover of Sports Illustrated; | | | | types, from flat or progressive tracks to |
| they're more likely to be found on the pages | | | | open bogs, even hilly tracks with rises |
| of Off-Roading, especially the ones with | | | | punctuated by mudholes along the way. Tracks |
| tractor-grade tires. | | | | are up to 300 feet in length, usually |
| | | | determined by the amount of space allowed by |
| Mud bogging is a sport that combines the | | | | the arena rather than what promoters think |
| thrill of racing, the love of top-performance | | | | the vehicle can handle. It is common today to |
| vehicles, the fun of off-road mudding, and | | | | see mud bogging competitions at the same |
| the never-outgrown little boy love of playing | | | | events that feature monster trucks because |
| in the mud, getting as dirty as humanly | | | | the two types of vehicle overlap; in fact, |
| possible. The sport began in the 1970s, when | | | | some of the best mud bogging racers first |
| off-road afficionados started racing their | | | | became known for driving monster trucks. |
| vehicles through the most boggy, muddy, dirty | | | | |
| areas they could find - notably, the swamps | | | | The racing is serious, and is generally as |
| of North Carolina. Motorsports show | | | | simple as a set of matches pitting winners |
| organizers picked up on the trend and began | | | | versus winners. But if you go to watch mud |
| including long mud-filled pits for racing in | | | | bogging, you're almost certainly interested |
| their shows, and as the sport grew in | | | | in the fun of the flying mud, not in who |
| popularity among racers and spectators alike, | | | | wins. Like in mud wrestling, both vehicles |
| mud bogging grew into its own organized | | | | win, provided they come out thoroughly |
| competition. | | | | covered in mud. |
| | | | |
| In 1988, the National Mud Racing Association | | | | If you want to get into mud bogging for |
| was organized in Dayton, Ohio, making this | | | | yourself, the best route is by getting |
| rebel sport a legitimate member of the auto | | | | involved in mudding locally. Most country |
| sports racing family. Today, you can see mud | | | | areas have a group of guys - and sometimes |
| bogging exhibitions and competitions | | | | gals - who go mudding on a regular basis, |
| throughout the country. | | | | seeking out the nastiest muddiest holes and |
| | | | driving ordinary four-wheel-drive vehicles |
| Mud Bogging Rules | | | | through it. Many of these groups are happy to |
| | | | teach you how to get your car as dirty as |
| Vehicles that compete in professional mud | | | | possible, as fast as possible, and they |
| bogging are required to have four-wheel | | | | frequently hold meets or are associated with |
| drive, and are generally turbocharged, | | | | mud bogging groups. |
| high-clearance, oversize-tire vehicles, often | | | | |
| with nitrous injections and other nifty | | | | Honestly, though, if it sounds like fun, just |
| modifications. Picture a monster truck on | | | | go do it. Just make sure your cell phone has |
| steroids, and you pretty much have it. There | | | | power before you get started - just in case |
| are six classes of mud bogging vehicles, from | | | | you find more bog than mud. |