USA-1 (truck)
Encyclopedia
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 repainted in white.
Everett Jasmer built and raced the truck in the late 1970s. USA-1 was a consistent winner in the mid to late 80s with Steve Wilke and Rod Litzau sharing the driving, and is best known for its many wins and legendary crashes. It won the 1988 TNT Monster Truck Racing Series
championship. It was one of the last nationally competitive monster trucks to use a leaf spring
suspension. Everett contacted Mark Hall, co-owner of Raminator, to campaign a USA-1 body in 1992 on their Executioner chassis
. In the next year, Everett had Kirk Dabney campaign the body on his Nitemare 4 chassis. USA-1 stopped racing in the early 90s, after the folding of the TNT Monster Truck Racing Series. As of March 2008, Everett owns the original vehicles and the trademark to the name. He has been trying to find a racing series that meets his vision of professional monster truck racing. In 2011, he sold the truck and name rights to former Bigfoot driver Rodney Tweedy and Chandler Lloyd.
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...
that was competing during the eighties and nineties, named after a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
ad campaign. It competed against 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.-...
in the first televised monster truck race on the American television show That's Incredible!
That's Incredible!
That's Incredible! was an American reality television show that aired on the ABC television network from 1980 to 1984.-Synopsis:In the tradition of You Asked For It, Ripley's Believe It or Not! and Real People, the show featured people performing stunts and reenactments of allegedly paranormal events...
in 1983. The truck was initially painted blue before it was repainted in white.
Everett Jasmer built and raced the truck in the late 1970s. USA-1 was a consistent winner in the mid to late 80s with Steve Wilke and Rod Litzau sharing the driving, and is best known for its many wins and legendary crashes. It won the 1988 TNT Monster Truck Racing Series
TNT Motorsports
TNT Motorsports was a popular promoter of monster truck races, tractor pulls, and occasionally mud racing in the 1980s. Events were shown on Powertrax on ESPN, Trucks and Tractor Power on TNN and the syndicated Tuff Trax.-Series:...
championship. It was one of the last nationally competitive monster trucks to use a leaf spring
Leaf spring
Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles...
suspension. Everett contacted Mark Hall, co-owner of Raminator, to campaign a USA-1 body in 1992 on their Executioner chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
. In the next year, Everett had Kirk Dabney campaign the body on his Nitemare 4 chassis. USA-1 stopped racing in the early 90s, after the folding of the TNT Monster Truck Racing Series. As of March 2008, Everett owns the original vehicles and the trademark to the name. He has been trying to find a racing series that meets his vision of professional monster truck racing. In 2011, he sold the truck and name rights to former Bigfoot driver Rodney Tweedy and Chandler Lloyd.
Additional reading
- Everett Jasmer interview on USA-1 at monsterblog.com, March 13, 2008
External links
- USA-1 4x4 Website
- Official Monster Truck Hall of Fame Website