European Pro Monster Truck Race Series Grows for Second Enfield Weekend

28 August 2003

MTR Promotions and Showmasters International were again the hosts for the rounds 4 to 7 of the European ProMT Racing Series. And what racing it was, with new American import Blown Thunder and Wales’s best Thunderfoot both in attendance swelling the starting line up to six trucks.

The MTR and Showmasters teams had once again done a fantastic job in laying out and preparing the track, making some subtle and not so subtle changes to the ramps. The biggest changes were on the landing side, to aid with major air for the freestyle competition.

It’s only just over a month since the last race at this venue, so the MTR staff were a little concerned that the locals, may have been “monster’d out” and not turn up. How wrong can you be! The biggest crowds yet turned out, breaking records on both days.

The sun was shining, the crowds were in and the trucks were ready, so it was time for the action to begin, and begin it did…

The running order for qualifying was once again drawn from a hat, and ironic it was that the two trucks expected to supply many of the fireworks BIGFOOT and Thunderfoot were drawn first in each lane. This leads to both trucks posting competitive but not chart topping times.

The first race of the day saw new dad (his wife Claire gave birth one and a half days prior to the event) Tony Dixon in Swamp Thing run against Slaine with Dave (the hedgehogs made me do it) Crossland. Dave knows that he needs to get his tube framed truck finished, but we all admire his spirit as he runs the leaf spring Slaine so hard that his teeth must surely come loose. Tony still takes the win by a comfortable margin.

Race two is the first chance for new boy Trevor Stimpson to run head to head in a true race. There is no doubt amongst all of his competitors that Trevor has purchased a very competitive truck, but he still needs more seat time to run with the big dogs, and it’s the experience of Drew LaLa (he looks like a Telly Tubby in his fire suit) Thornton who keeps Wild Child on the cars to take the win from the enthusiastic, but as yet inexperienced Trevor.

Race three is the one the racers have been waiting for. Former European MTRA tech director and the first man in the UK to build his own state of the art tube frame racing monster truck Tim Barks is drawn against long-term friend and friendly rival Nigel Morris in BIGFOOT #17. For many this is the clash of titans, Tim could not make the last races due to prior commitments, and has long wanted to race a BIGFOOT. Nigel knew that Thunderfoot is the benchmark against which all UK trucks are judged, could he and BIGFOOT rise to this serious challenge?

Both trucks staged with some care, red light, amber, then green! The wonderfully defining noise of two 500cuin methanol motors being stamped on fills the air, two jumps, one with two cars and one with four have to be negotiated before the turn. Tim makes it to the turn first, maybe carrying too much speed, or possibly needing more grip than his shaved tyres can offer he power slides around the turn, only to find that Nigel in BIGFOOT has made a tighter turn and is now just in front heading for the final set of six cars. Both drivers keep their trucks nailed through the finish line. The result was so close that all three finish line judges were called to give an opinion, BIGFOOT #17 by half a wheel length!

With the heat races done it was on to the semi finals. Race one winner Swamp Thing was drawn against fastest loser Thunderfoot in the first semi final. Again the closeness of the racing stunned everyone with Tony and Tim both running very hard. Tony was a little surprised but more than delighted when he took the win!

Semi #2 saw BIGFOOT #17 against stable mate Wild Child. This race could have gone down to the wire also, but Wild Child driver Drew (LaLa) Thornton clipped the very large hay bales used to mark the apex of the turn, and had to make a steering adjustment that sent him way off to the side, handing an easy win to BIGFOOT.

And so on to the final between the hard charging new dad Tony Dixon, and BIGFOOT. Starting marshal Ian Batey kept the trucks staged for what must have felt to the drivers as an eternity. Another mighty roar and they were tearing up the track. Again it’s BIGFOOT who is fractionally slower in getting to that oh so important turn on this demanding J shaped course. But again it is BIGFOOT driver Nigel Morris who makes the better, tighter turn and is chasing Tony hard as they head for the final cars. BIGFOOT takes the win by the smallest of margins.

The action continued with racing and freestyle events over the weekend, with BIGFOOT and Swamp Thing extending their lead in the championship, but with new-boy Thunderfoot bursting into third place. The current standings are as follows...

Monster Truck	Race Points	Freestyle Points
BIGFOOT 17	300	180
Swamp Thing	250	155
Thunderfoot	135	100
Wild Child	120	40
Slaine	45	115
Blown Thunder	25	0

Check back with MSport-UK.com and Monster4x4.co.uk for details of future races.

Related Story 21.07.2003 - Bigfoot Takes Maiden Win of European Pro MT Race Series

Event images available now.