The All American Chuck Wagon Truck Race Format

Friday, October 7, 2011 is the inaugural date for The All American Chuck Wagon Truck Race. There is no other such race anywhere in the country. This is an event which we hope excites racing and chuck wagon fans alike. This race is nothing like the chuck wagon races that occur in other venues in the United States and Canada. That race involve chuck wagons being pulled by four horses assisted by several outriders and is an all-out race series that stretches over several days and have very large purses.

The All American Chuck Wagon Truck Race has vehicles that are powered by their 22.5 HP engines and is a team event led by a driver with three helpers and two outriders, riding either a horse or mule. At this time there are two known vehicles that fit the rules as outlined in the following information. In the inaugural race both vehicles will be Model TT Ford trucks.

Grubelnik entry from Lubbock, Texas

Calk entry from El Paso, Texas

The race involves the four members of the crew "breaking camp" by loading a Dutch oven, tripod with coffee pot, saddle, saddle blanket & rope, plus a bedroll--into the bed of their chuck wagon truck while the outriders mount their horse or mule and all race around the course as outlined by race officials. First the chuck wagon trucks race along the straight away to a designated barrel and complete a figure eight around this barrel and another barrel at the starting line. After making the turn around the barrel at the starting line the competitors will circle the race track. The outriders do not have to do the figure eight around the barrels. They will head out around the track and the vehicles will catch up to them by the end of the race. The first vehicle to cross the finish line typically wins, although various time penalties can be assessed for infractions such as a barrels being knocked over, or some part of the “make shift” camp not arriving at the finish, wagon interference or an outrider crossing the finish line too far ahead of or behind his vehicle. The winner will be declared after any time deductions for infractions have been factored into the overall time.

Pitchfork Ranch Chuck Wagon Truck (notice brand on chuckbox)

CHUCK WAGON TRUCK CRITERIA –The earliest known evidence of a motorized chuck wagon truck was first found in the form of a circa 1930 photograph, taken on the Pitchfork Ranch (established 1883) in the panhandle of Texas.

• All members of the crew must have cooked in chuck wagon competitions for a minimum of three (3) years with the exception of the outriders.
• Limited to 22.5 HP (this is to make the vehicles as equal as possible)
• Wood spoke wheels
• One ton trucks, depot hacks, or pickup trucks no later than 1927
• Doors are not mandatory
• May have auxiliary transmission and/or two speed axle
• Vehicles must remain stock excluding chuck wagon configuration
• Must be equipped with wood and/or metal bed, wooden sideboards, wooden chuckbox, & wooden boot (plywood not allowed)
• Must have oil, gas, and water (in period correct vessels) with jack and basic mechanic tools that were period correct for the vehicle
• Period correct wood/metal water container
• Branding Iron, axe, meat saw, triangular dinner bell, block & tackle & rope for corral
• Cowboy bedroll
• High back saddle, saddle blanket, and rope
• Gun mounted on or within the chuckbox area (replica or non-functional weapon will suffice (for rustlers)

RULES OF THE RACE

• The trucks will be set with the very front lined up on starting line
• When the starting gun sounds to start the race all competitors will be around their respective coffee pot located at the back of the wagon, including the outriders holding the reins of the mount. All of the “makeshift camp” items must be loaded into the chuck wagon truck by four of the crew members while the outriders mount up on their horse or mule.
• The vehicles complete a figure eight around the designated barrels and race around the track (to be designated by race officials and agreed to by contestants) and finish at the start/finish line.
• Once crossing the finish line the crew members must unload the “makeshift” camp and set it up as it was prior to the start. The outriders must unsaddle their mounts.
• The time will be stopped by the judge when each member of the crew throws both hands in the air (as in calf roping events).
• The winner of the contest will be declared after any penalty infractions have been deducted from the overall times of the competitors.

MAKESHIFT CAMP TO INCLUDE

• Coffee pot hanging on a tripod
• 14” Dutch oven
• Saddle
• Saddle blanket
• Rope on the saddle
• Bedroll, rolled up and laying on the ground

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

There will be participation by the audience prior to the race and afterwards for them to cast their ballots for the Most Authentic Chuck Wagon Truck. This spectator award will be announced at the chuck wagon competition awards on Saturday afternoon.

PENALTIES

Like any sport Chuck Wagon Truck Racing rules are put in place to ensure the safety of all involved and to give all participants an equal and fair chance at success. The rules have also been developed to enhance the entertainment value of the spectators. The rules will be reviewed each year by a committee to determine if there is need for change.

CHUCK WAGON TRUCK NOT STARTED BY CRANK HANDLE- (5 Seconds)  The engine should be started by hand cranking. If the driver is unable to start the engine by hand cranking, the team will be accessed a 5 second penalty. The driver may then start the engine with the battery powered starter.

CHUCK WAGON TRUCK PULL STARTED BY MULE OR HORSE POWER- (no penalty)

CAMP ITEMS NOT LOADED BEFORE TOP BARREL - (5 Seconds)  The crew members at the back of the wagon must load all of the “makeshift” camp items immediately when the starting gun sounds. In the event the items ¬¬¬are not loaded before the vehicle starts the items may be loaded when the vehicle returns to the start/finish barrel otherwise the driver will be accessed a 5 second "Not Loaded" penalty.

CHUCK WAGON TRUCK KNOCKED BARREL- (5 Seconds)   Once the starting gun sounds a CWT must turn 2 barrels in a figure 8 pattern prior to starting onto the race course. In the event a CWT knocks over one of the barrels a costly 5 second "Chuck Wagon Truck Knocked Barrel" penalty will be assessed if the barrel is not replaced by outrider or ONBOARD crew member.

LATE OUTRIDER - (5 Second)  An outrider must be within 150 feet from the front of his drivers vehicle as it crosses the finish line otherwise the driver is accessed a 5 second "Late Outrider" penalty.

OUTRIDER AHEAD OF LEAD TEAM - (2 Seconds)  An outrider must be within 150 feet of his/her vehicle however he/she cannot be ahead when the vehicle crosses the finish line otherwise a 2 second "Outrider Ahead of Lead Team" penalty will be accessed.

OUTRIDER FAIL TO FINISH - (10 Seconds)  If for any reason an outrider does not finish the race his team will be assessed a 10 second "Outrider Failing to Finish" penalty.