Raminator (truck)

Infobox Monstertruck
name=Raminator & Rammunition

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250px
image_caption=Raminator at the 2006 Boston World of Wheels
owner=Hall Bros. Racing
driver=Mark Hall, Geremie Dishman, Dale Benear
style=2006 Dodge Ram
engine=565 CI. BAE Supercharged Hemi
home_city=Champaign, Illinois
year_created=2002

Raminator and Rammunition are monster trucks that race on the Special Events, Monster Nationals, and Checkered Flag Promotions tours. They are primarily driven by Mark Hall and Geremie Dishman. The team is sponsored by Dodge. Until recently, the team was, along with Team Bigfoot, one of the most high profile teams to not run in the USHRA, although they will be competing in several Monster Jam events in 2007 [ [http://monsterblog.lzsportsource.com/rzb_121207.htm TheMonsterBlog.com - We Know Monster Trucks! ] ] .

History

In 1986, Tim and Mark Hall of Thomasboro, Illinois officially formed 'Hall Brothers Racing', and began campaigning their first creation: the "Heavy Metal" tracked monster truck. The team soon acquired sponsorship from remote control car manufacturer Kyosho. The Halls then created the "Big Boss", their first venture into the world of more traditional "rubber tire trucks", a.k.a. monster trucks as they are known today. "Big Boss" was the first monster truck to derive its paint scheme from that of an RC car, as opposed to the other way around. The "Big Boss" was destroyed during a race in 1991, around the time their first true tube-chassis race monster truck was completed. The truck debuted as "USA-1" as a partnership with Everett Jasmer (with Kyosho and True Value as sponsors), the truck did not run for long with that particular monicker because the Halls wanted to go back out on their own.

"Executioner" would be the new name for the Halls' truck, which went on to campaign very respectably in USHRA (92-Feb 02), Special Events' Penda Series (92-96), USA Motorsports (93-98), and ProMT (00-01). Several custom race chassis built by Hall Brothers Racing carried the "Executioner" nameplate during these years, at first using GMC and Chevrolet bodies, and eventually switching to Dodge bodies just prior to the millennium. The truck featured a recognizeable black & white (later changed to red & white) checkerboard paint scheme, designed and painted originally by Tim Hall and close friend and associate Darrell Wagner. The truck adopted a far more radical paint scheme in 2000, which featured flames, tribal pinstriping, and detailed airbrushing. This scheme appeared on the Dodge bodies only.

Seeing the success the Halls were having as privateers in the monster truck industry, Dodge decided to return to corporate sponsorship of monster truck racing after a nearly six year hiatus (Dodge had formerly sponsored Fred Shafer's Bear Foot team from 1992-1996). After a year of scouting and preparations in 2001, the Dodge division of Daimler-Chrysler signed a three year deal with the Halls. Hall Brothers Racing debuted the first Dodge Raminator truck at a USHRA event in the Pontiac Silverdome in January 2002. The truck ran one more weekend with USHRA, then ceased to compete at any more USHRA events. This would subsequently gain strong support from fans who disagree with Clear Channel Entertainment's spectacle-oriented shows. The team would return to Monster Jam in 2007.

With Mark Hall driving and brother Tim Hall serving as crew chief, the team won 4 of 7 ProMT races in 2002 on route to earning their first championship. With strong showings at Monster Nationals and Special Events races that year as well, along with the addition of the "Rammunition" race truck piloted by rookie Dale Benear, the team exceeded Dodge's expectations.

In 2003, the Halls entered a streak of dominance that had not been seen since Team Bigfoot's 4-straight Penda Series championships. That year, the team clinched the Monster Nationals and Special Events titles (the ProMT series took a hiatus). 2004 would see a repeat, as Hall and Raminator clinched yet another Monster Nationals championship and the combined ProMT/Special Events title as well. 2005 proved to be an even further extension of the team's dominance, as Hall would once again claim the Monster Nationals and Special Events championship honors. These feats on-track combined with the team's ever growing fleet of trucks and dealership appearances would incite Dodge to renew the team's sponsorship through 2007, with an option for further invovlement after that.

In 2002 the team started with one truck (HBR004 chassis as "Raminator") and four team members: Mark Hall, Tim Hall, Dale Benear, and James Wheeler. Since that time, two additional race chassis, a display-only chassis, and a ride truck chassis have been completed and put into service. Currently, Mark Hall pilots the HBR007 "Raminator"; Geremie Dishman in the HBR005 "Rammunition"; Tim Hall remains head crew chief, while crew member Mat Dishman round out the team's program. As of March 2008, team members Dale Benear (driver), Kyle Doyle (ride truck driver/crew member/ occasional driver), Travis Howard (crew chief/transporter driver for Dale Benear), and Darrell Wagner (show truck operator) had departed the team for various reasons.

Hallmarks

Raminator and Rammunition are both among the most feared opponents in racing. The factory backing has allowed for significant performance gains, especially concerning the engine. The team is especially notable for ending Bigfoot's dominance in ProMT and the Special Events series, where the Ford had previously been untouchable.

The horsepower advantage has also translated into high-flying freestyles, although the drivers are markedly more conservative than their Monster Jam counterparts. However, as the Halls have often criticized the destructive nature of USHRA events, and are quick to point out how few rollovers they have had, their conservativism is a point of pride for the team. As a result, the team is tremendously popular with fans who dislike Monster Jam, particularly those who would like to see a racing-exclusive series.

Awards

Monster Truck Racing Association

*1996: Driver of the Year, Mark Hall
*2001: Driver of the Year, Mark Hall; Truck of the Year, Executioner
*2002: Driver of the Year, Mark Hall; Truck of the Year, Raminator Rookie of the Year, Dale Benear - Rammunition
*2003: Driver of the Year, Mark Hall; Truck of the Year, Raminator
*2004: Truck of the Year, Raminator; Rookie of the Year, Geremie Dishman - Rammunition; Mechanic of the Year, Tim Hall; Most Improved, Dale Benear & Travis Howard - Rammunition
*2005: Driver of the Year, Mark Hall; Truck of the Year, Raminator; Safety Award, Tim Hall
*2006: Driver of the Year, Mark Hall; Truck of the Year, Raminator; Safety Award, Kyle Doyle; Most Improved Team Award, Rammunition; Mechanic of the Year, Tim Hall;

ProMT

*Series Champion - 2002, 2004

pecial Events

*Series Champion - 2001 (Executioner), 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Monster Nationals

*Series Champion - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (fastest clinch of the title in the series history)

External links

* [http://www.raminator.com Official Website]

References