Monster Truck Firsts

Since it's inception, BIGFOOT has been the leader of the pack in innovation and development in the monster truck industry.  Over the years Bob Chandler and the entire BIGFOOT family have comprised a list of records and accomplishments.  The following list details all of these achievements.  These are all "BIGFOOT"/"Monster Truck" firsts and records!

BIGFOOT #1 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck in the world - Bob & Marilyn Chandler - St. Louis, MO - 1975

First monster truck at SEMA - Las Vegas, NV - 1977

A BIGFOOT truck has appeared at SEMA every year since 1977

First monster truck to use 48" tires - 1978 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to use military axles - 1978

First monster truck to appear at Gravelrama - Cleves, OH - 1978

First monster truck paid appearance - Denver, CO - 1979

First monster truck sled pull - 1979

First monster truck to use rear steering - 1978 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to appear in a movie - "Take This Job & Shove It" - 1981 [-Picture-]

First monster truck car crush - Bob Chandler - St. Louis, MO - April 1981 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to do a car crush at a live event - Jefferson City, MO - April 1982

First monster truck to float on water - Lesterville, MO - 1982 [-Picture-]

First monster truck toy/TV commercial - Playskool - 1983 [-Picture-]

First monster truck with major corporate sponsorship - Ford Motor Company - 1983

First monster truck in TV commercial for major automaker - Ford Trucks - 1983

First monster truck to successfully climb "Big Elm" at Gravelrama - Cleves, OH - Bob Chandler - 1986

BIGFOOT #2 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to use 66" tires - 1982 [-Picture-] [-Picture-]

First monster truck to appear on network TV - ABC "That's Incredible" - 1983

First monster truck to appear in TV race vs. USA-1 - ABC "That's Incredible" - 1983

First monster to appear in Hawaii - 1984

First monster truck to race a paddleboat - Chattahoochee River, Columbus, GA - 1985 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to use 10' tall tires - 1985 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to appear in Puerto Rico - 1986

First American monster truck in Australia - 1989

BIGFOOT #3 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck built in 66 days - Fall 1983

First monster truck to appear at International Toy Fair - New York - 1984

First monster truck to appear in Japan - 1990

First monster truck to appear in Venezuela - 1992

First monster truck to be used as a dedicated ride truck - 1992 [-Picture-]

BIGFOOT #4 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to use a "character" body - "Snake Bite" - 1991 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to use a hybrid suspension - Extended travel shocks/leaf springs - 1991 [-Picture-]

BIGFOOT #5 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck solely designed to use 10' tall tires - 1986

Guinness Book of Records - World's biggest pickup truck - 2002

BIGFOOT #6 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to jump 13 cars - Jim Kramer - Indianapolis, IN - 1987

First monster truck to appear in: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Denmark, Thailand & Iceland - 1992-1993

BIGFOOT #7 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck built specifically for a movie - "Road House" - 1988 [-Picture-]

First monster truck to appear in New Zealand - 1993

BIGFOOT #8 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck tubular chassis created with CAD (Computer Aided Design) - Bob Chandler - 1989

First monster truck with a patented technology - Cantilever suspension - Patent held by Bob Chandler - 1989

First monster truck "Sumo Wrestling" - "Dungeon of Doom" (BIGFOOT #8), "Hulkster" (BIGFOOT #9) - WCW "Halloween Havoc" PPV - 1995

First monster truck in-cab experience - Ride with driver - Lima, OH - 2000

First monster truck driving school - "BIGFOOT 4x4 Technology Program" - 2002

BIGFOOT #9 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to appear in Malaysia - 1994

First monster truck to appear Brazil - 1998

BIGFOOT #10 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck with 30" of suspension travel - 1992

BIGFOOT #11 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to win back-to-back racing championships - Andy Brass - 1993-1994

Longest recorded monster truck wheelie - Dave Harkey - 217 feet, 3 inches - 1999

BIGFOOT #12 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to be used as a dedicated display truck - 1993 to present

BIGFOOT #14 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck to win 8 consecutive points races - Dan Runte - 1996

First monster truck to jump a 727 jetliner - Dan Runte - 202 feet - Smyrna, TN - 1999 [-Video-]

Guinness Book of Records - Monster truck long jump - 202 feet - Smyrna, TN - 1999 [-Video-]

Guinness Book of Records - Monster truck recorded speed - 69.3 mph - Smyrna, TN - 1999 [-Video-]

Guinness Book of Records - Monster truck jump height - 24 feet - Las Vegas - 1999 [-Video-]

First monster truck to jump a tractor-trailer & 7 cars - Dan Runte - Las Vegas, NV - 1999 [-Video-]

BIGFOOT # 15 Monster Truck Firsts:

First monster truck with complete corporate sponsorship - "Firestone Wilderness" - 1998 [-Picture-]

First winner of ProMT Racing Championship - Eric Tack - 2000 [-Picture-]

BIGFOOT #16 Monster Truck Firsts:

First BIGFOOT monster truck to use a 2-speed transmission - 2007 to present

First monster truck to win the MLMT Racing Championship - Dan Runte - 2007 [-Picture-]

BIGFOOT # 17 Monster Truck Firsts:

First BIGFOOT monster truck run full-time in Europe - Nigel Morris

First winner of the European ProMT Point Championship - 2003
First repeat winner of the EMTRC Points Title - 2006 & 2007

Team BIGFOOT Championships