My first European trip and the start of my first Monster Jam Europe tour. Considering all of the differences and logistics and challenges it started real well. This is going to be a cool tour, I kept telling myself. So far, so good.

One of my first Euro challenges is actually a personal one. Many of you know me for my writing and photography, but instead of snapping pictures I'm putting on the Mechanix gloves and splitting the tour as a USHRA Tech Offical and fleet crewmember. Of course, anybody that knows me knows that I can't resist picture-taking, so if I can sneak a few between fueling and staging, you'll see them here.

The adventure started on September 4th, Labor Day, with a long flight out of JFK in New York City . Unlike everyone else whose voyages started in Germany , mine actually started in Switzerland . I had connecting flights in Zurich and a seven hour layover. So after I pestered the ticket lady to put me on an earlier flight to no avail, she firmly suggested in very clear English that I take the train downtown and walk around the city for awhile. It was 7:30am and a beautiful morning had already dawned, so for $8 euros (~$10 US), why not. I walked around the city, found the arena we'll be visiting next and quickly ditched the Swiss breakfast I bought for a Snickers and an orange Fanta. I learned early on that eating will be one of the unforeseen challenges of this trip.

The language barriers will be another challenge. I sat and watched trains scatter from the station on the minute and there were no clues on my stub how to return to the airport. Luckily when the right train arrived it had the universal airplane picture on it. I confidently walked on the train as if I knew that was the one all along. I bought a Powerade at the airport for $3.19 Euros (~$4 US dollars), met up with fellow Tech Official Jay Schaan and together we flew to Germany .

By the time we arrived at our hotel it was 4pm local time ( 10am Eastern time), and I hadn't slept a lick since 7am the day before. Instead of crashing, I forced myself to stay awake until it was dark outside so I would sleep through the night. As exhausted as I was, I fell right asleep and woke up at 3am wide awake. I watched the only English channel , CNN, until breakfast opened at 6. I got three hours’ worth of Crocodile Hunter talk that morning. Another challenge: jet lag sucks.
 

Unloading at the arena.

The shows went over real well. Some cool lighting effects, loud music, special introductions and the voice of Monster Jam Scott Douglass gave intros in this small building the feeling of an Atlanta or a Houston . The German crowds were fired up and on their feet before the first truck even hit the cars.
 

The floor at the Konig-Pilsener arena.

We delivered what I believed were very tight, action-packed shows. The drivers were all on their games and the street bike and freestyle motocross riders equally brought the house down. I think all three shows would have impressed even the most seasoned American audiences. In my opinion, the most amazing part of the whole first leg of the tour came after each show. Nobody left. All of the performers, crew members, and tech officials came out to wave goodbye and we were greeted with an arena-wide standing ovation. We all headed right up into the crowd, high-fiving and shaking hands for a long, long time after the shows ended. Emotion can cross any language barrier and the response from the German crowd was enough to bring tears to your eyes. Our event was a once in a lifetime experience for these folks. We as Americans are privileged enough to enjoy them regularly and most of us don’t take the time to recognize that. What a cool way to start the tour.

We had the day off Sunday and most of the crew went sightseeing on a boat ride down the Rhine River that Chad Fortune suggested. I always pictured a trip on the Autobahn in something really, really fast and not an oversized rental van, but we made it fun and had a great time getting there.

Sightseeing on the Rhine River.

We even stumbled upon a German monster truck show with trucks none of us knew existed. Hopefully we’ll have time to sightsee in the rest of the countries we visit.
 

German monster trucks!!

Monday morning began with a 3:15am wake-up call ( 9:15pm Eastern time) to catch an early flight. Between flying on 9/11, flying into New York City on 9/11, a connection in London after the recent UK terror busts, and international travel, I went through half a dozen security checkpoints between Germany and New York City .

After an eight hour plane ride, I made it home and pledged to enjoy every American meal and to not look at an alarm clock until I make it back to Europe . We are home for eight days and then it’s on to Switzerland.
 

- Andrew Palochko
 

Email Andrew and let him know what you thought!!