Monster Jam annually tours around one hundred stadiums and arenas with truck racing competitions and freestyle competitions that showcase each truck’s personality through specially curated sets that allow drivers to show off their driving prowess on.
To create these sets, the company trucked in tonnes of dirt to build them. Finding an optimal mix of clay and sand proved a difficult challenge to overcome.
Speed
Monster truck engines can reach over 200 miles per hour, creating an experience both exciting and dangerous. It makes monster truck racing both entertaining and dangerous!
Monster Jam features not only racing as the main event but also offers freestyle competitions, where drivers showcase their wheelies and doughnuts skills for judges to assess as part of a driver’s overall score. These events contribute to each driver’s final tally.
Monster Jam track design can be an immense undertaking for teams and venues participating in its shows. Every detail from jump angles and height/number of obstacles are precisely tailored for a venue according to size/specs requirements.
Brianna Mahon, an ex-professional motocross driver who currently drives Whiplash for Monster Jam, says that female drivers in motorsport are usually placed into separate series compared to their male counterparts. That makes Monster Jam unique in this regard.
Stunts
There’s something instantly satisfying about watching a monster truck leap over ramps and piles of junked cars, the epitome of modern America’s thrill-seeking spirit. And for children, nothing beats seeing one race through the air before crushing an old car’s roof roof!
Monster Jam’s main draw, beyond races, are its freestyle competitions. Drivers get two minutes (one and a half for arena shows) on an open floor to perform any stunt they like for audience votes with their phones. Drivers may race each other or jump over ramps and wrecked cars to earn points from audience members voting with their phones.
Apart from races, backflipping has long been one of the most exciting stunts in vehicle sports. When executed correctly, backflips offer incredible feats; when done incorrectly though they can incur penalties that reduce score; however if completed safely then full credit will be given for their run.
Safety
Monster Jam takes extensive steps to ensure both drivers and spectators remain safe at events. Trucks undergo regular safety inspections prior to each event and drivers attend safety briefings. Drivers also wear fireproof suits and helmets. In case of an incident occurring during a show, engine kill switches allow show organizers to quickly shut off engines in case an accident happens – further protecting audiences.
Monster Jam does not boast the same fatality rate as other motor sports events, yet serious accidents do happen at shows. Most recently in 2013 at an event held in Chihuahua, Mexico eight people were killed and 79 others injured.
Monster Jam holds a Pit Party before each main event for fans to meet drivers and see the trucks up close. Pit Party tickets can be purchased separately from event tickets, and typically provide early access (usually an hour earlier) than standard admission ticket holders. It is an ideal way to meet drivers and obtain photos and autographs of your favorites drivers!
Entertainment
Monster Jam is both an entertainment event and motorsport at once, featuring trucks as much as drivers as stars of its hybrid racing series that blends elements from Supercross, drag racing, gymnastic-like flips and gymnastic-style flips. At each show hundreds of people work behind-the-scenes to keep things running smoothly while monitoring driver safety, choreographing a pit entry (47 trucks lined up on an oval track track with two in and out at any one time) and welcoming crowds of fans into its orbit.
Prior to each race, fans enjoy participating in the Pit Party, where they can meet their favorite drivers and obtain autographs and photographs from them. There’s also the unique opportunity of touring the course floor up-close and seeing all of their trucks at close quarters – something only motorsport fans are privy to in motocross and other racing series!
Fans can participate in scoring via JudgesZone and help determine which truck earned the highest average score throughout competition. In addition, head-to-head racing, skills challenges and freestyle events allow drivers to display their talents and show their stuff in different ways; including wheelies, doughnuts and more for bonus points in freestyle contests.