The final countdown has begun as the ever-popular Monster Jam returns to the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
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Friday saw drivers and their teams revving it up on the custom-built circuit, providing the media, along with Mayor Geordin-Hill Lewis, with a sneak peak of what is sure to be a high-octane competition when eight high-powered monster trucks put the pedal to the metal in the hopes of claiming the latest leg of this exciting event.
Standing four metres tall and four metres wide, the custom designed Monster Jam trucks are powered by super-charged engines delivering more than 1,500 horsepower. With tyres 1.7 metres tall, a Monster Jam truck can jump as far as 43 metres in length.
The line-up of eight Monster Jam trucks features multiple fan favourites such as the legendary Grave Digger; Max-D, the futuristic SUV celebrating 20 years of Monster Jam action; mighty Megalodon®; the raging bull, El Toro Loco; Monster Mutt Dalmatian remembered for its massive floppy ears; the ever-popular Zombie; regular Monster Jam World Finals competitor, Blue Thunder; and making its South Africa debut, Earth Shaker. The design of the Earth Shaker truck pays homage to the trucks, machines, and construction crews that build Monster Jam tracks all over the world. Even the driver’s fire suit was created with a construction crew theme.
The all-star international drivers competing in SA are 2019 Monster Jam World Finals Speedster Champion Matt Cody (Grave Digger); Blake Granger (Max-D), the 2019 Monster Jam World Finals ATV Racing Champion; off-road short course champion and rising star Monster Jam star, Brandon Arthur (El Toro Loco); Myranda Cozad (Monster Mutt Dalmatian), Chelsea VanCleave (Zombie), successfully transitioning from racing dragsters to racing Monster Jam trucks; Tony Ochs (Earth Shaker) winner of the 2019 Arena Freestyle of the Year trophy; and Camden Murphy (Blue Thunder) winner of the 2022 Monster Jam Fan Favorite Driver of the Year. Charlie Pauken, who previously drove Grave Digger at the 2019 Monster Jam SA tour, returns to South Africa behind the wheel of Megalodon. Charlie won the 2010 Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle trophy driving Monster Mutt and has also won Monster Jam Stadium Series Championships in 2018 and 2020.
Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 4,500 kg machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 110 kilometers per hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motor sports action seen around the world. Now across all Monster Jam events, fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the winner in the two-wheel and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-stadium fan voting on their smartphones.
One of two female Monster Jam drivers competing in SA, Myranda Cozad loves being behind the steering wheel, be it an ATV, drag racing car or her Monster Mutt Dalmatian truck! Myranda started her career in 2016 and says her driving style “has become more and more aggressive. I love to get big air and keep the fans on the edge of their seats!” Fellow female Monster Jam driver is Chelsea VanCleave, currently competing in and seeing success during her rookie season with Monster Jam. Chelsea entered Monster Jam with plenty of motor racing experience and knowledge, both behind the wheel and under the hood. Chelsea graduated Monster Jam University where she honed her two-wheel skills and mastered hitting sky wheelies.
Tony Ochs, a 7-year veteran with Monster Jam, will make his South African debut later this month. He has been able to use knowledge from his time as a certified Apache helicopter technician and as the stunt motorcycle crew chief for Feld Entertainment’s Marvel Universe LIVE! to master driving these mechanical Monster Jam beasts. Ochs is looking forward to visiting South Africa and to showing his competition skills.
Children under 3 years are not permitted. Strictly no unaccompanied minors. Fans are encouraged to wear earplugs or earmuffs in order to let your family enjoy the fun while reducing the exposure to high levels of noise. Professional cameras are not permitted.
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Pictures: Monique de Beer Photography