American Guardian was a Chevrolet Silverado monster truck owned by Dan and Gilda Galvis out of Leyden, Massachusetts. The truck is best known for being driven by Rick Raab, out of Perkasie, Pennsylvania. The truck is also known for its flame jet on the back of the truck, which was activated during the truck's freestyles, as well as to have three flags on the back of it at times (most trucks only had two at the most).
History[]
1990's[]
In 1996, the American Guardian debuts on the former Buffalo Tremor III with Joe Bagdonas behind the wheel. The truck soon gets the iconic American eagle as part of the paint scheme and a flame jet is added to the rear of the truck. In 1998, Joe Bagdonas leaves and Jack Robinson takes over driving duties for the American Guardian.
2000's[]
In 2000, Jack Robinson leaves and Ron Stanwood takes over the driving duties for the truck. Stanwood also participated in a major televised event with American Guardian in the 3rd major stadium show of the 2001 season in St. Louis.
In 2002, Rick Raab becomes the driver for the truck. The truck also gets a new body and a slightly updated paint scheme with a lightning pattern. It would win freestyle in Toronto.
In 2003, the truck gets a new chassis and engine placement. The chassis is rebuilt after the winter season. The truck also takes part in the Thunder Nationals events during the year. Raab also wins racing in all of the 3 Rochester shows. He would win all 3 of the wheelie competitions and win freestyle during the 3rd show.
In 2004, the truck gets a new updated body and a slightly updated scheme. The chassis frame is also repainted dark blue and the shocks would be repainted red. Raab competed in his first televised event in some time in Tampa. He was eliminated by Gunslinger in the first round of racing. Later that night, he gave one of his best televised freestyle performances for American Guardian by logging a score of 26 and finishing in the top 5 for the freestyle event in a 3 way tie with El Toro Loco and Madusa. Raab would also win racing during the show in Buffalo.
In 2005, the truck gets a new chassis as the old one becomes the teammate truck Anger Management. The truck competed in the first event at the Silverdome where Raab finished 2nd in freestyle behind Randy Brown in Grave Digger with a score of 27. American Guardian also competed in the Tampa event again like the year before. But sadly, couldn't live up to the hype from the previous year. As American Guardian was knocked out by Reptoid in the first round of racing and the truck finished with a score of 10 in freestyle after a roll over from a pile of cars ended Raab's run early. Raab would win racing during the first show in Rockford and freestyle during the second show. In the Biloxi event in Mississippi, he would win racing during the first show. Halfway through the year, Raab debuts the American Guardian on its new chassis.
In 2006, American Guardian gets a new paint scheme and body with it being a Chevrolet Avalanche. Raab would also win racing in all 3 of the Washington shows. The truck then competes in the televised Orlando event. Raab also wins all 3 racing events in the Rochester show for the second time in his career.
In 2007, the truck competes in the televised Houston event, as mechanical issues prevented Raab from racing. The truck was fixed and he competed in freestyle. A bit later in the year, the truck would switch back to a Silverado body style with a slightly updated paint scheme. American Guardian would also win racing during the second show in Toronto against John Seasock in Batman. The truck would also finish 3rd in freestyle for both shows.
In 2008, the truck's paint scheme gets updated with a new flame pattern on the front. American Guardian would win racing in several arena shows during the year. The first win would be during the first show at Rochester. The truck would also win racing at the show in Bridgeport and during the first 2 shows in Manchester.
In 2009, Raab would participate in the Gdanstk event out in Poland during the year with American Guardian.
In 2010, the truck competes in its last year of competition. American Guardian also competed in the Domination in the Dome event in the Silverdome. The truck then competes in its last event in April at Dixie Speedway in Georgia. The truck is then retired after that show.
In 2012, the chassis from 2003-2005 was sold and became Green Mountain Monster.
In 2013, the chassis from 2005-2010 is sold to Como Motorsports, where it became the revived Anger Management.
Video game appearances[]
Trivia[]
- American Guardian was subject to controversy in 2003, due to a misspelling on the back of the original Hot Wheels toy release. The tail gate was supposed to read "Dedicated to the Men and Women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces". Instead, it read "Dedicated to the Men and Women who severed in the U.S. Armed Forces". The error was soon fixed and the truck was re-released with the misspelled word corrected.
- Prior to retirement, American Guardian was still running a flagless USHRA logo.
- The truck also used flashing strobe lights on the chassis over the years. In the early years, it used those same lights for the headlights too.
- The second show in St. Louis 2000, was one of the few times the American Guardian did not use its iconic flame jet for a show.
- Starting in 2004 up until 2006, Rick Raab would have the flags on the American Guardian taken off the back of the truck for freestyle runs.
Gallery[]
.jpg "American Guardian MTC (2004).jpg (255 KB)")
_2.jpg "American Guardian MTC (2004) 2.jpg (193 KB)")
_3.jpg "American Guardian MTC (2004) 3.jpg (175 KB)")
_4.jpg "American Guardian MTC (2004) 4.jpg (175 KB)")
.jpg "Unnamed (1).jpg (82 KB)")
.jpg "HTX010607-(30).jpg (5.01 MB)")
.jpg "AmericanGuardian (1).jpg (513 KB)")
.jpg "Unnamed (3).jpg (124 KB)")
.jpg "2003 17-American Guardian-Severed (3).jpg (377 KB)")
.jpg "2003 17-American Guardian-Served (3).jpg (388 KB)")
