Monster Truck Madness – BIGFOOT Open House 2023 was superior
Hey guys and Happy Thursday!
Last weekend the BIGFOOT 4×4 monster truck staff held their annual Open House at their house base in Pacific, MO, and it was a freakin’ blast!
First off, longtime pal of Big Squid RC, Adam Rogers, placed on his second annual RC Bash the night time earlier than the Open House. Held at a resort close to the BIGFOOT store, this was geared in the direction of displaying off reproduction r/c rigs and scale fashions. They had round 70 r/c autos on show. Here’s a cool shot that includes Adam’s vans from the get-together.
Saturday was the large present, and upon pulling as much as the power vibrant and early to unload my gear, I used to be greeted by the sight of the freshly restored BIGFOOT #4 (pic on the high of the web page). Current proprietor of the truck Fred Reep (Fred may be very tight with the JConcepts crew and has been accountable for lots of product growth on their stable axle MT line over the previous couple of years) put collectively a killer crew of trade veterans and nice fab guys for the restoration, and it seems to be superb.
This is a private shot that I’ve of BIGFOOT #4 sporting this similar paint scheme, circa 1990 on the St. Louis area.
This is one other one from the identical occasion, with ol’ #4 placing within the work!
I used to be with the BIGFOOT staff the day that #4 was bought again in 2007, and I vividly keep in mind it on the flatbed because it drove away, sporting a contemporary Ford Super Duty physique with the title scrubbed off the facet. Seeing it right here, again in all it’s early 90’s glory, was fairly superb. So completely satisfied it discovered that it will definitely discovered it’s approach to Fred. Great job by everybody concerned!
While numerous old-fashioned monster vans and fashionable BIGFOOT vans have been crushing automobiles all day, the Trigger King RC crew was racing stable axle monster vans all morning/afternoon in between full scale performances. We acquired to race in entrance of huge crowds and it was numerous enjoyable showcasing the interest and what these vans can do. We obtained plenty of questions concerning the vans and the JConcepts sales space, which was arrange subsequent to the monitor, was drawing a crowd all day as nicely.
Before the r/c competitors began, Mike Bufka took the Show-N-Shine win along with his tackle a BIGFOOT truck coming again to the store on a Monday morning, being pushed with a loader after a tough weekend.
JConcepts founder (and monster truck nut) Jason Ruona took the win in Retro Clod Buster class with BIGFOOT #4 in addition to the Pro Modified divison with the BIGFOOT Racer. I managed to take the Sport Modified win in Rotten Apple 2 (shout out to my racing sponsors JConcepts, Spektrum, and Losi!). The Freestyle competitors ended the r/c portion of the day, and well-known YouTuber/Instagrammer LVC RC absolutely laid it down for the win.
The primary and remaining occasion of the day was the “Last Ride” of Jim Kramer, the place he would formally finish his storied profession with one final automobile crushing efficiency.
If there was a Mount Rushmore {of professional} monster truck drivers, Jim would unquestionably be the George Washington.
I believe the best approach to outline whether or not or not somebody is/was dominant in a particular type of competitors is to think about how stunned you might be in the event that they DON’T win. That’s true dominance. That was Jim throughout his heyday. It was a SHOCK if he wasn’t the occasion winner.
Piloting a wide range of traditional BIGFOOT vans, most notably (and aptly, given the day) BIGFOOT #4, Jim was the primary true skilled monster truck driver. #4 was the primary true skilled racing monster truck, and so they made a deadly combo.
On this present day, Jim was piloting one of many fashionable trucks- BIGFOOT #21 particularly. The crowd on-hand for Jim’s final efficiency was large. Check out this aerial shot I acquired from my drone.
He placed on a fantastic present and on the age of 72 years younger was wheeling like he’d not been out of the seat for any time in any respect. There have been numerous misty eyes within the viewers. Not everybody will get to exit on their phrases, however Jim did. Congrats to Jim, Julie and all the Kramer household.
I’ve been lucky sufficient to attend nearly all of Open Houses since they began in 2007, and I imagine this one was my favourite. From studying occasion protection the previous couple of days, I believe many share the opinion that I do – this was the perfect Open House that the BIGFOOT staff has ever placed on. Hats off to everybody for serving to to make it occur!
For video of Jim Kramer’s Last Ride, try the video that BIGFOOT 4×4 launched here. The Monster Blog put out a fantastic video as nicely you can watch here. For some superb photographs, try the gallery that JConcepts launched.
Until subsequent time, maintain it on all 4’s!