WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Monster trucks are set to dig up the dirt and fly through the air near Wilkes-Barre this weekend.
Monster Jam is back in Wilkes-Barre Township for its 23rd year. Where eight 15-hundred horsepower vehicles will compete in racing, skills, donut, and freestyle competitions.
“Each of the ramps here, the different angles and things, are all designed so these monster jam trucks can come out here and put on the best tricks possible, I mean they do crazy things on two wheels, four wheels, whatever you can do.”
Co-host Faruq Tauheed shows us the 8-pack ramp.. Designed for the Morgan and Morgan backflip.
But to do those tricks you need dirt and lots of it. More than 800 tons has filled the arena.
Co-host Tianna Cohen explains it comes from the region they’re visiting, so some is better than others.
“Last week, we were in Mississippi so we have very red, sandy, grainy dirt, that was a little more slick when they were doing turns. This is Pennsylvania dirt, it’s a little bit more tacky, it’s clay-like, it’s going to help their tires stick better when they’re doing certain skills.”
“tons of safety precautions go into protecting these drivers, such as wearing fire suits like this jacket right here, before getting into one of these.”
Driver Blake Granger loaned me the driver seat in his ‘Monster Mutt Dalmatian’ vehicle.
He says he grew up racing motocross and worked his way to a monster truck.
“With age came a cage, I love it. I’m an adrenaline guy and being able to wheel a 12,000 monster jam truck, I mean what gets better than that?”
He’s one of the original graduates from Monster Jam University, the school that drivers need to attend, before getting behind the wheel, and says the practice that comes after that is seen in real-time.
“You show up to your first event, whatever city, whatever state you’re in, and you start practicing at live events. You’re trying two-wheel skills, you’re trying new tricks in front of the fans!”
The first event for ‘monster jam’ that runs through Sunday. Begins at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.
