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"STURGES MONSTER TRUCKS"
Company Profile
A California native, Sam Sturges worked as a mechanic at a GM Dealership for many years, and became interested in dune buggies and mud bogs. After a few months, he built a VW buggy made for the mud and raced consistantly around the Western United States. His most profitable buggy was "SPYDER II" which could often be seen racing on the USA mud drags circuit in the early eighties. A big move to Arizona, to be closer to family, proved to change his life.
As time went on, Sam started to see an increase of interest in Monster Tanks and a lot of fans were head over heels for the action. He then started to design and build with Gary Ely, two monster tanks that would make their mark in Monster Truck History. "DADDY'S GIRL" and "GENERAL" blew onto the racing scene in 1989-1990. Teamed with the "SUN DEVIL" Jeep Mud Dragster, fans loved the combination. Running from coast to coast, Sam and crew were getting the response they had hoped for; success.
As the tank era went on, Sam and Gary Ely decided to move on in their careers and sold the tanks to USA Motorsports. USA Motorsports marketed the tanks in Australia, North America, Canada and South America. The tanks were often piloted by Jim & Paula Harbuck, and the legend continued.
Sam began construction on his first Monster Ride Truck "KOOL BUS" in the early 90's, and received a phone call from the most unlikely place......Hollywood! A Hollywood production company wanted Sam to build a Monster Tank for their made for TV movie. Sam always helpful, said "Sure, why not?". The tank would feature handfuls of huge steel spikes, integrated into the tank's body. The design was purely Sam's, as the only instruction he was given was, "...as if it were out of a bad dream..." that's all sam needed. Never bowing to the power gods in defeat, Sam also dropped in a 500 cubic inch Blown & Injected Chevrolet engine. Sam's explanation for all thiss excess, "It's gotta sound like a bad dream too. Besides, I don't drive 55." The new tank "Mad Trax", had it's debut in "Knight Rider 2000". It tore through fences, and chased KITT down a street, with Sam playing the role of a "psycho Tank Driver".
However, "Mad Trax" was not a one-trick pony. Sam took the tank to various exhibitions around the Western United States, and then parked it, so he could finish his "Kool Bus" Monster Ride Truck.
"Kool Bus" a 1956 Chevrolet School Bus, debuted in 1992 and sam had an instant winner. Marketed around the country, Sam has given rides to over one million people. From the success of the "Kool Bus", Sam started to feel the need for speed again. So with a few calls to Mike West of West Coast Bad Boyz, Sam had a new ride. Sam had traded Mike, "Mad Trax" for one of his racing trucks, "Unnamed & Untamed". Sam quickly made the drive to Oklahoma, swapped the tank for the truck and headed back to Arizona.
After rigorous cleaning and re-painting, Sam and his crew headed out on the road with "Kool Bus" and "Unnamed & Untamed" in tow. Synonymous for the wild wheelies and high powered shows, Sam quickly became a crowd favorite in Monster Truck Racing.
In 1997, Sam was approached by Grave Digger 4x4 and Dennis Anderson. Dennis liked the "Kool Bus" and needed to have a "Grave Digger" ride truck on the West Coast for his fans. So, Sam and Dennis reached an agreement, and the "Grave Digger-Boneyard Shuttle" was born. A hot new paint job was placed on the bright yellow bus, to give it the real "Grave Digger" look.
Since the creation of the "Kool Bus", Sam's nephews, Ronnie and Travis became sharp crew members and started to show an interest in driving "Unnamed..." in competition. Sam gave Travis, the older nephew an oppurtunity to drive "Unnamed..." in competition. Travis' first race was agains Terry Woodckock in the "Heartbreak Kid" Monster Truck. Terry won the race, but not before Travis' gave him a run for the money. Travis had proven that the sturges' bloodline loves to race hard.
In 1998, Sam's second crew member Ronnie, also wanted to try his hand at racing "Unnamed...". Ronnie's first race was in Bakersfield, CA., and was placed against Paul Huffaker in "Grave Digger". Ronnie blew Paul right off the line, and flew over the cars, beating Paul and surprising everyone in attendance. Ronnie finished that night in true fasion, with a wild freestyle and showing he can do wheelies just as good as "Uncle Sam". It was clear to all of the racers and the promotion staff; Ronnie has started a career.
Ronnie had a new position, driver of "Unnamed...", and Sam wanted to concentrate more on the "Digger Bus". It was going to happen eventually, with the wild driving style, a rollover was in ronnies future. In July '98, Ronnies had his first rollover in San Jose, CA.. It was'nt pretty, but the colors of pink and Green, were on their way out.
Repairs in Watsonvill, CA. later that week prompted Sam and Crew to make an aesthetic change. So after major reconstruction, Sam had the '42 Dodge painted back to yellow.
It didn't last very long until Ronnie's wild driving style would again bring a visit from the bad luck demons. The second rollover occured in Bakersfield, CA. in October '98. Two days after that show in Adelanto, CA. it rolled a third time, due to a shock malfunction. The third time really broke up the "old girl" and Sam saw what was needed for the future.
So in 4 weeks of December '98, Sam and John Avenetti (long time friend) began construction, from the ground up on a new "Unnamed...". The truck was finished on December 31, 1998 and the paint was drying on the way to it's first show in Reno Nevada on January 1, 1999. Not much room for mistake.