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Snake Bite

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Snake Bite is a custom body monster truck owned by Bigfoot 4X4 and is known as the first 3D body monster truck making its debut in 1991. Since then, a multitude of drivers have driven this machine and have collected plenty of wins under this truck. The truck is currently being driven by Kris Kopperhead on the Bigfoot 18 chassis and by Andy Anoconda on the Bigfoot 15 chassis, with Sid Sidewinder occasionally driving.

History[]

Background[]

Snake Bite was originally created in conjunction with Mattel to promote Hot Wheels as they had created a new line of monster truck diecast with Bigfoot 4X4. During the process, an idea was conceived to have a rival to Bigfoot named Nemesisss, but for unknown reasons it was changed to Snake Bite.

1991[]

Snake Bite made its official debut on Bigfoot 4, with a mystery driver named “Colt Cobra”. Audiences were encouraged to boo Snake Bite as it was meant as an "evil" truck as part of a scripted "rivalry" between it and Bigfoot. This practice was later dropped after it was established Snake Bite was part of the Bigfoot team, however the "rivalry" between the two trucks has not been officially dropped as many characters have kept the “rivalry” going on social media.

Oak Grove shed incident[]

Snake Bite was involved in a famous crash in Union Grove Wisconsin, where the truck, being driven by Colt Cobra and racing against Fred Shafer in Bear Foot in round 1, jumped the "hydra barriers" (plastic units filled with water: water could even be seen splashing out during the collision) and crashed into a concession stand shed in a nearby parking lot. The shed was completely destroyed, but thankfully no people were inside it at the time of the crash, so nobody was injured. On the other hand, a 2,000lbs industrial freezer, which was inside the shed, was destroyed in the crash, left out in full view partially crushed by the front tires from the truck's resting position, where the truck was left throughout the rest of the show. It was determined that interference from a CB radio had blocked the Remote Ignition Interrupter (RII) from transmitting correctly and shutting off the runaway truck. The MTRA acted quickly and that problem was resolved. The truck’s chassis (Bigfoot 4) was involved in a crash in Nashville which destroyed the entire suspension and drivetrain of the truck. This led to the chassis being rebuilt with a “hybrid” suspension.

1992[]

Bigfoot 8 would run as the Snake Bite for the PENDA Points Series where it would finish 2nd in points.

Nashville incident[]

During a race against Carolina Crusher at a USA Motorsports event in Nashville, Snake Bite lost control and crashed into Carolina Crusher sideways, literally crushing the truck by going right over it. Carolina Crusher's fiberglass body was destroyed, but most of the chassis was still intact. No injuries happened from the accident.

1993[]

Mattel ended their partnership with Bigfoot, but Snake Bite kept competing. This time the body was run on Bigfoot 10.

1995[]

Sky Hartley began driving the truck, being the first to not have an alter ego. “Ricky Rattler” would drive in Wildwood, New Jersey.

1996[]

Snake Bite received a new design, with the primary color being green.

1997[]

Snake Bite won the final PENDA Points Series championship with Eric Meagher driving. Eric Tack drove the truck on the second day of the U.S. Truck Fest.

1998[]

Colt Cobra retired and was later revealed to have been played by Gene Patterson and Eric Meagher.

2000[]

Dave Harkey drove the truck in Mesa Park.

2006[]

“Petey Python” would join the team and debut a new design. Petey would leave the truck by year's end and would later be revealed to be Rodney Tweedy. From then, until 2016, Snake Bite would not have a character driver.

2007[]

Keith Sturgeon drove the truck in Erie, Pennsylvania.

2009[]

Snake Bite would debut a new paint scheme that was red, black, and silver.

2011[]

Colt Cobra made an appearance at Monster Jam World Finals XII despite Bigfoot 4x4 pulling out of Monster Jam 13 years prior.

2015[]

Gene Patterson was inducted into the International Monster Truck Hall of Fame.

2016[]

"Vinny Venom" would become the new mystery driver, and would debut a new “Black Mamba” design.

Wildwood crash[]

During the semi-final round of the Saturday night event in Wildwood, New Jersey, the truck suffered a devastating wreck while racing against Red Solo Truck. As the two trucks came across the finish jump they collided and both went tumbling down the truck. Vinny jumped out of the truck to check on Brandon Budd, they were both okay, with Red Solo Truck even returning for the finals. The chassis suffered severe damage and had to be sent to Concussion Motorsports to be rebuilt. The Snake Bite body returned to the Bigfoot 15 chassis (which it ran on during first quarter) for the remainder of the year.

2017[]

Vinny Venom drove his truck to the 2017 Toughest Monster Truck Tour Championship. Vinny retired at year’s end and was revealed to be Josh Gibson.

2018[]

"Kris Kopperhead" took over driving duties. "Sid Sidewinder" would also join the team who would later be revealed to be Rodney Tweedy; making him the only Snake Bite driver to have two personas.

2019[]

"Mikey Mamba" would begin driving a second Snake Bite.

2020[]

Sid Sidewinder (Tweedy) left the team.

2024[]

On June 15th, the original body was displayed on a restored Bigfoot 4.

Drivers[]

Former drivers[]

Fill-in drivers[]

  • Ricky Rattler (Various)
  • Eric Tack (Charlotte 1997, day 2)
  • Dave Harkey (Mesa Park 2000)
  • Keith Sturgeon (Erie 2007)
  • Larry Swim (Canfield 2009)
  • Jerry Dalton (Tulsa 2009)
  • Andy Anaconda (Bossier City 2017)
  • Rick Long (Various)
  • Ricky Rattler (Various)
  • Bryan Bertoletti (Unknown)

Characters and identities[]

  • ”Colt Cobra” (Gene Patterson and Eric Meagher)
  • ”Andy Anaconda” (AJ Straatmann)
  • ”Vinny Venom” (Josh Gibson)
  • ”Kris Kopperhead” (Christian Norman)
  • ”Mikey Mamba” (Mike Miller, unconfirmed)
  • ”Peter Python” (Rodney Tweedy)
  • ”Sid Sidewinder” (Rodney Tweedy)
  • ”Ricky Rattler” (Dan Runte)

Video game appearances[]

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

References[]

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