Monster Jam, the annual monster truck show, returns to Jacksonville on Saturday.
1. It’s really loud. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studied the level of noise at a monster truck show in Cincinnati in 1998 and found that the crowd at the show was exposed to average noise levels of 90-100 decibels and maximum noise levels of around 125 decibels. Hearing protection is recommended for exposure over 85 decibels, so it’s a really good idea to bring earplugs.
2. It’s a pretty good bargain. Sure, you can spend $175 for a ticket if you want. But you can also sit in the upper deck — where you get a good view of all the action — for just $15.
3. It’s a big seller. Typically, the show sells out the stadium or comes very close. Plan on arriving early to beat the traffic rush.
4. You can get in early for up-close views of the trucks. There is a Pit Party from 2:30-5:30 p.m., where fans can meet drivers, get autographs and take photos of the trucks. The Pit Party is $15 (but you also need a ticket to the main event).
5. The trucks aren’t anything like your F-150. These are custom-built machines that run on ethanol, stand 10 ½ feet high, weigh 12,000 pounds and generate 1,500 horsepower. The tires are 66 inches in diameter and weigh 645 pounds apiece.
#MonsterJam brings back so many childhood memories.
Jacksonville, are you excited about @MonsterJam tomorrow? We have live reports from Everbank Field coming up at 5pm. @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/eUsh4E5RZx
6. It really is a competition. There’s more to a Monster Jam than just smashing cars. Each truck will participate in two races, a two-wheeled skills challenge, a donut competition and freestyle event.
7. You decide the winner. There is a panel of judges, but fans in the crowd will be asked to score the two-wheeled skills, donuts and freestyle events by using their smartphones. Fans will have just 20 seconds to enter their choices.
8. It’s not the only Monster Jam. While the trucks are roaring and smashing their way around the stadium in Jacksonville, there are also Monster Jams going on in Atlanta; Portland, Ore.; Richmond, Va.; Nampa, Ida.; Allentown, Pa.; Hidalgo, Texas; and Anaheim, Calif.
9. There’s more than one Grave Digger. There will be Grave Digger trucks racing this weekend at seven locations around the country. There are also six El Toro Locos and five Zombies working the circuit this week.
10. The drivers aren’t all good ol’ boys. Two of the trucks competing in Jacksonville, El Toro Loco and Scarlet Bandit, are driven by women. There are 13 female drivers on the Monster Jam circuit this season.
Click here to read the Florida Times-Union article.
