The Allen Report: Stadium Super Trucks – Glendale, AZ 2013

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we cover NASCAR and off road favorite Robby Gordon’s effort to revive Mickey Thompson style stadium off road racing. The inaugural event of Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks featured eight of the best monster trucks in the west and it was just down the road from us at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. No less than five Bigfoot trucks were in the house. The rest of the competition was Darren Migues and Bounty Hunter along with the father and son team of Rick and Eric Swanson running special bodies on their Obsessed and Obsession chassis.

The first ever SST race featured a rare occurrence in that racing would be the only competition for the monster trucks. It was fascinating to watch the monsters battle each other side by side on an off road style track, with over-under jumps, hairpin turns and mid-race lane choice. Without a single true finish line, the winner would be first back to his starting line jump.

Once the quarter finals were complete, only Dan Runte and Larry Swim were still alive for Team Bigfoot with Bounty Hunter and Eric Swanson taking the other two spots in the semis. Darren was just too fast for Dan’s new Autism Speaks Bigfoot #18, but Larry Swim in the SPEED Energy Bigfoot machine downed Eric’s bright purple trophy truck to set up a classic Bounty Hunter/Bigfoot 2-lap finale.

In the main event, Bounty Hunter had the inside lane at his starting point and took full advantage of the route’s benefits. Despite Larry’s best efforts, the first ever Stadium Super Trucks Monster Truck Division Champion was Darren Migues and Bounty Hunter.

In front of a modest crowd, the first ever win of the Stadium Super Trucks main event, the “big show” of the series, went to Rob MacCachren. Rob is a former champion of SST’s predecessor, the Mickey Thompson Off Road Championship Gran Prix and was clearly thrilled to receive the first ever main event trophy. So, until you hear from us at “The Allen Report” again, thanks to University of Phoenix Stadium for their hospitality, thank you for reading, enjoy the photos and cheer on!

Photo Gallery

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2013.

TMB TV: MT Unlimited 4.3 – Monster X Tour – Fayetteville, NC 2013

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Episode Information

Episode: MT Unlimited 4.3
Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Crown Center Coliseum
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Date: January 25th-26th, 2013
Videographer: Colby Marshall
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Featured Monster Trucks

Project X – Rob French
Scorpion – Kyle Carrington
Summit Bigfoot #18 – Dan Runte
Triple XXX – Chrissy Moler
Walking Tall – Maxie Broaddus
West Virginia Mountaineer – R.B. Moler
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Featured Links

www.BIGFOOT4x4.com
www.E3SparkPlugs.com
www.MarshallPublishingInc.com
www.MonsterXTour.com
www.MountaineerMotorsports.com
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Monster Photos: Monster X Tour – Highland Heights, KY 2013

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Bank of Kentucky Center
Location: Highland Heights, Kentucky
Date: February 8th-9th, 2013
Photographer: Danny Maass

Lineup: American Graffiti (Justin Cluster), Bigfoot Nation #10 (Tim Missentzis), Bucked Up (Brad Keller), California Kid (Kevin Post), Reverse Racer (Ed Miller), Rock Star (Bill Payne) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: Monster X Tour – Lake Charles, LA 2013

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Lake Charles Civic Center
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Date: February 22nd-23rd, 2013
Photographer: Matthew Ison

Lineup: Boogey Van (Zane Rettew), Bucked Up (Brad Keller), California Kid (Kevin Post), Odyssey Battery Bigfoot #11 (Kevin Koszala), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Stinger (Zane Rettew) [Read more…]

Video of the Week – 02/23/13

Week Ending: February 23rd, 2013
Truck(s) Featured: Heavy Hitter (Derick Anson), Project X (Rob French), River Rat (Vern House), Scorpion (Kyle Carrington), Vi-Cor Bigfoot #15 (Darron Schnell)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Country artist Donica Knight performs “Annie” at the Monster X Tour in Montgomery, Alabama.

TMB TV: MT Unlimited 4.2 – Monster X Tour – Jackson, MS 2013

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Episode Information

Episode: MT Unlimited 4.2
Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Mississippi Coliseum
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Date: January 18th-20th, 2013
Videographer: Colby Marshall
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Featured Monster Trucks

Amsoil Shock Therapy – Jeremy Brady
Ballistic – Mac Plecker
Ground Pounder – Mike Dufrene
Heavy Hitter – Derick Anson
Project X – Rob French
River Rat – Vern House
Scorpion – Bruce Barto
Summit Bigfoot #10 – Tim Missentzis
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Featured Links

www.BIGFOOT4x4.com
www.E3SparkPlugs.com
www.ExtremeTeam4x4.com
www.HeavyHitterMonsterTruck.com
www.MarshallPublishingInc.com
www.MonsterXTour.com
www.SuddenImpact.com
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Video of the Week – 01/05/13

Week Ending: January 5th, 2013
Truck(s) Featured: Ghost Ryder (Larry Quick), SPEED Energy BIGFOOT #19 (Larry Swim)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Wild wheelie contest in Cincinnati as both Larry Quick in Ghost Ryder and Larry Swim in SPEED Energy BIGFOOT #19 go for wild rides.

TMB TV: Original Series 5.12 – Outlaw Nationals – Jefferson City, MO 2012

TMB TV's Original Series Presented By E3 Spark Plugs
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Episode Information

Episode: Original Series 5.12
Event: Outlaw Nationals
Venue: Jaycee-Cole County Fairgrounds
Location: Jefferson City, Missouri
Date: August 1st-2nd, 2012
Host: Ross Z. Bonar
Videographers: Colby Marshall, Ross Z. Bonar
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Featured Monster Trucks

Barbarian – Devin Jones
Bounty Hunter – Ben Winslow
Iron Outlaw – Matt Brokaw
Summit Bigfoot #16 – Larry Swim
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Featured Links

www.2XtremeRacing.com
www.Barbarian4x4.com
www.Bigfoot4x4.com
www.E3SparkPlugs.com
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Monster Photos: Monster Truck Winter Nationals – Cincinnati, OH 2012

Event: Monster Truck Winter Nationals
Venue: Cincinnati Gardens
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: December 29th, 2012
Photographer: Paul M. Harry

Lineup: El Loco Hombre (Larry Quick), Ghost Ryder (Larry Quick), Heartbreaker (Paul Strong), Rislone Defender (Zach Adams), SPEED Energy Bigfoot #19 (Larry Swim) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: Odyssey Battery BIGFOOT #20 Test Session – Hazelwood, MO

Event: Odyssey Battery BIGFOOT #20 Test Session
Venue: BIGFOOT 4×4
Location: Hazelwood, Missouri
Date: November 8th, 2012
Photographer: Danny Maass

Lineup: Odyssey Battery Bigfoot #20 (Jim Kramer) [Read more…]

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…]

BIGFOOT Heads Down Under In 2013

(Mooloolah Queensland – MTPA PR) – Over 30 years ago, a man named Bob Chandler modified his brand new F-250 to promote his 4×4 business. As the parts bills increased, the truck grew bigger and bigger and became the World’s First Monster Truck. Now, after over 3 decades of thrilling millions of fans around the World, acquiring numerous Guinness World Records, and debuting 20 different BIGFOOT® monster trucks, a brand new BIGFOOT is set to be unleashed in Australia. And it is guaranteed to thrill a whole new audience of monster fans around Australia and New Zealand.

An all new BIGFOOT truck is coming to Australia!

That’s right! An all new BIGFOOT truck will be based on QLD’s Sunshine Coast, under the control of Clive Featherby and the Monster Truck Promotions Australia crew, and will be seen extensively around Australia and New Zealand. BIGFOOT is the true legend of Monster Trucks, and its pending arrival down under is by far the biggest and most exciting news ever for monster truck fans in Australia.

BIGFOOT will make its Debut in March 2013 in Brisbane and will be driven by one of USA’s current superstar drivers. The Australian BIGFOOT will sport the new style BIGFOOT off-road body, as seen on Bigfoot #18, in a custom new colour scheme, making this one of the best looking monsters ever seen.

BIGFOOT’s first Australian challenge will be a car crushing, car jumping contest against the Aussie champion “Outback Thunda” in an all out contest for the Australian car jumping record.

For all the latest info head to www.monstertruckspromotionsaustralia.com. For more info on Team BIGFOOT, check out www.Bigfoot4x4.com.

The Allen Report: Maverik Clash of the Titans – West Valley City, UT 2012

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Weekend Recap

This time on The Allen Report, we come to you from the Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah where two of the biggest monster truck teams have to fight to get to victory lane. 2Xtreme Racing was represented by the black Bounty Hunter driven by Ben “Bobo” Winslow and, as always, Jimmy Creten in the blue Bounty Hunter. Dawn Creten, with Scarlet Bandit in tow, had embarrassing the boys on her mind and regular Hurricane Force driver Steven Thompson jumped into the Iron Outlaw for the very first time in a substitute role.

Representing Team Bigfoot was Dan Runte coming to RMR in the radical Bigfoot #18 for the very first time with Larry Swim behind the wheel of Vi-Cor Bigfoot “Bessie” #16. As always, the Salt Lake area’s own Maverik Monster Trakker was in the house driven by Ron Duncombe, and rounding out the field were the twin brothers Groth: Travis driving the ever patriotic Captain USA and Tyler driving the truck they had built from the ground up, Double Trouble.

From the start, the world’s only cow themed monster truck was driven to its limit, taking the number one spot as the sole driver to qualify in the 29 second range. Due to the odd number of competitors, Bessie got a bye run in the first round, but from there it only got harder. To face Bessie in the finals, both Bounty Hunters had to race each other, with the ever experienced Jimmy Creten in the Blue Bounty taking the win. Bigfoot #18 tried his hardest against his own teammate, but Larry, who drove Snake Bite to the finals in one race of this event a year ago, was not to be denied.

In the 2 lap grand finale, the event’s perennial racing finalist Bounty Hunter Blue got the matchup he wanted with Larry. But “the cow”, as the announcers called Bessie throughout the weekend, had the corners down better than any other driver, taking the Saturday night racing win, despite being behind at the start of the final lap.

As a prelude to freestyle the next day, a wheelie contest closed the first night. All drivers gave their best efforts, but the two time reigning champion, with now no chance for a three-peat, unleashed his truck’s inner beast, carrying a slap wheelie three-quarters of the length of the front straightaway. Not surprisingly, Dan’s score was an almost perfect 9.4 out of a potential 10.0 to take the win. But the weekend was far from over.

On Sunday, Dan and Bigfoot #18 had their eyes on the prize, and it showed. He was king of the hill once more in qualifying, missing his own track record by just seven-tenths of a second. Things took a turn on the wild side when Maverik Monster Trakker tried to make up for lost time against Bigfoot #18 in the quarter-finals, only to cartwheel hard on its roll cage in a savage crash. While Ron was only rattled, a continuous list of broken parts meant there was no saving the home state monster.

Dan’s march to the finals required him to take out the rising star they call “Bobo” in Bounty Hunter Black, and he delivered. Back in 2010, Jim Creten and Dan Runte had faced each other in the final round both nights, with Dan, at the time driving Retro Bigfoot #16, going two for two in those races. The final race of the weekend this year would mirror that sight, with Bounty Hunter fans watching in bitter disappointment as Runte took another racing trophy.

This time, the grand finale was all out freestyle. The four runner-up finishes in six final round races over the past three years made the former World Freestyle Champion even more determined, hitting everything with tremendous speed, creativity in a class all its own, and unbeatable air on every obstacle and erased all doubt about who the winner was. The Tonganoxie, Kansas native narrowly edged out Larry Swim in Bessie who also had an excellent run with a score of 36.85, stopping the Bigfoot clean sweep and winning freestyle at RMR for the third time in as many years.

As usual, the entire weekend saw Basalt, Idaho’s own Ron Barrows and his ride truck called “Thumper” giving rides to everyone who wanted one. With a different racing winner each night, there was no Undisputed Champion for the first time since “The Allen Report” started representing TMB in West Valley City. But as both racing winners had the name Bigfoot on the sides of their trucks, the overall racing winner was team Bigfoot.

Next up for us is the 2nd Annual International Monster Truck Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where legends become immortals. Until that time, thank you for reading, a special thanks to everyone at Rocky Mountain Raceways for their wonderful hospitality, enjoy the photos and cheer on!

Photo Gallery

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2012.

Video of the Week – 08/11/12

Week Ending: August 11th, 2012
Truck(s) Featured: Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten), Summit Bigfoot #18 (Dan Runte)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: The Maverik Clash of the Titans at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah absolutely never disappoints. Check out this incredible final round battle between two heavyweights of the sport, Dan Runte and Jimmy Creten!

BIGFOOT Teams Up with Robby Gordon & Speed Energy

(Charlotte, NC – SPEED Energy PR) – What is another form of racing that Robby Gordon can mark off his impressive list of racing series? If you guessed monster trucks, you guessed correctly. Robby Gordon Motorsports and SPEED Energy have formed a partnership with BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc., owner of the most well -known monster truck in the United States.

NASCAR and Off-Road racer, Robby Gordon, and BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc. have entered into a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2012 season. The addition of the monster truck, built at Gordon’s race shop in Charlotte, NC, will be the nineteenth chassis in the line-up of BIGFOOT trucks.

Artist rendering of the new SPEED Energy Bigfoot #19.

Gordon’s energy drink company, SPEED Energy, will be the co-primary sponsor of the monster truck. “This partnership with BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc. is a big step for our company. It opens the door to market SPEED Energy to a new demographic.” Being featured as a sponsor on the truck is just one element to the relationship, we will also be selling SPEED Energy/BIGFOOT #19 diecasts, t-shirts, hats and other merchandise,” says Gordon. During the first year of the agreement the monster truck will be used primarily for display purposes. From there the truck will participate in events, with the possibility of Gordon being behind the wheel. “I’m excited about the opportunity to drive the SPEED Energy/BIGFOOT #19 monster truck. We built the truck a few years ago and we’ve played around with it, but actually competing in events would be a lot of fun,” Gordon remarks.

“We are really looking forward to teaming up with Robby and Speed Energy! Robby and Bob Chandler go back to the early days when both teams were Ford sponsored. Robby’s dynamic outlook and his racer’s mentality fit right in with the BIGFOOT way of life! Be on the lookout for a whole line of Robby Gordon’s Speed Energy/BIGFOOT #19 merchandise,” says Bob Trent, Vice President of Sponsorships & Business Development at BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc.

About SPEED Energy

SPEED Energy is available in four flavors: Ethanol, Unleaded, Fuel and Octane, which provide the human machine with the fuel it needs to keep up with the SPEED of life. Each drink contains a potent blend of B-vitamins, caffeine, taurine and ginseng. SPEED, packaged in 16 ounce cans, is available in singles, 4 packs, and cases. SPEED Energy is available at major retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores, bars and nightclubs. For a retailer near you, please visit www.speedenergy.com.

About BIGFOOT 4×4 Inc.

Since its inception in 1975, BIGFOOT, The Original Monster Truck®, has gone on to achieve worldwide notoriety, and spawned an entire family of BIGFOOT® monster trucks that have pioneered the growth of the monster truck industry. Created by St. Louis-area contractor Bob Chandler and his wife Marilyn in 1975 as a promotional tool for their Midwest Four Wheel Drive business, the BIGFOOT fleet has captured 30 National Championships, set numerous world records, and travelled to over 26 countries. In 2009, BIGFOOT was named one of the “Top 5 Marketing Vehicles of All Time”. Since 1975 over 20 BIGFOOT vehicles have been constructed, and today the team campaigns eight (soon to be nine) BIGFOOT monster trucks full-time in North America, in addition to one BIGFOOT truck based full-time in England. The team expects to average over 900 appearance days starting in 2012, and will achieve in excess of 30 million impressions each year. Visit the team online at www.bigfoot4x4.com.