Sumners Big Meat Run

What started as a joke between John Sumner and a dozen friends 15 years ago has grown into one of Oklahoma’s largest off-road spectacles, drawing between 10,000 and 14,000 spectators and roughly 600 drivers to the rock garden below Pensacola Dam in Disney, Oklahoma.

Held annually on the last weekend of March, the 2026 event runs March 20 through 23 and is free to attend. The three-day gathering showcases custom-built rock bouncers powered by engines producing more than 600 horsepower, mounted on massive 44-inch big meat tires. These machines attempt to climb near vertical bedrock walls carved by more than 80 years of water flowing through the dam’s turbines.

Sumner, who owns Sumner Machine Works in Arkansas City, Kansas, and builds axles and transfer cases for extreme off-road vehicles, launched the event as a casual customer appreciation weekend. Today, he watches crowds react like concertgoers as drivers either conquer the walls or flip spectacularly back down the rock face.

Friday and Saturday feature sanctioned races managed by MidAmerica Outdoors and America Pro Rock Racing, including National Rock Racing Association series events. The natural amphitheater setting at South Grand Lake Recreation Area allows spectators to move freely among the action.

Vehicles range from purpose-built crawlers to Jeeps, trucks, RZRs, four-wheelers, and even the occasional tractor. Drivers tackle named obstacles that evolve each year as repeated attempts literally polish the rock surfaces smooth. Disney Mayor Chris Tutor, who owns Dam Rec Park, credits the event with putting his town of fewer than 400 residents on the map and spurring the development of new campgrounds to accommodate the crowds.

Hotels, cabins, and campgrounds typically book solid within a 60-mile radius, so early reservations are essential. Many visitors opt to camp on site, where evening bonfires and vendor booths selling aftermarket parts extend the festival atmosphere well into the night.

Gearheads, families with older kids, and motorsports fans appreciate the accessible viewing and the chance to meet drivers between runs. After three days of engine noise and adrenaline, Grand Lake offers a calmer contrast just minutes away.

With more than 1,300 miles of shoreline, the lake provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and lakeside dining at destinations such as Har Ber Village or Sailboat Bridge. The combination of extreme rock crawling and relaxed time on Grand Lake makes this a weekend that appeals equally to thrill seekers and travelers looking to unwind by the water.