Monsters in the Cupboard ... well, Stadium Arena Actually

Angel's Baseball Stadium

So late last year, I was eating the most amazing Asian pair and Gorgonzola sliders (mini beef burgers for the folks back home - lets just call a spade a spade right?!?!) with the Teamies one lunchtime at a sports bar called Rudy's. Here you can watch as many different sports as you can in one sitting. One of the channels which captivated my attention was Monster Trucks.

To me, this is quintessential America. Yep, I am fully aware of that statement being a humongous stereotype but there you go. I decided that whilst I am living in the US I have to submerge myself in the local culture.

The Falcinella Family (aka the Teamie!)

So, upon declaring that I wanted to go and watch my Teamie Ro also expressed an interest and some weeks later after getting organised we booked tickets.

Front Row Seats Upper Level

The timing of the event was my Mum's last night in California. So, tactfully approaching the subject with Mum on how she would like to spend her last night with me and whether or not she thought that being in a huge stadium full of people with petrol fumes and potentially a lot of dust in the freezing night air would be appropriate? Sure, why not was her reply! Gotta love my Mum!

This is a Monster Truck

The Long Jump

So that is what we did. After stopping at Lucille's for ribs and southern fried chicken with the Teamie and her family we all headed over to the Angels Stadium in Anaheim (home to the Angel's of Anahiem baseball team) for Monster Jam.

Typically the tour begins in late winter each year and finishes in early March with a grande finale in Las Vegas. The competition consists of two rounds. The first is a head to head time trial with who trucks racing a short course to the finish line.

At the start line for the Head to Head

The second part of the course is a freestyle section where the competitors have 90 sections to show off there skills plus a 30 second bonus period on which they are then scored with a panel of number boards - but not exactly Len Goodman and his "Sev-en!"

I must say that I have no idea on how the scoring works. For me the first few drivers started getting better and better but their scores were getting lower and lower so I don't think they will be knocking on my door any time soon to be on the judging panel.

Titan won the time trial and Grave Digger - The Legend won the freestyle section and I must admit that even for a total novice spectator like me, he was pretty impressive.

The main theme for the evening was that bigger is better and the higher you jump the more excited everyone gets and if you total the car then you are a hero! It didn't disappoint either - there was plenty of carnage, but I am pleased to say no casualties.

There are man made jumps and ramps made from dirt and piled up cars, and also other obstacles to conquer such as buses and rows of other vehicles.

I had no need to worry about how much Mum enjoyed it either. Despite the cold she sat there for a couple of hours taking pictures of EVERYTHING!! She by far out papparazzied me!

Ooopsie!!

Mum in Action!

Crash Corner!

It will also be memorable for being a very loud event. Even walking up to the outside of the stadium you could hear the roar of the engines inside. But it wasn't too over powering at all - it all added to the spirit of the event. It was so much fun and so different and not something that I thought I would ever do in my lifetime. If you get the chance to go - do it! Y'all will have fun - we did!!!

This just reinforces my belief about this being a typical American pass-time! The driver was even in costume - Shield and all!