Kepner-isms

[trukir2]

We've had our favorite Army-isms, our favorites said by the Professor.

Now, this can both be positive and negative. Bret Kepner has said some whoppers in his year. I was just looking at an event from 1991 at the Superdome where Fords were on one side of the bracket and Chevies were on the other in the semis. He said "Its a Ford vs. Chevy final no matter which way you look at it." Could've chosen his words more wisely.

What's one you remember? Other than the obvious, and I think you all know what I mean by the obvious.

[Rainstorm410]

His excessive use of the word "literally". lol

[MonsterTruckLuvin]

literallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliter allyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyl iterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylitera llyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyli terallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliteral lyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylit erallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterall yliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylite rallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterally literallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliter allyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyl iterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylitera llyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyli terallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliteral lyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylit erallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterall yliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylite rallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterally literallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliter allyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyl iterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylitera llyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyli terallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliteral lyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylit erallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterall yliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallylite rallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterally literallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterally

Literally, you can see the word literally hit the microphone and literallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliter allyliterally.

"You could literally feel that in China" literallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliterallyliter allyliterallyliterallyliterally

It wasn't just the excessive use, it was also the inaccurate use.

[fastj14]

UN BE LIEVABLE!!!! (as said during a Chi Town Husler run, his voice during that one word went from excited to higher than a little school girl screaming on the playground!!) LOL Then followed by AB SOLUTLY IN CREDIBLE!!!!!

[Dino]

He had to point out that every single competitor was using a SUPERCHARGER ;)

[dave3BA]

Ahh fastj had to say the obvious! My favorite was always his absurd use of the word honest.

i.e. "At that point Kramer had to be an HONEST 15ft. in the air!" - That, of course, would be followed by the obvious word.

[double dutch]

Okay this is one that isn't monster truck related but one I'll never forget. It was at the IHRA nationals in Cordova IL. I was sitting in the stands behind Roy Hill and someone that talked just like Boomhower from King of the Hill, thought I was in redneck heaven! I guess someone had the return road blocked with their pickup so Brett announced "who ever owns a Chevrolet pickup needs to move it before we tow it...then says wish I had a license plate number or color so the stands wouldn't empty." I about fell out of the stands laughing but looked around and everyone was looking at me like I was nutts, guess they didn't get it.

Bret has been a long time idol and friend who if you ever have the chance to meet is one of the nicest people walking the earth. The man is a walking encyclopieda of drag racing and monster trucks.

[CIDRA racer]

he ain't the only one:cool: i can tell you that i to am a walking monster truck and drag racing encyclopedia along with the corvette:cool:

[Cale Putnam]

That is a GREAT story! I'd be doubling over laughing on that one too.

I always liked how every truck was incredible. "...and up next is Jim Kramer in the incredible Bigfoot Ford..." ""Freddie Shafer in the incredible Bear Foot..." and so on.

Less his fault but almost as memorable were Shelley's "I'm trying hard to be enthusiastic here" responses to his calls. The famous, "Ooh, look at him go over," from I think Pittsburgh is fabulous.

Kepner is arguably the most underrated announcer in the sport's history. I remember he did Worcester one year and was fantastic. I still love hearing him on IDR and the like. Kudos to one of the best ever!

[skittlecar1]

First time caller here! :)

I remember him calling those mud races that had a 90ft pit and a 90ft shut down area and if they would go past the 90ft or they would be DQ'd. He would finish every run with "Will he stop it in tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmeee.......Yes!"

[double dutch]

What think hurt Bret from becoming a full time TV announcer is his way of telling it like it is. He's not one the read from a script. Wish we had more like Bret.

[bigyoda]

Bret was awesome. I wish he was still announcing.

[trukir2]

Bret's style better suited floor action than the booth. He was a great public address announcer and did a great job with interviews on the floor during the show. I think he's one of the best PA guys this sport has seen.

Oh and he also had one of the best sets of pipes I've heard in an announcer. Great natural voice, not too deep, not too high, and he had a great tone range.

[chad4208]

look at my sig.... so absurd.....

[thelegendaryone]

in just a minute, the biggest battle of monsters since godzilla took on king kong is about to take place as the world champion bearfoot takes on last years runner up taurus.

[chad4208]

i think first blood used the staggered steering approach

[thelegendaryone]

that was equalizer from pontiac 91.

[Rainstorm410]

Everything mentioned in this thread are the reasons why he's one of my all time favorite announcers

[chad4208]

i know what show...and he said it more than once...

[Bret Kepner]

I can only say that you folks are...

UNBELIEVABLE! :D

I just wanted to post a note thanking you all for even remembering! In criticism or compliments, it warms my heart to know there are still hardcores out there who understand and cherish the history of the sport.

I tend to remember my gaffes more than my good lines. There were a few million times when the words falling out of my mouth made me cringe! In my fifteen seasons with the USHRA, (1982-1996), I announced 367 events at 35 different venues and did 512 television shows. I never left an event without thinking I could've performed my job better but I still had a wonderful time throughout and wouldn't trade those days for anything!

I still work 145-155 events per season, (that number hasn't changed in almost thirty years!), the majority of which are drag races. Nowadays, I only pick up a microphone to announce a live event once per year at the World Series of Drag Racing in Cordova, Illinois. All the rest is TV work save for my annual trek to the Bonneville Salt Flats for SpeedWeek which I've attended for twenty-six years. I still drag race my own vehicles when time allows.

I still keep in touch with a lot of friends from the USHRA but, like I said, it's wonderful to find fans who have still have memories of the greatest moments in the sport.


I hope I didn't ruin too many of those moments...literally! ;)

[Kouvre]

You announce at Cordova?! I never paid much attention to drag racing, but if you're going to be there again this year, count me in!

Welcome to the boards, Bret!

[MayhemAdmin]

Bret Kepner on Mayhem. That is "absolutely incredible!"

[MonsterTruckLuvin]

Welcome to the board Mr Kepner. Incredible surprise, literally made my day. Like you said, for better and for worse, you are one of the classic faces of monster trucks. Everyone has mistakes and little things that people don't like. Not to mention, sometimes you have to carry your co-announcer.

There are other bad things if not worse things.

"Siiiiiiiiiiiick Air"
"He's tough, he's monster tough."
"Holy TOLEDO!"
"(Insert MOD commentary here.)"

[isonater911]

WOW! That also totally supprized me...welcome to the board Mr. Kepner

[usa-1]

this is so cool welcome to mayhem ....would you mind telling what drivers you keep intouch with any of the older drivers now adays?

[Rainstorm410]

Well that made my day. I'm glad to see he's still doin what he does best. Hopefully he'll have some chances to hang out here during his busy schedule. It would be awesome to hear him do monster truck shows once in a while for old times sake.

[double dutch]

Welcome the man, the Mr. Dirt! Glad to see you joined the 21st century of monster trucks. I hoped to see you at the last Friday Night Madness @ Gateway but you must have been busy elsewhere. Did get to chat with Tibbit for a bit.

I was talking to Ed Beckley a few weeks ago in Sioux Falls and your name came up(okay I brought it up). He would love for you to announce for him some time.

"Truckboy" Dalton

[BiteMeStudios]

I didn't know Mr. Kepner was a St. Louis guy...welcome aboard!

[chad4208]

im not Criticizing anyone here :) if i thought it was that bad i wouldnt have it in my sig. i thought it was funny...its my way of paying omage (did i spell that right?) to one of the dumbest lines in MT announcing history. But i say that "lovingly" and in a light hearted manner. hehe were all joking around pals here. sorry if that wasnt clear before...it didnt occur to me make it clear..:( didnt think i needed to

[DiggerFan]

Welcome to Mayhem, Mr. Kepner. It's great to see another classic figure from monster trucks around here.

Relating to the topic, one of the "Kepner-isms" that I remember most is the classic "Unbelievable!... Absolutely incredible!" which was heard often on broadcasts (for example, when Grave Digger hit the wall in Providence '92). Other memorable calls (imo) are...

-Star Monster vs. Playin' For Keeps (Pontiac, MI 1989):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp_1aXaX1d0

-Red Heat Mud Dragster "parking" between the wall & the loader (1991):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eghMjZDkjfE

-Bad Medicine crashing into the wall (Oklahoma City, OK 1991):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--xKjkG9Zok

-Grave Digger vs. Bigfoot (Anaheim, CA 1991):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI4HEBoyVq0

[MonsterTruckLuvin]

Hmmm, I wonder... if we start a thread for each and all the classic announcers and their statements, will they each come around? We lured Brett in. :)

Do we need Grimm-isms or Gallowisms?

[Rainstorm410]

I have a curious question for Bret. Whats your opinion on the sport of monster trucks today compared to the 80's and 90's?

[usa-1]

bret do you know were chris chapman is know adays? i dont no if thats correct spelling probly not but ya

[chad4208]

Grimm-isms---um... no....

gallowisms---**** yes

[thelegendaryone]

anyone know what show that red heat run was aired on? also, brett, the announcing and interupting shelley that you did on richmond 88 during chi town hustler thats mentioned in this thread still gives me gooss bumps.

[Kouvre]

The Red Heat park job was Worcester '91, on an ESPN broadcast, judging by the screen graphics.

[thelegendaryone]

true, but what mt show was it aired with?

[MonsterTruckLuvin]

true, but what mt show was it aired with?

Glad I'm not the only one intrigued

[thelegendaryone]

oh man, i think i found the most enthusastic unbeleivable on tape, lima 2002 class 6 racing, when someone gets a 2.374, i swear bret never got so enthuisastic over a run.

[trukir2]

You'd be surprised how many people view the board. I can imagine if you google a name in monster trucks this is one of the first hits. I actually had an email conversation with Ken Broo a couple of years ago, more to even talk to him about unversities to choose. He was extremely helpful in my college selection and actually emailed me back when I asked him the question. I think he even viewed the board at some point.

Its amazing how little things like being a fan warms someones heart from the old days. Mr. Broo was also thrilled to know some people remembered "the good old days." It's also good to know the people involved in the sport had so much fun with it. I know we had just as much fun watching as kids as they did participating.

If Mr. Kepner or Mr. Broo or anyone else who broadcast in monster trucks happens to look, I'd also like them to know they are the inspiration for my career today in broadcasting. I grew up watching all those broadcasters and emulating them as a youngin' while playing with my little trucks on the living room floor. They did a great job with what they did, all of them, and I know they'll always have a place where they're remembered for the work they did.