|
|
|
- |
|
WHAT'S NEWEVENTS
BIGFOOT sponsors
JOIN
Copyright information!
|
|
2004 NewsA Week of Exciting Ford Racing Events for BIGFOOTNew driver-in-training Keith Sturgeon, accompanied by longtime driver Ron Bachmann and Director of Brand Placement and Promotions, Chris Dicus, traveled to Florida to participate in five major events with Ford from November 17th through 21st. On Wednesday, November 17, BIGFOOT 12, wearing its 2005 Ford Super Duty American Flag body, displayed at the start/finish line of the Ford Innovation Drive for the 2005 Mustang and 2005 Freestyle at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. On Thursday, it displayed at the Ford Racing Fan Appreciation Day Event in Fort Lauderdale, and then went back to the Homestead-Miami Speedway to continue as part of the main Ford display for the rest of the Ford Championship weekend.
The next three days were some of the biggest of the year for Ford Racing and took place in front of sellout crowds! Friday was the last race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Ford 200. Making only his second NCTS start, Nextel Cup Series rookie Kasey Kahne took the race victory. Bobby Hamilton won the series for his first NCTS Championship. Saturday featured the drivers of the NASCAR Busch Series in their final race also, the Ford 300. Driver Kevin Harvick won the day, but the series went to Martin Truex, Jr. Ford once again proved itself as the dominant car in the NASCAR Nextel races. Ending a great weekend of racing was the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, the Ford 400. Ford driver Greg Biffle took the checkered flag, while driver Kurt Busch took home the 2004 Nextel Cup Series Championship for Ford.
Ford continues to be the dominant truck in
the nation and will continue to be in 2005 with the new Super Duty
BIGFOOT! SEMA 04BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc. unveiled the 2005 Ford F350 BIGFOOT STREET TRUCK. The BIGFOOT #12 monster truck displayed the new 2005 Stars and Stripes Super Duty body on a trailer behind a 2005 F350 crew-cab dually at the entrance to the SEMA convention center with long time driver Ron Bachman signing autographs and talking with thousands of BIGFOOT fans.
On the main stage in Ford's booth in the main hall the 2005 Ford F350 BIGFOOT STREET TRUCK made its debut in normal BIGFOOT fashion. The truck was converted in just 3-1/2 short weeks from its yellow body colored stock form. Long time custom truck builder and Director of Brand Placement and Promotions for BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc., Chris Dicus, was responsible for the truck build up and performed most of the work himself during the 3-1/2 weeks of 18-20 hour days, along with a remarkable build team that he assembled. The team included J.M. Karsch, Mick Schlosser, Chad Link, Guy Link, Josh Newcomer, Kelly Silvey, Mike Gibson, Randy Hartrup, Bud Eye and BIGFOOT's Kent Stull, Nick Dvorchak, Roy Hooser, Shane Blair and many others. A remarkable team of installers from various St. Louis Circuit City stores also helped: Jeremy Zurbriggen, John Knoll, Keith Wilson, and Jeff Niese. They installed the audio and video on the interior of the truck. Dan Patterson of AIR POWER GRAPHICS applied the new style of flames to the truck.
The truck received many compliments and many press photographs and articles. The truck also received the honor of being invited to display at the upcoming Detroit International Auto Show. It also took part on the stage display at the Ford, PRIMEDIA, and PIRELLI Banquet. The banquet was invitation only in which The Beach Boys entertained and was attended by vehicle legends like BIGFOOT's creators Bob and Marilyn Chandler, Jim Kramer, Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones, Chip Foose, Steve Saleen, Dario Steeda, Dan Davis, John Colletti, Brett Lovett, Paul Sr., Paul Jr., Mikey and Vinny from Orange County Choppers and up and coming builders like BIGFOOT's own Chris Dicus, and others like Doug DeBerti, and Mike Duvall. The event was a great success and enjoyed by all. BIGFOOT #12 was the only monster truck that displayed at the entrance to the SEMA show from any of the Big 3 auto manufacturers and the only monster truck represented inside the main hall.
Once again BIGFOOT has moved up the bar on the level of professionalism and vehicle advancement in both the monster truck and the auto industry by helping introduce the 2005 Ford Super Duty and proving that both on and off the track, FORD and BIGFOOT dominate the truck market. HD TV in PhoenixOctober 23rd and 24th brought the monsters out in Phoenix, Arizona. Voom, the number one HD (High-Definition) TV provider available, taped the whole two day event with 8 High Definition Betacams, several pencil cams and even a helicopter shooting from above. Bob Trent and Eric Meagher, from BIGFOOT, set up the awesome "S" shaped track. It was over 1000 feet long and was distinctively outlined with hundreds of covered hay bails. This made the track very easy to follow for the drivers, as well as the fans in attendance.
The event carried an 8 truck field. The trucks and drivers in attendance were as follows: Scarlet Bandit (Dawn Creton), Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creton), Big Dawg (Doug Noelke), Bad News (Bruce Haney), Obsession (Glen Logan), Gun Slinger (Scott Hartsock), Snake Bite (BIGFOOT 14 - Dave Harkey), and BIGFOOT 15 (Dan Runte). The people from Voom and the designers of the track thought that the track would produce times of around 40 seconds. As it turned out, most of the times from the weekend were actually around 26 seconds. Timing was provided by a new wireless timing system designed by FarmTek, and ran by Bob Chandler himself. This new system provides very accurate times, down to the thousands of a second. After a truck crosses the finish line beams, his time is automatically sorted against the other times in the field. These times are what determines the match-ups in the bracket racing.
Saturday's final matched up Dan Runte, with BIGFOOT 15, against Jimmy Creton, with Bounty Hunter. Jimmy Creton (25.069 et) proved to be a very good driver on the turning course, just edging Dan (26-069 et). After the bracket racing was done, the freestyle competition began. There was no distinct winner through most of this, until Dan and BIGFOOT 15 decided to jump his 10,000 pound behemoth into a lake. The jump made a huge splash, and the crowd went crazy. BIGFOOT took the freestyle competition.
Sunday's bracket racing came down to Bounty Hunter again, but this time matched up against Snake Bite, the other BIGFOOT truck in the field, and driver Dave Harkey. Bounty Hunter, turning in the fastest time of the weekend, again proved his skill in the turning course, beating Snake Bite by 2.332 seconds. Freestyle again followed the racing, with the same results. Dan and BIGFOOT hit the water again, but this time he made such a huge splash that the truck nearly disappeared under the water, and the engine actually stopped. After Dan got it started back up, he drove in front of the crowd, which was again going absolutely crazy. Dan and BIGFOOT, with the approval of the fans, took the freestyle competition for a second time.
Click the picture for an larger version. The weekend turned out to be a great event. Check back right here for updates on when this event can be seen in High Definition through Voom. The Outdoor Channel - Circle of HonorThe Outdoor Channel’s weekly series, Circle of Honor, will be featuring the creator of the monster truck industry and BIGFOOT®, The Original Monster Truck®, Bob Chandler. Circle of Honor is a half-hour show, which acknowledges the great impacts and successes of men and women in outdoor pursuits.
Bob will be on Circle of
Honor to talk about his career, his life, how it all started, and what
he is doing today. Interviews
with his long-time friend and Vice-President of Operations, Jim Kramer,
and Bob’s daughter and President, Ann Trent, will be used to add to the
portrayal of the “father” of the monster truck industry. Bob is one of many people to
become inducted into the Circle of Honor. He will be joining other
great masterminds involved in various sports and outdoor life: Steve
Kinser (sprint car racer), Jeff Cooper (known as the “father”
of what is commonly referred to as "The Modern Techniques of
Shooting"), Mark Twain
(famous author and avid sportsman), Lee and Joan Wulff (famous for fly
fishing), and Cotton Cordell (legendary fisherman) to name a few. The questions asked include:
How did Bob get interested in cars and trucks? Was he surprised by
the reaction of fans when BIGFOOT first came out? How has his company
grown since he started? Is he proud of what he created? Jim was asked
questions such as: How did you meet Bob? When did you first drive one of
the trucks? Is there anything the team won’t try to do with a BIGFOOT
truck? Ann was then asked
questions such as: Has it
been fun sharing the success with your family? How is Bob viewed by the
people in this industry? To hear these questions and answers, and many,
many more, you’ll have to tune in to Circle of Honor. The show is scheduled to air on the following dates: Tuesday, November 9 at 6:30 pm; Thursday, November 11 at 11:30 pm; and Friday, November 12 at 10:30 pm. All times are EST, and please check local listings. My First 4x4 JamboreeBy: Christina Moore - BIGFOOT Intern I went to Indy the weekend of September 24-26, 2004 and experienced my first 4-wheel drive event. I am currently doing my internship at BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc. to complete my bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Morehead State University, in Kentucky. While doing my internship I was given the chance to attend the 23rd Annual Advance Auto Parts Fall 4 Wheel & Off-Road Jamboree Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. Not really knowing what to expect, I was surprised by some of the things I saw.
My main job for the weekend was to work in the BIGFOOT novelty trailer selling BIGFOOT, Snake Bite®, and Big Dawg souvenirs. While in the trailer, I got to see the many different kinds of vehicles and the many different types of people that attend these events. The vehicles ranged from a typical 4x4 truck, a Hummer, and an old Volkswagen beetle (lifted) to a more elaborate 4x4 truck with a hydraulic bed that could be lifted and lowered as you drove. The other thing I noticed was the people driving and walking by. I saw many average-looking people and some with more outrageous styles. By far though, many of the people were what some people would call “rednecks”. Although I am from St. Louis, many of these people reminded me of my college in Kentucky, where I saw the country boys driving their big 4-wheel drives through campus on a daily basis.
After selling merchandise Friday morning, I was given an exciting
opportunity! I went to the
track with the monster trucks for the qualifying rounds. Normally only the
drivers and their crew are able to go into the pits. During the drivers’ meeting, a very unique problem
developed. The drivers were
asked to vote on whether or not to receive points for that night’s
qualifying and racing. The
track configuration being used on Friday only was significantly different
than the normal tracks. The
vote went 8-3 in favor of points, but for some unknown reason the
officials vetoed the decision and said that no points would be received.
The still unanswered question: why were the drivers even given the
opportunity to vote, if the vote wasn’t going to matter?
Because of the officials’ decision, some drivers didn’t even
participate in all of the qualifying runs.
They did not want to risk damaging their trucks when no points were
going to be awarded. Later that night, the actual race took place and BIGFOOT # 15, driven
by Dan Runte, took the victory. After
the races, all of the drivers signed autographs, then spent the rest of
the evening relaxing. I was
able to spend time with fellow BIGFOOT employees driver, Dan Runte,
President, Ann Trent, VP of Sponsorship/Events, Bob Trent, sales manager,
Bob C. Chandler, mechanic, John Peterson, and even owner, Bob Chandler.
I also met the family of some other employees, along with other
monster truck drivers, including Doug and Brenda Noelke (BigDawg) and Joe,
one of their crew, and John Seasock, driver of Sudden Impact.
Being able to spend time with not only the people of BIGFOOT, but
also members and friends of other teams, was really exciting.
It was fun to see how everyone in the industry gets along so well
with each other and are really friendly. Saturday morning dawned bright and way too early. It was going to be a very long day! I started out selling merchandise in the trailer again. Although the day started fairly slow, by mid-afternoon there was a steady stream of people that stopped by to look and to purchase BIGFOOT and Big Dawg souvenirs. There were also plenty more people to “people watch” and custom trucks to observe. I have always liked trucks that “sat-up” higher and were louder than the average, so I didn’t really mind seeing and hearing the trucks all day long. Later I made my way to the track to watch part of Saturday’s races. This time there was no qualifying, but the drivers would be receiving points. There was a much larger crowd on hand than there was on Friday. Both of BIGFOOT’s biggest competitors, Raminator and Rammunition of the Dodge Team, made it to the second round, but failed to finish due to complications with their trucks. This would let BIGFOOT and BigDawg match-up in the final round. BigDawg took the victory, but both trucks ended up needing a lot of mechanical attention to get them ready for Sunday’s festivities. After this long day, we all went back to the pits, where the drivers and crew worked on the trucks for hours. The rest of us spent time visiting each other and relaxing.
After a short night’s rest with the alarm clock going off at 6:15am,
it was time to check out of the hotel and head back to the fairgrounds for
our final day in Indy. On
Sunday, I again spent most of the day working in the merchandise trailer,
and then going to watch the races. I
was able to go into the pit area again and take pictures of all of the
monster trucks racing. I saw
some of the damage the trucks can sustain while making a run.
With the huge impact the trucks make with the jumps, I am really
surprise that more of the trucks didn’t have some sort of damage!
Freestyle exhibitions followed the final race. I was then able to get the autographs of all of the monster
truck drivers. I now have a
great souvenir to help me remember the weekend.
After packing up the trailer, and taking care of all payouts, we
headed back home to St. Louis. I had a great time in Indy, and am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to see everything that goes into a monster truck race, selling merchandise, and keeping the monster trucks able to compete. It was a very unique event compared to all of the other events I’ve attended (baseball, soccer, football, etc.). I am pretty sure it will not be my last, though. BIGFOOT on TV - UPDATE
UPDATE: BIGFOOT is scheduled to appear on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on Sunday, November 7th. Please check your local listings for updates or changes. For more information, see the article below. BIGFOOT on TVESPN2 will be airing the final round of the ProMT/Special Events Point Series on Sunday, October 17 at 4:30 pm EST. This is the race from Indianapolis, Indiana as described in the article directly below entitled "2004 ProMT/Special Events Points Series-Final Weekend." Be sure to check your local listings for updates or changes. 2004 ProMT/Special EventsPoints Series-Final WeekendOctober 5, 2004 - The BIGFOOT® team and driver Dan Runte finished 2004’s ProMT/Special Events Points Series over the weekend of September 24-26 at the 23rd Annual Advance Auto Parts 4 Wheel & Off-Road Jamboree in Indianapolis, Indiana. On hand to watch and film the final points races were television crews for VOOM (high-definition television), The Outdoor Channel and ESPN2. Dan and the BIGFOOT team would like to express their gratitude to Ford for the powerful 572 C.I. Ford Hemi used under the hood of BIGFOOT #15 and also to Firestone for the excellent traction capability of the new turf tires, especially on the newly designed figure 8 track used on Friday.
Friday’s battles were done a little differently in Indy. No points were awarded for the qualifying or the racing rounds, which proved to be a big disappointment to Team BIGFOOT. Dan and BIGFOOT #15, wearing its 2004 Ford F-150 Cyclone body and 2 Firestone turf tires and 2 Firestone flotation tires, were in first place in the final qualifying order by a half of a second. In the first round of racing on Friday night, BIGFOOT faced Predator, driven by Allan Pezo, who was disqualified when he hit two barriers, causing BIGFOOT to drive around one of them to win the race. Sudden Impact, with driver John Seasock, was then also beat by BIGFOOT. Ending the night would be the Black Stallion, with driver Mike Vaters, matching up against The Original Monster Truck®. He, too, couldn’t quite outrun the power of the BIGFOOT Ford Hemi coupled with the driving of Dan Runte. Had points been up for grabs, Dan would have been ahead by over 240 points since Raminator did not make it past qualifying, making Dan almost assured the series winner for the year, as long as he got past qualifying each day.
On Saturday there was no qualifying round, but points were awarded for the straight-line race. BIGFOOT first defeated Black Stallion, then faced Rammunition, driven by Dale Benear. Due to problems with the truck, though, Rammunition did not make the run, assuring BIGFOOT’s appearance in the final round. In the finals, BIGFOOT faced competitor, good friend, and fellow Ford driver Doug Noelke with Big Dawg. Big Dawg, who had the fastest times in every round on Saturday, was the first truck to beat the BIGFOOT Team in Indy.
Before qualifying on Sunday, Dan was leading the ProMT/Special Events 2004 Points Series by 40 points. Raminator, driven by Mark Hall, was in second, with Big Dawg, Sudden Impact, and Rammunition rounding out the top five spots. After the qualifying round, BIGFOOT was seeded third for the day, with Raminator in second and Big Dawg leading the pack. BIGFOOT faced Rammunition in the first round, and, yet again, the power of the big blue Ford’s Hemi would be too much for the hemi-powered Dodge to overcome. In round two, Dan met up with Big Dawg again. Unfortunately, transmission trouble kept BIGFOOT from performing at top form. Big Dawg, the only truck that had been able to outrun it all weekend, gave BIGFOOT its second loss of the weekend Big Dawg then lost to Raminator by less than two-tenths of a second, giving Mark Hall and Raminator the 2004 PROMT/Special Event Point Series title with 2,640 points. Dan and BIGFOOT came in second with 2,600. New Snake Bite PreviewBIGFOOT 4x4, Inc. is currently working on a new Snake Bite paint scheme. Dan Patterson, from Air Power Graphics, is the artist who is responsible for the awesome artwork on this body. Patterson has also designed almost all of the BIGFOOT trucks.
Check back here often for updates on this new Snake Bite! BIGFOOT on TVThe Outdoor Channel and ESPN2 will be airing shows from from two different Special Events Jamborees coming up in late September and October. The airtimes are as follows:
Dan Runte and BIGFOOT doing a jump during freestyle in Lima, OH.
Check back often for updates or go to Family Events (Special Events) website for updates! Irwindale SpeedwayBy: Eric Meagher Edited by: Christina Moore & Ann Trent Mark another victory for
BIGFOOTÒ
and driver Dan Runte! On
September 4, at Irwindale Speedway, The Original Monster TruckÒ
came out victorious again, but, this time, some unexpected events helped
decide the outcome. Team KCM, owner of monster trucks Dragon Slayer and Spiderman, were defeated not by another truck, but by a breakdown with their transporter enroute to the event. This would keep Team KCM from arriving in Irwindale in time for the event, leaving only six trucks to compete: BIGFOOT, Raminator, driven by Mark Hall, Ramunition, driven by Dale Banear, Obsession, driven by Rick Swanson, McRuff, driven by Ron Wood, and Shocker, driven by Pat Gerber.
Dan Runte and BIGFOOT#15 with its 2004 Ford F-150 Cyclone body (designed for Ford’s 100th Anniversary celebration in Detroit last June) made it to the finals by defeating Obsession and Ramunition in the opening rounds. His would-be challenger, Shocker, overcame McRuff and Raminator. But beating Raminator in the second round came at a big price for the Shocker truck; it sustained some brake damage knocking him out of the finals and out for the night, allowing Raminator to meet BIGFOOT in the final round.
It was a close race in the
finals with both trucks getting good jumps off the start and remaining
dead even at half-track. Coming
down to the last turn, though, with both drivers pushing their trucks as
hard as they could, Raminator pushed a little too hard! The truck spun
into a complete donut, handing the victory to the big, blue Ford BIGFOOT! The remaining five trucks
then performed, to the audience’s obvious delight, in exhibition donut
and freestyle competitions. It was a great night of
monster truck action. The packed house got to
see Dan Runte and BIGFOOT take the race victory! Be on the lookout for a member of the BIGFOOT Team coming to a town near you in search of yet another victory! Another BIGFOOT TV AppearanceBIGFOOT, The Original Monster Truck®, recently spent time in front of the television cameras once again. BIGFOOT’s latest assignment is an appearance on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” now in its second season and receiving its second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program. The episode featuring BIGFOOT is tentatively schedule for October 24, 2004.
In each self-contained episode some unsuspecting but well-deserving family is whisked away for seven days while the show’s team of designers, decorators and contractors —led by host Ty Pennington — provides more than a simple facelift for their home. Inside and out … from top to bottom … these makeovers leave nothing untouched. Remodeling that would normally take four months or more is condensed to one week. Walls are knocked down and rebuilt, landscaping is updated, new cabinets are installed, and even furniture is replaced. And that’s where BIGFOOT comes in.
BIGFOOT
1, wearing its 48-inch tires and being driven by Jim Kramer,
effortlessly crushed an old chair and loveseat belonging to an
unsuspecting family on August 8, 2004. Unfortunately, Jim and the
furniture-munching monster couldn’t stay to see the “made over” home
or meet the family because of scheduling conflicts. Jim says the show’s
crew had nothing but good things to say about the 14-year old boy who
asked for nothing for himself. His only wish was that his home be made
safer for his parents and younger brother, all of whom are handicapped. Don’t miss the transformation and the emotional makeover unveiling on ABC. Check local listings and for more information, visit the show’s Website at abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/show.html. 2004 Firestone Destination BIGFOOT Tour
The Firestone Destination BIGFOOT truck, with driver Gary Gibbs or Rick Long, makes its living visiting hundreds of Firestone Dealers throughout the nation each year. The truck has already spent 114 days (through August) displaying this year and plans to spend another 41 days before the year draws to a close. Other BIGFOOT trucks, with the American Flag, ChromaLusion, or Angels’ bodies, also make their rounds to Firestone Dealers, with some 237 days already this year and plans for 122 more before year’s end. The Destination BIGFOOT got things started this year in the south, traveling through Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The truck then headed out to the west coast, later visiting Texas, Louisiana, and Indiana. The summer months were spent in the northeast, displaying in New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. The truck then stormed through Michigan and Ohio. Already this year, an estimated 55,000 people visited Firestone dealers to see BIGFOOT! The Original Monster Truck® always draws a crowd. And, as Lindsey Beer of Zurcher Tire in Monroe, IN said, “Everything about our BIGFOOT experience was wonderful…[and]…We couldn’t have asked for better representatives!” BIGFOOT trucks also make many special appearances for Firestone. In June, the Destination BIGFOOT displayed in State College, PA for a four-day stint at a Special Olympics event and then spent 6 days in Nashville for a Cystic Fibrosis event and the CMA Music Festival. In July, BIGFOOT #8 performed a car crush in Brookfield, CT at the Grass Roots Event for Team Firestone Brookfield. The Destination BIGFOOT, accompanied by retired BIGFOOT driver and VP of Operations Jim Kramer, displayed at the Firestone Royal Oak store in Birmingham, MI as part of the 2004 Woodward Dream Cruise on August 20th and 21st. Store representative Paul Babinski said the truck was a huge draw! Over 300 people signed up for the new Firestone Credit Card and the store personnel talked to many potential new and repeat customers. During September, October, and November, the Destination BIGFOOT truck is scheduled to visit Iowa, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, and the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas. The Firestone Destination BIGFOOT, the American Flag BIGFOOT, the Cyclone BIGFOOT, and their respective drivers are also scheduled to appear at the 2004 SEMA Show. Don’t miss your opportunity to see them up close and personal! Bob Chandler KMOX (St. Louis) Radio InterviewA local radio station in St. Louis did an interview with BIGFOOT owner and creator Bob Chandler for their "Voices of St. Louis, a Profile of St. Louis' Most Influential People." Follow the link below for interview in MP3 format: http://www.kmox.com/special/specialarticle.php?id=13447 More BIGFOOT AppearancesDETROIT & BIRMINGHAM,
MICHIGAN BIGFOOT #1 was on display at the
Ford Racing Innovation Drive on Belle Isle, the former sight of the
Detroit Grand Prix on Thursday, August 19, 2004. A photography stand was
set up so fans could get their pictures taken with The Original Monster
Truck®. Bob Chandler's BIGFOOT #1 started the monster truck industry
almost 30 years ago. The big, blue Ford was accompanied by long time
driver Ron Bachman and BIGFOOT Director of Brand Placement &
Promotions Chris Dicus.
Four Days in the Life: A BIGFOOT Frame RepairAuthor: Bob Chandler Editors: Ann Trent & Marilyn Chandler Technical Editor: Roy Hooser Harrington, Delaware: Eric Meagher, driving BIGFOOT
14 with the green Snake Bite® body took a major hit on Friday, July 23,
2004. When the truck hit the car, the throttle stuck wide open. It was
supposed to be a simple car crush with only one car. The reality, however,
was very different! BIGFOOT and Eric hit the car and went straight up.
They came down hard on the rear frame and the right rear tire. David
Woodcock, fellow BIGFOOT driver, realizing that the engine was continuing
to rev, even after Eric should have been slowing down, used the RII, the
Remote Ignition Interrupter, to cut all power to the big Ford. The BIGFOOT
frame was so bent that it was very hard to get the truck into the trailer.
In addition, Eric was quite shaken up. After packing up the truck, with help from Rick
Petroline, BIGFOOT’s top paint and body man and retired driver and Dave
Woodcock, Eric headed back to St. Louis. He pulled into the BIGFOOT
parking lot Sunday evening and headed home to get some much needed rest. BIGFOOT 4X4, Inc. - Hazelwood, MO: Monday morning saw Roy Hooser, BIGFOOT’s chief mechanic and MTRA’s 2003 Mechanic of the Year, and Bob Trent, BIGFOOT’s VP of Events and Sponsorships, backing the truck out of the trailer at 4:30 am to analyze the situation. The frame was bent from the engine mount to the back of the truck. If the damage wasn’t enough on its own, the truck was due in Champaign, IL by 4:00 pm on that Thursday. Yes, just under 4 days later! Too much work – too little time!
After BIGFOOT was pulled into the shop bay, Roy started removing parts, fuel and water lines, the radiator, fans, pumps, batteries, etc. He needed to see the full extent of the damage. In addition to the bent frame, four (4) shocks, the sway bar, the wheelie bar, and numerous mounts were bent and/or broken. The back of the frame had to be replaced, while the shocks would be repaired.
Before Roy started cutting
the damaged frame sections off, he measured the sections to be cut off and
marked the locations of the various brackets. By 10 am, Roy started
cutting the damaged sections off in order to get to the undamaged portion
of the frame.
Bob Brown, another BIGFOOT mechanic, and Bryan Bertoletti, BIGFOOT’s machinist and part-time BIGFOOT driver/mechanic, began working on salvaging some of the brackets from the bent portion of the frame when they arrived. They continued working on the chassis until they went home late that night. John Peterson, BIGFOOT’s chief engine man, arrived about 6 am. He began his day by removing the engine. Why did the throttle stick open during the routine car crush? By 1 pm, he had determined that there was a needle bearing missing from the bearing housing that supports the throttle shaft. It is believed that this caused the throttle to stick open.
Although the mechanics were kept very busy with the chassis and engine repairs, the body actually received very little actual damage. In addition, BIGFOOT, not Snake Bite, was scheduled to appear in Champaign, so no paint or bodywork was needed to get the truck on time. All that was needed was a body change.
Tuesday morning arrived very early for everyone. All 3 mechanics had put in many hours by the time 7 am rolled around. On Tuesday, Roy, Bob, and Bryan worked on replacing the major parts of the frame and installing the many miscellaneous pieces. Eric modified the throttle cable bracket for smoother operation, while John continued to work on the engine.
Tuesday
night saw the completion of the major parts of the frame, followed by Rick
painting the frame, so it could be dry by morning. By 2 am Wednesday
morning, everyone had finally gone home. Only a few hours later,
everyone was back at work again. By that time, the frame looked pretty
good, except for the shock towers, the sway bar, and various mounts. John worked on
re-installing the engine, and Roy was heard saying that maybe the truck
would be ready for the Thursday night event! For the last 2 days, Roy had not sounded very sure. He wouldn’t allow a BIGFOOT truck to leave the building unless it was ready to perform! If it wasn’t done right, it wasn’t done. We put our trust in Roy and his team every day. Their technical expertise and their dedication to the team help make BIGFOOT what we are: The Best.
By Wednesday night, most of the repairs were done and the other parts were installed. It actually looked like a monster truck chassis again! Thursday morning saw Roy, Bob, Bryan, Eric, John, and Bob T mounting the BIGFOOT Chromalusion body and packing the truck into the hauler. The truck, now a fully functioning, fully repaired, fully ready BIGFOOT truck, could head back out on the road. Kroger Speedfest at Indianapolis SpeedwayIndianapolis, IN - August 5-6 BIGFOOT® #12 debuted its new 2005 Super Duty Hot Hues USA/FLAG body at the 2004 KROGER SPEEDFEST at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP). BIGFOOT 12, along with long time driver Ron Bachman and BIGFOOT Director of Brand Placement and Promotions Chris Dicus, participated in the SPEEDFEST event and the opening ceremonies for the POWER STROKE DIESEL 200 presented by Ford and International Truck and Engine Corporation.
This year’s event marked the 10th anniversary of the Power Stroke diesel engine. The POWER FEST NATIONAL RALLY was a celebration not to be missed. BIGFOOT displayed at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville on Thursday for the POWER FEST DIESEL RUN. The DIESEL RUN participants had the chance to tour the birthplace of the Ford Super Duty. After the tour of the state of the art plant and lunch, fans headed to the racetrack. On Friday, BIGFOOT was on display in the Ford/International hospitality area for fans to take pictures or just get a good up-close look at the beautiful new 2005 BIGFOOT Super Duty. The Original Monster Truck® later participated in the parade lap of the opening ceremonies of the POWER STROKE DIESEL 200, along with several Power Stroke-powered Ford trucks, to celebrate the first 10 years of Power Stroke diesels.
The 2004 KROGER SPEEDFEST took Indianapolis by storm! Not only was the event attended by a large number of Super Duty and Power Stroke fans, but several NASCAR NEXTEL drivers also made an appearance. In addition, several thousand Craftsman Truck fans came to see the race. The event’s sponsors included Ford, Ford Super Duty Brand, Ford Racing, International, and the Ford Ohio Kentucky Indiana Super Duty club. Speed Channel carried some of the opening ceremonies and the POWER STROKE DIESEL 200 live. BIGFOOT has participated in many major Ford functions so far this year. Keep your eyes open for many more in the months and years to come! NOW AVAILABLE!NEW Firestone Destination Tractor Trailer
The NEW Firestone Destination 1:43 scale tractor trailer from Eligor will be available soon! This new tractor trailer will complement the red, white and blue one that we already have, which is still available in our Online Store (shown below). Keep an eye out for the Firestone Destination version, coming soon!
More 2005 Ford Super DutyBIGFOOT #14, wearing the 2005 Ford Super Duty USA body, along with long-time BIGFOOT Driver Dave Harkey and Chris Dicus, BIGFOOT Director of Brand Placement and Promotions participated in events at the BUILT FORD TOUGH 225 Craftsman NASCAR Truck Race presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers and Ford Racing at the Kentucky Speedway.
To help introduce the New 2005 Ford Super Duty, BIGFOOT displayed on Manufacturers’ Midway on Friday, July 9 and moved to the infield right, behind pit row, for staging practice on Saturday, July 10. The race was covered live by Speed Channel.
Inclement weather forced officials to end the KENTUCKY 150 just after the half-way mark, delay the start of the NASCAR Truck Race, and eliminate the big Ford truck parade that BIGFOOT was set to lead. BIGFOOT was also prevented from participating in the opening ceremonies due to time restraints and additional pending weather conditions. Many fans used the cancellations and delays as an opportunity to have photos made with their favorite monster truck, BIGFOOT. BIGFOOT is turning up everywhere so be sure to keep your eye out because more than likely BIGFOOT is coming to a town near you.Arizona Proving GroundsDave Harkey, Jim Kramer, and BIGFOOT #14 were in Yucca, AZ on June 22, 23, and 24 at the Ford Motor Company National Press Day and Ride and Drive Event for the New 2005 Ford Super Duty. The top 30 Ford truck dealers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and the press were invited to the Arizona Proving Ground for the event. Some invited guests got the opportunity to participate in the test drive of the new 2005 Super Duty trucks. The tests ranged from a trailer towing competition to a real off road course.
BIGFOOT was set up at the
staging area of the off road course.
Ford and BIGFOOT have been together for many years. The recent
increased involvement in Ford events is only the beginning of many to
come. Chris Dicus, BIGFOOT’s new Director of Brand Placement and
Promotions, is working on many more events for the coming year. We will keep you posted! TLC "Help Wanted" UpdateThe premiere episode of The Learning Channel's "Help Wanted" reality show has been moved. It will now air two weeks earlier on July 15, 2004 at 9 pm EST (subject to change without notice). For more details on the show, see the article below. BIGFOOT on Premiere ofTLC's "Help Wanted"Look for the MAC Tools BIGFOOT#15 and the Firestone Destination BIGFOOT#11 in “Help Wanted”, a new reality show to premier on The Learning Channel on July 29, 2004 (subject to change). Like most reality shows, the participants are eliminated one by one, based on various challenges. “Help Wanted: Team BIGFOOT Driver” was filmed the week of May 18th in and around St. Louis, with Jim Kramer, VP of Operations of BIGFOOT 4X4, Inc., serving as the “Boss.” The “Boss” of each episode makes the decisions regarding who keeps playing and who is given a “pink slip” and told to go home.
In the premier of “Help Wanted,” five winning applicants competed for a chance to drive the big Ford BIGFOOT in the opening ceremony of an actual monster truck event. The applicants went through a number of different tests, which were used to eliminate them one-by-one. The first test required the applicants to stand near an obstacle course, while a BIGFOOT truck flew right next to them. One pink slip was given out to the applicant who “flinched” from the noise the truck made!
A second applicant was pink slipped after competing in the tire changing test, the car crushing test, and the “wishbone” game. The applicants changed BIGFOOT’s transport tires, replacing them with its Firestone Flotation 66X43X25 tires. Anyone who has ever changed a monster truck tire knows that it is a hard, sweaty, dirty job! They aren’t called “monster truck tires” for nothing! Next the applicants drove a BIGFOOT truck onto junk cars and stopped on top. The “wishbone” game required each of them to try to tear apart a junk car with the BIGFOOT truck.
The third
pink slip was given out based on answers to 25 questions about life on the
road and mechanical aptitude, and a tool recognition test. The two
remaining applicants then competed in the finale - a monster truck
obstacle race. The lucky winner will drive BIGFOOT in a parade lap at the
opening of an actual monster truck event.
Tune in to The Learning Channel on Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 8
p.m. EDT for “Help Wanted.” More NEW Toys ComingThe stream of new BIGFOOT monster truck toys continues as Muscle Machines and Road Rippers have new toys in the works. Muscle Machines is working on a couple of new 1:32 scale remote controls, a BIGFOOT and a Snake Bite (as seen below). They are due to be released sometime in July. Road Rippers is to release a Monster Mash Playset with BIGFOOT and Raminator sometime in July (as seen below). These toys are in the same scale as the Road Rippers BIGFOOT toys that are currently for sale in our Online Store. Check back with us for updates on exactly when these toys will arrive. 2005 Ford Super Duty Revealed
Dearborn,
MI: May 21, 2004: Ford
Motor Company and BIGFOOT 4x4, Inc. presented the 2005 Ford Super Duty
Pickup to the press. Major media coverage included the LA Times, the
Wall Street Journal, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, the New
York Times, Popular Mechanics, & Time Magazine.
Special
thanks to several Ford attendees, including Phil Martins (VP-Product
Creation-NA), Dave Szczupak (VP-Powertrain), Ray Day (NA, SA, & Global
Product Public Affairs), Frank Davis (Vehicle Programs Director for Pickup
Truck & Commercial Programs), Bill Osborne (Executive Director - NA
Product Development.), Doug Scott (Truck Group Marketing Manager), Jon
Harmon (Public Affairs Manager), Ed Lewis (Truck & SUV & Public
Affairs Manager), David Reuter (Global Auto Shows), Susan Dehne (Chief
Program Engineer-Super Duty, and several other key members of Super Duty
Program Management, Engineering, Design Teams, and Public Affairs,
including Phil O’Conner (Super Duty Brand Manager), Jason Dickens
(Assistant Super Duty Brand Manager), Chris Atkinson (Vehicle Engineer
& Integration Manager), Sherry Kollien (Liason-SEMA Technologies
Transfer), Tamara Henderson (Program Management Supervision – Super Duty
Name Plate), Harry Erle Rawlins (4X4 & Trailer Tow Engineer – Truck
Attributes-Super Duty), Scott Anderson (2005 Super Duty Vehicle
Engineering & Vehicle Integration), Tom Hartman (Vehicle Development
Engineer – Super Duty), Marci Byrn (Truck & SUV Public Affairs),
Sonia Mishra (Product Public Affairs), and Marisa Bradley (Ford Division
Public Affairs). BIGFOOT
attendees included driver, Dave
Harkey, VP of Operations and retired BIGFOOT driver, Jim Kramer, and
Chris Dicus, BIGFOOT’s new Director of Brand Placement & Promotions.
Chris was the driving force behind BIGFOOT’s participation. BIGFOOT, The
Original Monster Truck®, has been Built Ford Tough for almost 30 years.
This project is just one of many new Ford-BIGFOOT collaborations planned
for the future. BIGFOOT and Ford have been working together for over 20
years and this is the beginning of an even closer working relationship.
Lima Jamboree
Lima, OH - The Allen County Fairgrounds hosted another installment of the 4-Wheel Drive Jamboree on May 14, 15 and 16. Thousands of 4-wheel drive enthusiasts gathered to show off their 4x4's and to take in the many events that were going on all weekend. Between mud drags, tough trucks and monster trucks, it was a weekend packed full of excitement, even though bad weather was a factor yet again. The rain made for a very slippery track for the tough trucks and monster trucks.
Dan Runte and BIGFOOT 15 throwing mud everywhere on the starting line.
John Seasock and Sudden Impact jumping a pyramid of cars.Friday, qualifying took place for the monsters, with Dan Runte and BIGFOOT coming in with the quickest time. Saturday they ran the brackets from Friday's qualifying rounds. In the first round, BIGFOOT faced the Broker and won. The second round paired up BIGFOOT against Doug Noelke and Big Dawg. Doug has become a great competitor, and beat Dan and BIGFOOT. Saturday night brought another round of qualifying and more rain and mud. BIGFOOT took the third place qualifying spot and Sunday faced Black Stallion in the first round and won. After the first round of racing, it became very apparent that there was a good and a bad lane. This advantage led to the fastest qualifier having a great advantage over anyone else. The second round paired BIGFOOT up against the fastest qualifier, Big Dawg. Big Dawg just beat BIGFOOT. Even though Dan and BIGFOOT had an early exit in the bracket racing, that didn't stop him from putting on a good show during the freestyle part of the show. Once the weekend came to an end, the points for the season stacked up like this: Big Dawg - First Place - 800 points, Raminator - Second Place - 760 points, and BIGFOOT - Third Place - 720 points.
Dan and BIGFOOT soaring through the air after hitting a huge dirt ramp.Just Hangin' AroundFor the few days before the 7th Annual O’Reilly
Auto Parts 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals® at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in
Springfield, Missouri, BIGFOOT® #12 could be seen hanging from a crane in
Joplin and again in Springfield. BIGFOOT #12, featuring the Cyclone 2004
F150 body that debuted in June, 2003 in Dearborn, Michigan at the Ford
100th Anniversary Celebration, is a display-only truck driven by Ron
Bachmann.
Danielle Trent took the images above while BIGFOOT
was being lowered to the ground in Springfield early Friday, April 30,
2004. Dani is the 14-year-old granddaughter of Bob Chandler, the creator
of BIGFOOT and the entire monster truck Industry. Danielle, along with her
brothers, Andrew (12) and Evan (11), started out their BIGFOOT careers by
appearing in numerous BIGFOOT Christmas brochures, modeling T-shirts and
playing with BIGFOOT toys. In 2000, Dani appeared on TLC’s “The Secret
World of Monster Trucks”, where she is playing Monster Truck Madness 2,
the Microsoft® computer game inside BIGFOOT #4. The game was hooked up as
a BIGFOOT simulation vehicle. When not in school, Drew and Evan love to spend time in the BIGFOOT showroom playing in the Bounce House, driving the R/C trucks around the R/C racetrack, and sitting in the half-truck that was originally BIGFOOT #2, playing Monster Truck Madness 2. Springfield Jamboree
Springfield, MO - May 1st and 2nd were the dates for the first of the Special Events Jamborees for this year. The two day event attracted thousands of truck and racing fans. The weather did not cooperate most of the weekend, but that didn't hold people back from enjoying most of the weekend's activities. There were hundreds of trucks on display all over the fairgrounds. There were also mud boggers, tough trucks, as well as mini monster trucks. The highlight of the weekend, however, is always the monster trucks. The weekend had three separate races, along with the always crazy monster truck freestyle. Rain made traction a big problem for the monsters. Every truck in the field struggled to balance horse power with traction. In the end, the three races produced three different winners. Doug Noelke and Big Dawg beat Dan Runte and BIGFOOT in the semi-final round of the first race. Big Dawg then won the finals. Dan and BIGFOOT won the second race. On the final days race, Predator edged out Dan and BIGFOOT in the finals. For the last action of the weekend, BIGFOOT and Big Dawg teamed up for a spectacular two truck freestyle session. Both trucks jumped cars and did doughnuts at the same time. It made for a good ending to a wet and messy Jamboree.
BIGFOOT on "Tactical to Practical"Hunter Ellis, from the History Channel's "Tactical to Practical," was at BIGFOOT late last year filming for a new episode of the show. [See 2003 News] While here he went for a wild ride at the wheel of BIGFOOT #15. Look for Hunter along BIGFOOT's own Jim Kramer. The show will be airing on Tuesday, May 4, 2004 at 9 pm EST.
BIGFOOT #17 Update
Hi BIGFOOT fans. My name is Nigel Morris and I am the lucky owner and driver of BIGFOOT #17 “the European BIGFOOT”. I say lucky because for me the chance to drive BIGFOOT was a lifetime dream that came true. So you can maybe begin to imagine how much of a thrill it was for me to be asked not only to drive a BIGFOOT but also to build and operate on of my very own on behalf of the “Original Monster Truck” BIGFOOT. All this was two years ago now, but it still makes me smile when I think about it. During 2003 #17 was a competitor in the first ever PROMT European championships. This was an 11 race series held at six venues across the UK. The race format was exactly as per the American PROMT with drag race style Christmas tree start lights and timing equipment to decide the winner. We also had a freestyle section to each of the events. BIGFOOT #17 finished the year as the winner of the first ever PROMT European Championship in the racing section and joint winner in the freestyle along with Swamp-Thing. So what’s new for 2004, well work is well under way on BIGFOOT #18, yes there will be another BIGFOT in Europe later this year. I was delighted when Bob Chandler agreed for me to have another truck wearing the BIGFOOT brand. So what body style to go for? Those of you who read the internet news pages will be aware that #17 runs a 97 F150 body style, its one I personally like the look of a huge amount. So go for another 97 F150? No, no Mr Chandler and his team in StLouis had much bigger plans for me! BIGFOOT #18 the second “European BIGFOOT” will be a SNAKEBITE truck!!! You read it here first! We are hoping to have #18 built for mid season, but will most likely hold off from racing SNAKEBITE until the 2005 season. So for the rest of 2004 we will be trying real hard to bring home a second championship for BIGFOOT #17 and to strengthen the position and raise the profile of monster truck racing in Europe. We already have some plans in place for the 2005 season, but I’ll hold off on telling you those till next time. Till then take care and keep an eye on what the BIGFOOT trucks in Europe are up to on www.bigfoot4x4.co.uk. BIGFOOT on TVBIGFOOT, from the Monster Nationals, will be appearing on The Outdoor Channel Speed Zone in April. The show times are April 14 at 11:00 pm, April 16 at 11:30 am, and April 19 at 6:00 am., all times Eastern. As details become available they will be posted right here. My First (Real) BIGFOOTThe very first of the new generation of BIGFOOT-themed, street legal, Ford pickup trucks was picked up by its proud new owner January 24th at the Home of BIGFOOT in St. Louis.
BIGFOOT creator Bob Chandler presented Michael Coyle of Frackville, Pennsylvania with the keys to the prototype BIGFOOT Ford F350. This is the truck that was displayed last June at the Ford Centennial celebration, and several other events including the Indy Jamboree. Michael, his brother Patrick and his father all made the trip from Pennsylvania to pick up the truck. “I’ve been following BIGFOOT my whole life,” Michael said, when asked why he was buying the $50,000+ pickup. “It started with me taking him to see BIGFOOT” more than 20 years ago, he dad added. Michael also said he has been looking for an original 1987 BIGFOOT Cruiser, but fell in love with the new F350 BIGFOOT when he saw a photo of it. Michael also got a ride in BIGFOOT 1 as part of his visit. The
BIGFOOT 4X4 SSX prototype was built at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, with
upfit and customization by Chris Dicus at Potosi Ford in Potosi, MO. It
has the following specifications and additions: ·
2003 Ford F350 Super
Cab, XLT ·
True Blue Clearcoat
Metallic Paint ·
6.8L V-10 Engine ·
Electronic 4-speed
Automatic Transmission ·
Preferred Equip Pkg
617A ·
9900# GVWR Package ·
8-inch SUPERLIFT
Lift Kit ·
16-inch Weld
“Cheyenne 8” Aluminum Wheels ·
38-inch Parnelli
Jones Tires ·
Kodiak Electric
Steps ·
Dual Front Shocks ·
K&N Fuel
Injection Performance Kit & Air Filter ·
BIGFOOT SSX
“Cyclone” Custom Graphics Package ·
BIGFOOT SSX Interior
Package, with each truck numbered & autographed on dash plaque by
BIGFOOT creator Bob Chandler BIGFOOT has built a
prototype 2004 F150 and a new Ranger with Superlift lift kits and BIGFOOT
themes. The company is preparing to offer the lifted pickups through
selected Ford dealers across the US. Discussions are underway with Ford to
do “deco-and-accessories-only” versions that would be factory
production vehicles. Dicus will be joining BIGFOOT this month to oversee
the project. Commercial EndeavorsBIGFOOT 15, driver Dan Runte and Jim Kramer were in Los Angeles the last week of January to shoot two different national TV commercials. Look for the BIGFOOT Firestone Destination truck in an AT&T commercial soon. And look for the same truck in a wild action shot in a Firestone Tires commercial. That spot was shot in the desert east of LA. While on the Firestone shoot, BIGFOOT was visited by a group from Hollywood. The director and writer who have been hired to do the long-rumored BIGFOOT feature film with Miramax came out to meet Dan and Jim, learn about the truck, and even get behind the wheel. Producers and studio execs also went out to the desert at El Mirage. No official word yet on when the movie will go into production. Home | What's New | News & Events | Events | Midwest 4WDOnline Store | Photo Gallery | Video Gallery | Team BigfootHistory & FAQ | Extreme Fan | Sponsors | Visit Us | LinksBIGFOOT 4x4, Inc.6311 N. Lindbergh Blvd.Hazelwood, MO. 63042-2876Phone: (314) 731-2822Fax: (314) 731-8114E-Mail: CLICK HERE-- Click here for a printable map to BIGFOOT --BIGFOOT®, Snake Bite® and The Original
Monster Truck® are registered trade marks of
|
