Monster Trucks

[Ditty]

Anyone remember the early-mid 80's when you weren't cool unless you went to a Monster Truck event and you were either a Bigfoot fan or a GraveDigger fan? What happened? I did some searching last night and found out that there was some sort of falling out between Bigfoot, Gravedigger and MosterJam. Aparently, Bigfoot was not asked to attend any events. I don't know the history or the reasoning behind it all. Bigfoot was the KING of MosterTrucks! The Bigfoot team gave birth to the sport and can lay claim to a lot of firsts like the first to crush cars, first to start racing etc. What happened? I miss seeing Bigfoot fly across the floor in the AstroDome and jump 30 ft into the air. Man, those were the days!

[stump0331]

i went to a lower class event was smaller than monster jam, and big foot was there it was extremely weak.

grave digger has stolen the big foots thunderas the top dog now adays

[ABOBB]

The major sanctioning body from the past, and the organization that now puts on Monster Jam, has come to be owned by a group that Bob Chandler did not see eye to eye with.

This group started buying, building and operating their own trucks, eventually to the point that they had enough trucks in their own stable that they did not have a need to hire outside contractors to provide talent. At that point, they cut the price they were willing to pay to outside contractors, and Chandler balked. He argued (correctly in my opinion) that BigFoot was the original, and the most popular monster truck anywhere, and because of that deserved to be paid more. The organization essentially told Chandler to take that idea and shove it.

The two camps parted ways. Chandler, and BigFoot, now book and put on their own shows accross the country, along with Paul Schaffer, who owns several teams himself. Meanwhile, the other group has since bought Grave Digger, and a bunch of other trucks.. and has the funding and the political pull to get their shows on tv, in the big arenas, etc.

[Ditty]

Thanks for that ABOBB. I didn't know, nor could I find the reason for the rift between them. When I have the money, I'm going to campaign a Powerstroke.Org Monster Truck in the true, original form that Bigfoot was built. Basically a 2000-something CC/LB PSD raised to the stratosphere with 66" tires built to the hilt. I think it would have the torque to turn those meats.

(The above is, in reality, a pipe dream and would probably NEVER happen, but it would be AWESOME!!!)

[MrJohnWayne]

Oh man oh man do I remember monster jams with the tough truck competitions and tractor pulls all in the Astrodome! Those were the days! Speaking of Bigfoot I'm sure you have all seen this but it is still an awesome video.

YouTube - Jump over the airplane?

[ABOBB]

Some very good friends of mine have pulled a few times in the Astrodome....

I never got to go, but it was a big time event

[lilredpowerstroke]

Originally Posted by Ditty

Thanks for that ABOBB. I didn't know, nor could I find the reason for the rift between them. When I have the money, I'm going to campaign a Powerstroke.Org Monster Truck in the true, original form that Bigfoot was built. Basically a 2000-something CC/LB PSD raised to the stratosphere with 66" tires built to the hilt. I think it would have the torque to turn those meats.

(The above is, in reality, a pipe dream and would probably NEVER happen, but it would be AWESOME!!!)

Hey Im almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just get Lem and the ORG to sponsor me and we'll have it.

[Ditty]

It would be SWEET wouldn't it? Those Floatation Tires are like $2000 each, not to include the axles you would need to turn 'em and the wheels to go inside 'em. You think your truck can handle 66" tires? I know mine can't. Time to invest in some 2.5ton axles!!!!

[Cj Ford]

id put my money into 5 ton rocks

[StarDriver]

Originally Posted by ABOBB

The major sanctioning body from the past, and the organization that now puts on Monster Jam, has come to be owned by a group that Bob Chandler did not see eye to eye with.

This group started buying, building and operating their own trucks, eventually to the point that they had enough trucks in their own stable that they did not have a need to hire outside contractors to provide talent. At that point, they cut the price they were willing to pay to outside contractors, and Chandler balked. He argued (correctly in my opinion) that BigFoot was the original, and the most popular monster truck anywhere, and because of that deserved to be paid more. The organization essentially told Chandler to take that idea and shove it.

The two camps parted ways. Chandler, and BigFoot, now book and put on their own shows accross the country, along with Paul Schaffer, who owns several teams himself. Meanwhile, the other group has since bought Grave Digger, and a bunch of other trucks.. and has the funding and the political pull to get their shows on tv, in the big arenas, etc.

Your pretty much on with that. I work a Monster Jam show when I can,(Nashville 2003 and 2004, Atlanta 2005 and this year, I'm the one on the "crash cart" that comes out when a truck rolls over, I got alot of track time this year, I also got to drive the "Blue Thunder" Ford CC Dually. ) I've watched both and the Monster Jam shows are a better show than the B.F. shows and have alot more safety built into these shows.(I.E. no one on the floor, except the starters and they have to clear the floor before the trucks start.), and many other things that go into the safety of not only the competitors but the fans also.

If anyone is interested in working these shows, USHRA looks for local clubs to help with the shows, (Hanging banners, safety equipment, building tv sets, marking the track etc.), it is good for a money raising project for the club and you do work beside the USHRA officials during the show. It is fun to do, but hard work, if anyone is interested.