Monster Photos: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion – Auburn, IN 2015

Event: 5th Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum @ The American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 13th-14th, 2015
Photographer: Danny Maass

Hall of Fame Class of 2015: Gene Patterson (Breen Boys Racing Toys/BIGFOOT 4×4), Alan Tura (Goliath), Billy Joe Miles (TNT Motorsports), David Morris (Equalizer) [Read more…]

The Allen Report: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion 2015

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we make a trip by air to Auburn, Indiana, for the fifth consecutive year. Auburn is known as the former “little Detroit” where cars and racing have shaped the town since the 1930’s and still do, with a great number of automotive museums to attend. Once more, we went to the Kruse Automotive and Carriage Museum for the Fifth Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion. Nearly 300 people from places like Texas, Maryland and Washington State were in attendance to watch four iconic monster truck personalities become the twenty-second through twenty-fifth inductees into the International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame. A new record of both classic and current monster trucks were on display throughout the weekend.

• Team Bigfoot’s Original Monster Truck Bigfoot 1, the World’s Biggest Pickup Truck Bigfoot 5 and the World’s Only Electric Powered Monster Truck, Bigfoot 20.
• IMTM President and Creator Jeff Cook’s Shotgun Harry old school monster.
• First Hall of Fame class member Jeff Dane’s replica of the original King Kong.
• Andy Hoffman’s Nitecrawler tank, which was first Hall of Fame class member Allen Pezo’s Predator Tank earlier in its life.
• Regular attendee Thomas Borders’ 100% Monkey Business old school built monster.
• IMTM Vice President and third Hall of Fame class member Allen Pezo’s original Predator 1.
• First Hall of Fame class member Everett Jasmer brought both the 1988 TNT Monster Truck Challenge Champion USA-1 and its 2015 twin, driven by Roger Gauger of Quadzilla notoriety.
• Terry Woodcock’s recently restored original Cyclops
• Vaters Motorsports surprise truck, the restored original Equalizer

The Fifth International Monster Truck Hall of Fame class consisted of:
• Breen Boyz and Team Bigfoot driver legendary for his role as the “evil” Snake Bite driver Colt Cobra, Gene Patterson.
• Equalizer owner/driver David Morris
• Owner, builder and driver of twin engine monster truck GOLIATH, its faster racing twin GOLIATH’S REVENGE, the jet powered G Force and the Transtormer robot.
• And original TNT Motorsports promoter Billy Joe Miles.

On Friday, a meet and greet between the inductees, past and current monster truck owners, media and fans was held. Meanwhile, the family of Jeff Cook sold a wide variety of official IMTM merchandise exclusive to those attending. From large and small t-shirts to bumper stickers to mugs to pins, even rings, there was no shortage of items to choose from and all sales went to the museum. Several people set up display tables where merchandise of almost any kind conceivable was put on display for one and all to observe. One such case was second Hall of Fame class member Mike Welch who brought never before seen photos and merchandise from his thirty-plus years of travels and shows.

That evening, another classic monster truck was unveiled in the museum for the very first time, its restoration having been done under highly top secret conditions. To the thrill and amazement of the attendees, the tarp came off to reveal the original 1989 TNT Monster Truck Challenge Champion truck; incoming inductee David Morris’ red Equalizer.

On Saturday, an IMTM tradition continued with a Q&A and history discussion with the Hall of Fame inductees. Some stories were from the road and comical, others regarded monster truck industry related people who sadly had passed away at some point.

That night, a delicious meal was served as monster truck video footage exclusive to the IMTM was displayed for those in attendance and Army Armstrong entertained the diners. To get things started, numerous sponsors were thanked with a glass plaque featuring the sponsor’s name. As each new member of the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame was inducted, they received a standing ovation from the audience both on his way to the stage and accepting his induction plaque. At the end of the ceremony, another tradition went on as an auction was held to raise more money for the IMTM. With Kruse Automotive and Carriage Museum creator and owner Dean Kruse as auctioneer and items abound to bid on, the bidding drama over each item was intense.

And that’s a wrap for us at “The Allen Report” for 2015, as we plan for the holidays and anxiously look forward to first quarter of 2016. Well, thanks for reading, a special thank-you goes to Jeff Cook and the IMTM and Hall of Fame board of directors as well as all of our friends at themonsterblog.com for a moving and entertaining event. Thank you to all of our followers for reading, please enjoy the photos, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram under the name “Monster Truckin’ with Jim and Chris”, and cheer on!

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All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2015.

Monster Photos: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion – Auburn, IN 2014

Event: 4th Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum @ The American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 1st, 2014
Photographer: Danny Maass

Hall of Fame Class of 2014: Diehl Wilson (Virginia Giant), Jon Breen (Mad Dog II, Stomper Bully), Michael Vaters (Black Stallion), Andy Brass (BIGFOOT), Kirk Dabney (Blue Thunder, Giant) [Read more…]

The Allen Report: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion 2014

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we once again make our way to the Kruse Automotive and Carriage Museum in Auburn, Indiana, for the 4th Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion. Hundreds of people came from places like New York, Texas, Arizona and many places in between to watch the following five monster truck legends have their careers come full circle by entering the Hall of Fame:

– Diehl Wilson – Owner and driver of the beautiful and competitive Virginia Giant monster trucks
– Jon Breen – Owner and driver of the unique and innovative Mad Dog monsters
– Michael Vaters – Owner and driver of the envelope pushing Black Stallion monsters
– Andy Brass – One of the most hard charging and fearless team Bigfoot drivers of all time
– Kirk Dabney – Owner and Driver of numerous monster trucks from the Blue Thunder monster car to the Monster Truck speed record setting Extreme Overkill

Along with the inductees, the following legendary monster trucks were on display for one and all to observe:

– Hall of Famer Jeff Dane’s King Kong I
– Hall of Famer Allen Pezo’s Predator I
– Alan Tura’s Goliath
– Andy Hoffman’s Nitecrawler tank, formerly Bear Foot Trax of previous HOF inductee Fred Shafer
– IMTM President Jeff Cook’s old school style Shotgun Harry
– John Nowacki’s old school style Mud Monster I
– Eric Howe’s old school style High Horse bronco

The day began on the north side of the museum, where the inductees held the annual Monster Truck History Discussion, answering questions and sharing stories about the good ol’ days. IMTM board member and first ever inductee Bob Chandler of Bigfoot started what could be a new tradition in this annual meeting by asking the inductees the first question. Inductees and attendees alike enjoyed hearing about the sport’s history so much that the discussion ran longer that scheduled.

As the sun set on the clear, chilly northeastern Indiana day, the hour was at hand. A delicious hearty meal was served as historic monster truck footage, most of which one would be hard pressed to find anywhere else, was shown on projection screens.

The inductees were clearly humbled to receive this honor. This was especially the case with both Vaters and Dabney as they made plans to say thanks to the Hall of Fame by rebuilding their respective monster projects for display in the future. And as each inductee’s interview with TheMonsterBlog.com’s Ross Bonar ended, the audience’s applause for the new Hall of Famers were long and loud.

Finally, for the third year in a row, an auction was held to benefit the International Monster Truck Museum to end the night. And in very single bidding case, the drama was intense. We strongly encourage anyone who loves monster trucks and the sport’s history to make next year’s event a can’t-miss.

While Jim and Christopher were enjoying the 4th Annual Monster Truck Hall of Fame, guest reporter Carol Allen attended the Arizona State Fair where ProForce Productions held their inaugural event. President Jamie McNutt brought the always popular Jimmy Creten and Bounty Hunter Yellow, Dawn Creten in Iron Outlaw and the “Flying Spaniard” himself, Tony Canedo driving Play N’ 4 Keeps. The popularity of the monster trucks was evident as the bleachers were packed to capacity for all six shows. The weekend culminated in a backflip by Jim Creten in Iron Outlaw. Announcer Lloyd Massey’s efforts to get the crowd involved was made easier by the enthusiastic support monster truck fans gave the drivers. Dawn Creten and Tony Canedo entertained the monster truck loving crowd with wheelies, some donuts and by jumping various obstacles.

Also, an act new to the Arizona State Fair, the Globe of Death appeared, with the daredevil motorcycle riders amazing the crowd with their gravity defying stunts followed by some very nervy tuff truck competitors. Carol would like to personally thank Loren Saubel, Jamie McNutt and Phil Vicinanza for their kindness and support.

That’s a wrap for us at “The Allen Report” for the year 2014 as we intend to enjoy the first quarter of 2015 simply as fans. But don’t worry monster truck nation, it won’t be long before you hear from us again. So, thank you for reading, a special thanks to the IMTM for hosting this great event once more, enjoy the photos and cheer on!

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All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2014.

The Allen Report: 3rd Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion – Auburn, IN 2013

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report” we again look back to 2013, when we caught a plane to northern Indiana to make the 3rd Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reunion in Auburn, Indiana, just outside Fort Wayne in the northeastern part of the state. Nearly 300 people came from many different places to see the following monster truck personalities get inducted:

• Allen Pezo of Predator
• Dan Patrick of Samson
• Gary Porter of Carolina Crusher & Grave Digger
• Scott Stephens of King Krunch
• Army Armstrong – announcer for both live events and television

During the weekend’s festivities, four monster trucks and one special monster vehicle were on display for one and all to examine up close. These included:

• Past Hall of Fame inductee Bob Chandler’s BIGFOOT 1
• Current inductee Allen Pezo’s Predator 1
• Alan Tura’s Goliath
• IMTM President and event co-emcee Jeff Cook’s Shotgun Harry
• Tommy Borders’ three-wheeled “Total Xtreme” super trike, complete with monster truck sixty-six inch tires

The afternoon of the big induction ceremony, the annual IMTM History Discussion was held with the inductees reminiscing about both monster truck history and personal careers. Some stories provoked laughs, others sympathy. Later that evening, a gourmet dinner was served, accompanied by induction videos from the first two Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Following dinner the induction ceremony commenced and each new inductee into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame was rewarded with a standing ovation both preceding and following his induction and Question and Answer session hosted by TMB’s Ross Z. Bonar.

We at “The Allen Report” were honored to be part of the ceremonies and urge everyone who loves Monster Trucks and Monster Truck history to make the Hall of Fame ceremony a must this year – the date has just been announced and it will be going down on Saturday, November 1st, 2014. Visit www.MonsterMuseum.org for more information and watch for tickets to go on sale.

Now that we’ve caught up with 2013, be looking for our huge recap of the 2014 Monster Jam World Finals coming very soon. So, thanks for reading, a gracious thank you to the International Monster Truck Museum and Hall of Fame for hosting this great event, enjoy the photos and cheer on!

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All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2013.

International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame Announces 2014 Schedule

(Auburn, Indiana – IMTM PR – March 31st, 2014) – The International Monster Truck Museum announced today that the 4th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion will take place Saturday, November 1st, 2014 in Auburn, Indiana. Once again, several legends of monster trucks will receive the industry’s highest honor in recognition of their great careers. Here are this year’s important dates:

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May 16th-18th – IMTM Display Booth at the Lima, OH 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals.
May 19th-June 15th – IMTM Nominating Comittee decides the 2014 Voting Ballot
June 21st – The 2014 IMTM Hall of Fame Nominees will be announced at the Springfield, MO 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals.
September 1st-15th – Voting Period to decide the 2014 Hall of Fame Inductees
September 1st – Tickets go on sale at www.MonsterMuseum.org for the 4th Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
September 19th-21st – IMTM Display Booth at the Lima, OH 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals.
September 20th – The 2014 IMTM Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced at the Indianapolis, IN 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals.
October 31st – 2014 International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame Meet & Greet
November 1st – 4th Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion

Thank you for your continued support of the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame, as we prepare to once again honor our sport’s heroes in 2014!

About the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame was established in 2010 with the mission of collecting and archiving the history of the monster truck sport and related aspects of the high performance aftermarket, focusing upon capturing history from the surviving pioneers and legends. Each year, the International Monster Truck Museum will honor the most accomplished and significant people in the history of monster trucks with induction into its Hall of Fame.

2013 Hall of Fame Inductees: Allen Pezo, Dan Patrick, Scott Stephens, Gary Porter, Army Armstrong
2012 Hall of Fame Inductees: Jim Kramer, Mike Welch, George Carpenter, Pablo Huffaker, Dennis Anderson
2011 Hall of Fame Inductees: Bob Chandler, Jeff Dane, Dan Degrasso, Jack Willman, Everett Jasmer, Fred Shafer

Through the accumulation of vehicles, oral histories, videos and still images, the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame will provide a documented history and an entertaining and educational retrospective display about the birth and growth of a purely North American year round motor sport that is geared toward the entire family and the industry it launched for future generations.

More information on the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame can be found on the organization’s official website, www.MonsterMuseum.org. All of the latest news and updates can be followed on the organization’s Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MonsterMuseum.

BIGFOOT’s Jim Kramer Leads 2012 Hall of Fame Class

(Hazelwood, MO – Team BIGFOOT PR) – Legendary BIGFOOT driver Jim Kramer, one of the most successful and pioneering drivers in the history of monster trucks, led the 2012 class of inductees into the International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame this past weekend in Auburn, Indiana.

Kramer, who now joins longtime-friend and BIGFOOT creator Bob Chandler in the Hall of Fame, was the only member of the 2012 class to receive the virtual unanimous thumbs-up for induction from the voting committee, not to mention the overwhelming support for his induction from the industry and its fans on the whole.

Jim Kramer received the most votes of any nominee in the 2012 IMTM Hall of Fame Class.

With 2012 being Kramer’s 30th anniversary with the BIGFOOT team, nearly half of which was spent in the spotlight as one of the team’s most successful drivers, it is fitting that a man who has contributed so much to both his team and industry should find himself inducted into the Hall of Fame in only its second year of operation.

Kramer began his career with BIGFOOT during the mid 1970’s, when he helped Chandler create the parent company that would eventually give birth to the BIGFOOT fleet of trucks, Midwest Four Wheel Drive & Performance Center in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, MO. After selling his stake in the company and taking a hiatus from the 4-wheel drive industry for a few years, Kramer returned at the beginning of the 1980’s to help Chandler campaign his growing fleet of BIGFOOT trucks, which were beginning to gain traction in the public eye.

The popularity of BIGFOOT soared in the 1980’s, largely in part due to Kramer’s aggressive driving style and charismatic on-camera personality that left the competition both frustrated, and admiring. In 1985, Kramer won the first-ever side-by-side monster truck racing event at the New Orleans Superdome, thus setting in motion the wheels that would carry the monster truck industry from a side-show halftime act at tractor pulls into a full-fledged legitimate motorsport.

Not only was Kramer at the tip of the spear as the team’s lead driver for most of the 80’s, but he also was the team’s point man for bringing up new talent through the ranks, a job that he still maintains to this day. Kramer also was and still is a huge proponent of monster truck safety, and his notable contributions include assisting in the development and testing of BIGFOOT #8 in 1989, which set a new standard for both driver and fan safety at the time of its debut.

“I’m extremely honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, alongside some of this sport’s truly great personalities,” said Kramer in a post-ceremony interview. “It truly humbles me to receive this recognition not just from the fans, who thank goodness have always stood by me, but from my peers and associates as well. I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to everyone.”

Jim Kramer delivers his acceptance speech at the 2nd Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

After accepting his award in the midst of a standing ovation, Kramer, who is well-known for his smooth delivery and collected demeanor when speaking in public, was notably moved during his acceptance speech. In fact, his voice could even be heard cracking a couple of times as he described the sacrifices that 30 years of racing has demanded from him, including time away from his family while campaigning BIGFOOT full-time in the 80’s.

“Jim is a great friend, a great competitor, and all of us at BIGFOOT are very proud of him, and very happy to see him enter the Hall of Fame after contributing so much to this sport,” said BIGFOOT creator Bob Chandler. “I’m extremely happy for him, he truly deserves this; he’s definitely earned it.”

With the 2012 Hall of Fame weekend having drawn to a close, Kramer will now shift his focus forward towards the 2013 season, which now stands less than two months away.

“We’ve got a lot of work to get done before we head out on the road and start racing again in January,” said Kramer. “We’ll be fielding at least one new race truck during the first quarter of 2013, possibly even two. And that’s not to mention BIGFOOT #20, the world’s first electric monster truck, we’ll likely be doing some stuff with that as well, seeing as how popular the truck was at the SEMA show during its public unveiling.”

“Who knows,” added Kramer, a wry smile crossing his face. “I might just suit up one more time and see what that electric truck’s got.”

For more information on Team BIGFOOT, check them out online at www.Bigfoot4x4.com!

Monster Photos: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion – Auburn, IN 2012

Event: 2nd Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum @ The American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 3rd, 2012
Photographer: Danny Maass

Hall of Fame Class of 2012: Jim Kramer (BIGFOOT 4×4), Mike Welch (Super Pete/Monster Mash/etc), George Carpenter (Promoter/Safety Director/Official/etc), Pablo Huffaker (King Krunch/Just Show’n Off/Grave Digger/etc), Dennis Anderson (Grave Digger) [Read more…]

2012 International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Nominees Announced

(Auburn, Indiana – IMTM PR) – The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame is very proud to officially announce the 20 nominees for the 2012 IMTM Hall of Fame class.

When inducting the first ever IMTM Hall of Fame class in 2011, the Board of Directors felt it the only proper course, to honor those men that are widely recognized as the sport’s originals: Bob Chandler, Jeff Dane, Dan Degrasso, Everett Jasmer, Fred Shafer and Jack Willman.

For the 2012 IMTM Hall of Fame class and beyond, the Board of Directors wanted to put in place a nominating and voting process that ensured the monster truck community is able to influence the selection in a non-biased and open to the public manner.

Last year the IMTM inducted Bob Chandler, Jeff Dane, Dan Degrasso, Everett Jasmer, Fred Shafer & Jack Willman. Who will be a part of the 2nd Hall of Fame class?

An official Nominating Committee was established, consisting of 25 people from all aspects of the monster truck industry. The committee included the 8 members of the IMTM Research Committee, along with 17 current & former drivers, promoters, historians and members of the media.

Members of the Nominating Committee were charged with the process of narrowing the great number of candidates who have excelled in the monster truck industry over the years, down to an official voting ballot of 20 names. Each committee member submitted a form listing the 20 names they wish to nominate, along with a brief explanation of the qualifications of each.

When all the nominating forms were received, the IMTM Board of Directors tabulated the results and are now very excited to announce the 20 names submitted most across all nominating committee member forms, the official 2012 IMTM Hall of Fame Nominees:

Allen Pezo
Andy Brass
Army Armstrong
Billy Joe Miles
Bob George
Dan Patrick
Dave Marquart
David Morris
Dennis Anderson
Diehl Wilson
Gary Cook
Gary Porter
George Carpenter
Jim Kramer
Jon Breen
Kirk Dabney
Mike Welch
Pablo Huffaker
Scott Stephens
Seth Doulton

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame would like to congratulate each of these legendary monster truck figures on officially being nominated for induction into the IMTM Hall of Fame. We would also like to thank the 25 members of the Nominating Committee for their efforts in helping honor some of the most significant figures in the history of monster trucks.

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame would also like to recognize some of the other incredible people who received nominations but fell just short of the top 20 this year. Here is a complete list of all those who received at least 2 nominations:

Alan Tura, Bob Breen, Brett Engleman, Charlie Mancuso, Charlie Pauken, Cliff Starbird, Dan Patterson, Dave Wieczorek, David Spiker, Don Maples, Gary Bauer, George Eisenhart, Jake Henke, Jan Gabriel, Jesse Birgy, Jim Oldaker, Jim Reis, Kevin Dabney, Mark Bendler, Mark Dye, Mark Hall, Marty Garza, Merideth Doulton, Mike Gallaway, Mike Nickell, Mike Speller, Mike Vaters, Rich Hooser, Rod Litzau, Scott Douglass, Steve Combs, Steve Dane, Tim Hall, Tom Meents, William Townes

With the nominating process now complete, an official voting ballot will be created, listing all 20 nominees. Members of the IMTM Board of Directors, along with previous Hall of Fame Inductees will each receive a voting ballot. They will vote for 5 of the 20 nominees and return their ballot by September 1st.

The 5 nominees receiving the most votes will be inducted into the IMTM Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 3rd in Auburn, Indiana. These 5 inductees will be announced to the public on Saturday, September 15th at the 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Tickets to attend the 2nd Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion will go on-sale Friday, June 1st and will be available online at www.MonsterMuseum.org.

About the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame was established in 2010 with the mission of collecting and archiving the history of the monster truck sport and related aspects of the high performance aftermarket, focusing upon capturing history from the surviving pioneers and legends. Each year, the International Monster Truck Museum will honor the most accomplished and significant people in the history of monster trucks with induction into its Hall of Fame.

Through the accumulation of vehicles, oral histories, videos and still images, the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame will provide a documented history and an entertaining and educational retrospective display about the birth and growth of a purely North American year round motor sport that is geared toward the entire family and the industry it launched for future generations.

More information on the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame can be found on the organization’s official website, www.MonsterMuseum.org. All of the latest news and updates can be followed on the organization’s Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MonsterMuseum.

IMTM Announces Hall of Fame Selection Process, Nominating Committee

(Auburn, Indiana – IMTM PR) – The International Monster Truck Museum is proud to announce the 2012 Hall of Fame Selection Process and the members of a new official Nominating Committee.

When inducting the first ever Hall of Fame class in 2011, the Board of Directors felt it the only proper course, to honor those men that are widely recognized as the sport’s originals: Bob Chandler, Jeff Dane, Dan Degrasso, Everett Jasmer, Fred Shafer and Jack Willman.

For the second Hall of Fame class and beyond however, the Board of Directors has put in place a nominating and voting process that will ensure the monster truck community is able to influence the selection in a non-biased and open to the public manner.

Last year the IMTM inducted Bob Chandler, Jeff Dane, Dan Degrasso, Everett Jasmer, Fred Shafer & Jack Willman. Who will be a part of the 2nd Hall of Fame class?

An official Nominating Committee has been established, consisting of 25 people from all aspects of the monster truck industry. The committee includes the 8 members of the IMTM Research Committee, along with 17 current & former drivers, promoters, historians and members of the media.

Starting this week, the Nominating Committee will begin the process of narrowing the great number of candidates who have excelled in the monster truck industry over the years, down to an official voting ballot of 20 names.

Each committee member will submit a form listing the 20 names they wish to nominate, along with a brief explanation of the qualifications of each. Forms from the Nominating Committee must be submitted by Saturday, May 5th.

When all nominating forms have been received, the IMTM will tabulate the results and the 20 names submitted most across all committee member forms, will be the official 2012 IMTM Hall of Fame Nominees. The IMTM will announce the names of this prestigious group at the 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Lima, Ohio on Saturday, May 19th.

Following the completion of the nominating process, an official voting ballot will be created, listing all 20 nominees. Members of the Board of Directors, along with previous Hall of Fame Inductees will each receive a voting ballot. They will vote for 5 of the 20 nominees and return their ballot by September 1st.

The 5 nominees receiving the most votes will be inducted into the IMTM Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 3rd in Auburn, Indiana. These 5 inductees will be announced to the public on Saturday, September 15th at the 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Tickets to attend the 2nd Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion will go on-sale Friday, May 18th and will be available online, and in person at the IMTM Booth at the Lima, Ohio 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals.

Hall of Fame Eligibility

For these early years of the IMTM Hall of Fame, with such a large group of worthy candidates from all reaches of the sport, the Board of Directors has decided on the following eligibility guidelines for the Nominating Committee to consider:

– Candidates will be primarily considered based on all contributions to, and accomplishments in, any aspect of the monster truck industry, and will not be inducted by group (i.e. inducted as a driver, promoter, media, etc.). Because people in monster trucks often work in multiple roles over their career, consideration should be given to their entire body of work.
– Consideration should also be partially weighted to the chronological order of their involvement in the history of the sport.
– Nominees not receiving enough votes for induction into the Hall of Fame in a given year will not automatically be nominated for the following year. Each year the slate is wiped clean and the process begins again.
– There is no limit to how many times a candidate may be nominated but fail to receive enough votes for induction. These candidates will always remain eligible for nomination in future years.

As the years pass and a greater number of the sport’s most influential figures have been inducted, the Board of Directors will consider putting in place additional eligibility requirements, should they become necessary, to limit the pool of candidates to only the best and brightest.

The 2012 IMTM Nominating Committee

Each year the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame will choose 25 people to make up the Nominating Committee. This committee will consist of members of the IMTM Research Committee, along with select current & former drivers, promoters, media and other people who have worked in, and/or studied the history of the industry.

Members of the Nominating Committee have an incredibly important task as they must research monster truck history, compare the accomplishments of all candidates, seek and consider input from others in the industry, and ultimately arrive at a list of 20 candidates and summarize the qualifications of each.

Select members of the committee will be retained for the following year, while others will be switched out for new members in order to keep a fresh perspective in the nominating process, and to involve more people in the industry as part of the selection process.

The 2012 IMTM Nominating Committee includes the following:

Scott Bryant Dave Huntoon Rich Schaefer Jason Twite Mike Krieger (RC)
George Carpenter Lenny Kuilder Richard Scott Dave Wieczorek Colby Marshall (RC)
Kyle Doyle Joe Lowe Tracy Smart Kaedon Berry (RC) Tom Montgomery (RC)
Mike Galloway Brian Manson Eric Stern Rob Brooks (RC) Chris Parrish (RC)
Steve Hess Dan Patrick Dennis Taft Steve Hurt (RC) Dan Wyatt (RC)

(RC) – Indicates IMTM Research Committee Member

IMTM Voting Members

Members of the Board of Directors and all previous Hall of Fame Inductees will make up the Hall of Fame voting members. Each group’s votes will be weighted, with the greater emphasis placed on ballots from the Board of Directors.

The 2012 IMTM Voting Members include the following:

– Jeff Cook – IMTM President
– Allen Pezo – IMTM Vice President
– Ross Bonar – IMTM Secretary
– Army Armstrong – IMTM Director
– Bob Chandler – IMTM Director
– Jeff Dane – 2011 IMTM Hall of Fame Inductee
– Dan Degrasso – 2011 IMTM Hall of Fame Inductee
– Everett Jasmer – 2011 IMTM Hall of Fame Inductee
– Fred Shafer – 2011 IMTM Hall of Fame Inductee
– Jack Willman – 2011 IMTM Hall of Fame Inductee

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame has put into place these selection procedures with the goal of creating a non-biased, open to the public process for selecting Hall of Fame Inductees. The Board of Directors will evaluate these procedures year-to-year and welcomes input from all supporters to create the most fair and efficient selection process possible.

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame would like to thank all of the great supporters, fans and sponsors that helped make the first IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion such a great success last November. We look forward to having you all back on November 3rd, 2012 for the 2nd Annual event where 5 more of the greatest monster truck personalities of all time will be honored with induction into the Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned to www.MonsterMuseum.org for continued news & updates and follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MonsterMuseum to never miss out on any of the exciting things going at the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame.

About the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame

The International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame was established in 2010 with the mission of collecting and archiving the history of the monster truck sport and related aspects of the high performance aftermarket, focusing upon capturing history from the surviving pioneers and legends. Each year, the International Monster Truck Museum will honor the most accomplished and significant people in the history of monster trucks with induction into its Hall of Fame.

Through the accumulation of vehicles, oral histories, videos and still images, the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame will provide a documented history and an entertaining and educational retrospective display about the birth and growth of a purely North American year round motor sport that is geared toward the entire family and the industry it launched for future generations.

More information on the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame can be found on the organization’s official website, www.MonsterMuseum.org. All of the latest news and updates can be followed on the organization’s Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MonsterMuseum.

TMB TV: Highlights – 1st Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion

Event: International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame @ American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 18th-19th, 2011
Videographer: Colby Marshall, Chris Parrish, Kaedon Berry

1st Hall of Fame Class: Bob Chandler (BIGFOOT), Jeff Dane (KING KONG), Dan Degrasso (BEAST), Everett Jasmer (USA-1), Fred Shafer (BEARFOOT), Jack Willman (TAURUS) [Read more…]

The Allen Report: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2011

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

It’s important to preserve the history and rise to fame of the monster truck industry so that the next generation of fans can see for themselves how the sport started. Auburn, Indiana’s own Jeff Cook of Shotgun Harry intends to accomplish this by doing two things: operating a museum preserving historic monster trucks and, starting with the inaugural induction ceremony held on November 19th, 2011, hold an annual Hall of Fame ceremony. This year’s ceremony was a big success with over 250 people attending and nine historic monsters and two active monsters on display for all to see.

The first class of Hall of Fame inductees included: Bob Chandler of Bigfoot, Dan Degrasso of Beast and Everett Jasmer of USA-1 (who each had their original monster truck creations on display at the museum that night), Fred Shafer of Bearfoot, Jack Wilman Sr. of Taurus and Jeff Dane of King Kong and Awesome Kong. Fred was unable to attend the event, so Scott Hess of Hercules and a Team Bearfoot driver, filled in to accept the award on Fred’s behalf.

TMB Contributors Jim & Christopher Allen stand in front of the legendary USA-1 at the 1st Annual IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Other trucks on display as well as those mentioned above were John Nowacki’s Mud Monster, Allen Tura’s Goliath, Allen Pezo’s Predator 1, Eric Howe’s High Horse and Tod Weston’s Black Knight and Kid KJ’s Monster Bear. As each individual was inducted into the Hall of Fame, a video tribute was shown highlighting their career. Each then got an opportunity to share their feelings and a story or two. Some members of the first class explained where the names of their trucks came from and others why they stepped out of the spotlight and/or sold their trucks. In the end, every new member of the Hall of Fame got a standing ovation from the crowd.

At long last, the careers of the men above, billed as “The Originals” in monster truck history have had their careers come full circle. As far as the future is concerned, Mr. Chandler is focused on the debut of Bigfoot #18. Mr. Jasmer is looking to carry on with his deal with Chandler Lloyd and possibly sell the entire USA-1 operation. Mr. Degrasso just may end up deciding to bring the Beast back into the public eye as a modernized truck with a tube frame and nitrogen shocks.

To find out more about the museum or plan a visit, check out www.MonsterMuseum.org. On that note, until the first quarter of 2012, thank you for reading, thanks to Jeff Cook and the entire IMTM staff for their wonderful hospitality, enjoy the photos and cheer on!

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2011.

TMB TV: Behind the Scenes – IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – Auburn, IN 2011

Event: International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame @ American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 19th, 2011
Videographer: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: Beast (Dan Degrasso), USA-1 (Everett Jasmer) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion – Auburn, IN 2011

Event: International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum @ The American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 19th, 2011
Photographer: Danny Maass

Hall of Fame Class of 2011: Bob Chandler (BIGFOOT 4×4), Jeff Dane (King Kong), Dan Degrasso (Beast), Everett Jasmer (USA-1), Fred Shafer (Bearfoot – Scott Hess accepted on his behalf), Jack Willman (Taurus) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: GasGuzzy.com Fall 4×4 Off Road Truck Show Challenge – Auburn, IN 2011

Event: GasGuzzy.com Fall 4×4 Off Road Truck Show Challenge
Venue: American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: October 15th, 2011
Photographer: Paul M. Harry

Lineup: High Horse (Eric Howe), High Maintenance (Jocelyn Perrin), Mud Monster I (John Nowacki), Nitecrawler (Andy Hoffman), Predator 1 (Allen Pezo), Predator (Lenny Kuilder), Shotgun Harry (Jeff Cook), The Hawk (Jeff Cook) [Read more…]