competition – RV BBQ Trail

June 22 & 23, 2019

Belvidere, IL

What’s going on here? The Scottish Heavyweight Olympics, a cornhole tournament, live music, a Little League baseball tournament, 4H livestock show, Kid’s Q, a Backyard BBQ series, and two full days of Master Series BBQ competition… this is the Heritage Days BBQ Showdown at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Belvidere, IL!

Fifty teams competed for this two-day event which drew nine of the US KCBS top 25 teams, lured not only by the $15,000 in prize money but also by the draw of top teams to compete against!

Day 1

When the smoke cleared on Day 1, Razorbacks BBQ all the way from Summerville, SC clinched Grand Champion with a 693.1 and the 1st place in Ribs. Reserve GC was earned by Kelly Wertz’s 4 Legs Up BBQ with a 688.4 score. Kelly came in from Great Bend, KS. 4 Legs Up is currently ranked #4 nationally.

Day 2

Lucky’s Q BBQ from Waverly, IA was crowned Grand Champion on Day 2 with a 692.4 score. This team also won the “Iowa” bragging rights as Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ was third overall! Dirt Road BBQ, hailing from KC, MO earned Reserve Grand Champion with a 691.9 score.

The Belvidere event organizer, Danny Anderson, found ways to make this year’s event bigger and better than last year; and he promises to make 2020 even bigger & better than this year’s! So, if you’re a cook team get this on your calendar now! If a judge, plan on being there for one of the best judging experiences you’ll ever have!

1st Place Chicken – Day 1 – Low Rent BBQ
1st Place Ribs – Day 1 – Razorracks
1st Place Pork – Day 1 – Rusty Pig BBQ
1st Place Brisket – Day 1
1st Place Chicken – Day 2 – Big “E” BBQ
1st Place Ribs – Day 2 – Iowa’s Smokey D’s BBQ
1st Place Pork – Day 2 – Smokin Ghost BBQ
1st in Brisket – Day 2 – Captain Ron’s Brew-N-Que
Kelly of 4 Legs Up BBQ
The BBQ Bus
Kid’s Que 1st Place
LOVE the HAT! Rooters N Tooters BBQ Team
Backyard Ribs 1st Place – Nicholas Kranzusch
Getting that turn-in box perfect!
The Rusty Pig BBQ Team
Bunch of Swines came from the United Kingdom to compete in the USA!
Captain Ron’s Brew-N-Que
Have you ever seen people on horses waiting in line for a smoothie?
Warming up for the Scottish Heavyweight Olympics
Scottish Heavyweight Olympics
Can you toss a telephone pole?

Frisco, CO

June 15, 2019

A Colorado Rocky Mountain High BBQ event! Situated about 75 miles West of Denver, this snowcapped mountain town has it all… and they roll the red carpet out for this sanctioned KCBS event! Frisco is a “Must Do” on any BBQ aficionado schedule, cook, judge, or spectator.

Starting Friday Night, we attended the Rub It, Smoke It, Sip It, Breckenridge Distillery’s Whiskey Tour of the Colorado BBQ Challenge. Folks from the local Breckenridge Distillery show off some of their liquid wares mixed in a unique concoction beverage just for the paid tour attendees. Refreshments were followed by delectable smoked bites as created by the championship BBQ team Special Ingredient BBQ. The team also had the attendees over to their competition site to give a BBQ 101, 201; Keith and Mark did a great job explaining to novices and experts alike the finer points of competition BBQ. Great fun, especially the goody bag from the organizers!

A shoot out between fifty-five teams lead to Porky’s Pit Crew as Grand Champion with a 694.2 score followed by Lucky’s Q with a 692.4 as Reserve Grand Champion. Shake ‘n Bake was third, and notably didn’t have his trailer with him. He dusted off four Gateway Drums that were being held by a local friend, and with a few coolers, a plastic table, and a canopy was able to show his BBQ acumen! Tim Scheer’s two daughters both won their divisions in Kids Que!

Porky’s Pit Crew, Grand Champion
Lucky’s Q, Reserve Grand Champion
Shake ‘N Bake, third overall

We saw some bbq cook friends that always put a smile on our face, Grinders and La Pasadita to name a couple; and got to meet some other notable folks like Johnny Trigger of Smoking Triggers, Midnight Smokers, and Smokin Elvises.

It was a weekend of fun, food, drink, and BBQ and one that won’t be soon forgotten! A true Rocky Mountain High at 9000′!

*Featured picture at top is Tim Scheer of Shake ‘N Bake BBQ.