This week, Big Rich sits down with Joel Randall, whose path to becoming an OG R-Gang rock crawler started far from ordinary. Pulled from school after third grade, Joel grew up on the move—living in an Airstream behind a 4x4 International Travel-All, camping in Baja and the Tonto, reloading shells by age seven, and learning survival skills during his family’s doomsday-prep phase.
A cross-country odyssey led to communes, holistic doctors, and the Santa Fe Free School Community—an egalitarian, hands-on “free school” that doubled as a commune. Joel thrived building wind-powered go-karts, raiding government surplus auctions, and even serving as a “theatrical prop” in anti-war protests.
The family later settled in Chimayó, NM, where Joel helped hand-build an adobe addition—hauling vigas, quarrying flagstone, and working with Santa Clara Pueblo craftsmen. After his parents’ divorce, Joel bounced between unconventional schooling and real-world hustles: statewide Roto-Rooter setup at 13, flea-market flipping, dinner-theater bartending at 15, wild street races, and an infamous teen road trip to Vegas—all before a move to Nebraska, where his rancher-grandfather became a steadying force and mentor.
From feral freedom to farm discipline, Joel’s early life forged the grit and ingenuity he’d later bring to competitive rock crawling.
More of Joel’s story next week – don’t skip this one; it’s wild!
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