Monster Photos: Monster Jam – Des Moines, IA 2015

Event Information

Event: Monster Jam
Venue: Wells Fargo Arena
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Date: January 3rd-4th, 2015
Photographer: Danny Maass (Check out Maass Media on Facebook)

Truck Lineup

Blue Thunder (Dalton Millican), El Toro Loco (Becky McDonough), Grave Digger (Colton Eichelberger), Maximum Destruction (Morgan Kane), Monster Energy (Coty Saucier), Monster Mutt Rottweiler (Daron Basl), NEA Police (Aaron Basl), Scooby Doo (Bailey Shea Williams) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion – Auburn, IN 2014

Event: 4th Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion
Venue: International Monster Truck Museum @ The American Heritage Village
Location: Auburn, Indiana
Date: November 1st, 2014
Photographer: Danny Maass

Hall of Fame Class of 2014: Diehl Wilson (Virginia Giant), Jon Breen (Mad Dog II, Stomper Bully), Michael Vaters (Black Stallion), Andy Brass (BIGFOOT), Kirk Dabney (Blue Thunder, Giant) [Read more…]

The Allen Report: IMTM Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion 2014

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we once again make our way to the Kruse Automotive and Carriage Museum in Auburn, Indiana, for the 4th Annual International Monster Truck Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reunion. Hundreds of people came from places like New York, Texas, Arizona and many places in between to watch the following five monster truck legends have their careers come full circle by entering the Hall of Fame:

– Diehl Wilson – Owner and driver of the beautiful and competitive Virginia Giant monster trucks
– Jon Breen – Owner and driver of the unique and innovative Mad Dog monsters
– Michael Vaters – Owner and driver of the envelope pushing Black Stallion monsters
– Andy Brass – One of the most hard charging and fearless team Bigfoot drivers of all time
– Kirk Dabney – Owner and Driver of numerous monster trucks from the Blue Thunder monster car to the Monster Truck speed record setting Extreme Overkill

Along with the inductees, the following legendary monster trucks were on display for one and all to observe:

– Hall of Famer Jeff Dane’s King Kong I
– Hall of Famer Allen Pezo’s Predator I
– Alan Tura’s Goliath
– Andy Hoffman’s Nitecrawler tank, formerly Bear Foot Trax of previous HOF inductee Fred Shafer
– IMTM President Jeff Cook’s old school style Shotgun Harry
– John Nowacki’s old school style Mud Monster I
– Eric Howe’s old school style High Horse bronco

The day began on the north side of the museum, where the inductees held the annual Monster Truck History Discussion, answering questions and sharing stories about the good ol’ days. IMTM board member and first ever inductee Bob Chandler of Bigfoot started what could be a new tradition in this annual meeting by asking the inductees the first question. Inductees and attendees alike enjoyed hearing about the sport’s history so much that the discussion ran longer that scheduled.

As the sun set on the clear, chilly northeastern Indiana day, the hour was at hand. A delicious hearty meal was served as historic monster truck footage, most of which one would be hard pressed to find anywhere else, was shown on projection screens.

The inductees were clearly humbled to receive this honor. This was especially the case with both Vaters and Dabney as they made plans to say thanks to the Hall of Fame by rebuilding their respective monster projects for display in the future. And as each inductee’s interview with TheMonsterBlog.com’s Ross Bonar ended, the audience’s applause for the new Hall of Famers were long and loud.

Finally, for the third year in a row, an auction was held to benefit the International Monster Truck Museum to end the night. And in very single bidding case, the drama was intense. We strongly encourage anyone who loves monster trucks and the sport’s history to make next year’s event a can’t-miss.

While Jim and Christopher were enjoying the 4th Annual Monster Truck Hall of Fame, guest reporter Carol Allen attended the Arizona State Fair where ProForce Productions held their inaugural event. President Jamie McNutt brought the always popular Jimmy Creten and Bounty Hunter Yellow, Dawn Creten in Iron Outlaw and the “Flying Spaniard” himself, Tony Canedo driving Play N’ 4 Keeps. The popularity of the monster trucks was evident as the bleachers were packed to capacity for all six shows. The weekend culminated in a backflip by Jim Creten in Iron Outlaw. Announcer Lloyd Massey’s efforts to get the crowd involved was made easier by the enthusiastic support monster truck fans gave the drivers. Dawn Creten and Tony Canedo entertained the monster truck loving crowd with wheelies, some donuts and by jumping various obstacles.

Also, an act new to the Arizona State Fair, the Globe of Death appeared, with the daredevil motorcycle riders amazing the crowd with their gravity defying stunts followed by some very nervy tuff truck competitors. Carol would like to personally thank Loren Saubel, Jamie McNutt and Phil Vicinanza for their kindness and support.

That’s a wrap for us at “The Allen Report” for the year 2014 as we intend to enjoy the first quarter of 2015 simply as fans. But don’t worry monster truck nation, it won’t be long before you hear from us again. So, thank you for reading, a special thanks to the IMTM for hosting this great event once more, enjoy the photos and cheer on!

Photo Gallery

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2014.

Monster Photos: Monster Jam – Phoenix, AZ 2014

Event Information

Event: Monster Jam
Venue: Chase Field
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: January 25th, 2014
Photographer: Jim Allen

Truck Lineup

Bad Habit (Joe Sylvester), Blue Thunder (Dan Evans), Bounty Hunter (Jimmy Creten), Captain USA (Travis Groth), Devastator (Mark Schroeder), Double Trouble (Tyler Groth), El Toro Loco (Lupe Soza), Geter Done (Mitch Tulachka), Grave Digger (Carl Van Horn), Madusa (Debra Miceli), McGruff (Rod Wood), Metal Mulisha (Todd Leduc), New Earth Authority (Norm Miller), The Patriot (Dan Rodoni), RoboMachine (Shane Phreed), Tropical Thunder (Andrew Peckham) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: Monster Jam World Finals – Las Vegas, NV 2013

Event: Monster Jam World Finals Young Guns Shootout
Venue: Sam Boyd Stadium
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: March 22nd-23rd, 2013
Photographer: Danny Maass

World Finals Lineup: Avenger – Jim Koehler, Bad Habit – Joe Sylvester, Batman – Norm Miller (Racing) / Carl Van Horn (Freestyle), Blue Thunder – Pablo Huffaker, Bounty Hunter – Jimmy Creten, Captain’s Curse – Alex Blackwell, Captain America – Chad Fortune, El Toro Loco – Marc MacDonald, Grave Digger – Dennis Anderson, Grave Digger The Legend – Adam Anderson, Grinder – John Seasock (Racing) / Lupe Soza (Freestyle), Hot Wheels Firestorm – Scott Buetow, Iron Man – Lee O’Donnell, Lucas Oil Crusader – Linsey Weenk, Madusa – Debra Miceli, Maximum Destruction – Tom Meents, Metal Mulisha – Todd Leduc, Mohawk Warrior – George Balhan, Monster Energy – Damon Bradshaw, Monster Mutt – Charlie Pauken, Monster Mutt Dalmation – Candace Jolly, Northern Nightmare – Cam McQueen, Scooby Doo – Nicole Johnson, Son Uva Digger – Ryan Anderson, Spiderman – Bari Musawwir, Stone Crusher – Steve Sims, Superman – Jon Zimmer, Zombie – Sean Duhon

Young Guns Shootout Lineup: Bad Habit (Joe Sylvester), Barbarian (Devin Jones), Crushstation (Greg Winchenbach), El Diablo (Jean-Paul Ruggiero), El Toro Loco (Becky McDonough), Hooked (Steven Sims), Iron Man (Morgan Kane), Monster Mutt Dalmation (Taryn Laskey), Nitro Hornet (Daron Basl), Razin Kane (JR McNeal), Titan (Donald Epidendio), Wolverine (Dustin Brown) [Read more…]

The Allen Report: Monster Jam – Phoenix, AZ 2011

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Chase Field in downtown Phoenix once again played host to Monster Jam on Saturday, January 29th and it all kicked off as the most famous on-track rivalry in monster truck racing roared out of the tunnel. The most decorated lineup Phoenix has ever seen included Chad Tingler behind the wheel of Grave Digger, Kreg Christensen returning to Maximum Destruction, Madusa in her Phoenix debut, Norm Miller driving Batman, Alex Blackwell in Captain’s Curse, Todd Leduc in Blue Thunder, the “voice of Monster Jam on SPEED” Mark Schroeder in The Felon, all four members of Team Scream and local favorite Rod Wood driving McGruff. Throughout the night, both Norm Miller and Alex Blackwell were announced as Monster Jam World Finals qualifiers.

The style of course for UTI Racing was Southern California, or, so-cal style. The trucks start by racing each other off a large tabletop before turning away from each other, flying down a straightaway, making a u-turn and racing back the way they came. Max D would take the top spot in qualifying with a time of 25 seconds flat, but it proved useless as he fell to Grave Digger in the quarter finals. Also advancing to the semis were Captain’s Curse, Blue Thunder and Avenger as the fastest loser even after a mid-air collision with Madusa back in Round 1. Grave Digger and Blue Thunder were even through most of the finals, but then the slippery track finally bit Tingler and spun him out in the final turn, giving Todd Leduc his first ever racing victory!

For the third consecutive year, the 30 second bonus time rule was in place. Of the first six of the twelve truck field, Blue Thunder was one of only three drivers who could make it to bonus time with a score of 22. Chris Bergeron in Brutus tried to do a back flip of his own off the side of the tabletop, but the wheelie bar caught the dirt and Brutus went belly-up with a full minute left in the run. Avenger nailed cross threads, big air and did not roll until just moments before his time was up. But after falling short of a racing win, Chad Tingler clearly had blood in his eyes and gave the fans a vintage Grave Digger freestyle, never rolling over and flying long after his time was finished. With a score of 26, Grave Digger saw the Phoenix victory lane for the first time since 2008.

After what happened here in 2011, how can the monsters do better still next year?  They will try and we will be there for all of it. Until next time, check out some of Jim Allen’s great photos from the event and thanks for reading!

All content copyright TheMonsterBlog.com 2011.

Monster Photos – Monster Jam – Phoenix, AZ 2011

Event: Monster Jam
Venue: Chase Field
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: January 29th, 2011
Photographer: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: Avenger (Jim Koehler), Batman (Norm Miller), Blue Thunder (Todd Leduc), Brutus (Chris Bergeron), Captain’s Curse (Alex Blackwell), Grave Digger (Chad Tingler), Madusa (Debra Miceli), Maximum Destruction (Kreg Christensen), McGruff (Rod Wood), Spike (Rich Hilgendorf), The Felon (Mark Schroeder), Wrecking Crew (Steve Koehler) [Read more…]

Monster Photos – Monster Jam – San Diego, CA 2011

Event: Monster Jam
Venue: Qualcomm Stadium
Location: San Diego, California
Date: January 22nd, 2011
Photographer: Susan Clemens Woolley, www.123EventPhotography.com

Lineup: Avenger (Jim Koehler), Batman (Norm Miller), Blue Thunder (Todd Leduc), Brutus (Chris Bergeron), El Toro Loco (Marc MacDonald), Grave Digger (Chad Tingler), Lucas Oil Crusader (Linsey Weenk), Maximum Destruction (Kreg Christensen), Monster Mutt (Joe Miller), Obsessed (Rick Swanson), Obsession (Jeff Jones), Shocker (Pat Gerber), Spike (Rich Hilgendorf), Superman (Chad Fortune), Terminator (Gary Schott), The Felon (Mark Schroeder), Time Flys (Kelvin Ramer), Wrecking Crew (Steve Koehler) [Read more…]

Monster Jam – Louisville, KY – 10/23/10

Event:  Monster Jam
Venue:  Freedom Hall
Location:  Louisville, Kentucky
Date:  October 23rd, 2010
Photographer:  Chris Parrish

Lineup:  Backdraft (Jeremy Slifko), Blue Thunder (Frank Krmel), Eradicator (Andy Slifko), Grave Digger (Pablo Huffaker), Mopar Magic (Morgan Kane), Stone Crusher (Steve Sims) Superman (Chad Fortune), TMNT (Aaron Basl) [Read more…]

CP Action Art Cincinnati Monster Jam Photos

TheMonsterBlog.com continues to bring you coverage from this past weekend’s incredible Monster Jam debut at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. You’ve seen all of Paul Harry’s great shots from the event, now Chris Parrish is bringing you all the action from another angle. Check out the link below to see all of Chris’s awesome shots and don’t forget to check out his personal site, www.CPActionArt.com.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CHRIS PARRISH’S CINCINNATI MONSTER JAM PHOTOS

Monster Jam – Cincinnati, OH – 07/10/10

Event:  Monster Jam
Venue:  Paul Brown Stadium
Location:  Cincinnati, Ohio
Date:  July 10th, 2010
Photographer:  Chris Parrish, www.CPActionArt.com

Lineup:  Air Force Afterburner (Damon Bradshaw), Blue Thunder (Linsey Weenk), El Matador (Daron Basl), Grave Digger (Dennis Anderson), Grinder (Lupe Soza), King Krunch (David Smith), Maximum Destruction (Tom Meents), Mopar Magic (Chris Baker), Spiderman (Ryan Anderson), Stone Crusher (Steve Sims), Taz (Adam Anderson), War Wizard (Randy Moore) [Read more…]

Cincinnati Monster Jam Photo Gallery

TMB’s Paul Harry was back at it this weekend as Monster Jam invaded Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH for the first time!! A stacked field of 12 trucks competed in racing and freestyle with the legend, Dennis Anderson in Grave Digger winning racing and son Ryan in Spiderman taking freestyle.

Click the link below to see all 12 trucks in action through Paul’s awesome shots from the event, a big thanks to Paul for everything he does for all of us here at TMB.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAUL HARRY’S CINCINNATI, OH MONSTER JAM PHOTOS

Monster Jam – Cincinnati, OH – 07/10/10

Event:  Monster Jam
Venue:  Paul Brown Stadium
Location:  Cincinnati, Ohio
Date:  July 10th, 2010
Photographer:  Paul M. Harry

Lineup: Air Force Afterburner (Damon Bradshaw), Blue Thunder (Linsey Weenk), El Matador (Daron Basl), Grave Digger (Dennis Anderson), Grinder (Lupe Soza), King Krunch (David Smith), Maximum Destruction (Tom Meents), Mopar Magic (Chris Baker), Spiderman (Ryan Anderson), Stone Crusher (Steve Sims), Taz (Adam Anderson), War Wizard (Randy Moore) [Read more…]