Remember back in the mid 90s when you would spend all hours of the day on the original Playstation, trying to beat seven bells out of your opponent’s car, on the total smash-fest that was Destruction Derby? It was always the same routine, you played way past your 11pm school bedtime, walloping your way through several levels until you made it through to the Demolition Bowl at the end.
If you thought those late nights back in the day were exciting then what’s coming this summer is going to blow your mind. The UK Monster Truck Nationals plough into town on the 18th August, knocking everything out of its way that isn’t bolted down. The Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough plays host once again to one of this summer’s most exciting family events on the calendar. Featuring some of the greatest monster trucks ever to be seen in Europe, the Nationals are where the best come head-to-head in an adrenaline fuelled, metal-bending, bone-crushing finale. The monster truck drivers are so crazy there is probably no way they will ever get cheap motor insurance from the likes of Express Insurance.
If you’re new to the Monster Truck scene, now is your chance to get fully immersed in the culture of all things smash and crash. The larger than life modified pick-up trucks are literally bouncing into town later this month, with some of the finest examples on show to entertain the thousands of eagerly awaiting fans. Santa Pod’s resident Monster Truck, Podzilla can be found going head to head with some of the world’s finest competitors. With names like Blaster, Swamp Thing, Big Pete and the Grim Reaper you know what you’re signing up for, jaw dropping, rip roaring good old-fashioned Monster Trucking fun. Remember setting up tracks in your bedroom as a kid, squeezing the Pink Panther figure into a tiny orange Ford Capri and blasting it off a ramp into a ton of Lego bricks and Action Man figures? Well, this is the event where it all becomes a reality.
The day starts off with the Pit Party, which gives families the chance to meet and greet with the stars of the show before they get all charged up for the heats. This is shortly followed by The Kangaroo Kid, who has been wowing crowds, worldwide with his crazy quad bike stunt show. The eagerly anticipated Monster Truck Showdown hits at around 1pm, this is where you’ll be able to witness the biggest names on the circuit battle it head-to-head to find out who will make it through to the finals and be crowned this year’s Monster Truck Nationals King.
The entertaining doesn’t stop at Monster Trucks, in addition to the main event the crowds will also be able to watch the grappling slog-fest that is C.A.W.S Wrestling. Charity Appeal Wrestling Shows are a touring unit who grace some of the finest independent venues around the country, raising money for various causes close to their hearts. Another highlight of the show is Fireforce, the record breaking jet-powered dragster, which can hit speeds of up to 336mph and holds three records for being the fastest on the planet. Fireforce can do the Santa Pod quarter mile track in a staggering 5.7 seconds, blink and you’ll miss it! 3pm marks the show finale, the Monster Trucks hit the arena one last time for the Freestyle event. This is what everyone thinks of when Monster Trucks come to mind, roaring around the track, hitting ramps at breakneck speeds, hoping to get as much air as possible in order to jump cars, caravans and even fire engines.
This sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer’s afternoon, we think you’ll agree. Head down to the Santa Pod Racetrack, Wellingborough on Sunday 18th August. A family ticket costs as little as £35.