Anyone been to a Monster Jam?

[ski_mom]

We're going to the Monster Jam in St. Louis this weekend.

I've never been and don't entirely know what to expect other than I've heard they are LOUD!

Anyway, just wondering about how long they usually are and anything else significant I might want to know about going. DH and I are taking DS and one of his friends.

Thanks!

[tOSU]

They are loud but only for short bursts, not continuously. Show should be about 2 hours including an intermission. Will have all the souvenirs your wallet can stand & more. Some shows have a pit party before & you can walk around & take pics of the drivers/trucks get autographs.

[Sorsha]

I have never been to the official "Monster Jam" show, but we have a Monster Truck show (usually one of the smaller tours like Checkered Flag promotions, or MEGA Tours) ever summer on the third weekend of June at our fairgrounds.

I have been going since I was in high school, and I have taken my kids every year since each of them was about 4 years old. Its a family tradition and we love it. We get Sno Cones and popcorn and sodas , and people-watch (DD18 and I love to get snarky about people from a distance - "Geez lady, how about a bra next time you come out in public?"), and scream and hoot and holler with the rest of the crowd. Its a great time to let your hair down and we always come home feeling very relaxed - a great tension reliever.

The shows are usually about 2 hours long - 2 "halves" with an intermission (read: opportunity to use the restroom and for them to try to sell you junk you don't need). I am not sure about other shows, but for ours, about half of the time the Monster Trucks are actually performing, and the other half is "Tuff Trucks" (local guys who think their beat-up old truck can run the Monster Truck course - HAH!) or "Quad Racers" (same principle, only on 4-wheelers.

The show can be quite loud - not so bad when you are outdoors, like we are, but worse in an indoor arena, I am sure. For us, that's part of the fun. When the younger DDs hear that first Monster Truck start revving up its engine, and then it comes roaring down the course and takes that first jump right in front of us (we always get there early enough to get nice, center seats) I can feel them start to nearly quiver, they get so excited. If you have a little one who doesn't care for loud noises, I would suggest earplugs. (ETA I see your DS is 10, earplugs probably won't be an issue. )

Have fun! Now I am jealous, and REALLY wishing it were June (for a number of reasons - Brrrrrr!!)

[shortbun]

I recommend ear plugs.

[Sorsha]

Big Air!!


OOPS! They're not supposed to look like that!


One of the silly local guys.

Those pics show how small our arena is, but it makes good mud!! And the bleachers on the opposite side are never opened for seating. There's no way to reinforce that fence on that side to make it safe if one of the trucks gets away from the driver.

ET: Sorry so huge - I have re-sized. Darn the new photobucket. I hate it and they keep switching me to it.

[michellev]

We just attended the Monster Jam in Toronto. We had a great time and would definitely do it again. It was very loud, so we did use ear plugs. It started with an afternoon pit party, with races at 7pm and then the free style event last. I think it was over at around 10pm.

[Gumbo4x4]

Originally Posted by ski_mom

We're going to the Monster Jam in St. Louis this weekend.

I've never been and don't entirely know what to expect other than I've heard they are LOUD!

Anyway, just wondering about how long they usually are and anything else significant I might want to know about going. DH and I are taking DS and one of his friends.

Thanks!

I've worked that show before. It will be very loud - any time you bring 1,500HP indoors, it gets REAL loud

[chrissyd1]

It will be loud and cheap ear plugs will help.
It will be crowded, usually sold out.
Hold tight to the kids when it is over because everyone leaves at the same time.
Stay until the end. Because first they do the racing part.
Then they do the freestyle part where the trucks get very crazy. That part is awesome!
It will be expensive for everything. Like $5 for a bottle of water.
You can get free pit passes from local Ford dealers. I think that opens at 2 pm. You can walk around and get up close to the trucks. You can wait in line to get autographs or pictures with drivers.
The pit part is fun but the wait between the pit and the show start can be boring with lots of people just waiting around.

Have lots of fun!

[happily single]

I can't beleive that no one mentioned how cold and dusty it can be!

[Promomx2]

The smell, gasoline.

[Gumbo4x4]

Originally Posted by Promomx2

The smell, gasoline.

Methanol, actually.

[LuLuO]

Originally Posted by ski_mom

We're going to the Monster Jam in St. Louis this weekend.

I've never been and don't entirely know what to expect other than I've heard they are LOUD!

Anyway, just wondering about how long they usually are and anything else significant I might want to know about going. DH and I are taking DS and one of his friends.

Thanks!

DS and I are also going this weekend. We have ear muffs so we'll be wearing those. I've never been to anything like this. Not really my thing. Should be interesting.

[Sorsha]

Originally Posted by Gumbo4x4

Methanol, actually.

Yup, that's a very distinctive smell. Love those alcohol-injectors! (said with my best redneck yee-haw whoop of joy!!)

I am truly a nut for the annual summer monster truck show.