Grave Digger (monster truck)

History

Grave Digger started out as a mud bogging truck that Dennis Anderson put together in 1982 from junked parts, most notably the body of a red 1952 Ford pickup. The name came from Anderson’s response to other racers making fun of his salvaged ride: he told them he would use that old junk to dig them a grave. His reckless, go-for-broke driving style quickly made him a local fan favorite.

At one event, a monster truck that was supposed to appear didn’t show up. Anderson, who already had big tractor tires on his truck, volunteered to crush cars instead. The promoter said yes, and Grave Digger was such a hit as a car crusher that Anderson switched from mud bogging to monster trucks full-time.

In 1984 he rebuilt it as a proper monster truck, using a 1951 Ford panel van body painted silver and blue. The now-iconic black graveyard paint job first appeared in 1986, and Anderson started racing full-time. For the next two years he competed mainly in TNT Motorsports events, winning over crowds with his hard-charging style even though he didn’t have the budget of top teams like Bigfoot. In 1987, he beat Bigfoot in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and went on to win the whole race on a show taped for ESPN—Grave Digger’s first big victory.

Anderson switched to a new truck, Grave Digger 2, in 1989, which had a 1950 Chevy panel van body, while his brother Leslie drove the original. During this period the truck became famous for its wild, aggressive runs, and “Bad To The Bone” became its signature song. TNT started pushing Grave Digger heavily, especially on the Tuff Trax TV series, helped by Bigfoot sitting out the 1989 points championship.

Trucks

A total of 45 Grave Digger monster trucks have been built over the years, and five are still competing today. The very first Grave Digger started out as a mud racing truck built from a 1951 Ford pickup. In 1985, it was turned into a proper monster truck using a 1951 Ford panel van body. That rebuilt version, known as "Grandma," now sits on display at Digger's Dungeon.

For the 25th anniversary celebration at World Finals 8 in 2007, a replica of the original setup was put together using leftover parts from the rebuild; that replica is also at Digger's Dungeon. Grave Digger #2 came along in 1989, built from a 1950 Chevrolet panel van. Its body style became the template for every Grave Digger that followed.

The original steel body was swapped out for a fiberglass one not long after. In late 1990, a bad crash snapped the frame, and the truck was pulled from full-time competition. In 1994, parts from it, including the original steel body, were used to build a special truck so Dennis Anderson could drive across Currituck Sound for a charity stunt. Adam Anderson fully restored #2 in 2016 using that original body, and it is now on display at Digger's Dungeon.

Grave Digger #3 hit the scene in 1991. It was the first to use a steel-tube-framed chassis with a four-link suspension. It was sold in late 1999 and is now owned by Jimmy Durr, who calls it "Slag Hag." Grave Digger #4 ran from 1991 to 1993 under a franchise deal with Jack Koberna for West Coast events. It had a traditional frame, leaf-spring suspension, and a fiberglass body.

After that franchise ended, Pablo Huffaker took over with a similar deal, using his second Jus' Show'N Off truck (a tube-framed model from 1991) fitted with the body from #4. He drove it as Grave Digger from 1993 to 1995. Grave Digger #5 was built in 1991 using a new frame and parts salvaged from #2, including the fiberglass body and leaf-spring suspension.

It only competed until 1992, then became a display truck. Its parts were later taken for the restoration of #2, and the frame was sold. Grave Digger #6, also built in 1991, was called "Street Digger" and was a street-legal display truck. Its parts eventually went into a mega truck now known as "Old Number Six." Grave Digger #7 debuted in 1992, got a major rebuild in 1999, retired in 2005, and is now on permanent display at Digger's Dungeon.

Hallmarks

Grave Digger's origins, imagery, and wild reputation are considered part of its mystique and have contributed to its continued popularity. The paint scheme, combining green flames, letters dripping blood, a foggy graveyard scene with tombstones bearing names of competitors, a haunted house silhouetted by a full moon, and a giant skull-shaped ghost, has remained close to the first incarnation from 1986. A visible trademark is the red headlights that glow during competition.

These lights were first used when Anderson was building a transporter out of a school bus and removed the red stop lights; realizing they would fit in the van's headlights, he installed them, and the truck has had them ever since. Anderson became known for destructive qualifying passes that entertained crowds but often put the truck out of competition for the rest of the event. With the advent of freestyle, Anderson gained a way to entertain with wild stunts while focusing on winning races.

Today, regardless of driver, Grave Digger is traditionally the last truck to freestyle at most events, providing the grand finale. The truck's immense popularity has made it the flagship of Monster Jam, and there is debate over whether it has taken the title of most popular monster truck from Bigfoot. The Grave Digger vs. Bigfoot rivalry remains one of the strongest in the sport, though the teams have not raced each other regularly since the late 1990s.

Digger's Dungeon

Digger's Dungeon, located in Poplar Branch, North Carolina, is the official home of Grave Digger. It includes a gift shop and several Grave Diggers displayed outside, including Grave Digger 1. Various pieces of other Grave Diggers, damaged from accidents, hang throughout the store. The venue hosted the 2010 No Limit R/C Monster Truck World Finals, the largest RC monster truck event in the world.