1990
BIGFOOT 50x50 Day 35, 1990: “Banned in the USA”
Sometimes in life, you can only walk as fast as the slowest person. Sometimes, something so different can change things so much that people need a little time to catch up. More on that later..
For 1990, SRO/Pace secured sponsorship from RJ Reynolds Tobacco under the Camel banner and put together a points/purse series of their own. The USHRA Camel Mud & Monsters Series would feature the top Monsters and Mudders from around the country. John Piant did the bulk of the driving with BIGFOOT 4. John and 4 were able to hold onto the points lead throughout January, despite some mechanical issues in New Orleans and losses to Taurus, Bearfoot and Excaliber in the last three events of the month. Eventually John and 4 would finish the season in third behind Taurus and Bearfoot.
On the TNT side of things Andy Brass and BIGFOOT 8 would join the tour on January 19 in Memphis at the Mid-South Coliseum. Before the first night was over the comments about how far advanced 8 was had already started. Andy and 8 would lose to 1989 champion, David Morris and Equalizer in the night’s finals, but go on to win the next two races of the weekend.
At the end of March, after securing the win and points lead in Albuquerque, BIGFOOT 8 was banned from TNT competition. Dan Hartlage, a spokesman for TNT stated that this was due to the amount of suspension travel 8 possessed. TNT founder and owner Billy Joe Miles stated that the ban would be imposed until July 14 in order to give the other TNT competitors time to match 8’s modifications. Bob said Miles was full of beans and would take Miles, and TNT to court. Somehow, a compromise was reached and from April 27 in Dallas to July 3 in Myrtle Beach, BIGFOOT 4 would take 8’s place. This short period would produce one of the best races ever in Andy Brass and BIGFOOT 4 versus Gary Porter and Carolina Crusher at Louisville Motor Speedway.
By the time July 14 came around Andy and 8 were chomping at the bit. While dealing with some gremlins the duo were able to keep nipping at the heels of points leader Greg Holbrook and Equalizer. It would all come down to these pairs that year in Freedom Hall. When the light turned green, Andy took off. But for some reason, Equalizer barely made it over the first hill. Greg and Equalizer owner, Gary Cook maintained that the Remote Ignition Interrupter box inside the truck was faulty and killed the truck as it went to leave the line. TNT track official, Mike Speller maintained that the RII was working correctly and would not let the race be re-run because he did not want a precedent set. Sadly, the next night Equalizer’s engine would fail during the semifinals, giving Andy and 8 enough points to clinch the title and become the 1990 TNT Champion and win the first championship for BIGFOOT.
But wait, there’s more! On August 10, every BIGFOOT (minus BIGFOOTs 2 and 6) would descend on Nashville Motor Raceway for the first ever BIGFOOT Bash. A fun-filled weekend of BIGFOOT versus BIGFOOT action not unlike what was hosted in Indianapolis in 1989. John Piant and BIGFOOT 4 would be involved in the most violent, devastating crash of a BIGFOOT vehicle to that point after Piant collided with the pit road wall jumping over the second set of cars. John was okay, but 4 was decimated. Over the next six weeks it would be rebuilt with a new “hybrid” style suspension, and arguably better than before the crash.
So where were 2 and 6? BIGFOOT 6 was in Cherry Hill, New Jersey doing a crush and display with a walking mountain of a man, Hall of Famer and BIGFOOT Ambassador, Ron Bachmann. BIGFOOT 2 on the other hand, was in Belleville, Michigan at another crush and display with another future hall of famer. A young man doing his first ever solo show that weekend by the name of Dan Runte.
Create Your Own Website With Webador