Behind The Scenes: Monster Jam

Posted by May August 18, 2017

Behind The Scenes: Monster Jam

Media Invite

This may be better than watching the show itself! Getting behind the scenes a day before show day and bringing home a piece of exclusive walk-through memory of the monster machines. First-hand, up close and personal! [Watch our video clip]

Ewan was the only child at the media invitation today and a photographer came up to me, "Are you from media?" He was curious how a kid was allowed access to this morning's private showcase. I am media. A Singapore Mom Blogger who got lucky for getting much love from the PR company handling this event.

We skipped school this morning because once in a lifetime experiences like this aren't supposed to be missed. Monster Jam celebrates 25 years of evolution this year, making their first stop in Singapore for a One Night Show Only!

It takes about 18-24 hours to build the track from the time they start covering the field with plywood and dirt until the time the track is show ready. Approximately 200-250 truckloads equivalent to about 6,000 tons of dirt are used to build a Monster Jam track which we had the honour to step on. Thank goodness I chose to wear a pair of flats today instead of heels!

It takes about 12-15 hours to remove all dirt and plywood from the Stadium after the show to return the facility back to its original state before we moved in for the performance.

It will be a show stopper and I just felt like it's such a waste to run only one show for all the effort they've put in.

The Monster Jam production at the National Stadium will be the largest in Southeast Asia featuring 10 Monster Jam superstars such as the legendary Grave Digger®, fan favourite Monster Mutt® Dalmatian, the raging bull El Toro Loco® and 11-time World Champion Max- DTM, to name a few. All of which, we got to meet today!

I climbed into Monster Mutt® and had a chat with Candice Jolly. She is such an inspiration and when I first saw her, I didn't think she was a monster truck driver! She drives the super ferocious Dalmatian and shared with me how her truck caught fire one time! No wonder there was a fire-extinguisher next to her customised bucket seat. I asked her what inspired this design of a Dalmatian? I was surprised to hear she owned a animal rescue centre back home. She has camels and zebras living at home with her; so an animal like a Dalmatian is perfect to fit her personality. It is amazing how a woman could find such love for a sport so rough and dangerous but clearly, racing is in her blood.

Ewan could not decide which monster machine to mount. He was considering between Max- DTM and El Toro Loco® and chose the latter after much deliberation. When I watched my son climbing up the El Toro Loco® with superstar Marc McDonald guiding him up, I cannot help but think how lucky my kids are to be my kids. Not many get such privileges at such a young age to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these amazing champions and there I have my son playing rough with Marc. Growing up on his family ranch in Oklahoma with a passion for trucks and motorsports, he is always seen with a cowboy hat. Ewan interviewed him, "Does your hat drop off when you do a flip in the monster truck?" Marc let out a chuckle, "Oh no it doesn't because I change it to a helmet when I race!"

There is only one seat in each Monster truck and they made to measure to each driver. Each Monster Jam truck is approximately 10.5 feet tall, 12 feet wide, 17 feet long and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds! Monster Jam engines generate 1,500 horsepower, thanks to a blower that forces air and fuel into the engine. They are powered by methanol fuel, consumed at a rate of 3 gallons per minute from a specially constructed safety cell.

Ewan could totally relate to these monster trucks because he had been watching Blaze and The Monster Machines, an educational cartoon series with a focus on learning about STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics]. We approve of this cartoon and enjoy watching it with the children as well as they learn about potential energy and counting.

We got to witness a live "tyre up" demonstration of Scooby Doo, watching him get up to 3.5m tall! Ewan watched the whole process in silence and I wasn't quite sure if he enjoyed it. Then he turned to the chief mechanic and gave his approval, "Nice."

Pit Party Pass [you can meet the athletes, get their autograph, take pictures and see the Monster Jam trucks up close] for the event are now sold out. Tickets for the 7pm show are still available though. If you have not gotten your tickets, book now and don't miss your only chance to witness these 10,000lb. Monster Jam trucks in action! IT'S TOMORROW 19 AUGUST 2017!