Monster truck photo album

USA-1

Yesterday 2/22/8 I spent about 1 hour on the phone with Everett. I had a request from a fan to ask if he could take his child to meet Everett. Everett said by all means, let everyone know that he is not untouchable, just give him a call. He is thrilled to talk with and meet the fans. He says "I'm just a good ol boy" he doesn't want to be treated like a star, just a person. So give him a call (763) 434-8813.

Everett Jasmer

The proper name of the truck is USA-1 owned by Everett Jasmer. When I found these pictures of the truck, I asked if anyone knew what truck it was. I was told that it was the Big Blue Ox. Well that name was printed in a magazine when USA-1 got it's first full coverage. The writer of the article took it upon himself to call it the Big Blue Ox because of it being from the state of Minnesota, the home of Paul Bunyan. Everett brought it to their attention, and they did print a small we messed up article in a later issue. But it has been many years since then and it is obvious to me which article everyone remembered. So now I would like to help set the record straight and forget the Big Blue Ox name. The blue truck is the original USA-1.

Everett gave me these 5 pictures.

I took these pictures with a video capture card from a video I bought.

OWNER: Everett Jasmer of Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. He now resides in Ham Lake, Minnesota

VEHICLE: 1970 Chevy

ENGINE: 540 cu.in. Can-Am

CARBURETION: 2 Predator 6,000 series carbs atop a 6-71 GMC blower and a nitrous oxide system

HORSEPOWER: 1,000

TRANSMISSION: TH400

RUNNING GEAR: T-223 Rockwell transfer case, and 5 ton Rockwell military axles with Detroit lockers and Warn lockout hubs

SUSPENSION: custom leafs and 16 Rancho shocks

TIRES: 66x43x25 inch Goodyear Terras

FEATURES: 6 KC Daylighters, Westin rear bumper, Warn reflection front bumper, Stull tube grill, full tilt body, and a Warn winch.

WEIGHT: 12,000 lbs.

HEIGHT: 11 feet

WIDTH: 11 feet

COST TO BUILD: $150,000.00

This truck was one of the first generation Monster Trucks. Everett has explained to me that when he built the truck he was not aware of the other three trucks that were also built at the same time frame. To his knowledge at the time, he had built a one of a kind original. Everett came from a Drag Racing background so being a mechanic is what he knew. Everything on his truck he built himself. Some of Everett's innovations to the Monster Truck Industry were drive line disc brakes, hydraulic steering, the full tilt body, and some other innovations that were then used by other monster truck builders.

The reason we don't see a USA-1 competing today was also explained to me. Everett, coming from a background of Drag Racing, wanted to see the sport go in the direction of a legitimate motorsport. As you may recall, back in 1988 USA-1 was crowned the very first National Champion on the Renegade/TNT Motorsports Tour. Everett was on top of the Monster Truck world in what I would call the only real racing points championship circuit ever in the history of the sport. Things were going in the right direction. Then the promoters took over the sport and made it show bizz, rather than a legitimate motorsport. Everett calls what we see today "Professional Wrestling on Wheels." Everett had started a third USA-1 race truck, but before the truck was completed, the sport started going in a direction that Everett did not want to be a part of. Everett still has the trucks parked in his shop but he is standing by his principles and they will not come out to the WWF mentality of todays monster truck shows. Over the years he has been trying to get things going in the direction of a legitimate motorsport again, but it looks like a lost cause. I firmly agree with his ideas, and do not like where the sport has gone. Even though we don't see you out there Everett you have a long time fan and friend with me, and I don't think I am alone.

On a more personal note. Those that know me, know how excited I get when I get to talk to or meet another Driver-Owner. Well you can image my surprise when the phone rang and the voice coming from the other end was one that I had heard so many times on TV. I knew right away who it was, and I started shaking and getting all nervous like a school boy. After a couple minutes talking to him however I calmed right down and realized that the man was just a nice guy that got to live out my dreams. Thank you for calling me and brightening my day Everett, it means a lot to me.