Meet the Builder

Ray Abrahamson, the designer/builder of California Grizzly, is no stranger to Monster Sized equipment.  On the left you can see Ray standing next to one of California Grizzly's 1000-plus-pound tires in the South Coast Grading workshop.

California Grizzly got it's start 4 years ago when Ray went to a Monster Truck Show at Anaheim Stadium. 

After the show he sat down and starting putting down on paper some ideas about a new Monster Truck design... 

A design calling for a monster truck with tremendously long suspension travel, better dampening, adjustable ride height that can be changed on the fly, and axles that could take the punishment from brutal landings in Monster Truck Freestyle competition.

The following pictures show the implementation of those drawings - from the fitting of the first pieces of the frame until the first test drive.

California Grizzly on an early test drive.

(Dbl click on picture to start/re-start video)

In this video clip you can see a test of California Grizzly's Ride Height Adjustment Controls  (Done at idle)