Redneck Express Racing

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Driver Rob Sanderson article 2005

By Sue Dickens

Offroad drivers like Rob "Rebel" Sanderson of Colborne say that blacktop is only good for getting there, while the dirt is for racing.

An off-road enthusiast and endurance driver, Rob has wanted to be behind the wheel since he was a young boy.

He remembers growing up watching his dad well known driver Bill Sanderson, compete in many stock car events.

"I have been into the racing stuff all my life. I used to go to the races with my dad when I was two or three and then when I got older and could get behind the wheel I started doing endurance races at the Brighton Speedway and up in Peterborough at the track there. I drove street stock for five years in Brighton," he said.

Rob’s face lights up whenever he talks about his favourite pastime.

His fearless nature and abilities as a backyard mechanic have given him a good ride so far.

In fact he has done so well he took 1^{st place at the 2005 Monster Jam.Held at the SkyDome in Toronto,Ontario.}

The roar of the engines and the excitement at the Dome is something Rob will never forget.

Apparently it is something the 25,000 fans will never forget either.He was letting the kids that were there for the Pit Party sit in his drivers seat for pictures.As soon as they sat in the seat they just had to grab that steering wheel.With a big smile on they're faces.

Rob’s "Rebel" moniker follows him everywhere.

The fact that he has always worn cowboy hat to offroad events It had an extra special meaning that day. He was wearing a hat he had bought from guys who called themselves the Redneck Express who sell hand painted cowboy hats at the Havelock Jamboree.

"When I raced at the Skydome I wore a hat they had painted with the Rebel flag and their name emblazoned on the back . . . the announcer saw it before the race and when I won he asked where it was . . . . out loud . . . over the microphone. I had put it in the truck and when I pulled it out after the race everyone cheered. It was a real rush. They even put the words Redneck Express on the jumbo screen. I will never forget that day," said Rob grinning from ear to ear.

That is when he decided to name his truck Redneck Express and the karma must be good because he has had a lot of quality races since.

"The Redneck Express is a Class 7, Chevy S10, four cylinder, four speed, two wheel drive and it is pretty well stock except it has two shocks per wheel," he explained.

Maybe the fact he was born on Friday the 13th in 1967 . . . maybe the fact there are 13 stars in the Rebel flag are what prompted him to put the number 13 on his stock car and his current truck.

"The Redneck Express is #713 . . . Class 7 which is what class I race in now and of course the number 13 means a lot to me. I like it so much I even had the word Triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) on the back of my stock car when I raced years ago," he added smiling.

He has Rebel logos everywhere on his truck and at home and even has a license plate his friend Wes gave him from Nevada that reads Redneck .Hanging in the rear window.

"I go places now and am surprised when people come up to me and say, hey, I saw you racing at the Skydome. I really got my name up in lights that day I guess," he added laughing.

For Rob it is all about the adrenalin rush, the high he gets when he is out there doing what he enjoys.

Offroad drivers like Rob push their trucks to the limit and almost anything can happen.

The drivers are more than racers; they have to be full fledged athletes.

The competitions test the skills and abilities of the drivers and their trucks.

"This is what attracts drivers to compete. I used to go to Cedar Springs, just outside of Cobourg and really got into the racing there. Then I started flagging for the Wheel to Wheel track in Kindcardine. I just took a plain truck, took the windows out, beefed up the front springs and hauled it all the way to Kincardine, a four hour trip. I took 2nd place overall in the tuff truck class with my 8 cylinder 1980 Ford shortbox. That was in 2001. I was just doing the tuff truck and then helping out the off-road guys and well, they asked me to join them . . . I haven’t looked back since," he said.

For Rob the best part about racing is the fact he has his brothers on board.

"I have four brothers altogether and Will, the oldest as well as Ray, Ed and Jay are all racing and are also part of each others  pit crew these days,If one of us breaks down ,we all help out to get him going again." he said proudly.

"It is my fault they all got into it," he added laughing again.

"We are all kind of even in our abilities and we know this because we compete a lot," he said.

Rob has had a few close calls but nothing that has stopped him from racing.

As a member of the Ontario Offroad Racing Association Rob pointed out he is very safety conscious and makes sure his truck meets all the racing requirements.

"You have to have a rollbar and some kind of head loop around you in case it does roll over, a firesuit, a harness, and a fuel cell and the kill switch which can be used to shut everything off in an accident," he explained.

His weekends are spent now going from race to race everywhere from London to Brockville and in between.

"You know all of this would not be happening if it were not for the support I get from my sponsors . . . particularly Truss-Worthy Construction of Colborne where I work," he said.

Sponsorship is what gets him to the races.So when you stop in to any of these sponsers ,tell them you seen they're name on the truck..

"I started working at Truss-Worthy about 8 years ago. I drive their ‘99 Stirling with a 70 ft. crane and take the trusses and put them up on the walls for houses, for businesses, whatever. They have been with me since the very beginning," said Rob.

"I want to be sure to thank all my sponsors for without them I could not be doing this," he added.

His other sponsors include Canadian Trucking News of Brighton; Truss-Worthy Construction Systems INC.Steacy Dismantling, Downey Pharmacy, Tim’s Auto Repair,Mathews Automotive (NAPA), The Yum Yum Shoppe, Sign Ad, J & T Auto Refinishing  all of Colborne, Ball Machine of Wellington; National 4 WD Centres of  Brampton; Northumberland Tire of Cobourg; and Simons Off Road Shop of St. Catharines.

"You know my first job was driving a cab in Trenton, my next was driving a dump truck, and then I worked for LMB out of Belleville. It seems I have always been driving whether it is for work or for racing . . . it is what I love to do. I can’t see me not racing something," he added.

Now his son RJ, age 13, (who can’t quite reach the pedals yet) and his stepdaughter Jessie,(just turned 17) have the racing bug too. It won’t be long before readers may see them out there making their marks in the dirt too.

He is already planning his next race at Lindsay and will be at the Nationals in London.

Good luck Rob . . . not that you need it!

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Class 7 racer Rob Sanderson of Colborne has some exciting news about one of his sponsors! Their marketing agreement with Rob for 2006. The very popular trucking industry magazine, which is now known as CANDADIAN TRUCKING NEWS,  the magazine is full helpful and interesting information that everyone in the trucking or shipping industry looks forward to every month.

The monthly magazine is almost a godsend for the trucking industry. Not only do the technical and goverment information articles keep truck drivers and fleet managers up to date on the day to day changes in the industry, the driver and company profile articles allow the unsung heroes of the roads to shine. There is also custom and antique vehicle feature articles, an employment section and a full product and services directory, among other intersting and humorous articles.

"Canadian Trucking News has been a trucking magazine in  for just a short time," states Sanderson. "Now that they are National, they are sure to become the most loved information source of truckers and fleet managers all across the country. The trucking industry is basicly one big family, very similar to the off road racing circles. The communication between the drivers is incredible, even if they are working for the competitor. If a trucker is stuck at the side of the road, it is certain that he will be asked 50 times inside an hour over the cb if he is ok and if he needs help. Off Road racers are the same way. It is not uncommen to see a truck pull into the pits for repairs only to be swamped by crew members from other teams, looking to help out their fellow competitor. Canadian Trucking News has found a way to bring both my living and my pastime together...sort of a marriage of two families." Last year, the magazine featured a colourful 4 page article of  Rob, his truck, and his pastime..