When and how did the monster trucks phenomenon start?
In the late 1970s, modified pickup trucks were becoming popular and the sports of mud bogging and truck pulling were gaining in popularity. Several truck owners had created lifted trucks to compete in such events, and soon competition to hold the title of “biggest truck” developed. The trucks which garnered the most national attention were Jeff and Steve Dane’s Awesome Kong, Bob Chandler’s Bigfoot, and Fred Shafer and Jack Willman Sr.’s Bear Foot. At the time, the largest tires the trucks were running were 48 inches in diameter.
