This past Thursday our diesel community lost a person who has left us with many stories and memories - Dave Radzierez of Stroudsburg PA! Dave passed Thursday having some health issues leaving a daughter and grandchildren which we are sending our condolences and prayers.
Dave Radzierez was known recently as the XDP Diesel monster truck owner and driver plus as a professional driver for the monster truck circuit including Bigfoot 4x4 truck! To us he was a good friend who championed many firsts in our diesel community which carries a lot of stories.
Dating as far back as 2003 Dave started as a sled puller with his trucks in our circuit. As a first Dave designed and built the first tilt body sled pulling diesel truck - "How Do You Like Me Now"! Competing in many sled pulls Dave was always a crowd favorite with his personal friendly attitude toward everyone.
Dave was bigger than life and lived it that way everytime I saw him! He was respectful and always knew how to have fun without disturbing others. Like when he was the first in diesel trucks to do street burnouts during the original Thunder in Muncie event in front of the hotel! He gave it eveyrthing that truck had and put on quite the show!
When I asked him to drive to Las Vegas in 2007 for the sled pull there he was happy to load it all up and drove from Pennsylvania to compete. He even came a few days early so he could display his pulling truck in front of the Mesquite Hospital so everyone could see it.
When he called and told me he had bought a monster truck and converted it to a diesel, he asked if I could help him find sponsorship for the truck if it came to our events. I told him I would help and we found the funding for him. Dave always called to ask what more he could do to make people satisfied with his performances.
Dave Radzierez will go down in diesel history as having the first diesel monster truck!
Dave later built better versions of the same truck and improved the suspensions, tires, power and appearances. As Dave did more shows and got involved in the monster truck circuits he could afford a new build truck and even designed newer systems for it. Dave was a innovative fabricator and builder of the trucks. He ended his monster truck career as the XDP monster truck performing at many events and making the crowd happy! He was considered one of the most talented drivers in the circuit.
Many of us have stories and memories surrounding the events and appearances at the shows. Not only myself but many can tell you never loan your car rental to Dave since no matter what vehicle it was he turned them into a race car. I remember in Alabama he was driving my rental and he missed the exit so he drove under the pass, cut across the median and went up the opposite lane exit in less then 2 seconds. Gene and myself screaming the entire way and all Dave could do was grin and tell us he didn't miss the exit.
Living life to the fullest I just talked to Dave last summer when I was in Pennsylvania and we talked for over an hour laughing about what we have done together over the years. We had made plans to do a couple of shows this year or help each other at the shows.
Many of us will miss Dave and his laughter when we are at shows this year!
