| A monster truck is a large size automobile, and is | | | | tyres are often "Terra" tires, and measure |
| most often a pickup truck. It is also usually a | | | | 66"x43"x25". They also have an automatic |
| modified vehicle with large wheels. These trucks are | | | | transmission, such as a Ford C6 transmission, |
| mainly used for popular entertainment. In certain | | | | Powerflite 727, Turbo 400, Powerglide, or a Lenco |
| cases, they are featured alongside mud bogging, | | | | transmission. They also have many safety features. |
| Motocross races, tractor pulls and car-eating robots. | | | | The RII is one of three kill switches on every truck. |
| Monster truck shows include a truck that crushes | | | | The other two are within the driver's reach. Drivers |
| smaller vehicles under its huge tires. Many people get | | | | are supposed to wear firesuits, helmets, safety |
| a kick out of seeing destruction of this kind. | | | | harnesses, and head and neck restraints. |
| Monster trucks have the ability to run up and over | | | | Popular culture |
| almost man-made barriers. They can be operated by | | | | Due to their initial popularity in relation to tractor pulls |
| remote shut-off switches. These switches are called | | | | and mud bogs, monster trucks are often seen as a |
| Remote Ignition Interuptor (RII) that helps to | | | | popular truck only among the rednecks. Monster |
| prevent accidents in case the driver loses control. For | | | | trucks are very often depicted as a form of |
| certain events, only one truck can stay on the | | | | motorized professional wrestling. It is common to find |
| course. Other events have two drivers racing each | | | | names being used for these trucks, as opposed to |
| other on similar tracks. | | | | numbers and sponsors. Very often, there are also |
| Recently, monster truck competitions ( ) have wound | | | | accusations of rigged races, particularly because |
| up with a "freestyle" event. This is believed to be | | | | some trucks (like Bigfoot and Grave Digger) are |
| similar to figure skating with giant trucks, in which | | | | believed to win more often to please the crowd. |
| drivers are free to choose their own course around | | | | Promoters of these monster truck races deny any |
| the track and its obstacles too. | | | | wrongdoing. Some shows now even display evidence |
| Truck design: | | | | to clear their names. Drivers on teams are thought to |
| A monster truck is quite a scaled up, four-wheel-drive | | | | hate one stereotype more than the other. Perhaps |
| dune buggy. In a manner of speaking they are not | | | | the redneck stereotype is disliked more than the |
| really "trucks" but they get this name because of | | | | pro-wrestling stereotype. Drivers are believed to feel |
| their huge fiberglass bodies. A monster truck now | | | | unfairly disrespected regardless of their efforts to |
| has a custom built tubular chassis, and has four-link | | | | perform well at the top level of competition. Fans |
| suspensions to provide up to 4 feet of travel. The | | | | too feel this way, especially for those who feel that |
| engines are mounted behind the driver. These are run | | | | this sport should be treated by the media as |
| on methanol. The axles are from heavy-duty military | | | | NASCAR. However, monster truck events for now |
| trucks, and they have hydraulic steering too. The | | | | are taken as a form of "sports entertainment". |