1986 Over the top video

[guy]

Thank you Steve Phipps even for the short memory of 6 minutes.. I had goose bumps remembering that day and the crowd. There was nothing quite like it.

Question if you filmed, why only 6 minutes

We know there is more film out there, Can we find it ?

I know someone in Canada who has some but hasnt parted with it yet?

Marvin Cohen or Gary or Dave i wish we could get more of the actual armwrestling

[enginterzi]

Guy,can you please tell us some of memories about over the top?i really would like to know how many classes they had,who were the top finishers,if there were some disappoinments of top pullers,unforgettable matches,suprise new comers.

i know that i wonder about so many things and i understand if these are too many for you to answer.thx anyways:)

[STEVE PHIPPS]

Guy,

Glad you enjoyed the clip. It was a highlight clip to remind fellow armwrestlers about the Over The Top experience.

When I was asked about film for the tournament I knew I had some and thought I had 1. Scott Norton vs Cleve Dean ( which I did have) and 2. John's final match for the semi-truck. When I reviewed my video, I remembered that my battery went dead and I didn't have all the memories of what I saw on video. ;D Don't know if the cause of that was old age or just the amount of time that has pasted since 1986!

So to answer your question, I had alot less film than I thought I had and I wanted to share some of the highlights.

[Bill Collins]

Hey Engin,

I finished 5th in my class, the event was defiantly Hollywood style! There was about 10-12 tables going on at the same time, they would stop the event and Stallone would do his thing,
The best match is when John B and Rick Zumwalt (Bull Hurley) was getting ready to pull (for real not for the movie), Zumwalt kept scream give me some fuc**** thumb,, John would let go, and Zumwalt would scream again give me some fuc**** thumb, John let go again, this went on about four or five times, when the referee Bob Howell tried to straighten up Zumwalts hand, Zumwalt threw a haymaker and almost knocked off Bob Howell’s head, he grazed Bob’s nose. The crowd went nuts as Bob Howell got off a few blows himself, but did not contact.
As we all know how cool John B is he just sat back and smiled, now with the crowd on their feet, John placed his hand on the table and let Zumwalt dig deep until he was happy, John closed his hand around Zumwalt hand, and on the word “go” John spanked his A## so fast and so hard the crowd lifted the roof. I remember setting back and telling my wife dam that boy is somebody.
It was by far an event you’ll never forget. Hang on to your pants the finals @ Las Vegas is going to be Hollywood style. You won’t want to miss this one, hope everybody can make it.

[STEVE PHIPPS]

Engin,

Some of my memories of the tournament.

We knew John was the new young gun and I wanted to see just how good he was and if he could win the semi-truck. That was one of the reasons the final match was so fun to watch. Of course we all know what the answer is.

I was surprised to see that Sly was not at least 6 Ft and 225lbs. Goes to show that watching Rocky and the movies always make the hero much bigger than life.

I was surprised to see how tall Brigette Nelson (Sly's wife at that time)was. ;D

I enjoyed the movie making experience for the first 6 hours but quickly realized it takes alot of time to make 30 secs of film. I was there to armwrestle first and the long waits between filming to armwrestle got old, but it was very exciting! All day and All night is a very long tournament. Guy and others can most likely add their thoughts as well.

It was exciting to go see the movie on the BIG SCREEN and know that armwrestling was getting more exposure to the general public.

[Rick Firsich]

Great story Bill, Thanks for sharing that!
What a priceless experience.

Rick

[Bill Collins]

Rick your art is a## kicking what a great talent!

The Over the top event started Sat morning and ended 9:00 am Sunday morning it was over 24 hr before it ended.
Steve is correct when my wife and I signed in at the casino sly was walking towards us with two body guards, hell he was only about 5'8" I was expecting and Rocky figure. He said hello and went on his way that was way cool!

I'll post others as I dig up wiskers

[Rick Firsich]

Thanks Bill!

5"8" Well, he is still the man.
Rocky, Rocky Rocky! I mean Rambo, aka... Lincon Hawk

I think he is doing some kind of Fit for Life promo now.
seen it in a Muscle and Fitness Mag.

Take care,
Rick

[gambit]

Those are some awesome memories!

Rick, I have the same magazine and that picture of Stallone looks as if his veins in his shoulder/chest are about to rupture.

[Christopher Myers]

Very Very Very Cool I would love to see that

Christopher Myers

[John Stanton]

Rick, he has his own supplement company now. I think it is called INSTONE or something like that.

[Jim Wagner]

A guys from my city was in that, his name is John Heynoski. He was a world champ, and another guy Dave Sherwood as well. Im not sure if Dave was there. I will track John down and see if he has and video of it.

[Josh Shotgun Stark]

I see George Givens at the gym here & there & will ask him if he has anything. I know of a couple pics, but I'll ask anyway.

[guy]

Memories of Over the top matches are few. Engin I was like a caged lion that day , very much pacing and in my own zone, so I dont remeber too too much.

I do rmeber george Givens in my class was dissapointed he had finished 9th another friend Larry Fontaine who is seen pulling George in this picture on here finished 10-11th.

I remember pulling 7-8 times in a reasonable amount of time in the beginning of the tournament which started at 11:00 am. Then every hour for a few then 2 hours then longer and finally pulling for the titlle against Johnnie at 6 AM the following morning.
I found out later Dave Randall ( then 220 pounds ) went up in the Hotel room to wake Johnnie up for the match LOL..

I also remember the crowd had died down at that time and so did my intensity.
The crowd was amazing there though and the atmosphere was unsurpassed from anything I have seen since.
I also hated the tables round elbow cups where a forearm like mine hits the edge and you can get fouled easy. That happened to me against Tony Senger. I was so hyped up I couldnt slow myself down . I hit faST and hard in less then 1 second foul, then foul again, then foul agian 3 times I flashed him and lost. Dont ask why 3 fouls but it did happen.
I was so dejected I clearly was better then him that day. We met again later in tournament. ReaDY GO TO THE PAD fOUL Reday go Foul .. do you think I slowed down the third time. I dont think I did Ready GO I looked at the referee and he said winner to me .. What a relief. maybe they refereed the first match I had with him and didnt want to do it again. Those cups are lousy if you are dropping down with a side move at all, your forearm hits the cup..

I also remeber John B. and Ed Arnold pulling for the truck in the final of the heavy weight truckers division.
Somehow John got a truckers licence that year ;D . Maybe he was a trucker too who knows

What a great match it seemed like 5 minutes they pulled. I know this is on film somewhere because I seen this since then. I do remeber Ed shaking his head and talking to himself and How dissapointed he was in losing and bitter it seemed. I think the difference in 1st and second were huge. The $80,000 semi truck ( which I have pictures of I will start to scan some) and Im not 100% sure but I think $4000 or $5000, John could probably answer that.

I also heard John didnt get the truck for a year and received it with many thousands of miles on it.

[enginterzi]

Bill,Steve and Guy,i thank you guys very much for sharing these great memories with us!!

how many weight classes did they have?who were the winners?Walker was one of the winner,Brzenk won truck division and the rest?finishing in top 6 must have been incredible,if George Givens finished 9.! you are talking about 82 guys in one class!!