Video of the Week – 01/07/12

Week Ending: January 7th, 2012
Truck(s) Featured: Summit BIGFOOT #18 (Dan Runte)
Video Type: TMB TV Presents
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: The much anticipated debut of the all new Summit BIGFOOT #18 ended on a wild note as Dan Runte took the freestyle win, but ended up on his lid Friday night in Daytona!

Monster Truck Entertainment Announces 2012 Monster X Tour Championship

(Eagle Point, Oregon – MTE PR) – Monster Truck Entertainment is very excited to announce that its premiere monster truck touring series, the Monster X Tour, will conduct a season long points series to determine its 2012 series champion.

The 2012 Monster X Tour Championship will be one of the most grueling points chases ever contested, with events beginning the first weekend of January and ending in November, using venues from the smallest indoor arenas to the largest outdoor fairgrounds & speedways, and spanning locations from Florida to Oregon, with stops everywhere in between.

The 2012 Monster X Tour Championship will be a grueling year-long battle, starting in January and running all the way through the season finale in November.

Drivers will compete for points at each and every event on the tour, all season long. Towards the end of the season, drivers scoring the most points during the year will be invited to participate in the Monster X Tour Championship, which will be held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. Drivers accepting the invite to compete for the championship will battle it out in a thrilling, two-night title bout to determine the 2012 Monster X Tour Champion.

The Regular Season Points System

Monster X Tour events include three monster truck competitions at each event where points will be awarded. The wheelie competition, where the object is to make the truck stand straight up and down, the drag racing competition, where trucks are placed in a bracket and race side by side, and the monster truck freestyle competition, where each driver has three minutes to lay down the best run using all the obstacles and performing the best tricks.

Wheelie Contest
1st – 25 points

Racing Competition
1st – 50 points
2nd – 25 points

Freestyle Competition
1st – 50 points

The monster truck wheelie and freestyle competitions are judged by crowd applause, with the winner being the driver/truck that receives the loudest response from the fans. In terms of points, these will be winner take all events with wheelie contest winners receiving 25 points and freestyle competition winners receiving 50 points.

The monster truck drag racing competition will award points to the two driver/trucks to make it to the final round in the bracket. The overall winner will receive 50 points while the runner-up will be awarded 25 points.

An important component of the Monster X Tour points series is the new practice that drivers will draw for the order in which they compete in wheelie & freestyle competitions prior to each event. Before the start of each individual event, the event director will go from driver to driver, having them randomly draw for their spot in the wheelie and freestyle order. This will ensure that favoritism or popularity does not determine the order in which trucks compete.

Each individual event will have a maximum available point total of 125 points if a driver was to sweep all three competitions.

The Championship Event Points System

The two-night Monster X Tour Championship event at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon will utilize a special points scale to determine the champion. Drivers accepting the invite to compete in the championship weekend will have their points reset in advance of the event.

The driver scoring the most points during the 2012 season will enter the championship event with their total reset to 150 points. The driver scoring the second most points of those accepting the invite will have 100 points and the driver with the third most points scored will have 50 points.

The championship event will be held Friday and Saturday, with each night’s event consisting of wheelie, racing and freestyle competitions. Points will be awarded as follows for each competition:

Wheelie Contest
1st – 50 points
2nd – 25 points
3rd – 10 points

Racing Competition
1st – 100 points
2nd – 50 points
3rd – 25 points

Freestyle Competition
1st – 100 points
2nd – 50 points
3rd – 25 points

The driver with the most total points at the end of the Monster X Tour Championship Weekend will be crowned the 2012 Monster X Tour Champion and will have prevailed in one of the most intense and demanding points chases in the history of monster trucks.

Monster X Tour January-February 2012 Schedule

The series kicks off this coming weekend, January 6th-7th, with events at Daytona Beach, Florida’s Ocean Center and Stockton, California’s Stockton Arena. See below for the complete Monster X Tour January-February 2012 Schedule:

January 6th-7th
– Ocean Center – Daytona Beach, Florida
– Stockton Arena – Stockton, California

January 13th-14th
– City Bank Coliseum – Lubbock, Texas
– Nacogdoches County Expo Center – Nacogdoches, Texas

January 20th-21st
– Rabobank Arena – Bakersfield, California
– Mississippi Coliseum – Jackson, Mississippi

January 27th-28th
– Compton Arena – Medford, Oregon
– Lamar Dixon Expo Center – Gonzales, Louisiana

February 3rd-4th
– Hooker Creek Event Center – Redmond, Oregon
– Forest County Multi-Purpose Center – Hattiesburg, Mississippi

February 10th-11th
– Germain Arena – Ft. Meyers, Florida
– East Kentucky Expo – Pikeville, Kentucky
– Ike Hamilton Expo Center – West Monroe, Louisiana

February 17th-18th
– Garrett Coliseum – Montgomery, Alabama

February 24th-25th
– WNC Agricultural Center – Asheville, North Carolina

Fans, don’t miss out on your chance to see the Monster X Tour in 2012 as drivers compete for one of the biggest championships in all of monster trucks. Every competition at every event counts!

More event information and tickets are available now at www.MonsterXTour.com!

Monster Photos: Monster X Tour – Reno, NV 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center
Location: Reno, Nevada
Date: November 11th-12th, 2011
Photographer: Kelly Murphy Migues

Lineup: Bad Habit (Joe Sylvester), Bounty Hunter (Darren Migues), California Kid (Ed Miller), Iron Outlaw (Matt Brokaw), Rock Star (Bill Payne) [Read more…]

TMB TV: Original Series Episode 4.7 – Reno, NV 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center
Location: Reno, Nevada
Date: November 11th-12th, 2011
Host: Ross Z. Bonar
Videographers: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: Bad Habit (Joe Sylvester), Bounty Hunter (Darren Migues), California Kid (Ed Miller), Iron Outlaw (Matt Brokaw), Rock Star (Bill Payne) [Read more…]

Video of the Week – 11/19/11

Week Ending: November 19th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Bad Habit (Joe Sylvester)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Wild run from Joe Sylvester ends with Bad Habit upside down at the Monster X Tour event at Portland, Oregon’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

TMB TV: ActionTracks Episode 2.9 – Evansville, IN 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Vanderburgh 4H Center
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Date: July 15th-16th, 2011
Videographer: Chris Parrish

Lineup: Black Knight (“Hillbilly”), California Kid (Bill Payne), Quadzilla (Roger Gauger), Rock Star (Bill Payne) [Read more…]

TMB TV: Highlights – Monster X Tour – Chico, CA 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Silver Dollar Speedway
Location: Chico, California
Date: April 8th-9th, 2011
Videographer: Colby Marshall

Lineup: California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Fired Up (TJ Etchison), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Time Flys (Kelvin Ramer), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

TMB TV: Original Series Episode 4.5 – Chico, CA 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Silver Dollar Speedway
Location: Chico, California
Date: April 8th-9th, 2011
Host: Ross Z. Bonar
Videographers: Colby Marshall, Kaedon Berry

Lineup: California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Fired Up (TJ Etchison), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Time Flys (Kelvin Ramer), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: Monster X Tour – Chico, CA 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Silver Dollar Speedway
Location: Chico, California
Date: April 8th-9th, 2011
Photographer: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Fired Up (TJ Etchison), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Titan (Donald Epidendio), Time Flys (Kelvin Ramer) [Read more…]

Monster X Tour Rocks Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway

The Monster X Tour invaded Chico, California this past weekend and TheMonsterBlog.com was on hand for all the action, the tour’s and our first outdoor event of 2011. Some of the biggest names from the West Coast would battle it out in wheelie, racing, and freestyle competitions, including the Monster Truck Mafia’s Rock Star and California Kid, this year’s breakout star Donald Epidendio in Titan and California superstars Time Flys and Fired Up.

Friday night’s action would begin with a with a 2 hit wheelie contest as each truck would hit a 6 car stack then swing around to a slap wheelie bump. It was Garrett Ladelle in California Kid setting the bar with a nice vertical wheelie and slap wheelie to start the competition. After efforts from rookie T.J. Etchison in Fired Up and Kelvin Ramer in Time Flys, Donald Epidendio would come out and raise the bar with a massive vertical sky wheelie on the car stack and though he missed a slap wheelie the first time, an impromptu hit on the van stack would provide the bounce needed for a huge slap wheelie. Finally, Bill Payne would bring his new Rock Star out for its first hit outdoors. Payne jammed the brakes before the car and matted Rock Star, ultimately sending the truck past vertical and onto its roof. Bill would wait for the truck to be flipped back over and deliver a quick freestyle to the fan’s delight, giving Rock Star the wheelie contest win.

Bill Payne in Rock Star wins the Friday wheelie contest with a wild past vertical effort and rollover.

Racing would be tricky as the Monster X Tour crew created a challenging over-under, figure 8 track. In past over-under tracks, the chances of one monster jumping over another were slim to none. This over-under was the exactly the opposite which created some exciting, but tense moments. Each truck would start at the base of each lane, putting one truck right above another much to the delight of the Chico fans. The final round would come down to teammates Garrett Ladelle in California Kid and Bill Payne in Rock Star. Payne would bobble in the final turn, handing the win to Garrett in the Kid who laid down a flawless pass. Garrett was particularly excited about the win as it came on the one year anniversary of the first time he ever drove a monster truck.

Garrett Ladelle celebrates his one year anniversary of his first time driving a monster truck by taking a big racing win.

The final competition of Friday’s show would be freestyle and all drivers let it hang out. Right out of the gate, it was California Kid getting wild and almost sending the truck end over end followed by Kelvin Ramer with some big air in Time Flys. Next out was Donald Epidendio in Titan in one of the best runs TMB has seen in quite some time. Donald launched Titan off of every obstacle, rocked some sick cyclones in the mud, and some great vertical wheelies to the roaring approval of the fans. Knowing he had to go big, Bill Payne only made it three hits into his run before a 3/8’’ bolt let go in the driveline, ending his run short and leaving the freestyle title to Epidendio in Titan.

Donald Epidendio lays down one of the better runs we've seen in a long time to give Titan the Friday night freestyle win.

The weekend finale on Saturday night started out with one of the best collective wheelie contests that TMB has seen in some time. It all came down once again to Titan and Rock Star, as Titan was again vaulted past-vertical into the 5th car of the 6 car set and drove the truck to an insane one wheeled slap wheelie. Payne once again rolled Rock Star over backward and followed up with a quick freestyle after being turned over. In a questionable call, it was Payne in Rock Star getting the win to sweep both wheelie contests on the weekend based on the rollovers and freestyles while Epidendio had the most impressive efforts.

Absolutely jaw-dropping effort from Titan as Epidendio puts it up in a one wheeled slap wheelie.

Racing would see the same two drivers continue to battle it out as Payne and Epidendio won their respective races to meet in the finals. After a close start, Epidendio would bobble in the turn and Payne would make a flawless run to take the victory.

Donald Epidendio had the edge at the start but it was Bill Payne taking the Saturday racing win.

The final competition of the weekend would be freestyle. Teammates TJ Etchison and Kelvin Ramer would both perform nice donuts and wheelies and Garrett Ladelle in California Kid would pose a formidable run before the transmission went out. Again, Donald Epidendio would pilot Titan to a high-energy and big air filled run to the roaring approval of the Chico fans, but it was Payne in Rock Star that would come out with an insane run, ultimately ending in a backwards rollover after pile driving the backside of the over-under jump.

Bill Payne in Rock Star putting together an incredible run Saturday night to win the last competition of the weekend.

A big thanks goes out to Danny Torgerson and the Monster X Tour staff for their hospitality and having the TMB crew on hand for their first outdoor show of the season! Stay tuned for a full photo gallery from TMB’s Ross Z. Bonar this week and don’t miss all the action from the weekend on TMB TV’s Original Series featuring incredible footage from Colby Marshall and Kaedon Berry. Episode 4.5 from Chico will debut on Wednesday, April 27th at 8PM eastern time with all the weekend’s monster truck competitions as well as some extras you won’t want to miss!

Video of the Week – 02/19/11

Week Ending: February 19th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Rock Star (Bill Payne), Summit Bigfoot #16 (Dan Runte), Titan (Donald Epidendio)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Wheelie contest efforts from Rock Star, Bigfoot and Titan from the Monster X Tour event in Redmond, Oregon.

TMB TV: Original Series Episode 4.2 – Bakersfield, CA 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Rabobank Arena
Location: Bakersfield, California
Date: January 21st-22nd, 2011
Host: Ross Z. Bonar
Videographers: Kaedon Berry

Lineup: Black Knight (“Hillbilly”), California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Summit Bigfoot 16 (Dan Runte), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

Monster Photos: Monster X Tour – Bakersfield, CA 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Rabobank Arena
Location: Bakersfield, California
Date: January 21st-22nd, 2011
Photographer: Ross Z. Bonar

Lineup: Black Knight (“Hillbilly”), California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Summit Bigfoot #16 (Dan Runte), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

TMB TV: MT Unlimited Episode 2.1 – Fresno, CA 2011

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Selland Arena
Location: Fresno, California
Date: January 14th-15th, 2011
Host: Colby Marshall
Videographer: Colby Marshall

Lineup: Black Knight (“Hillbilly”), California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Play’n 4 Keeps (Tony Canedo), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Summit Bigfoot #16 (Dan Runte), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

Video of the Week – 01/29/11

Week Ending: January 29th, 2011
Truck(s) Featured: Rock Star (Bill Payne)
Video Type: Fan Video
Courtesy: www.YouTube.com

Description: Bill Payne finally manages to knock the new off of the new Rock Star, rolling it over hard during freestyle in Medford, Oregon.