Join host Big Rich as he dives into the exhilarating world of off-road sports with the legendary Shannon Campbell. In this episode, Shannon shares his journey from a rural upbringing in Arizona to becoming a renowned figure in the off-road industry. From racing at Top Truck Challenge to making a mark at King of the Hammers, Shannon’s stories are as thrilling as they are inspiring.
Key Moments:
- Early Life and Influences: Shannon talks about his upbringing in Gilbert, Arizona, and how his family’s involvement in racing influenced his passion for off-road sports.
- Breaking into Off-Road Racing: Hear about Shannon’s first major competition at Top Truck Challenge in 1996 and how it set the stage for his future success.
- Innovations and Challenges: Discover the journey of transitioning to independent front suspension and the challenges Shannon faced in desert racing.
- Memorable Moments: Laugh along with tales of close calls, wild races, and the camaraderie of the off-road community, including epic stories with his long-time friend Randy Ellis.
- Future Plans: Shannon shares his aspirations to balance big races with a return to grassroots wheeling adventures and his enthusiasm for upcoming events like Trail Hero and Rubicon.
Guest Bio: Shannon Campbell is a celebrated figure in the off-road racing world, known for his innovative spirit and competitive drive. As a member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, Shannon continues to inspire with his dedication to the sport and his passion for life.
TRANSCRIPT
[00:01:12.850] – Big Rich Klein
My guest this week really needs no introduction. From top truck to rock crawling, to rock racing, to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, Shannon Campbell has proven himself a winner at every level. Well, hello, Shannon Campbell. So good to have you on the podcast. You’re one of the guys that everybody wants to hear about. So here we are.
[00:01:38.040] – Shannon Campbell
Poor people interested in what I got to say.
[00:01:42.340] – Big Rich Klein
That is exactly what I thought you would say. Well, let’s have fun doing this, and I look forward to finding out more about you that I don’t know. I’m always amazed at what I find out. So let’s start right at the very beginning. And where were you born and raised?
[00:02:05.430] – Shannon Campbell
I was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Yeah, and I grew up in Gilbert pretty much. I mean, I’m Arizona a native. Been here my whole life.
[00:02:17.930] – Big Rich Klein
Right. And Gilbert was pretty rural at that time, not like it is now, where it’s just solid houses and it’s a bit beyond.
[00:02:29.160] – Shannon Campbell
Yeah, when I Well, we moved to Gilbert. I mean, I was just a baby, and we lived on a dirt road in the middle of a bunch of cotton fields, and there was nothing there but my uncle’s house and my dad’s house. Gilbert Road was dirt. The main downtown was a little bit of pavement downtown. You parked diagonal. It reminded me of just antique town. I mean, it literally grew. I remember being in school, in high school and stuff, and there was three sheriffs, and we knew them all. I knew the judge. I got to visit him quite a bit. It was quite an interesting life. We had a blast.
[00:03:12.340] – Big Rich Klein
So we’ll get into the visiting of the judge and learning more about the sheriffs. So growing up back then, what were the things that you guys did as a family? Outdoorsy stuff?
[00:03:30.090] – Shannon Campbell
Yeah, I mean, so my mom and my dad, they were total opposites. But mom would get us, she’d make us go to church every Sunday morning. And of course, we went camping and went on vacations and stuff. And dad would take me and my brother fishing. And I remember just all the fishing trips. We’d be there and he’d be like, Whatever happens on this trip, whatever you tell your mom, you’re never going with this again. It was pretty awesome, crazy. My dad was a wild child and We had good times as a family and everything. Then, of course, every Sunday morning we go to church and summer vacations. Mom would always take us to these educational trips. We didn’t really care for it as kids, but you look back now, and it was pretty awesome. READ MORE
