Picture this, a clear night sky, stars sparkling in the distance, a light cooling drizzle, and the calming sounds generated by Monster Jam trucks packing 572ci supercharged big block V8s producing 1,500hp! Okay, calming certainly isn’t the right word, but who wants relaxation when you have a hoard of 10.5 feet tall monster trucks shaking your brain and making nearby homeowners question their life decisions? This is the Monster Jam experience.
El Toro Loco showing us how to catch some air at Monster Jam!
Recently, we had the opportunity to attend a Monster Jam show at FNB Stadium in South Africa, and what a show it was. If you look past the local parking options and gain entry alongside the throngs of thousands, the experience was second to none. The line-up will leave you at a loss for words, with every truck boasting a unique design and personality. From pick-up trucks and construction vehicles to sharks and dogs, each Monster Truck boasts a unique style to correspond with the driver’s preferences and personality. We especially loved to see that female drivers regularly take part in the event as well, showcasing skills that many could only dream of honing.
The Monster Jam trucks lined up at FNB Stadium ready to give the fans a show they will never forget.
Monster Jam Trucks Racing Competition
After familiarizing yourself with the competitors and their rather interesting and exotic trucks during the fan experience, the action begins. First off, the races. Two competitors line up at a time for some good old-fashioned side-by-side racing around a dedicated course with jumps, hairpins, and a straight to send it.
The sounds produced are tremendous and really add to the sensation. The skills of the drivers are immediately evident while needing to keep the trucks steady when cornering and having to control both the front and rear steering independently. In the end, Blue Thunder piloted by Camden Murphy took the win! Although extremely thrilling and unlike any other circuit racing we had ever seen, this was only a taste of what was to come.
Nothing like a bit of sideways action
Monster Jam Trucks Skills Challenge
Next up, is the Skills Challenge. Drivers took turns to perform a single stunt requiring them to take at least two wheels off the ground. Many drivers attempted driving along and balancing on the front wheels, some took the liberty of crawling up a ramp in reverse while remaining on just the two front wheels, participants like Grave Digger took a chance at balancing on the side wheels, and although still an impressive display of a unique stunt, driver Matt Cody just didn’t get the angle he needed to hold it.
Nevertheless, he managed to redeem himself with a forward and reverse crawl on the front wheels, but unfortunately couldn’t top the performances by Blue Thunder and Megalodon, among other drivers. One thing we noticed was just how brave these drivers were, attempting stunts that more often than not would lead the drivers to land upside down. Such as the stunt attempted by Monster Mutt Dalmatian, leading Myranda Cozad to land on her roof – while still producing a memorable performance.
Grave Digger flexing some muscle over the bumps at the stadium
Monster Jam Trucks Freestyle Competition
The crowd is now fully aware of the skills and craziness of every driver thirsting for more action. After a quick tune-up and suspension adjustment, the drivers were ready to leave the audience in awe with the Freestyle Competition. Here, the drivers are allowed to just let loose and string along as many crazy stunts as possible – regularly leaving the trucks in critical condition owing to broken suspension, control arms, and even fires in some cases. The entire operation was very professional in all instances.
This was the ultimate showcase of the drivers’ abilities and the trucks’ durability. Typically, the drivers took jumps, made a few slides, showed off their steering control, and some even attempted the showstopping backflip on the McDonald’s ramp. Many drivers took on the challenge of the backflip, unable to achieve the necessary rotation, and wrecked, at least until Megalodon showed up.
The blazing effects of a failed backflip.
After completely losing his body shell from his on-the-limit performance, driver Charlie Pauken takes his chance at attempting the infamous flip. He launches his shark-inspired truck into the air, rotating perfectly to land on all four wheels with no damage. The crowd is going wild at this point, but what we didn’t know is that he wasn’t done just yet. Charlie kept his right foot pinned down after landing the first flip, instantly rotating Megalodon into a second flip and successfully landing once again. The perfect finale.
The Roaring Experience Of High-Flying Monster Jam Trucks
Unsurprisingly, Megalodon took the win for freestyle. Many trucks unfortunately didn’t finish either due to unsuccessful flips or unknown mechanical issues, however, the fearlessness and on-the-limit performance of all of these drivers left us extremely satisfied. All-in-all, the points totaled a winning amount of 21 for Blue Thunder, only beating out Megalodon by 1.
What truly stands out is the humbled nature of each driver and the camaraderie experienced between them, with no hate displayed among the participants and a true sense of fun and friendship. If screaming V8s and unnecessarily outrageous stunts are your cup of tea, then Monster Jam is the place to be!
