Man Versus Bull: The Epic Story 25 Years Later

Written by Beatrice Karnes

Eight second goes by in a flash—unless you’re on the back of a bull. Then, it can seem like an eternity.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of an epic battle between man and beast—The Challenge of Champions pitted a world champion bull rider versus the Bucking Bull of the Year, a bull that had never been successfully ridden in a rodeo.

A documentary telling the story of the faceoff, The Challenge of Champions: The Story of Lane Frost & Red Rock, will be shown on June 2nd at the Vine Cinema in Livermore.

The competition pitted Frost against Red Rock at seven different rodeos, including the Livermore Rodeo.

Sue Rosoff was working on her Master's thesis at Berkeley documenting the Pro Rodeo culture when the challenge was held. According to Rosoff, “Lane Frost was the 1987 World Champion Bull Rider and Red Rock was named the 1987 World Champion Bucking Bull after the 1987 National Finals Rodeo. At that point Red Rock had been unridden for 8 seconds (a qualified bull ride) for 309 tries. John Growney, who owned Red Rock, decided it was time to retire him. But Lane had a wish. His mentor, Freckles Brown, had ridden the unridable bull named Tornado. Lane wanted to try and ride Red Rock.”

Frost convinced Growney to give him a shot at riding Red Rock, and the Challenge of Champions was on.

According to Rosoff, plenty of people were cheering for the bull, “Red Rock wasn't any ordinary bucking bull. His mama had died in childbirth and Red Rock was brought in and raised on the family milk cow - so he was always around people - always comfortable with them. So, unlike other bucking bulls, he never went after people - after he bucked the guy off, he would do a little victory lap and head out of the arena.”  

The first two matchups were at rodeos in Red Bluff and Clovis. Red Rock 2—Lane Frost 0. Rosoff picks up her narrative, “The next rodeo was Redding. Friday night had been their light performance - so that's when the match was - and they sold out!!! That was the first night Lane rode Red Rock!!!  Twenty five years later, people who were there remember it like it was yesterday!

“By the time Livermore happened in June, there was a month and a half of stories in USA Today, the local papers, ag papers and on the George Michel Sports Machine on NBC Sunday nights. People all over the country were keeping track!

“The stands were packed and they were ready, on their feet, quiet as they waited for the chute gate to open - holding their collective breath and then Lane rode Red Rock the full 8 seconds and all hell broke loose! Big day at the Livermore rodeo!”  

Frost won their next matchup before Red Rock staged a comeback, evening the challenge at 3—3. In their final contest, Frost lasted his 8 seconds, squeaking out a narrow victory.  

The bull rider’s personal story ended tragically—he died after being gored by a bull at a rodeo the following year. He was just 25.

Red Rock enjoyed a tranquil retirement at a ranch in Red Bluff, living to the age of 18. His owner, John Growney, will be at this Sunday’s showing of the documentary about the epic Challenge of Champions, along with award winning film maker David Wittkower who made the film. Both men will answer questions following the showing.  

Wittkower is looking forward to talking with people in Livermore, “I hope anyone who ever saw the movie 8 Seconds, which by the way will be the feature show before my film, will come and see the true story/biography about Lane Frost and Red Rock. It would have been a remarkable story even if they hadn't made a feature film about his life. There are thousands of people who think they know his story from watching the film 8 Seconds, but there was so much to learn about Lane Frost, Red Rock, Tuff Hedeman, Cody Lambert and Lane's Parents and mostly about Lane's dad who was portrayed as the bad guy which is the complete opposite of the real man.”

The showings will begin Sunday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m.

Vine Cinema
1722 1st St
Livermore (925) 447-2545