Gettin’ Right: The Story of Michigan Bogger Tony Cataline
If you’ve spent any time around the Michigan mud scene, you’ve heard the name Tony Cataline. He’s one of those drivers who doesn’t just show up to a pit—he brings history with him. Twenty years of it. Two decades of friends, family, busted parts, rebuilt motors, and memories that stretch across states and generations.
Tony is a Michigan bogger through and through, shaped by the people who came before him and the ones who now ride beside him. Some of those friends he started with are no longer here, but their influence is. Their stories are in the truck, in the pits, in the way he raises his boys to love the same mud that raised him. That’s the legacy he’s carrying forward.
A Truck Built on Heart and Horsepower
Tony’s truck—Gettin’ Right—is powered by a 565 big block Chevy, naturally aspirated, fuel‑injected, carbureted, and absolutely packed with ponies. She’s twelve years old this year, and she’s lived every bit of it. Tweaked, jumped, rolled, rebuilt, and still out there doing what she was built to do.
Originally, she wasn’t built for the freestyle era. Back when Tony and his buddies put her together, the mega‑truck scene was just starting to take shape. Jumping wasn’t the focus—bogging was. Straight‑up, old‑school, dig‑in‑and‑send‑it bogging. But over the years, the sport evolved, and so did the truck. She wasn’t built for the big air, but she’s gettin’ right.
And that name? It came from one of Tony’s friends who passed away Riley Wilke.
There’s a video of him watching Tony bog, and you can hear him in the background saying, “That’s getting right right there.” The name stuck. The meaning deepened. Now it’s a tribute.
Michigan vs. Florida: The Rivalry That Isn’t
Ask anyone about the Michigan–Florida rivalry, and you’ll get a grin. But Tony’s take is different:
The mud? It’s not that different.
The culture? Pretty much the same.
The friendships? Unreal.
The culture? Pretty much the same.
The friendships? Unreal.
Sure, Florida mud has a little more sand in it, and most pits down here have a bottom—something newcomers don’t always understand. That bottom is where your wheels finally grab, where the truck hooks and climbs. Michigan has its own flavor, but the core of it? It’s all mud, all passion, all community.
“They come to Michigan, and we come down here,” Tony said. “It’s just the friendships we’ve made. They’re unreal.”
This year was Tony’s first time at Plant Bamboo, and you could tell it hit him the way it hits most people: hard, fast, and unforgettable. That’s what keeps people coming back. That’s what keeps them wrenching after long work weeks. That’s what keeps the culture alive.
Twenty‑Two Hours for a Weekend of Mud
Tony and his crew drove 22 hours straight to get to Florida—after working a full shift that started at 5 a.m. That’s not something you do for a casual hobby. That’s something you do for family, for friends, for the kind of weekends that refill your soul.
People don’t travel that far for no reason. Many of these trucks travel the country, making appearances between their day jobs. They show up because the community is worth it. The parks are worth it. The memories are worth it.
“Gettin' Right” — The Message Behind the Machine
When I asked Tony the question, I ask every driver—How do the kids get to where you are?—his friend answered from behind him without missing a beat:
“Getting right!”
And Tony didn’t even have to explain it. I knew exactly what he meant.
Gettin’ right with God.
Gettin’ right with family.
Gettin’ right at work.
Gettin’ your life right—and keeping it there.
Gettin’ right with family.
Gettin’ right at work.
Gettin’ your life right—and keeping it there.
Mistakes happen. Trucks break. People fall. But the recovery, the lessons, the growth—that’s where the reward is. That’s where the bond forms between parents and kids, between friends, between crews who become family.
There is so much good in this bogging community that it outweighs anything bad by miles.
(Photo courtesy of GripNRipClips.com)
A Family Legacy in Motion
Tony’s two boys love the sport just as much as he does. They’re growing up in the pits, learning the ropes, learning the values, learning the culture. They’re learning that mudding isn’t just about trucks—it’s about people. It’s about showing up. It’s about honoring those who came before and building something for those who come next.
That’s what Tony is doing. That’s what Gettin’ Right represents.
Follow the Journey
If you want to keep up with Tony, his boys, and the legacy behind Gettin' Right, check out their page:
