COORS LIGHT MONSTER TRUCK
& JET CAR JAM
MAY 6TH, 2006 - FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
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As always I will let the pictures and video describe the action, but I
will do my best to explain some of the happenings during Freestyle.
Sometimes you don’t see as many pictures of some Monster Trucks as you do
of others, the reason as you all know is that there are times they break
down or sometimes they just wreck. This night there was one
breakdown and a wreck that silenced the crowd for a few minutes.
First let me say that every driver and every truck put on a spectacular
performance. Most times a driver or two may have a tough time
getting started, sometimes they don’t get started during the time
requirements, sometimes there is something wrong with their truck that it
just won't do what it is supposed to do, but the drivers give it their
best try for fan enjoyment. Without mentioning everyone’s Monster
Truck and name, I can assure you, everyone gave an AWESOME performance. The first casualty of the evening was Jason Grill in Public Disturbance. Jason understood the quality of talent he was up against tonight and knew he had to do something really unusual to get the crowds attention, as well as the judges. After doing some great crushes and flying high in the air, Jason went over the 2nd group of cars, got some great air, but as he hit hard the rear sway bar broke. It was one heck of a move, but the truck could not take it. Let’s just say Public Disturbance was a little disturbed.
Here are some photos from some of the other Freestyle performances of the evening:
Chuck Warner in Hot Wheels was putting on an awesome performance. He made four runs over the two sets of crushed cars doing great. Then Chuck went over the first set of cars with more high flying action; he then hit the second set of cars. At this time I must tell you that all night long as the trucks hit the second set of cars, it looked as if they were going to their right, they would come down; make the hard left to come back. Chuck hit the cars; the front of the truck went up and to the right. Chuck came down on two wheels, and upon landing, it sounded as if the throttle stuck on the truck, and it took him right into the concrete barrier. The truck flipped twice; once over the barrier and once coming back. The truck landed with the front wheels on one side of the barrier and the rear wheels on the other side. The crowd and announcer were very silent wondering if what they had just seen was real. Now the shock set in among the spectators as the ground crew took off to see if he was ok? Everyone was silent for a good two to three minutes until they all heard the announcer state that Chuck Warner was ok. Someone had given Tom Meents a ride out to the crash site in a golf cart, Chuck rode back to the pits in a golf cart with his team mate and left Hot Wheels in that position the rest of Freestyle. Chuck received a well deserved applause as he rode back. We were very happy to see that Chuck was ok and thank him for the awesome performance this night.
Jimmy Creten put on an amazing Freestyle performance. Besides his high flying action, Jimmy did something I had heard about, but never actually witnessed. He went over the first set of cars backwards! Yes, I said backwards. The first time the crowd roared, the second time, they went into a few seconds of shock, as did I. The second time he crushed the cars backwards, the entire body fell off Bounty Hunter. As I was taking pictures, I had to stop and look. Jimmy was sitting in his truck, in plain view of everyone. The body was laying behind Bounty Hunter. The awesome show Jimmy put on, would have normally won any Freestyle event, but there was one other truck in attendance who was just a little better on this night . . .
The next performance I am going to mention was nothing less than incredible!! Tom Meents in Maximum Destruction brought high-flying action and donuts, all at an amazing speed during his run. Some drivers slow their truck down a little before jumping or crushing cars, not Tom, he hits them at full speed!! Then he flies high and at the same time, his hand is out the window waving at the crowd. After his amazing performance, he once again, lets Maximum Destruction idle down the track as he climbs out, stands on the truck and waves at the crowd. Tom is not done yet, he hits the kill switch on the truck, jumps off, runs towards the stands, jumps the wall and up the stairs into the cheering crowd. People are surrounding him as he makes his way through the crowd, looking for a special person. Tom spotted a little boy in the crowd and he placed his helmet on the little boy's head. Not waiting for a reaction, Tom retraced his steps back to Maximum Destruction and sped back to the pits. That lucky little guy has a memory for life, as the crowd kept cheering the performance as well as the generosity of Tom Meents!!
The crowd vote came down to the two Freestyle World Champions, but it would be Tom Meents taking home his second trophy of the night for winning the Freestyle contest!!
It was a wonderful day covering this event with my wife Lynn. I am very appreciative of all the drivers for their performances. I would like to extend my thanks to the Firebird International Raceway staff and officials for their hospitality. It was great seeing old friends and great meeting new friends. It was fun meeting fans of the Monster Blog like Jeff and Nora Johnson. All in all it was the kind of day you hate to see end, it was filled with fun and excitement!! Until next time, thanks for reading!! - LAUREN & LYNETTE BONAR |
