Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Watch Grave Digger kick a man when he's down, monster truck-style]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/watch-grave-digger-kick-a-man-when-hes-down-monster-truck-styl/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/watch-grave-digger-kick-a-man-when-hes-down-monster-truck-styl/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/watch-grave-digger-kick-a-man-when-hes-down-monster-truck-styl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Grave Digger jumps over Maximum Destruction

Our automotive leanings generally favor cars that sit down close to the ground, with low-profile tires and suspension travel measured in the inches. Still, a good helping of Monster Jam never hurts, and it can be fun to watch machines with mondo-size rubber and a few generous feet worth of springs and shocks jumping hither and thither off platforms, ramps and, of course, other cars.

If nothing else, monster truck drivers know how to put on a good show. Evidence supporting this fact can be seen down below, where Grave Digger is freestyling a dirt course with all the expected obstacles, plus one: another truck that goes by the name Maximum Destruction. For those unaware, these two outfits are longtime rivals that have been lining up against each other for the last decade or so.

Wanna see how Grave Digger treats his mortal enemy, even after it has fallen in battle? Scroll down below to watch the video.

Continue reading Watch Grave Digger kick a man when he's down, monster truck-style

Watch Grave Digger kick a man when he's down, monster truck-style originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grave diggermaimum destructionmonster jammonster truckmonster truck freestylemonster truck jumpmonster truck videoTue, 05 Feb 2013 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20448338/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/05/watch-grave-digger-kick-a-man-when-hes-down-monster-truck-styl/20448338/article-detail.xml 20448338 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/grave-digger-max-d_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/grave-digger-max-d.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Car and Driver</i> dissects the physics of monster trucks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/car-and-driver-dissects-the-physics-of-monster-trucks/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/car-and-driver-dissects-the-physics-of-monster-trucks/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/car-and-driver-dissects-the-physics-of-monster-trucks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ram-bodied monster truck crushing Mazda

It doesn't really matter what age you are, we can all agree that monster trucks are awesome. How can you argue with a 20-foot tall tube-frame harbinger of destruction, mowing down row after row derelict cars and trucks? Every "SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!," somewhere in America, a dirt-filled arena is hosting this spectacle of high-horsepower automotive carnage.

For the more mathematically inclined, monster trucks are a also feat of engineering, sending over 10,000 pounds hurtling through the air at 30+ mph. To this end, Car and Driver has put together a little breakdown of the physics behind these beasts. For instance, a monster truck needs 1,500 horsepower, developed from a supercharged, alcohol-fueled V8 to rocket into the air at a 45-degree angle at 40 miles per hour. The likes of Bigfoot and Gravedigger reach a peak altitude of 32.5 feet, moving through the air at 32 miles per hour.

When a monster truck makes its descent, things get interesting. A direct landing can come down with the force of 25,500 pounds. That's enough to turn a Crown Victoria or Oldsmobile 88 into a doormat.

Some other fun facts: two-thirds or roughly 7,000 pounds of a monster truck is unsprung weight. In the main, that means the wheels, axles and rubber. The tires themselves are about 66 inches tall.

C/D explains that with the four-wheel steering systems on these behemoths, these trucks can maintain spins in a nearly inverted turning radius. As their speed rises, the center of gravity pushes to the outer wheels, and the truck can topple over.

Hold on to your corn dogs.

Car and Driver dissects the physics of monster trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigfootcar and drivergrave diggermonster jammonster truckmonster trucksphysicssuperchargerSat, 28 Jul 2012 08:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20287674/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/28/car-and-driver-dissects-the-physics-of-monster-trucks/20287674/article-detail.xml 20287674 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/monster-truck-ram-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/monster-truck-ram-628.jpg <![CDATA[Conan drives Grave Digger monster truck]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/conan-drives-grave-digger-monster-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/conan-drives-grave-digger-monster-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/conan-drives-grave-digger-monster-truck/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Conan O'Brien drives Grave Digger monster truck

While Conan O'Brien may not be the car guy that Jay Leno is, for our money, he's funnier. Especially when he's doing vehicular bits on air, in this case, rubbing elbows with monster truck drivers.

But Coco doesn't just play the redneck card and point and laugh. He actually suits up in full Nomex and drives one of the most famous monster trucks of all time, Grave Digger. While Conan's performance behind the wheel is pretty tame by Monster Jam standards, he sure seems like he's having fun and it translates into some laugh-out-loud comedy.

No matter how you might feel about the sport of crushing derelict vehicles, we're pretty sure there's some little part of everyone that would like to get behind the wheel of one of these awesome trucks and unleash 1,500 horses of destruction at least once in their life.

Click past the jump to watch the full video.

Continue reading Conan drives Grave Digger monster truck

Conan drives Grave Digger monster truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cococonanconan obrienconan obrien monster truckgrave diggermonster jammonster trucksteam cocoteamcocoMon, 05 Mar 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20185920/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/05/conan-drives-grave-digger-monster-truck/20185920/article-detail.xml 20185920 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/conan-drives-grave-digger-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/conan-drives-grave-digger-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Watch Son-uva Digger monster truck perform huge backflip]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/01/video-watch-son-uva-digger-monster-truck-perform-huge-backflip/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/01/video-watch-son-uva-digger-monster-truck-perform-huge-backflip/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/01/video-watch-son-uva-digger-monster-truck-perform-huge-backflip/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sonuvadigger backflip
Son-uva Digger backflip - Click above to watch video after the jump

Ryan Anderson is the son of monster truck legend and Grave Digger owner/driver Dennis Anderson, which makes him monster truck royalty. Despite his privileged place among the elites in the high court of methanol and fairgrounds, the young Anderson doesn't spend much time riding his father's coattails.

While Ryan may have used his father's success as a launch pad, the Grave Digger heir apparent is eager to prove himself worthy of the crown. Anderson showed this at Monster Jam 2011 in Las Vegas, executing an awesome monster truck backflip. This may not be the first time a monster truck has ever flipped end over end, but it's certainly the biggest one yet. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Watch Son-uva Digger monster truck perform huge backflip

Video: Watch Son-uva Digger monster truck perform huge backflip originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dennis andersongrave diggerlas vegasmonster jamryan andersonson+of+a+diggerson+of+a+digger+monster+truckson+of+diggerson-uva diggersonofadiggersonofadiggermonstertrucksonofdiggerFri, 01 Apr 2011 19:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19899019/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/01/video-watch-son-uva-digger-monster-truck-perform-huge-backflip/19899019/article-detail.xml 19899019 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/son-uva-digger-flip_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/son-uva-digger-flip.jpg <![CDATA[Happy Halloween from Autoblog]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-from-autoblog/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-from-autoblog/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-from-autoblog/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Smashing a giant pumpkin with Grave Digger - Click above to watch the video

Those punk kids who TP your neighborhoods and smash pumpkins on mischief night? Rank amateurs. If you want to do something, do it right - an idea that Conan O'Brien clearly has a handle on. Hence, when it came time to smash a pumpkin on The Tonight Show, he procured the world's largest, and the blunt instrument he calls upon to do the smashing is Dennis Anderson's Grave Digger. You all know how this ends. The video's posted after the jump. Thanks to Shawn for the heads-up!

[Source: NBC via YouTube]

Continue reading Happy Halloween from Autoblog

Happy Halloween from Autoblog originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conan obrienConanObriendennis andersonDennisAndersongrave diggerGraveDiggermischief nightMischiefNightpumpkin smashPumpkinSmashsmashing pumpkinsSmashingPumpkinsthe tonight showTheTonightShowSat, 31 Oct 2009 09:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19217603/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-from-autoblog/19217603/article-detail.xml 19217603 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/gravedigger_pumpkinsmash_630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/gravedigger_pumpkinsmash_630.jpg -1 2