Mini monster truck
Encyclopedia
A mini monster truck is an automobile
, typically styled after and resembling an actual monster truck
, although built on a much smaller scale. They are usually used for recreational use, although true mechanical replicas are often featured alongside their larger counterparts in popular Sports Entertainment
. While not very common, they are almost exclusively seen only in North America, especially in Canada and the United States.
The mini monster truck generally surfaced in the mid to late 1980s, coinciding with the sudden rise in popularity of such monster trucks as Bigfoot
and USA-1
. Such mini monster trucks were intended for younger fans of the sport as toys, and were mass produced to be used for strictly recreational purposes. Generally speaking, they were simply unmodified go-karts or all-terrain vehicles with a fiberglass body made to resemble the popular trucks of the time.
Although these mass produced mini versions of the actual monster truck
s were more common, true one of a kind mechanical reproductions would surface, such as Baby Cyclops, modelled after the very popular 1980s monster truck
, Cyclops. Featuring a 350 horsepower Chevy V-8 engine, custom forged leaf springs and dual Rancho Suspension RS5000 shock absorbers, it was made for competition on the arena floor, and led the way for others to follow.
Today, the Firestarter Mini Monster Truck
is not only one of the few mini monster trucks in active competition, but it is also one of the only trucks not based on a larger monster truck
already in existence. Recently driving for both Feld Entertainment and Chris Arel Motorsports in 2009 , it features a Chevy 3.0 V-6 engine, rear steering and Knight Stalker nitrogen charged shock absorbers.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, typically styled after and resembling an actual monster truck
Monster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
, although built on a much smaller scale. They are usually used for recreational use, although true mechanical replicas are often featured alongside their larger counterparts in popular Sports Entertainment
Sports entertainment
Sports entertainment is a type of spectacle which presents an ostensibly competitive event using a high level of theatrical flourish and extravagant presentation, with the purpose of entertaining an audience...
. While not very common, they are almost exclusively seen only in North America, especially in Canada and the United States.
The mini monster truck generally surfaced in the mid to late 1980s, coinciding with the sudden rise in popularity of such monster trucks as Bigfoot
Bigfoot (truck)
Bigfoot, introduced in 1979, is regarded as the original monster truck. Other trucks with the name "Bigfoot" have been introduced in the years since, and it remains the most well-known monster truck moniker in the United States. Bigfoot 4x4, Inc. is owned and operated by its creator, Bob Chandler.-...
and USA-1
USA-1 (truck)
USA-1 is a monster truck that was competing during the eighties and nineties, named after a Chevrolet ad campaign. It competed against Bigfoot in the first televised monster truck race on the American television show That's Incredible! in 1983. The truck was initially painted blue before it was...
. Such mini monster trucks were intended for younger fans of the sport as toys, and were mass produced to be used for strictly recreational purposes. Generally speaking, they were simply unmodified go-karts or all-terrain vehicles with a fiberglass body made to resemble the popular trucks of the time.
Although these mass produced mini versions of the actual monster truck
Monster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
s were more common, true one of a kind mechanical reproductions would surface, such as Baby Cyclops, modelled after the very popular 1980s monster truck
Monster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
, Cyclops. Featuring a 350 horsepower Chevy V-8 engine, custom forged leaf springs and dual Rancho Suspension RS5000 shock absorbers, it was made for competition on the arena floor, and led the way for others to follow.
Today, the Firestarter Mini Monster Truck
Firestarter Mini Monster Truck
Firestarter is a 1/3 scale exhibition monster truck conceived and completed in 2008 by Firestarter Racing of Essex County, Ontario.The vehicle, the body of which is based on the actual firefighting pumpers manufactured by Seagrave Fire Apparatus in the 1930s, possesses all the characteristics of a...
is not only one of the few mini monster trucks in active competition, but it is also one of the only trucks not based on a larger monster truck
Monster truck
A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
already in existence. Recently driving for both Feld Entertainment and Chris Arel Motorsports in 2009 , it features a Chevy 3.0 V-6 engine, rear steering and Knight Stalker nitrogen charged shock absorbers.
See also
- Firestarter Mini Monster TruckFirestarter Mini Monster TruckFirestarter is a 1/3 scale exhibition monster truck conceived and completed in 2008 by Firestarter Racing of Essex County, Ontario.The vehicle, the body of which is based on the actual firefighting pumpers manufactured by Seagrave Fire Apparatus in the 1930s, possesses all the characteristics of a...
- Monster truckMonster truckA monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension...
- List of monster trucks