“Bigfoot” is such a legend that it has two identities: the creature that wanders the wilderness and comes out blurry in photographs, and the iconic monster truck.
The automotive version was created by off-roader and construction professional Bob Chandler in the 1970s. He needed quality replacement parts for his 1974 Ford F-250, so he opened his own shop, Midwest Four-Wheel-Drive and Performance Center, in 1975. Chandler installed a 460-cubic-inch V8, military-grade axles, four-wheel steering, and 48-inch tires on his truck to create a vehicle that would show off the parts and craftsmanship his business offered at car shows, tractor pulls, and mud runs.
Oddly enough, it was Chandler who was originally known as Bigfoot because he liked flattening the right pedal and pushing his vehicles to their limits. His company’s promotional truck grew in size and capabilities, eventually becoming known as Bigfoot, too. Chandler and his creation made their first paid public appearance at a Denver car show in 1979.
Since then, there have been 20 other Bigfoots. Twelve of the beasts, including the first one and the fifth one with its 10-feet-tall tires, will appear at the Atlanta Motorama April 18-19.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
