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Fred Shafer originally owned the Bear Foot monster truck up until September of
1997. He was one of the first monster truck drivers, with his Chevy Silverado
truck. Fred, who also took part in pro-stock drag racing, got the name for his
truck back in the early days, when he used to be seen driving around with his
two pet American black bears, Sugar & Spice, in the truck bed. Fans seeing the
two bears, started calling the truck Bear Foot, & the name seemed to stick.
Fred drove Chevrolet for 12 years before moving over to a Dodge for the past 6
years. Fred won the world championships three times, along with numerous elapsed
time records, the indoor jumping distance record & held the long distance jump
record for !
Fred sold the truck & name to Paul Shafer of Monster Patrol Inc. (who is no
relation) & a 2-year lease on the shop and garage that Fred used to house Bear
Foot.
The original Bear foot truck was one of the first trucks to use the now standard
size 66-inch Goodyear Terra tires. Bear Foot was also the first monster truck to
ever roll over. It was the first time Fred had let somone else have ago at
driving the beast. He had let friend Paula Harbud (a women!) drive over some
cars, but too much throttle sent the truck up into a wheelie, the truck went
back onto the two wheelie bars, which Fred had on the back of the truck to stop
it from rolling over, but one broke which sent the truck toppling backwards &
the truck landed on it it's roof.
Fred has had 5 Bearfoot trucks in total, one which is a active display truck.
Bear Foots exploits include an appearance on the "Knight Rider" TV series with
David Hasselhoff., in ZZ Tops "Sleeping Bag" music video, & as the cover model
for a popular children's coloring book. The Bear Foot trucks other achievements
include being the USHRA (United States Hot Rod Association) Monster Truck Racing
Championship three times. In 1990, 1992 & 1993. Fred Shafer is also the oldest
monster truck racer still in competition.
recently Dodge decided not to renew it's sponsorship of the truck, sponsors play
an important roll in the financial running of any monster truck racing team. At
the 1997 Truck Fest, Fred took a win on the second day of the event. I had the
pleasure of meeting Fred at the 1997 Truck Fest. He even let me sit in the
truck, while it was sat on top of some crushed cars. He will be missed from the
sport. Paul Shafer who also owns Monster Patrol, will surely race the truck real
hard ! Source:
Monster Trucks UK |
