Comments Off on Interstate BBQ Festival – Hagerstown, MD
By Howard Poole, MABA Board member and pitmaster of Plum Crazy BBQ.
Becoming one of the Premiere Events in the Mid-Atlantic Region, The Interstate BBQ Festival, hosted by Rob Immer, draws teams from up and down the coast to compete not only for the Grand Championship, but for the Maryland teams to compete for the MABA Maryland State Championship. The Interstate Festival typically draws 60 or more Professional teams, as well as one of the largest backyard competitions in the area. Along with the KCBS Main event, competitors also have the option of competing in ancillary categories on Friday evening. These categories include: Steak, Burgers, Dessert, Wings, and a Kids Que.
Friday night was definitely a “high-flying†time for teams. During turn-ins, and Steak result announcements, teams dealt with wind, rain, and even tornadoes (Seriously! You can find the videos on the weather channel). Even with all of this rough weather, teams still turned in some great entries, and some fantastic steaks!! Congratulations to Piggin Whiskey on their Steak Championship!
The Friday night weather led to some fantastic weather on Saturday. With the sun shining, and a slight breeze in the air, teams finally had a chance to dry off, safely visit with others, and focus on the big meats!! Teams turned in some great boxes, and the results showed.
Congratulation to Uncle Pigs Barbeque Pit for winning Grand Championship, to Drilling and Grilling for Reserve Grand Championship, and to 3 Eyz BBQ for winning The Maryland State MABA Championship.
Comments Off on Interstate BBQ Festival Hagerstown, MD
by Mark Gibbs, Pitmaster of The Checkered Flag 500 BBQ
The second annual Interstate BBQ Festival is in the books for 2017. This competition has quickly become one of the “must-do” contests on the Mid-Atlantic schedule. In two short years, Rob Immer and his team have put together a well-organized, top flight contest that hosted 57 teams and Chamber of Commerce weather all weekend!
The contest hosted Dessert, Burger, Kid’s Que and People’s Choice categories as well this year. Dessert and Kid’s Que was brought home by We Rib U Long Time. Top scoring Burgers by Brother-Uncle BBQ and People’s Choice was brought home by the Sauce This! BBQ team. I am sure they put some addictive chemical in their people’s choice because they have people drooling every week!
Perhaps the most impressive presentation of the weekend was the MABA good luck shot hosted by Life is Good But BBQ is Better. Or more accurately, the good luck shot, bloody Mary bar, and food spread. Many folks pitched in and Don and Sandy Wallace played host to what will be hard to beat for future good luck shot hosts…but they’re sure encouraged to try! Check out videos here of the spread and actual toast given by LIGBBIB pitmaster Don Wallace!
This contest included a lot of vendors, bands and activities for everyone. Good Smoke BBQ from New York brought home KCBS Grand Championship. MABA’s own Drilling and Grilling from Glen Rock, PA brought home the Reserve Grand Championship. They are on a nice little roll here in the beginning of the season. Keep it up guys!
The Chicken category was won by 2 Rhodies BBQ and 2nd was Rhode Hog BBQ (I see a pattern here). Rib honors were brought home by Piggin’ Whiskey BBQ. These guys are starting to hit their stride in competition BBQ. Remember that team name folks! Drilling and Grilling brought home 1st Place honors in Pork and Bill Gillespie’s Smokin Hoggz MA brought home the big Brisket plank! Great job to all of the teams that were called and we hope to be back for year three of this great event!
Comments Off on Interview With the Champs – Danny Thomas, Drilling & Grilling
by Brian Walrath, MABA Board Member and Pitmaster for Brown Liquor BBQ
An emerging team on the scene in the Mid-Atlantic right now you better watch out for is Drilling & Grilling, out of Glen Rock, PA. Pitmaster Danny Thomas leads this team that has been competing since 2009 and have started 2017 on a tear…right where they left off in 2016, winning Boo-B-Que in late October. Drilling & Grilling took grand champion honors at the recent Ironman competition in Greencastle, PA in a field of 59 strong teams and followed that up last weekend with a reserve grand champion finish at Interstate in Hagerstown, MD just down the road. To say they’ve got it dialed in right now would be an understatement.
But if you know Danny and have spent much time with the Drilling & Grilling guys, you know they they’re just some great humble fellas dawning their signature cammo who ain’t afraid to have a little fun! I caught up with Danny at Interstate and asked if he’d answer some questions for this month’s edition of IWTC, and he graciously agreed!
Question: Congratulations on your recent win in Greencastle, PA at the Ironman competition. How did it feel to go home with the Grand Championship?
Danny Thomas, Drilling & Grilling:
It always feels good to win any contest, but this one is special to us because we have competed in all of the Ironman competitions and won GC the last year it was just chicken and ribs before they went full KCBS.
Q: How did your cook go…did you feel confident heading to awards?
DT, D&G:
We had a solid cook with no issues. We thought our pork was maybe a little dry but felt maybe a Top 10 finish was realistic. (Editor’s note…that “dry” pork finished 7th!)
Q: Tell us a little about your team and teammates, where you’re from, how long you’ve been cooking, etc…
DT, D&G:
There are normally three of us…myself, my cousin Dan, and nephew John that compete. We all live in southern Pennsylvania and we started cooking in the Fall of 2009.
Q: What kind of equipment do you have?
DT, D&G:
We cook mainly on a Meadow Creek PR 60. I am know for changing cookers weekly, lol, but always go back to the PR!
Q: Tell our readers about the name Drilling & Grilling.
DT, D&G:
I own a Drilling company and back when we started I asked several employees what should the team name be…and Drilling & Grilling is what they came up with and it fits!
Q: How many GCs is this for Drilling & Grilling?
DT, D&G:
Ironman is our fourth GC.
Q: How many competitions are on the schedule this year for you guys?
DT, D&G:
We plan on 13 or 14 this year.
Q: Are there any goals in barbecue you have yet to accomplish that you hope you check off your list this year?
DT, D&G:
We competed in the “The Jack” in 2013 and 2014 and did not get a call…we’d love to go back and hear our name called.
Q:
What makes Drilling & Grilling different or unique?
DT, D&G:
I feel you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with. That being your wife or barbecue teammates and we have a good team that works together. Each has their place.
Q: This win makes you eligible for the Royal Invitational and a possible Jack draw…will you go out to Kansas City or Lynchburg if your bung is pulled?
DT, D&G:
I’ve never had a desire to go to “The Royal,” but my goal in competing is to go back to “The Jack.”
Q:
I like to ask in this segment, what tip(s) do you have for competition teams to go from good to great and get that GC call?
DT, D&G: This may sound cheesy but it’s just a piece of meat. It should taste like and look like meat…and if cooked properly, any rub or sauce should compliment it and not offend anyone is the key. Q:
Any parting shots or comments?
DT, D&G:
We should make sure we stop and take a moment to thank our Lord and our military for keeping us safe allowing us to live in this great land.
Well put Danny. Good luck to you and Drilling & Grilling the rest of the year and beyond!
Comments Off on Rockin’ Robyn’s BBQ Claims Their First Grand Championship in Hagerstown, MD
Team Rockin’ Robyn’s BBQ: Rolfe, Robyn, and Rodney Garrett
In only its second year, the Interstate Barbecue Festival in Hagerstown, Maryland hosted 41 strong Mid-Atlantic teams, many of which were starting the year and chomping at the bit for a good showing. Rockin’ Robyn’s BBQ from Forrest Hill, Maryland has been on the cusp of hitting the big one with a strong year in 2015. Well, this was the weekend they put it all together and hit the big one…Grand Champions! Hear all about that great day and more…including their plans for the rest of the year, what makes them such a great team, and their advice to other teams on attaining their first GC and how to get over the hump. Just click the video below!
