Let the best Bob win

By KATRINA KIRBY Staff Writer

Editor’s note: BLAST FROM THE PAST is a weekly article where we turn back the clock and see what was on the front page of our local newspapers years ago.

This article ran on the front page of the Aug. 7, 2003, edition of the Shoshone News-Press. If you remember this story, or other BLAST FROM THE PAST articles, let us know by writing us or commenting online.

PINEHURST — Two men will compete in a single time to event for the ultimate prize: bragging rights.

“I can brag that I beat his Jeep,” Bob Jones said.

Jones of Kingston, and Bob Jutila of Pinehurst, have been arguing for years over whether Jones’s horse was faster than Jutila’s Jeep.

“I would tell him, while you’re busy crawling up the rocks I’ll be at the top looking down on you,” Jones said.

Brad Kitchen overheard this friendly harassment at a meeting and decided to arrange a competition between the two men as a fun way to settle the argument.

The duo agreed to a timed event; they each will take turns on a predetermined course with time keepers who aren’t partial to Jeeps or horses in order to keep it neutral.

It was originally scheduled for last year at the Pinehurst Arena but the arena wouldn’t allow the Jeep inside. The competition was postponed one year until a suitable area to compete could be found. It has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. this Saturday during the Pinehurst Days at the Gravel Pit next to the Pinehurst off-ramp.

The Gravel Pit serves as an equal competing ground since it is smoother terrain than what Jutila’s Jeep is used to and harder than what Jones’ horse usually runs on.

Both men have raced in events nationally. Jones and his family recently returned from an event in which he and his horse Scootin’ Utah Bobby won ninth in the nation. His grandson, Dalton, took third.

Jones raises racing horses at his ranch in Kingston and currently owns 13, he will be racing the 13-year-old Scottin’ Utah Bob in this weekend's events.

Jutila said he has stayed loyal to his ’79 CJ7. It is the only vehicle he chooses to compete with so he can continue modifying it. Unfortunately, it broke in half while Jutila was trying to pull a stump out of a friend’s yard recently. He will be spending the next two days trying to put it back together before race time.

Jutila said the competition would be a fun way to attract both Jeep Fanatics and horse riders to Pinehurst days. Jones said that a lot of horsemen were already planning on coming to the event.

“We just hope the horse doesn't chicken out,” Jutila joked.

If Jones and Bobby end up beating Jutila and his Jeep, other Jeeps are invited to take the horse on.

“Win or lose, mine will have a better show,” Jutila said. “There will be more dirt and more noise. Everyone should get a kick out of it.”