The narrator is showcasing the Grave Digger, a monster truck that has been a staple of the Monster Jam circuit for years. The truck's origins date back to the 1980s when Dennis Anderson, a farmhand, built a truck to compete in mud bogging races. The truck's name "Grave Digger" was coined during one of these events when Anderson jokingly told a fellow competitor that he would "dig a grave" for his opponent's truck.
Over the years, the Grave Digger underwent several transformations, including a new chassis, engine, and tires. The current truck features a custom steel tube chassis, a 540 cubic inch supercharged methanol-fueled engine producing 1500 horsepower, and massive 66-inch tires. The truck also has a unique feature - rear steering, in addition to traditional front wheel steering.
The narrator takes the audience on a tour of the truck's interior, pointing out various safety features, including a five-point harness, a relief valve to prevent excess pressure in the power steering system, and an onboard remote ignition interrupter. The narrator also highlights the truck's engineering marvels, including its ability to withstand abuse and punishment that no other vehicle could.
Today, there are nine Grave Digger trucks competing and traveling around the world, entertaining millions of fans. The narrator concludes by stating that monster trucks, like the Grave Digger, are engineering marvels that take a beating and keep on going.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Gravedigger is the most iconic monster truck in the world.
2. The sport of tractor pulling was born from competitions that tested the power of tractors.
3. Dennis Anderson, a farmhand, created the first Gravedigger in 1982.
4. Anderson's 1952 Ford pickup truck was jacked up and equipped with tractor tires.
5. The name "Gravedigger" was coined during a mud bogging competition.
6. The Gravedigger truck is hand-painted, and its design has remained largely unchanged since its creation.
7. The truck's body is based on a 1951 Chevy panel wagon.
8. The Gravedigger has a pair of ominous red headlights that were added by Dennis Anderson.
9. The truck's tires are 66 inches tall and 43 inches wide.
10. The tires require only 23 psi of air to be fully inflated.
11. The total weight of the wheels and tires is about 645 pounds each.
12. The price of one of these tires is about $3,000.
13. The Gravedigger has rear steering in addition to traditional front wheel steering.
14. The truck's chassis is a custom steel tube chassis built by C or D.
15. The top half of the chassis is unique to the Gravedigger, while the bottom half is the same as every other Monster Jam truck.
16. The truck has a single center seat with a five-point harness.
17. The instrument panel has gauges for low pressure, temperature, voltage, and other vital signs.
18. The truck has an onboard remote ignition interrupter for emergency shutdown.
19. The gas pedal has a tow hook to allow the driver to pull up on the accelerator if it gets stuck.
20. The truck's engine is a Merlin 540 cubic inch supercharged methanol-fueled motor making 1500 horsepower.
21. The engine is mounted in the rear of the truck for better weight distribution.
22. The Gravedigger team was one of the first to mount the engine in the rear of the truck.
23. Monster Jam trucks take abuse and punishment that no other vehicle in the world could withstand.
24. The Monster Jam circuit has 350 shows a year in the US alone.
25. The Gravedigger team sends a truck to every show, and there are nine of these trucks competing and traveling all over the world.