Showtime for “Bigfoot” and Crew

The ATLAS excavator with the “big feet” was the heavy-weight star at the anniversary TV game show “Wetten dass..?” (“Wanna Bet?”) – game show host very much impressed by the sensitive giant – same bettors as 31 years ago – this time they win

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The show to celebrate Frank Elstner’s 75th birthday was like a big family reunion. And “Bigfoot” was among them. “Bigfoot” is the ATLAS excavator with the “big feet”. The “family” were stars and entertainers who are well-known in Germany like Kai Pflaume, Alain Delon, Thomas Gottschalk, Barbara Schöneberger, Günther Jauch, Joko & Klaas, and many others. But the one topping them all in size was the ATLAS wheeled excavator 140 W “Bigfoot”. The 14-ton machine was a big attraction at the anniversary show in honor of Frank Elstner, the inventor of the German game show “Wetten dass..?”. 31 years ago, at the start of the game show series, Horst Camps and Rudi Wilmen had already played an excavator bet – at that time with a penalty shoot-out against a topscorer of the German soccer league – but back then they had lost. Now, for the anniversary show, the ARD – the joint organization of Germany’s regional public-service broadcasters – invited both of them again for a new excavator bet. This time, they had to open 10 of 12 beer bottles within 2:30 minutes by using the excavator bucket.

Rehearsals showed need for coordination
The ATLAS 14-ton wheeled excavator is called “Bigfoot” because it has “big feet”, meaning tires of the dimension 710/45-26,5 20 PR. These provide secure footing in swamps, forests, fields – and also in TV studios. Mounted with a second jib, it has an outreach of 11 meters. For the show, it was equipped with a bucket with three narrow teeth. The bet sponsor, legendary actor Alain Delon, was impressed by how quiet “Bigfoot” is. At an engine speed of 1,480 RPM, designed for low-noise, and a fuel consumption of 6.3 liters per hour, it is really remarkable – and it also impressed the audience at the Berlin studio. Of course, Horst Camps and Rudi Wilmen had to practice beforehand, which had required several cases of beer at first. Horst Camps steered the ATLAS excavator and his colleague Rudi Wilmen gave him the proper instructions right at the caps of the bottles. Executing these to the millimeter, however, was only possible because the machine has a precisely working hydraulic system. And this precision surprised the guests at the studio, too. Soon, technique and tactics were attuned. Now they still had to deal with stage fright – something they missed by a hair’s breath during the dress rehearsal. And they had to outmaneouver the limited space in the studio – a place where you don’t find an ATLAS excavator very often. But despite its wide soles, the wheeled excavator is easy to steer and it managed all bends and corners. In addition, the ATLAS technicians were on the spot to bring them into excellent form for the competition.

“You’re on!” – won
Then, it was finally time. Obviously, the ATLAS “Bigfoot” and its crew had made a pretty convincing impression on Alain Delon: he backed them to win and open 10 crown corks within 2:30 minutes. And, in fact, the wheeled excavator and the bettors delivered a great show. Under the watchful eyes of Frank Elstner, Kai Pflaume, and Alain Delon, and those of the guests in the studio, ten bottles were opened within the given time. Hats off and respect for the “Bigfoot”, the technical crew and the bettors. The ATLAS 140 W has made new friends.