Karl Swallow (July 1st, 1968 - July 3rd, 2012) was a driver out of Newark, Nottinghamshire, England. He was the original owner and driver of Slingshot.
Career[]
Before his driving career, Karl grew up on a farm and drove heavy plant machinery. His passion for the sport began when he saw Bigfoot at a Truckfest event in the early 90s. Afterwards, he purchased a Toyota Hilux and customised it to make a street legal monster truck, which was named Devil's Playmate, attending modified car shows and participating in UK Super Trucks with it for many years.
In 2003, the Pro-MT Race series began and Karl and his wife Jenny began helping out as tech officials. After a discussion with Dave Crosland, a concept was devised to a create full-scale racing monster truck. However, Dave left the UK in November 2003, leaving the project to Karl and Jenny. After eight months of construction, with help from Nigel Morris, the Slingshot truck was completed.
In 2004, Karl debuted Slingshot at a Pro-MT Race event in Kent, as well as competing in Monster Mania events. He won the UK Rookie of the Year Award that year.
In 2005, Karl won his first event, which was a double down in both racing and freestyle at the Orsett Showground and he made his Monster Jam debut in Arnhem during the 2005 Monster Jam European Tour. This appearance saw Karl be the first European driver to compete in the United States and to jump over a bus.
In 2006, Karl was given the opportunity to drive Air Force Afterburner at the Monsters on the Beach show in Virginia alongside fellow English driver Trevor Stimson. This allowed him to use the experience in beginning to upgrade Slingshot. The upgraded Slingshot debuted in Arnhem on the 2006 Monster Jam European Tour and Karl also competed in Paris, France the following month.
In 2007, Karl drove the upgraded Slingshot for the first time in the UK at the Santa Pod Raceway in Wellingborough and made his SPEED debut in Gothenburg as part of the 2007 Monster Jam European Tour, which turned out to be his only televised appearance in the United States. He got another television appearance in Cardiff, which was exclusive to Europe.
Karl made two more appearances in Monster Jam in 2008 and 2009, both in Cardiff, the latter of which was his final one in Monster Jam.
Sadly, on July 3rd, 2012, just two days after turning 44 years old, Karl passed away from a heart attack related to diabetes.
After his passing, Karl's nephew, Alan Vaughan, aged only 18 at the time, took over the driving duties for Slingshot, of which he still drives to this day.
Trivia[]
- Two of Karl's friends, Danny and Ali, came up with the Slingshot name during a brainstorming session of what to call the truck.
- Karl's favorite driver and truck was Dennis Anderson and Grave Digger.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20111201051714/http://www.monsterjam.com/Bios/Drivers/Karl_Swallow
Gallery[]
