Samson

Body:

1998 Chevrolet Silverado/3D Design by GTS Fiberglass

Chassis:

Dan Patrick Enterprises, Inc. - Monster Truck Racing Chassis

Weight:

10,350 lbs

Engine:

572 Cubic Inch Keith Black Hemi

Transmission:

4 speed Lenco with air shift

Shocks:

8 Nitrogen Charged - SCS Gearbox & Patrick Enterprises, Inc.,

Tires:

Goodyear 66x43x25

Dan Patrick started his motorsports amateur career at the age of 17, competing with multiple engine tractor pulls at the local and state levels. In 1983, Dan began devoting all of his time to the pulling competitions, traveling the United States and Canada, placing seventh in overall points in the modified tractor class. In February of 1984, Dan participated in the first motorsports event in Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, driving KING CRAZY, the Pulling Funny Car. In 1985 Patrick’s modified two wheel drive Pulling Funny Car named “WARLORD”, became so well known that PLAYSKOOL TOY COMPANY built a replica of the car and featured it in a cartoon series called, SST MUSCLE MACHINES, that is still being aired today in some areas. Dan’s success was noticed by drag racing legend, Tom “The Mongoo$e” McEwen, who approached Dan about forming a partnership along with the COORS Brewery of Golden, Colorado. 1986 and 1987 found Patrick campaigning two puller funny cars for COORS with great success, and in 1987 he built and introduced the first dragster style puller.

Dan extended his operation in 1988 by purchasing the very popular SAMSON® monster truck and joined United Sports of America’s MOTOR SPECTACULAR events as a monster truck competitor. In 1989, Bigfoot 4x4, Inc., creator and owner, Bob Chandler, approached Dan to help design and build the next generation of Bigfoot monster trucks. Patrick worked in the construction of Bigfoot # 8, 9 and 10. Throughout this period, Dan was also a Bigfoot driver and continued to travel with his own monster truck under the name of COORS EXTRA GOLD SAMSON®. Today, Dan continues his association with the Bigfoot organization by building chassis for the team and remains involved in other Bigfoot ventures.

Dan was approached to build a monster truck around the hit television series, AMERICAN GLADIATORS. The all new 3-D design SAMSON® muscle truck debuted in January of 1993 and has performed across the country gaining in popularity with every show. In 1993, Dan received the Solid as a Rock Chevrolet award in the Monster Truck division.

The 1994 season brought new opportunities for Dan to participate in the nationally televised PENDA POINT SERIES Monster Truck Competition. In his rookie season, Dan finished 5th in overall points and was the first monster truck ever to beat the magic 5 second mark with a run of 4.983 at the Bloomsburg, PA Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals. SAMSON® was also the first Chevrolet in the winner circle since the summer of 1992. Dan went on to pick up his first win of the season at the Bloomsburg, PA event. 1994, Dan was honored with the Monster Truck Racing Association, Truck of the Year and the Sportsmanship Award.

February of 1996, Dan Patrick’s monster truck SAMSON® was selected to represent monster truck racing at the grand opening of the world’s first motorsports theme restaurant, RACE ROCK CAFE in Orlando, Florida. The truck is on permanent display inside the restaurant along with other racing notables, such as Richard Petty, John Force, Don Prudhomme, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Dave Schultz and others from all forms of motorsports.

In the fall of 1996, MICROSOFT released Monster Truck Madness, a computer CD ROM simulation game, which features SAMSON® along with other monster trucks. The overwhelming success of this game has prompted MICROSOFT to release Monster Truck Madness II in March of 1998. Also in 1996, Dan received the Monster Truck Racing Association, Sportsmanship Award and the first ever, Wreck of the Year Award, resulting from the infamous rollover at Bloomsburg, PA.

January of 1997, SAMSON® was one of a limited number of Monster Trucks selected to participate in USA Motorsport’s first prime time live television series called “Motor Madness”, which aired on The Nashville Network. For the second consecutive year, TNN aired Motor Spectacular events on Friday nights in 1998. June of 1997, Patrick Enterprises, Inc., was awarded a Patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington D.C., for the 3-D Body design of the SAMSON® Monster Truck. In the fall of 1997, SAMSON® was featured in an article printed in the Design News and Control Engineering magazines, promoting the Micrologix 1000 controller. SAMSON® ended the 1997 year finishing 3rd in the Special Events Points Series, the highest finish ever in that particular series. November 29, 1997, Dan debuted the new and improved SAMSON® in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Metrodome, with a totally new paint design! December 1997, Dan was awarded the Monster Truck Racing Association Safety Award. To keep on top of the constant changes with Monster Truck Racing, Dan was elected by the Monster Truck Racing Association members to represent the SFI FOUNDATION, INC., in 1998. The SFI FOUNDATION, INC., is a non-profit organization established to issue and administer standards for specialty/performance automotive and racing equipment. Dan has held the position of the Monster Truck Racing Association Rules Director from 1994 - 1998. April - May 1998, Dan was selected by CBS EYE WITNESS to be featured in a documentary on Monster Trucks and the alternative lifestyle associated with the business. A crew traveled with Dan from Califonia to Ohio and covered several racing events as well as seeing his operation at home and meeting his family. The program, CBS “EYE ON PEOPLE”, aired in October. December 1998 - A book named Monster Trucks & Tractors, the Racing Legend Series, was published by Chelsey House Publishers. A chapter featured Dan and SAMSON®. The educational book was published for schools and libraries. December 1998, Dan was awarded by the MONSTER TRUCK RACING ASSOCIATION, the Safety Award and the Truck of the Year award. December 1999 – Dan Patrick and SAMSON were featured in a TV special on THE LEARNING CHANNNEL. The program, “The Secret World of Monster Trucks”, was filmed at the Special Events 14th Annual 4 Wheel Drive & Off Road Jamboree in Lima, Ohio, May 14-16, 1999. The air date on THE LEARNING CHANNEL was December 18, 1999 at 8pm Eastern. Dan and SAMSON® participated in the new 2000 TRUXPO Truck Tour Monster Truck Racing Series, sanctioned by ProMT (Professional Monster Trucks) and promoted by ISC (International Speedway Corporation). This was the first series of its kind to be held exclusively at major motorsports facilities including Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway , Nazareth Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. This series was a points race with a field of 12 Monster Trucks. It was a great experience for the participants and spectators alike!! There was a lot of great racing enjoyed by all. We look forward to the 2001 season. Dan travels with SAMSON® to an average of 40 to 45 events per year, which is approximately 100 shows. The unique design of the SAMSON® truck and Dan’s custom built transporter, equipped with living quarters, hospitality lounge, and a repair shop are easily recognized by fans and stand out from the competition. Besides traveling, Dan owns and operates a machine shop and chassis building business, and has built 11 complete monster trucks and 34 chassis’s for his competitors. Overall, Patrick has had 12 years experience in Monster Truck Racing and 16 years experience in Truck & Tractor Pulling. Patrick is married to Chris and has two daughters, Natalie, 20 and Allison, 16. Dan’s professionalism and first class operation has earned him a loyal following of fans and great respect from his peers through the years.