IF YOU THINK MONSTER TRUCKS ARE JUST FOR KIDS, THINK AGAIN!

Which Was The Biggest Monster Truck Ever Built? Learn 10 Huge Facts

Credit: Gabriel Tovar

A spectacle of huge, spectacularly noisy trucks flying in the air, running over cars, and chasing each other in a huge arena, much like modern mechanical gladiators. Is it childish? Possibly so. But it is also irresistible and very fun to watch.

The level of skill required to make a double backflip in the air with a vehicle that has the size and wheels of a huge farm tractor is enormous and the drivers commit themselves to entertaining the crowd at their own risk. Prepare to be amazed and take a peek at these ten cool facts about monster trucks and their world.

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Monster Jam monster trucks are approximately 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide. They must weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds and are built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, generating 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Monster Jam trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (that’s more than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air. The tires are 66 inches high and 43 inches wide and cost $2,600 each. What’s the price of an entire Monster Jam Truck you ask? About $250,000.

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Monster trucks first appeared in the late 1970s and came into the public eye in the early 1980s as side acts at popular motocross, tractor-pulling, and mud-bogging events, where they were used in car-crushing demonstrations.

These days they are usually the main attraction with motocross, mud bogging, ATV racing, or demolition derbies as supporting events.

Credit: Gabriel Tovar

It sounds pretty impressive on TV but if you ever went anywhere near these beasts you will remember the deafening sound they can make. The engine of a typical monster truck, the thing that gives it the kind of roar that shakes the whole arena, is a major engineering accomplishment.

They’re custom-built supercharged beasts that feature methanol injection. A typical monster truck gets about 7 gallons to the mile (not the most economical vehicle around), burns around 10 gallons of fuel a show, and burns out engines at a rate of around 5 every year.

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A monster truck might be extremely punishing on its own components, but that’s nothing compared to the number of vehicles destroyed at monster truck shows every year.

Something close to 3,000 cars, vans, buses, and other vehicles are turned into scrap at monster truck rallies across the world. They’re usually taken from junkyards and then returned afterward, or at least, what is left of them.

Credit: Gabriel Tovar

Since there are no full-time monster truck arenas (at least not in most of the world), local venues where this kind of event takes place must be converted into something suitable for a monster truck rally, which, as you imagine, is no mean feat.

Getting each one set up can take as many as 20 hours spread over three days, and that’s with an eight-person crew. Truckloads of dirt are used, sometimes up to 70 or more, all worked by bulldozers to make the ramps and jumps that make a Monster Jam event possible.

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It should come as no surprise that watching this kind of show is a popular spectacle for a lot of people. Monster trucks draw crowds like nothing else.

The Monster Jam event itself attracts a massive 4 million spectators a year around the globe, proving that watching giant trucks crush cars and fly through the air at 100 miles an hour is always going to be a thing that nobody ever wants to miss.

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A legend in the monster truck lore, the original BigFoot began as a 1974 Ford F-250 pickup that was modified by its owner Bob Chandler. By 1979, the modifications were so extensive, that the truck came to be regarded as the first monster truck. Since then, other trucks with the name "Bigfoot" have been introduced, and it remains a well-known monster truck moniker in the United States.

In 1979, Chandler replaced the underassembly of the truck with one from a military surplus top loader featuring four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering that used 48-inch tires. This modification drew attention and Chandler started making appearances at tractor pulls and car shows with his newly christened "Bigfoot". And the rest is history!

Credit: CraigL

Another legend among giants, Grave Digger was originally built in 1982 by Dennis Anderson as a mud bogger. It was assembled from salvaged parts, including the body of a 1952 Ford pickup truck. The truck received its name when Anderson, amicably retorting trash-talking from his fellow racers about the truck's salvaged parts, said, "I'll take this old junk and dig you a grave with it."

In 1986 Grave Digger first received its famous black graveyard paint scheme. In 1987, Anderson beat Bigfoot in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on a show taped for ESPN. It was the first major victory for Grave Digger and the beginning of its run in front of bigger audiences to this day.

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At least when it comes to monster trucks, four-wheel steering is very important, since the ridiculously huge size of their wheels makes it very difficult to maneuver with regular two-wheel steering.

All trucks have hydraulic steering in both the front and the rear (four-wheel steering), with the front wheels controlled by the steering wheel and the rear wheels by a toggle switch.

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Being the biggest in a world of giants is no easy feat. But one monster truck takes the title and it is Bigfoot #5 (as you can see, the name stuck). The truck is considered one of the most iconic and recognizable monster trucks due to its gigantic wheels weighing approximately 2,400 pounds each.

Due to its unusual height, this truck has never actually been involved in a monster truck competition, but has engaged against other Bigfoot trucks, done displays, and ran exhibition obstacle races. In addition to height, Bigfoot 5 is also the heaviest monster truck ever built, at 28,000 lbs.

BEYOND THE MYTH

10 Surprising Facts About Abe Lincoln You Probably Didn't Know

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Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s most revered presidents, is a man whose sagacious leadership steered the country during its most tumultuous periods. But beyond the larger-than-life figure lies a man of intriguing depth. Join us to learn 10 curious facts about Honest Abe that you probably didn’t know!

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Abraham Lincoln holds the distinction of being the tallest president in American history, standing at a towering height of 6 feet 4 inches. His imposing stature often commanded attention, both in the political arena and among his peers. Despite his remarkable height, Lincoln's presence was characterized by a gentle demeanor and humble disposition.

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Lincoln wasn't just a formidable politician; he was also an accomplished wrestler. Allegedly, early in his career, he defeated a local bully in a wrestling match, becoming the town hero. In any case, his strength and skill in the ring earned him a reputation as a formidable opponent. Amassing 300 victories over 12 years, he was only defeated once, by fellow soldier Lorenzo Dow Thompson during the Black Hawk War of 1832.

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Contrary to popular belief, Lincoln's voice didn't match his towering stature. Instead of a deep, booming voice, he spoke in a surprisingly high-pitched tone. The somewhat unexpected tone of his voice, however, didn’t take away from his powerful speeches, and any perceived awkwardness was soon overshadowed by his wisdom and ideas.

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Before he entered politics, Lincoln co-owned a general store and drinking establishment called Berry and Lincoln in New Salem, Illinois. It was here that he obtained a license to sell liquor, making him a licensed bartender. However, the joint venture soon ran into debt, and Lincoln wasn’t able to fully recover economically until he became a Congressman.

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Lincoln's iconic stovepipe hat wasn't just a fashion statement; it served as a convenient storage space for his notes and documents. He would tuck memos or important notes inside his hat, utilizing its ample space to keep his thoughts organized while working or reading. This quirky habit - one of many, actually - illustrates Lincoln's pragmatic personality and wit.

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Despite his rugged appearance, Lincoln had a soft spot for poetry. As a teenager, he often wrote short stanzas and satirical verses on the flyleaves of books, and later in life, he worked on longer poems, some of which he published or sent in letters to close friends. One of his longer works, My Childhood-Home I See Again, dealt with his feelings of melancholy and yearning upon visiting his childhood home.

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Lincoln was far more than just a skilled politician, he often liked to tinker with things, making up solutions to various problems. Proof of this is that, in 1849, while serving in Congress, he was granted a patent for a device that could lift boats over shallow waters or other obstructions in a river. Though he never saw it in action, his invention demonstrated his innovative spirit.

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Lincoln adored cats and was often seen playing with his cats Tabby and Dixie in the White House. In fact, he was quite a cat person, and during the war, he rescued motherless kittens every time he could. His fondness for animals, in general, was well known, and he let his sons keep as many pets as they wished, resulting in quite a menagerie living within the White House premises, including rabbits, turkeys, horses, and two beloved goats called Nanny and Nanko.

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Lincoln's iconic facial hair wasn't always a part of his look. He allegedly grew it at the suggestion of Grace Bedell of Westfield, New York, an 11-year-old girl who wrote to him, claiming it would improve his appearance because "his face was so thin" and it would earn him more votes. While it is unknown whether she actually influenced his decision to grow a beard, he began to grow his distinctive beard soon afterward.

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Despite the immense pressures of leading a nation during a tumultuous time, Lincoln remained remarkably laid-back in his approach to fatherhood. He enjoyed spending time with his children, often engaging in playful activities and games with them. Julia Taft Bayne - a close friend of the Lincoln family - recalled in her memoirs that one time, both Lincoln’s sons barged into his office and asked him to pardon a doll accused of spying. Their father willingly played along, and then sighed to his secretary, "And I only wish they were all that easy."