BIGFOOT 50x50 Day 0, 2025: “50 Years In”

2025 started off like any normal year. Tours to run, shows to do, trucks to work on, schedules to keep.. But this year was different, as most anniversaries are. Because they are, generally, a time of reflection, to look back on all you have accomplished. At the end of 2024 BIGFOOT revealed the first of their 50th Anniversary paint schemes. Blue and gold the theme, this was BIGFOOT's golden anniversary, after all.

The year started off with 2024 newcomer and lifelong BIGFOOT fan, Caleb Janezich behind the wheel of 50th Anniversary BIGFOOT 15, and Eric Steinberg with 50th 21 both working their own sets of Hot Wheels tour dates. Darron and Rebecca Schnell took their now familiar trip across the pond with 50th 19 and Gunkster 23 making the usual stops around the U.K. and Europe. Eventually the Schnells made it down to New Zealand to run some of the biggest Hot Wheels shows to date, both in terms of venue and crowd sizes.

Even a few privateers got in on the celebration. Roger Gauger, who had been running a racer schemed BIGFOOT body on his truck, Bootlegger, for the past year would get a 50th Anniversary overhaul. As would Josh Baumgartner's truck, Mechanical Mischief, and Thomas Borders with Monkey Business. On August 7th, Gauger and Borders closed out the night in Washington, Missouri with a dual freestyle run. But the fans were given an additional treat when their dueling freestyle became a trio as Eric Steinberg and 50th 21 joined them to close out the Full Throttle Monster Truck Tour stop.

June 7th's Open House would be the mother of all reunions, of all things BIGFOOT and all things monster trucks. Dan Runte would receive the honors of debuting the newest BIGFOOT truck to the fleet, BIGFOOT 24. Dan showed off the new truck in usual, awesome form, kicking up the mud and having a good time. Friends came in from all over to celebrate. Old school monsters like BFT, High Roller, Earthquake, Big Red Truck, and Blue Ox. Walt Lolley brought out his gorgeous, loving tribute to BIGFOOT 1 as it appeared in Take This Job and Shove It.. Also Old school BIGFOOT drivers like Ken Koelling, Janice Oliver, Eric Tack, John Piant, Lonny Childress, and Gene Patterson were led of course by the inimitable duo of Jim Kramer and Bob Chandler. Who showed up in style, with Bob driving BIGFOOT 1 with Jim as his passenger during the national anthem.

Notable industry luminaries like legendary MC Army Armstrong and former Carolina Crusher owner/driver Gary Porter also made well-received cameos as well that day, for what truly had to be one of the most important, fulfilling and magical days not just in the team’s history but for any of the fans who were fortunate enough to attend as well. But the turnout of old school BIGFOOT trucks was nothing short of incredible. Terry Woodcock and his team of restorers brought a restored BIGFOOT 2, BIGFOOT Shuttle, a BIGFOOT 1 clone built by Midwest Four Wheel Drive, a 74 Wildfoot body on Cyclops' chassis, and another truck dubbed solely "BIGFOOT" featuring original parts from BIGFOOT 1.

After years of restoration work, Bethel, Maine’s own Eli Mann was finally able to bring BIGFOOT 3 to an open house. Fred Reep was able to bring back Snake Bite 4 as was Chris Gibson and the BIGFOOT Ranger. New owner Craig Prouty was also able to bring BIGFOOT Fastrax. This event would be the first time the original five BIGFOOT trucks would be together since 2000, when 2 and 3 were sold and donated. And, it would be the first time since 1993 that those five, plus the specialty vehicles of Ranger, Shuttle and Fastrax were together.

On September 5th, an unthinkable tragedy occurred when Dan Runte was killed in a traffic accident while riding his beloved Harley Davidson motorcycle. Tributes spread like wildfire, and the outpouring of love and sorrow were profound. Friends, colleagues, fans, sponsors, and promoters from all over the world sent out their love and condolences.

Dan left behind a monolith of accomplishments and attributes. Champion, trailblazer, and hall of famer, but most importantly, loving husband and father, devoted friend, mentor, and hero. He was the standard in believing in yourself, doing the best that you could, and being a good person. He was the guy you wanted to be like.

A month later, BIGFOOT would say goodbye to another member of the family when on October 5th the former mastermind behind BIGFOOT’s engine and transmission department, John Peterson, passed away from his battle with cancer. John not only specialized in powertrain and drivetrain components but also was a sterling mechanic when it came to BIGFOOT trucks as a whole, and was often seen working quietly and diligently behind the scenes on the road when important or major events required that extra special touch and attention to detail. John and Dan worked incredibly hand-in-hand at some of the team’s biggest appearances from the mid-90’s up until John’s departure from the team in the 20-teens. From the PENDA days to record-breaking long-jumps to ProMT and Jamboree victories to the sands of Virginia Beach, “John Boy” and “D2” have more than left their mark on the team’s historical timeline.

On November 15th in a moment of vindication and professional validation for the team’s late, great BIGFOOT Ambassador, Ron Bachmann would receive his due induction into the International Monster Truck Museum and Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Accepting on Big Man's behalf would be his wife, Michele. He would be inducted alongside Avenger's Jim Koehler, and King/Awesome Kong's Steve Dane along with Landmark Award recipients, Promoter Darryl Starbird and RII pioneer, Larry Birch Jr.

Fifty years ago, a man started modifying his 1974 Ford to do more with it. He put bigger tires on it. He started breaking axle shafts because of the bigger tires, so he put bigger axles under it. Then he needed more power to turn those axles so he put a bigger engine in it. He wanted the freedom to have his truck do what he wanted and go wherever he wanted it to go. And for fifty years now, that's what Bob Chandler, his family, and their company have done. Through hills, peaks, and valleys. Because that's what BIGFOOT does. BIGFOOT endures.

"Thank you for following along with us on this journey. It has been an immense amount of work eclipsed only by the immense satisfaction and gratification we have enjoyed along the way, paying tribute to an iconic brand, an iconic team populated with iconic trucks and personalities that has (and continues) to impact our lives in very meaningful ways. We also want to thank ALL of the photographers and videographers who we leaned on so very much to complete the retrospective, as well as our fellow OSMT members and the plethora of other folks for their help and contributions. Cheers to the last 50 years, and here’s to a whole bunch more. Respectfully, Kyle Doyle – OSMT Founder & Former BIGFOOT Driver Justin Moessinger – OSMT Archivist & BIGFOOT History Specialist January 1st, 2026"