Some of you might not know too many things about Monster Jams, and if that’s so, well, you’re going to learn a lot by reading this. We’re going to discuss some of the most basic things you need to know about them, including what to expect, what to watch out for, and how to enjoy them, of course.
If, after reading this, you have the curiosity to attend one of these incredible shows, then our job here is done! Also, we would love to know what’s been your experience with Monster Jams, so make sure you go down in the comment section and write your own! Without further ado, here’s what you need to know about Monster Jams!
Basics
Each Monster Jam truck is around 10.5 feet tall, 12.5 feet wide, and 17 feet long, and it weighs 12,000 pounds. However, don’t expect these huge trucks to get crushed like they would in any demolition derby. Each show consists of no less than eight vehicles, such as Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs, and Monster Jam trucks, competing in six events:
- Timed racing: This obstacle course competition showcases the driver’s capacity and the truck’s agility. In this race, the fastest to complete the course wins.
- Two-wheel skills challenge: In this judged competition, Monster Jam drivers have tons of opportunities to perform the best stunt where at least two wheels are in the air.
- Donuts: Donuts are probably exactly what you imagined: rotating the truck as many times and as fast as possible. This judged competition is performed in designated flat areas.
- Head-to-head racing: This particular bracket-style racing competition puts trucks head-to-head, as they race along a specific course to the finish line. The first truck that manages to complete the course advances in the competition, and winners advance until only two trucks remain. Every final is exciting, especially since the first to cross the finish line wins the right to brag.
- Freestyle: In this judged competition, competitors perform all kinds of tricks and stunts throughout the floor area in a designated time.
Get your smartphones ready, so you and your kids can decide who’s the winner. Monster Jam fans have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide the scores for many competitions. Here’s how fan judging generally works:
- With your smartphones, you can log into www.JudgesZone.com.
- After watching the competitions, you get to score them by moving the “tire” higher or lower.
- You have to act as fast as you can because you only have 20 seconds on hand to complete the score.
Your score will be added to others from the show, and the average will be displayed right before the next competition. The Monster Jam truck that has the highest average score wins the entire competition.
There might be rivalries.
Monster Jam fans are quite familiar with the rivalry between Grave Digger and Bigfoot, but other opposing monster rivalries date way back to older generations. No matter who you might be rooting for, you’re still bound to have a good time at the show.
Every Monster Jam show is different.
If you think that you’ve seen a Monster Jam, and you could even say you’ve seen quite a few, you could always be surprised. The shows are completely unscripted, making each one full of unexpected surprises.
They are all extremely different. You could even think that race car drivers or Monster Jam truck drivers are athletes. If so, you’re absolutely right. Male and female drivers are trained athletes with both the physical strength and mental stamina to compete.
They also possess the vital dexterity to properly control 12,000-pound machines that are able to perform backflips, vertical two-wheel skills, and racing at speeds up to 70 miles per hour.
It’s worth it to join the pit party.
Pre-show Pit Party tickets will let fans meet the drivers and get autographs and photos. Fans are also invited to the pre-event Pit Party before the 1 p.m. shows so they can get a close-up with all the Monster Jam trucks and drivers, take photos, and get autographs.
Tickets and Pit Party Passes are always available at Ticket Master. Even if this requires a separate admission ticket, true fans even say the Pit Party is wonderful, and you should definitely try to spend as much time there as possible.
Study up on the lingo
- Backflip: When the truck does a total 360-degree flip from a vertical obstacle
- Big Air: Monster Jam trucks can launch up to 30 feet into the air and travel more than 130 feet. So make sure you prepare for the lift-off!
- Cyclone: Very similar to the donut, but done at a much higher speed.
- Donut: Spinning a Monster Jam truck in circles in only one spot
- Pogo: The Monster Jam truck bounces on the rear tires as it stands up into a wheelie.
- Power Out: When a driver uses a burst of acceleration to keep the truck from rolling over
- Sky Wheelie: When a Monster Jam truck stands straight up at a 90-degree angle with the front tires in the air
- Slap Wheelie: When the front of the Monster Jam truck comes down and slaps itself back into a wheelie
- Stoppie: When the truck noses onto its front wheels, it leaves the rear wheels in the air. Many drivers will put the truck in reverse and “moonwalk” it.
- Walk it: A one-wheeled wheelie that rocks back and forth between the two rear tires
- Wheelie: lifting the front wheels of the truck off the ground and driving only on the rear wheels
Monster Jam is truly an unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable experience. It’s also a family-friendly motor sport, so feel free to bring your children with you, but make sure you stay in safe conditions.
Don’t forget your headphones and ear protection.
Friends, if there’s something you need to know, it’s that the place will be really loud. And it’s not your usual loud concert or fans at a basketball game. Oh, no. It’s Monster Truck loud, which is a whole other level of loud. So you will need some strong headphones or ear protection. You can buy them onsite, or you can simply get them here. Capital One Arena generally has earplugs, but it’s better if you arrive with them.
Eat before you go there.
The event lasts for two hours, and while some concessions are available, nobody will stop cheering and eating. You might even find yourself jumping out of your seat inadvertently and spilling everything around.
On some occasions, I even caught myself cheering unexpectedly. Food can also be quite expensive, so you may want to save your coins for some Monster Jam swag like a t-shirt, toy replicas of the trucks, photos, or even a Gravedigger mask.
Dress comfortably
There’s truly a lot of exhaust, so one of the reasons why it’s so cold in there is that the place needs to be properly ventilated. You might even find yourself bundled up the entire time. There’s also no dress code for Monster Jam, so make sure you wear anything you please.
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