Gene Patterson
Gene Patterson crewed and drove for BIGFOOT in the late 80's and early 90's. Learn more about Gene with our questions below.
1. What years did you work for BIGFOOT?
- 1987-1994 and 1997-2000
2. Which BIGFOOT trucks did you drive?
- In exhibition or competition – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Fastrax
- Playing around – Shuttle and Ranger
3. What was your favorite BIGFOOT truck and why?
- #9 as BIGFOOT and Snake Bite – That truck was so bad [as in good] from the get-go. It launched the hardest of all the trucks I drove, sort of a funny car feel with the interior design.
4. What was the highlight of your BIGFOOT career?
- 2 things: number 1 was creating the iconic fictional character Colt Cobra, number 2 was winning in Indy [Indianapolis, IN] in the Penda Points Series, the center of racing in the USA. I also am proud of working in a couple movies.
5. Is there anything you wish you could have done in your driving career?
- Won a Penda Points Championship
6. Is there any particular truck in today’s BIGFOOT fleet you wish you could drive?
- 18-20. Where? When? …. I’m ready!
7. What do/don’t you miss most about being a BIGFOOT drive?
- I miss the team in St. Louis, the fans, the sponsors, and the road. I do not miss being away and sleeping in airports after crashes.
8. Any advice you would give a rookie?
- Stay true to yourself. Don’t try and make it your first year. Get with a good team, learn the business. Respect the fans!
9. What do you do for a living?
- Work in an industrial shop in Jefferson City, MO.
10. What have you been doing since you left BIGFOOT?
- Raising my family and enjoying weekends. Haven’t really left it seems. I have been doing D.A.R.E. graduations, telling kids and parents what it was like to drive a monster truck. Also I am putting 2 wonderful girls through college.
11. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
- Camping, talking about the good ol’ days, Sprint cars. Life is too short, enjoy it!
12. Anything you want to add?
- Being in the sport from the early years meant so much, like the MTRA [Monster Truck Racing Association] from the beginning. I enjoyed being part of something that some said would never last – 40 years and counting! Team BIGFOOT made me a better person in life, while it was tough sometimes. More than anything, my wife Susan and I were able to see parts of the country others only get to dream about.
- Gene was inducted into the Monster Truck Hall Of Fame in 2015.
