Tim Kane - Monster Mega Trucks. . . . And Other Four-Wheeled Creatures

Copyright 2014 by Triumph Books LLC

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, Triumph Books LLC, 814 N. Franklin, Chicago, Illinois 60610.

This book is available in quantity at special discounts for your group or organization. For further information, contact:

Triumph Books LLC

814 N. Franklin

Chicago, Illinois 60610

www.triumphbooks.com

Printed in U.S.A.

ISBN: 978-1-62937-035-4

Content developed and packaged by Rockett Media, Inc.

Writer: Timothy Kane

Editor: Bob Baker

Design and page production: Andrew Burwell

All photos courtesy of AP Photos unless otherwise noted.

M onsters can fly. If youve ever been to a Monster Truck show, then youve seen them soaring through the air. This is not easy when you weigh six tons and have no wings. One of the most famous Monster Trucks, BigFoot, recently made history when it used its newly-found power to take to the skies and break a world record.

If you look on YouTube, you can see the video when Bigfoot broke the Guinness World Record for longest ramp jump by a Monster Truck. Driven by Dan Runte, this oversized vehicle jumped 219 feet, beating the old record of 208 feet. This is the length of about two-thirds of a football field. Imagine the power it took to make such a leap! Designed especially for the jump, this monster truck dubbed Bigfoot 18 weighs six tons, which is about 1,500 pounds heavier than the previous Bigfoot. Along with its new-found weight, it also has a longer chassis, tougher shocks and a sturdier frame. These technological improvements were made with the aim to give Bigfoot 18 more power and better performance.

This new and improved version of Big-foot had to be made sturdier so it could survive the world-record jump. Driver Dan said he had to keep the truck square and straight when it hit the ramp. While airborne, he had to keep his foot on the gas to keep all four wheels spinning so he could land at about 70 miles per hour.

Its an adrenalin rush every time you get into (a monster truck), Runte told Popular Mechanics.

A newly improved V-8 engine fueled by alcohol was developed especially for this world-class feat. It was built closer to the roll cage than the earlier Bigfoot models. The reason for moving the engine forward is to keep the nose of the truck down after its airborne, which gives it improved aerodynamics and more velocity. The Bigfoot 18 has a 1,550 horsepower engine. This means that it would take 1,550 horses to produce the same amount of power as this engine. It also produces about 1,250 foot-pounds of torque, which is an incredible amount of force. Consequently, the Bigfoot 18s engine lasts only about a year before it conks out due to extreme wear and tear.

THE 10 SCARIEST MONSTER TRUCKS

1) Bigfoot

2) Snake Bite

3) Grave Digger

4) Batman

5) Jurassic Attack

6) El Toro Loco

7) Dragons Breath

8) Backwards Bob

9) Predator

10) Mohawk Warrior

Source: Motor Trend Magazine

The Bigfoot 18 also has a supercharger that increases the trucks power by forcing pressurized air into the engine, allowing for more fuel to burn. Monsters already burn twice as much fuel as ordinary cars, and the Bigfoot 18, with its super strength, drinks even more. A quick-engine shutoff switch has to be used to conserve fuel when Monsters sit idle, so they can retain their power.

The Bigfoot 18 was rebuilt in six months by Bigfoot 44, Inc. in Hazelwood, MO.

D ecades before the advent of Monster Trucks, kids on road trips, sitting in the back of the family station wagon and tooling down the interstate, used to invent games to pass the time when they were bored. One game was to count the weirdest-looking vehicles they would see on the road.

For example, nothing was better then to see a Volkswagen Beetle a slug bug and pop your sibling on the shoulder. These cars have a domed-look that resembles a motorized snow globe. They are funny-looking and you cant help but smile when you see them. Another popular standout is the Smart Car, so named for its excellent gas mileage. However, they look so ridiculously small and boxy, you cant help but think of them as a little toy car. Years ago, there was a car called the AMC Gremlin, named after a fictitious gnome that as legend has it was responsible for sabotaging aircraft. The AMC Gremlin was named by Time magazine as being among the 50 worst cars of all time and it was quite the sight to see one driving past you. Its odd shape and weird name are reasons why we still recall it today.

As you can see, the ordinary family car is not what gets remembered. Your average four-door sedan is not what people talk about and is barely noticed. What we like to see and what gets a reaction are things that look novel, unique and different. We want to see vehicles that are so crazy-looking that they are burned into our memory.

People like to see weird, crazy mutants on wheels. And people love to see them in action. If you put them under one roof and invite the public, you have a Monster Truck rally, with giant beastly trucks racing, doing donuts, making leaps and driving over the top of junkyard relics.