Monster Trucks

by AJAX Z

Monster trucks are modified pickup trucks with extremely large wheels and suspension system to match. They are built for competitions and popular sports entertainment. In the late 70s, modified pickups became popular along with mud bogging and truck pulling. Truck owners had created raised trucks to compete in those events and soon started competing for the size of the truck- the ��biggest truck�� won the prize. Few of the very first monster trucks which shot to fame are; Bob Chandler's Bigfoot, Fred Shafer and Jack Willman Sr.'s Bear Foot, and Jeff Dane's Awesome Kong.

Earlier trucks used stock chassis which were heavily reinforced, used leaf spring suspension, a stock body and axles from military vehicles to support the massive tires. The trucks were incredibly heavy weighing between 13,000 to 20,000 lbs. With monster truck racing picking up popularity, truck owners began building lighter trucks, with more power by using straight-rail frames, fiberglass bodies, and lighter axle components.

A modern monster truck features a custom built tubular chassis with four-link suspensions to provide up to four feet of travel. The engine is mounted just behind the driver on most trucks. Engines are supercharged, run on methanol and have displacement 9.42L. Monster trucks use modified heavy-duty military truck axles, custom designed automatic transmission and hydraulic steering systems. Tires are typically "Terra" tires measuring 66 inches in diameter.

Like all auto shows, monster truck shows are very popular and entertaining. A monster truck show involves trucks crushing smaller cars with their huge tires. Tire sizes vary from 1.2 to 1.7m in diameter. In recent years, monster truck competitions have a freestyle event- drivers are free to select their own course around the track and its obstacles. Drivers show-off their skills with a fast Donut, also called a Cyclone. Donut involves spinning the truck in a high speed circle.

USHRA's Monster Jam is a very popular series, with trucks like Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, and Bounty Hunter. Bigfoot often runs with Checkered Flag Productions, Monster Truck Challenge, Monster Nationals, AMP Live Events, Chris Arel Motorsports, Southern Monster Truck Showdown. Monster truck events are extremely popular among auto enthusiasts , especially throughout North America.