Heavyweights Battle it out in Postal Challenge

By Thom Van Vleck

Team Dino Gym wins the Straight Weight Postal Challenge. Pictured from left to right: Scott Tully, Al Myers, and John Conner

Two teams participated in the challenge and the Dino Gym pulled out the victory.  This meet was a new concept for a USAWA meet and we will see if it catches on.  The idea being there would be no formulas used, the winners decided on who lifted the most weight…period.  I proposed the idea of the “straight weight” meet to get some of the bigger guys to come out and participate and as a result, some big boys showed up.  The Dino Gym had a combined weight that was a “Big Al Bacon n’Eggs style breakfast” short of a half ton at 991lbs.  The JWC was a relatively svelte 915lbs.  The average weight of the lifters involved was 318lbs!  I can only guess what that weight would have been had Al not had to replace his original team member, Mark Mitchell, who had to withdraw with a back injury!  Al’s paltry 255lbs brought the average way down!!!

I hope this meet was taken as intended:  Just another alternative and one that the Big Boy’s could embrace as their own.  I know my guys had fun doing it and hopefully it will motivate them to do some more USAWA lifting!  Oh, and one more thing, I calculated the age and weight factors just to see the outcome….and the Dino Gym doesn’t want to know those results!

Full Meet Results:

Officials for Dino Gym Team:  Al Myers and Scott Tully

Official for JWC:  Thom Van Vleck

Dino Gym Team: Al Myers (44 yrs, 255lbs), Scott Tully (34 yrs, 344lbs) John Conner (25 yrs, 392lbs)

Jackson Weightlifting Club: Thom Van Vleck (46yrs, 295lbs), John O’Brien (42 years, 285lbs), Josh Hettinger (29yrs, 335lbs)

Push Press – From Rack

1. John Conner 380lbs
2. Josh Hettinger 335lbs
3. John O’Brien 300lbs, Scott Tully 300lbs, Al Myers 300lbs
4. Thom Van Vleck 255lbs

DG: 980lbs & JWC: 890lbs

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 2 bars, 1″

1. John Conner 500lbs
2. Scott Tully 420lbs
3. Josh Hettinger 400lbs, Al Myers 400lbs
4. John O’Brien 380lbs
5. Thom Van Vleck 280lbs

DG: 1320lbs & JWC: 1060lbs

Continental to Chest

1. John Conner 385lbs
2. John O’Brien 335lbs
3. Al Myers 325lbs, Scott Tully 325lbs
4. Thom Van Vleck 315lbs
5. Josh Hettinger 275lbs

DG: 1085lbs & JWC: 925lbs

Cheat Curl

1. John Conner 250lbs
2. John O’Brien 235lbs
3. Thom Van Vleck 215lbs, Josh Hettinger 215lbs
4. Al Myers 201lbs
5. Scott Tully 181lbs

JWC: 665lbs & DG: 632lbs

Shoulder Drop

1. John O’Brien 95lbs, Josh Hettinger 95lb
2. Thom Van Vleck 85lbs
3. John Conner 45lbs, Al Myers 45lbs
4. Scott Tully 30lbs

JWC:  275lbs & DG:   120lbs

Totals: 1^st Place: Dino Gym 4087lbs, 2^nd Place: JWC 3835lbs

by Al Myers

Al Myers beside the famous Warren Lincoln Travis Dumbbell.

One of the most impressive things I seen when I toured the York Barbell Hall of Fame and Museum was Warren Lincoln Travis’s Dumbbell.  I have seen many pictures of it before – but pictures don’t do it justice.  It is much bigger when seen in person!  This massive dumbbell was used by Travis for many of his record breaking performances in the hip and harness lifts.  He would use it in shows and performances – and the sheer size of this dumbbell would impress the audiences by itself.  It weighed 1650 pounds empty and 3750 pounds when fully loaded with sand.

Travis’s dumbbell has been in York Barbell’s  possession for quite some time.  For awhile, Bob Hoffman had it displayed in front of his house.  Thanks to York Barbell  this dumbbell can be readily seen by anyone now. If you ever get a chance to make it to York, Pennsylvania, be sure to include a stop at York Barbell.

by Al Myers

USAWA Grip Star, Matt Graham, lifting 275 pounds on the Rolling Thunder in training this past weekend. (photo by Bob Burtzloff)

One of the popular “grip toys” introduced by Randy Strossen and IronMind Enterprises is the Rolling Thunder.  This grip device is different from anything else.  I have never read about any type of  gripping device similar to this used by Old-Time Strongmen.  It is indeed a novel, unique idea!!  Thanks to Randy and his promotion of it – the Rolling Thunder is now well-known within the “grip circle” and lifters in general.  IronMind sells it for a modest $59.95 plus shipping, as advertised on the IronMind Website.  For a price like that, buy the original and don’t waste your time trying to make your own or buying a knock-off.  Afterall, don’t you want a original Rolling Thunder!

The Rolling Thunder consists of a rotating  sleeved handle  with 2.375″ diameter PVC, over a fixed handle shaft.  It attaches to a loaded vertical bar.  It is a one-hand lift that tests the grip like none other!  When you lift using the Rolling Thunder, the handle feels like it wants to “roll” out of your hand allowing the weight to crash to the floor making a sound like thunder, and thus the name Rolling Thunder .   It has been on the market since 1993.  Randy initially promoted it by asking this simple question, “Will anyone EVER lift 300 pounds on the Rolling Thunder?”. It took several years, but finally the grip phenom/professional Strongman from England Mark Felix, broke this magic barrier.  Felix currently holds the World Record at 301 pounds, set January 18th, 2008.  The Rolling Thunder has gained such popularity that contests are ran that focus on it only. The Gillingham brothers have helped popularize it by having it as part of their GNC Grip Gauntlet, which they run in their booth at the Arnold every year.

The Rolling Thunder is not a USAWA event, but is often pulled out after meets for impromptu competitions.  Last spring after the USAWA Dino Gym Grip Contest this was the case.  Andy Durniat amazed everyone when he broke the Dino Gym record with a lift of 230 pounds!  He did this AFTER the grip competition!!!

I consider anyone who can lift over 200 pounds on the Rolling Thunder as National Class, and those over 250 pounds World Class.  The Rolling Thunder can be very humbling – often it seems “easy” moving up in weight, only to reach a point when you add another 5 pounds it becomes impossible!!  If you don’t have a Rolling Thunder, go to IronMind Enterprises and order yours today.  It will be an investment that you won’t ever regret.

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