The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
The air up there
Monster Jam drivers have really started to flip out during shows
For decades, audiences attending a Monster Jam event have been flipping out over the jaw-dropping feats of the 12,000-pound machines.
Now, for the first time, it’ll be a monster truck driver doing the flipping out when the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series returns to Cleveland Feb. 15 and 16 at Rocket Mortgage Field House.
“New this year in our Triple Threat Shows: A driver will be doing a backflip attempt,” said Monster Jam Triple Threat Series Tour Manager Craig Curdie, calling from Palmetto, Florida.
“It’s taken quite a few years to really nail it down and make it as safe as possible, but we’ve done one (at) every event we’ve had this year so far. It’s definitely something to see.”
While the loud affair features eight skilled Monster Jam drivers participating in six different racing, freestyle and skill competitions that test their agility, speed and versatility, the notion of a monster truck doing a backflip is equally mind-boggling and gamechanging for the sport.
“It’s been done in stadiums for a few years, but this is new for arenas,” Curdie said. “It’s just a space thing. With some minor tweaks here and there, we constructed the track in a way that essentially allows us to do it in all of our Triple Threat markets.
“The trucks have always been capable; it was more a confidence thing how often we can complete one successfully. Our safety and inspection process on the trucks is really impressive, so that’s not a concern.”
In addition to monster truck drivers, Monster Jam Triple Threat Series also boasts Monster Jam Speedsters and Monster Jam ATVs.
Guests also can participate in the pre-show Pit Party, where they get a chance to see the massive trucks up close, meet their favorite drivers, get autographs, take pictures and enjoy other family-friendly activities.
Curdie said the sport has evolved quite a bit since it debuted roughly 40 years ago as a sideshow.
“It’s come a long way to where we are today,” Curdie said. “When we started out, it was more of an exhibition. It wasn’t primetime. It actually would happen in the middle of a tractor pull.
“But now our fanbase has grown, and everyone likes it enough that it’s now its own event. It’s a scored competition where everyone competes.”
That event is the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series, with the drivers competing to be a part of the world finals taking place this May in Orlando, Florida.
Curdie acknowledged there is a segment of the public that, for whatever reason, has never attended a monster truck event. He promises those folks will leave entertained.
“Everyone I talk to who has gone to their first one always says they didn’t expect it to be so cool,” Curdie said. “It’s not every day you see any vehicle that large flying through the air, standing on its nose and doing a backflip.”