Dennis Anderson’s Digger’s Dungeon Second Annual R/C Monster Jam World Finals

Poplar Branch, North Carolina May 26-27, 2007                       Written by: Rodney Wills

I have been to all types of motorsport events, from NASCAR to CHAMP Car, IRL, ALMS, D1 Drift, World Challenge, SCORE, CORR and even WRC… I can easily say that the 2007 R/C Monster Jam World Finals fits right up there with my most memorable motorsports experiences. This event is not like any other. The host, announcer, and property owner is a true motorsports legend… the one and only Dennis Anderson! Dennis Anderson, creator and driver of the Grave Digger monster truck, is one of the most famous motorsports icons in America. He has a reputation for bashing and thrashing at the Live Nation Monster Jam Series, but not everyone knows that he and his two sons, Ryan and Adam, have a passion for monster trucks of the radio controlled variety.

Last year HPI Racing helped sponsor the first year of the R/C Monster Jam Worlds Finals in 2006 at Dennis Anderson’s “Digger’s Dungeon” compound in North Carolina. The success of that event showed massive potential, so HPI returned for the second annual event with title sponsorship for 2007! With Dennis Anderson at the helm, nothing is “low-key” about the R/C Monster Jam Worlds Finals. And with a thirst for something different, the editors of the R/C magazine community gave editorial support to fuel the passion from R/C monster truck enthusiasts. With massive preparation from the Digger’s Dungeon camp, the 2007 event surpassed our wildest expectations!

What makes this event so special? It’s real simple, with the emphasis on “REAL!” Imagine your favorite motorsports icon and think to yourself, can I go hang out at his house and compete against him with an R/C vehicle… not happening? Dennis Anderson is the exception! For the price of entry to compete in the R/C event, you gain access to hang out with your idol and race against him at the same time. Dennis is a regular guy who just happens to have a lot of energy, a great sense of humor, and a passion for going crazy with R/C monster trucks.

It’s the Thursday before the event and Dennis is driving his new HPI Racing Baja 5B 1/5th scale radio controlled gas powered buggy. “It’s so real and moves like a real vehicle” states Dennis as he and son Ryan drive the Baja 5B across the span of his front lawn, trying to take out Henry Cross who is piloting an E-Savage – all three are playing hare and hound. I think to myself, a year ago was my first time attending a Monster Jam event and meeting the drivers was not even an issue; it was actually a highlight of the event because the drivers are so easily accessible. And now I’m sitting here hanging out at the Anderson R/C resort, hanging out on his property for three days in a row. Rubbing shoulders, racing… and he’s throwing Twinkies at fellow R/C racers! This is just too good, it’s just too real.

All I can advise is that you had better jump on this event before everyone and their mama shows up to race monster trucks against Dennis and sons. Race him, hang out with him, you can even get his autograph if you beat him… actually, you can get his autograph even if he beats you. You might even get a Twinkie thrown at you! Dennis is that cool! See you next year, same place, same time – 2008 Memorial Day weekend at Digger’s Dungeon!

Thank you Dennis and family for hosting the most awesome R/C event!

HPI Racing would like to congratulate all the participants and voice our application for the support and enthusiasm of the Anderson family and all the loyal HPI drivers competing in the Diggers Dungeon 2007 R/C Monster Jam World Finals!!!

1st Place | SavageX4.6 | Big Block Class Champion | Driver: Ryan Anderson
1st Place | Savage X | Long Jump Competition | Driver: John Schultz
1st Place | Savage X | R/C Monster Truck Battle Royal | Driver: John Schultz
1st Place | HPI Bronco Body | Constructor: Dan Wyatt
3rd Place | Freestyle Competition | Driver: Ryan Anderson (score 28)
4th Place | Freestyle | Driver: John Schultz (score 26)

While winning the Long jump was John Schultz from HPI, John also won $100.00 from Dennis Anderson for hitting the fence. The Jump was 46' and John gave the $100.00 back to Dennis to be used toward a permanent irrigation system for the track.

There were 91 drivers confirmed from 12 states that attended the Digger Dungeon 2007 RC Monster Jam Worlds Finals and 214 truck entries confirmed. There were a total of 33 HPI Racing truck products raced by the following people:

Ryan Anderson wins the Big Block 2007 R/C Monster Jam World Finals!!!

Ryan Anderson, son of Grave Digger driver Dennis Anderson, has taken home the first place title in the Big Block Class Championship with his HPI Savage X 4.6 nitro truck at the 2007 RC Monster Jam World Finals. At 16 years old, Ryan has some previous R/C experience bashing around, but this was his first R/C competition, and he showed off his skills by taking the win. Ryan was cool, calm and collected with his driving and the impressive handling of his Savage X 4.6 moved the young Anderson up the boards to take the Big Block win. Ryan also took second place overall in the head-to-head battle of the Electric vs. Nitro class.

Ryan is waiting for the day when he can drive the full size monster trucks along side his famous father, Dennis Anderson and brother, Adam Anderson, driver of Taz. In his spare time Ryan is also wheeling an oversized mud-bogger based on a 1950’s Willy’s Pickup with more than 950 horsepower on tap, naturally aspirated and injected with methanol, and shod with super skinny paddle tires to cut through the mud. Mud bogging, like dirt oval racing is the feeder series for stock car racing, is the stepping stone to Monster Truck racing.

R/C driving is something the whole Anderson family and Digger Dungeon Shop staff enjoy for fun. In fact, their enthusiasm for R/C is the reason this event is held on the property of Dennis Anderson and family – right there in the side yard!

RC Monster Jam World Finals 2007 was the second season for this annual event hosted by Dennis Anderson at the Diggers Dungeon facility during the Memorial Day weekend. The 2007 event saw some 200+ vehicles in attendance! Stock up on your East Coast power bars (AKA: Twinkies) as 2008 will be even crazier!!! 

HPI Racing would like to congratulate and thank all of the participants; this was truly a spectacular event!

1st Place – Ryan Anderson – Big Block Competition
2nd Place – Ryan Anderson – Overall Champion Electric vs Nitro
4th Place – Ryan Anderson – Freestyle
5th Place – Ryan Anderson – Demolition – Last Man Standing

Look for more news and tons of photos coming soon right here:
http://www.hpiracing.com/news/2007051703.html

We know that the Diggers Dungeon RC Monster Jam Worlds Finals is going to the “THE EVENT” of the year! We knew when several of the full size monster truck drivers and team members started talking to us about this event at [full-size] Monster Jam Worlds Finals in Las Vegas. Lucky for us we where on top of this event from last years buzz. While HPI Racing may not be the most dominant truck in numbers at this event, we have the cool posse and will be having the most fun! HPI personnel will be there, both John Schultz and myself are going to be in attendance, and in full support for those of you who are down with HPI Racing. Rule #1 - We are going to have FUN!!!

With all the hype and hysteria going on with this event being held at Diggers Dungeon, the shop of Dennis Anderson’s Grave Digger, is ran by Henry Cross. Henry had this idea of how he wanted to roll out for the R/C Monster Jam World Finals. While everyone is on the Grave Digger tip, Henry too, he just wanted something different and ORIGINAL! So Cross wanted something to represent how the whole Grave Digger scene got started. Hopefully you saw the CBS 1-hour TV special on Monster Jam and the segment on Dennis Anderson, how he started and how he got his reputation.

These photo’s are Henry’s top secret weapon for the Diggers Dungeon RC Monster Jam World Finals so please keep it a secret!!!  Our man John Schultz has been working like crazy getting the arsenal ready and thought we would drop you some spy photos of this Savage X. Sorry Henry! We are sure no one is looking:

Parts used for the Diggers Dungeon Ford F-100:

#861 Savage X SS
#15204  NITRO STAR K4.6 HO ENGINE W/PULLSTART
#87218 3-Speed Gear Box
#87245 Savage Suspension Conversion Set
#87230 17mm Hex Hub Conversions Set with UV Joint
#87196 Aluminum Clutch Shoe Set
#85068 Safety Engine Stop System
#A712 Aluminum Threaded Shock Set
#86138 Aluminum Tuned Pipe Polished
#93585 Titanium Turn Buckles
#87150 Dual Disk Brake Set
#86269 Universal Dog Bones Front
#86270 Universal Dog Bones Rear
#2012 Hump Pack Battery
#77107 Racing Clutch Bell 17tooth
#86357 Low GC Engine Plate
#SRC01 Rock Concepts Savage Low CG Machined Chassis
#7188 (Savage) Ford F-100 Body
#B045 Steering Upgrade Set
#3190  Warlock Wheel White (83x56mm/2pc)  
#4464 GT Truck Tire

The custom stuff:

Tires:Cut in half and glued together for narrower profile to look more like the swamp buggy type of tires on the original Grave Digger.

Wheels: Custom dyed with clothes dye from the local grocery store. - Original Grave Digger had yellow wheels. May have been borrowed from a John Deer tractor?

Motor: Ported & polished by Tom “screwdriver” Phillips - Original Grave Digger was know for his powerful motor.

Paint: Danny Ast - Original Grave Digger was lacking custom paint, more like swamp rust, but the motor and Dennis’s attitude more than made up for shiny paint!

Ryan Anderson's

Parts used for the Ryan Anderson’s Skully Savage X:

#861 Savage X SS
#15201  Nitro Star K4.6 Engine with Pullstart
#87218 3-Speed Gear Box
#87245 Savage Suspension Conversion Set
#87230 17mm Hex Hub Conversions Set with UV Joint
#87196 Aluminum Clutch Shoe Set
#85068 Safety Engine Stop System
#A712 Aluminum Threaded Shock Set
#86138 Aluminum Tuned Pipe Polished
#93585 Titanium Turn Buckles
#87150 Dual Disk Brake Set
#86269 Universal Dog Bones Front
#86270 Universal Dog Bones Rear
#2012 Hump Pack Battery
#77107 Racing Clutch Bell 17tooth
#86357 Low GC Engine Plate
#SRC01 Rock Concepts Savage Low CG Machined Chassis
#7194 GT2 Body
#B045 Steering Upgrade Set
#3191  Warlock Wheel Black (83x56mm/2pc)
#4874  Dirt Claws Tire B Compound (145x84mm/2pcs)