Meet the Crossed Up Customs Media Crew

It’s a family thing. The Pinnells have been following their favorite drivers – Mike Klensin and John Brock – for almost eight years. The relationship began when Rob Pinnell started wiring Mike’s race car.

Rob’s daughter Acacia has been taking photos of off-road racing and posting to social media for two years. What makes that impressive? The fact that she’s only 16 years old.

Klensin says “She’s been hanging out at the races since she was little.”

She got hooked on photography when Mike first started racing. “He was jumping a big gap. I got a photo in mid-air. It was the coolest thing ever.”

Her mother Patty is “a major inspiration.”

Photo by Patty Pinnell – Ultra4 American Rock Sports Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park

Acacia says “She has always taken pictures for Mike; she got a nice camera and started taking really awesome photos. I wanted to do the same. I love the racing atmosphere and wanted to capture the moments and share them to the world.”

Patty shoots a Canon EOS 700D/Rebel T5i.

She sends her photos directly to Mike or Acacia; “She’s been my right arm.”

Patty is serious about her craft. She works full time while pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design and Photography.

Photo by Patty Pinnell – Ultra4 American Rock Sports Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park

As busy as they are, the Pinnells manage to attend all the races – Ultra 4, Dirt Riot and King of the Hammers. The furthest (last month) was Cortez, Colorado.

Patty says “When it’s fun like that, we make it happen; we squeeze it in.”

Acacia takes photos with her iPhone.

One of her friends described her selfie as “beyond gorgeous.” So you might expect her goals would include modeling or photography; you’d be wrong.

“I want to race. I’d leave the photography up to my mom. She supports me. She thinks it would be really cool if I became a female rock crawler.” She says there are “a couple” female rock crawlers, but not many.

Photo by Acacia Pinnell – Ultra4 American Rock Sports Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park

What do you admire most about Mike?

“I admire that even when times are tough, he pushes through and finishes with a smile.”

What keeps a fan enthusiastic during the tough times?

“As a team we rely on each other; I take photos, they keep the car alive and keep it together. Then we give each other high fives.”

What do you love about racing?

“When people start rolling, breaking and crashing, that’s when it gets exciting.”

The dogs make it fun too. “John never goes anywhere without Pudo and Mike has Bailey.”

Pudo watches as John sits & fixes; from the (AWESOME) Discount Tire American Rocksports Challenge Highlight Video

What’s your favorite recent photo?

“Tooele, in the evening – 5 minutes before we left the park. Dirt was still stuck on the gate.”

Photo by Acacia Pinnell – Ultra4 American Rock Sports Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park

Where do you go for racing information?

“I like to look at the Ultra4 page or KOH sites because they keep updated; and other racers to see what they’re up to – or crashes. I like Crawl magazine and Dirt Sports.”

Are your friends obsessed with racing?

“They think it’s cool, but they don’t know anything about it. They’re more girly girls.” Except for her best friend Melissa Verdugo “who drives a jeep and isn’t afraid to get dirty like me.”

What do you drive?

“I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I am obsessed with Jeep. I sometimes off-road, mostly drive to school and home. I really would want a blacked out four door lifted but I am actually in love with my 5.9 V8 Grand Cherokee. It’s a ’98 with about 140,000 miles. It’s running perfect.”

Acacia does some of her own maintenance. “I check my own tire pressure, fill up the tires, put my own fluids in. If something’s not working, my dad finds the parts and I help him.”

What do you WANT to drive?

“Something like Mike has. Mike is my idol. I don’t have the money right now, so I just take the pictures and fantasize.”

Most fans can relate.

Photo by Acacia Pinnell – Ultra4 American Rock Sports Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park