Metal-crushing giants will race at the Oceanfront this weekend when Monsters on the Beach returns Friday to Sunday.
The monster truck rally will run between 5th and 7th streets. Tickets range from $13.50 in advance (not including service fees) to $35 VIP spots. There will be four shows over the weekend, featuring the following trucks:
- Stone Crusher
- Hooked
- Avenger
- Brutus
- Quad Chaos
- Dirt Crew
- Heavy Hitter
- Dawg Pound
The event will go on rain or shine. At the Beach shows, wet weather gives trucks better traction on the sand, and that helps them get more air on their jumps, according to Brian Manson, who contracts the drivers for the event.
“It’s (like) driving in mud versus concrete,” Manson said of the difference rain can make. “A lot better traction, you can get a lot higher when the ground is hard packed. It would be much better for them (drivers), actually. It would be awesome if we do get some, but obviously we prefer it doesn’t rain for the spectators’ comfort.”
Ticket sales are already ahead of last year, said Bobby Melatti, program director for the event organizer, Beach Street USA. Tickets can be purchased online.
Last year’s event drew about 8,500 people, according to Melatti. Each year, organizers bring in eight trucks, four of which are rotated out.
A crowd favorite is the “Megasaurus” truck, Melatti said. The transformer-like truck picks up small cars like Honda Civics and tears them in half.
“My kids just love this thing,” Melatti said. “They just go crazy. it’s cool.”
Steve Sims, owner and driver of Stone Crusher, grew up in Tidewater. He has been monster truck racing for 11 years and is a regular at Monsters on the Beach.
“This is home for me, this is my home show,” Sims said in a phone interview. “We travel all over the the U.S., but nowhere do we run as hard as we do for our hometown fans.”
Sims said he enjoys the thrill and adrenaline from the action. And yes, it still gets still scary sometimes, even after a decade of doing it.
“There have been some scary moments — you just close your eyes and hope for the best,” Sims said. “Anybody that tells you they don’t get a little freaked out every now and then is not driving hard enough.”
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