BIGFOOT 8

The monster truck industry turned its focus towards all-out racing in the late 1980’s, and it was at that point that BIGFOOT Creator Bob Chandler saw the need for a major technological leap forward in the name of safety and performance. Existing monster truck designs were not exactly prime examples of high technology at the time. They featured stiff leaf spring-based suspensions that were rough and offered little in the way of suspension travel, which of course took its toll on drivers. Most trucks at the time also utilized steel pickup truck bodies, mounted atop heavy steel frames. All of that combined with heavy military axles and full-cleat tires added up to one thing: a very cumbersome monster truck, often weighing more than 15,000 lbs. Despite their heavy weight, the high-horsepower engines that teams were using in the trucks were propelling them to speeds in excess of 60 mph. The industry had reached a point where the trucks could dish out more than the drivers could take, and Chandler decided something needed to be done.

Using Computer Aided Design (AutoCAD) technology, Chandler was able to create a new generation of monster trucks (dubbed Stage III) that featured a radical tubular steel chassis design and patented cantilever suspension system.  The first of these new trucks was BIGFOOT #8, which was completed in mid-1989. #8 quickly leapt to the forefront of the monster truck world, and in its first full year of competition became the 1990 World Champion. Since that time, the vast majority of monster trucks have adhered to the basic concept of using a tubular steel chassis and long-travel nitrogen-charged shocks. This style of truck combines speed, light weight, and agility with an extensive roll cage and fiberglass body that makes for a safer, better performing, and easier to fix monster truck.

BIGFOOT 8 has gone through a number of changes over the years, including removing the cantilever setup on the front suspension and getting upgraded shocks as the technology was developed.  It competed for over 16 years, but in 2005 became strictly a display vehicle, only performing a couple select car crushes in 2006.  In 2020 #8 was restored to how it looked in the early 90’s, with the red and yellow stripes and is currently a display vehicle.