Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Background Information
Owner(s)	Mirage Comics and 4Kids Entertainment/Viacom (name) FELD Motorsports (truck)
Driver(s)	Various
Debut	August 16, 2003
Retirement	August 19, 2012
Theme Song(s)	TMNT Remix (TMNT Cartoon Intro/ "It's Ninja Time!" by TMNT 2003 OST)
Truck Overview
Body Style(s)	Custom turtle concept
Chassis	Racesource PEI
Engine	540ci merlin
Transmission	Coan 2-speed
Tires	66" Goodyear 66" Firestone 66" Marcher

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also referred to as TMNT for short, The Turtle by commentators and TMN Turtle on television broadcasts) was a custom-bodied monster truck owned by FELD Motorsports. While the truck was based around the cartoon superhero team of the same name, the design was based specifically on second-in-command member Raphael, though the youngest member Michelangelo did appear as a design for a brief period. Meanwhile, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was driven by a multitude of drivers over the course of its career, with its most notable including George Balhan, Paul Cohen, Randy Brown, Aaron Basl, Pablo Huffaker, Joey Parnell and many others. The truck was also a staple and a fan favorite in Monster Jam, having competed in seven Monster Jam World Finals events.

History

• 2003 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle makes its official debut on August 16 in Hamburg, New York. The truck runs on the former Mr. Destruction chassis, thus retaining the unique double roll cage design and rookie driver George Balhan is placed behind the wheel. The truck makes its televised debut at the 2004 season opener in Montreal where George earns the number one qualifier and advances all the way the final round of racing only to lose to Scott Hartsock and Gunslinger. Neil Elliott also drives the truck on a Meents chassis for a couple of events.
• 2004 - George moves to Blue Thunder and Paul Cohen takes over the driving duties for the season. Paul and the Turtle are invited to compete in World Finals V where they earn the fourth spot in qualifying but lose in the first round and finish near the bottom in freestyle. Following the World Finals, Brandon Harrington takes over the driving duties for events in the off-season while Bryan Winston and Charlie Pauken both drive the Turtle in the European Tour. In Antwerp, the truck runs with yellow wheels, originally intended for the upcoming Superman truck while its original wheels are used on Nokia N-GAGE.
• 2005 - For the 2005 season, rookie driver Alex Blackwell joins the team as a second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle truck is added. Alex runs the original red bandana truck (Raphael) while Brandon's truck is given an orange bandana (Michelangelo) to differentiate them. Alex tours with Randy Brown under Randy Brown Motorsports for the main stadium shows while Brandon tours with Gary Porter for the arena events.
• 2006 - Alex and Brandon both continue to run the two trucks through the season, touring with Randy and Gary respectively. The truck is invited to compete in World Finals VII with Randy behind the wheel. In freestyle, the truck takes a hard landing after a large jump which causes it to bounce high into the air and pop both rear tires upon landing. Original driver George Balhan makes a brief return to the drive the Turtle in that year's European Tour.
• 2007 - Brandon retires from driving and Alex moves to Bulldozer. New drivers Deric Evans and Whit Tarlton are drafted in to drive the red and orange bodies respectively. Deric runs the stadium shows, touring with Dan Evans and Destroyer and Whit runs the arena shows. Randy Brown is once again chosen as the driver for World Finals VIII, where the truck suffers a violent rollover in racing and is unable to compete in freestyle. In the off-season, Deric retires from driving and Whit moves to Monster Mutt, leaving both trucks without full-time drivers. Frank Krmel and Nathan Weenk have their turns driving the Turtle while Alex briefly returns to drive it for that year's European Tour. At the end of the year, the truck's original chassis is discontinued.
• 2008 - The orange Turtle truck is retired, leaving the original red Turtle truck as the sole one for the team. Racesource takes over the truck, running it on the former Blacksmith chassis with Aaron Basl and Ryan Huffaker drafted in to share driving duties, touring with team owner Pablo Huffaker and Grave Digger. Despite not being invited to compete in World Finals IX, the truck makes an appearance during a half-time encore between the first and second rounds of racing with Randy Brown driving. It would appear once again in the encore at the end of the show.
• 2009 - Aaron and Ryan continue to drive the Turtle through the season. The truck is invited to compete in World Finals X. This time, Pablo Huffaker steps in as the driver.
• 2010 - The Turtle still continues to be campaigned by Racesource with Aaron and Ryan as Pablo once again drives it at World Finals XI. For that year's European Tour, John Seasock and Charles Benns run the body on the Batman chassis.
• 2011 - Aaron and Ryan move to El Toro Loco and Joey Parnell becomes the new sole driver for the season. The truck makes its final competitive World Finals appearance at World Finals XII with Pablo behind the wheel for a third time.
• 2012 - Joey remains the driver for the truck's final season. Joey and the Turtle are invited to compete in the inaugural Young Guns Shootout at World Finals XIII. It would make it's Last Appearances competing as Exhibitions at Dragways alongside Grave Digger. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is then retired after a nine-year run, one of the longest tenures for a sponsorship truck and Joey moves to Superman the following year.

Drivers

• Joey Parnell (2012)
• Charles Benns (Manchester 2010)
• Aaron Basl (2008-11)
• Ryan Huffaker (2008-11)
• Pablo Huffaker (WF X, XI, and XII)
• Whit Tarlton (2007)
• Derek Evans (2007)
• Randy Brown (WF VII, and VIII)
• Frank Krmel (Ocala/Pittsburgh 2007)
• Nathan Weenk (Halifax 2007)
• Alex Blackwell (2005-06, 2007 European Tour)
• Bryan Winston (2004 European Tour)
• Charlie Pauken (Belgium 2004)
• Brandon Harrington (2004-06)
• Paul Cohen (2004)
• Neil Elliott (2003-04)
• George Balhan (2003, 2006 European Tour)

World Finals appearances

• 2004 - Paul Cohen
• 2006 - Randy Brown
• 2007 - Randy Brown
• 2008 - Randy Brown (encore only)
• 2009 - Pablo Huffaker
• 2010 - Pablo Huffaker
• 2011 - Pablo Huffaker
• 2012 - Joey Parnell (Young Guns Shootout only)

Trivia

• Aside from its debut show and European appearances, TMNT ran exclusively as a secondary truck for several Grave Digger drivers. Gary Porter's touring partner would run the truck on a Clear Channel-owned Patrick chassis, while Randy Brown and Pablo Huffaker ran the body on their respective second trucks.
• TMNT was originally planned to debut at Monster Jam World Finals IV. However, complications with constructing the body would delay the truck's debut until exactly seven months and three days after the World Finals.
• TMNT drove on the former Mr. Destruction and Demolition Man chassis, retaining the unique double roll cage design.
• According to Alex Blackwell's interview with noted TMNT fan site Cowabunga Corner, bodies based on Leonardo and Donatello were intended to be run by him in the 2005 season, with fans speculating years later that he was intended to start running the bodies after the show in Indianapolis. For unknown reasons, these bodies were never made.
• TMNT's teeth were the same used for El Toro Loco and Bulldozer's bodies, with the only difference being the amount of teeth on the truck; TMNT had 7 teeth on each side, with two being halfway cut off, while El Toro Loco and Bulldozer have 15 full teeth on each side, progressively getting smaller and smaller.

• 

  2003 TMNT Hot Wheels 1:64 scale release.

  The design of the Hot Wheels diecasts were almost completely different from the actual truck. The diecast itself looked much closer to the actual cartoon characters and had no realistic windshield. It also featured the TMNT logo on the sides and hood, a different shell pattern, and a darker green color.
• Much like the original version of Monster Mutt, TMNT was notorious for having a limited field of vision due to its unique windshield design.
• TMNT holds the distinction of being a last-minute replacement for World Finals events not once, but twice.
• The truck's theme song was an edited version of the intro for the 2003 4Kids animated series.
• Neil Elliott drove the truck on Max-D 2 on two occasions.

Gallery

Concept art 1.

Concept art 2.

TMNT on display for the first time, circa 2003.

TMNT, circa 2003.

TMNT's unseen portion of its Monster Jam World Finals V freestyle performance.

An earlier version of TMNT on a Meents chassis.

TMNT with Superman's tires in Belgium 2004.

Ditto, racing against Nokia N-GAGE in its only appearance.

Raphael TMNT, circa 2006.

Michelangelo TMNT, circa 2006.

TMNT, circa 2006.

Orange TMNT on a PEI chassis.

TMNT on the Grave Digger 19 chassis atMonster Jam World Finals IX.

On Grave Digger 16, circa World Finals 10, in 2009.

Circa 2010.

With purple wheels in 2010.

On Iron Man in 2010.

TMNT, circa 2011.

TMNT with a FoxBox logo on the shell. This photo was taken in 2011, 6 years after the block was renamed to 4Kids TV (which had also ended in 2008). It is likely old body pieces were accidentally used.

TMNT, circa 2012.

Leonardo render.

Donatello render.

Logo used until 2012; only appeared on the chassis, was mostly used for promotional material and toys.

Second logo; used for 2012 after 4Kids dropped the TMNT license.

Merchandise gallery

Tyco R/C.

Hot Wheels 1:64 scale (Red).

Hot Wheels 1:64 scale (Orange).

2013 Hot Wheels 1:64 scale (Orange).

Hot Wheels 1:64 scale (Blue) w/ concept art.

2003 Hot Wheels 1:64 scale (Purple) w/ concept art.

2005 Hot Wheels 1:64 scale (Purple)

Hot Wheels Speed Demons (Red).

Plush truck.