I have been an avid Grave Digger fan for many years.  I went to my first truck and tractor pull in St. Louis Missouri when I was around 6 years old.  The first time I saw a monster truck crush cars I was overwhelmed.  Of course there wasn't much to it...driving slowly onto the cars and all of the glass bursting out. But to a small farm boy it was unbelievable!  I was hooked from then on.  I have only missed around 7 or 8 monster truck events in St. Louis since and now I am 29 years old, along with many other events at fairgrounds all over Missouri. 

Over the years, I have watched Grave Digger and the history of monster trucks grow. Many have come and gone but Dennis Anderson is still going strong.  Without Dennis Anderson monster trucks wouldn't be what they are today.  Dennis's drive to the top was unstoppable!  He could take this poor boy mud truck and do things in it that were amazing.  It is still that way today.  There is something magical when he gets behind the wheel. It is almost like he becomes the truck and you never know what might happen next!

My brother's high school buddy, Danny Aytes, built a monster truck called Little Rascal in the late 80's.  I was just a kid, but I spent many nights in the garage helping where I could. I pit crewed for him a little but it was an old school lead sled truck and without sponsorship, racing it didn't last long. Everything seemed to change overnight. The trucks became lighter and faster. We just couldn't keep up.  It is just sitting now, along with many others throughout the Midwest.   I really miss those days of tiring up and down. It is a lot of work but also a lot of fun.  It was fun just trying to keep the old monster truck held together.

I have really enjoyed watching this sport grow into what it is today.  Dennis has had a huge part in that and I think he is a remarkable man.  I have never had the chance to actually talk to him one on one.  I have many autographs but have never had the chance to talk to him. (Although I know that if there weren’t tons of people behind me in line, he would). I know that Dennis would sign autographs all day long if he could. That is what I like most about him.  He has the gift to instill something positive in all walks of people. Someday I hope to go to Digger's Dungeon and meet the legend face to face and have the opportunity to reminisce about the history of Grave Digger and monster trucks. I would also like to go to Vegas someday to see the World Finals.  But until then, I will continue to build my toys. 

Most of the trucks I have built from are Hot Wheels, Monster Jam Trucks, and Ertl Toy Tractors.  I find a lot of my parts from broken toys at garage sales and antique stores.  The Hot Wheels Ford Panel truck makes a great Grave Digger.  I try to build trucks they don't make toys of.  I found some old Ertl Farm Buildings and houses.  After pondering for a while I saw Digger's Dungeon.  All of the pieces I've built just kind of came to me.  I suppose when you have Grave Digger on the brain, the possibilities are endless!!  My wife says that I am obsessed, but to me it is an inexpensive hobby that I can share with my kids.  My 2 year old little girl can pick out every Grave Digger Truck out of around 300 trucks that I have collected over the years.  My 6 year old son has a pretty good collection going too.  I have seen these machines come along way and with Dennis and Digger. Maybe it's just a beginning to a whole new world of monster trucks.  I'd give anything to get down on the track during an event again.  I miss the relationship of the crews and the drivers. It is truly a big family down there, the way everyone helps each other out.  It has always been that way in this sport.  You don't see that in many other racing sports.  But these guys want to beat you fair and square in your truck. It's not just who drives better, it's engineering vs. engineering. I think that it is the best family oriented sport today.  It is on the edge of your seat; don't know what is going to happen next, heart pounding, adrenalin pumping, non stop action, and sport (and the tickets are still reasonable to take your whole family without "breaking the bank").

Dave Gorrell