Kamikaze kicks up dirt to the delight of cheering fans. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
Third annual Team Throttle Monster events show Friday, Saturday at county fairgrounds
Spectators at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds suddenly were struck by the sheer volume of trucks when, at 7 p.m., six supercharged engines roared to life beginning Friday’s small-town stadium show.
The six Team Throttle Monster trucks in succession nearly tiptoed to the performer entrance gate before all at once launching across the dirt.
The trucks began to accelerate much faster than expected, soaring through corners as if not massively modified machines weighing 12,000 pounds and so loud that the magnitude of noise put any, last-minute conversations to bed.
Yet, crowd delight was not lost.
Tim Hall Jr. in monster truck Jurassic Attack noses onto a handstand duringthe tricks portion of Friday’s event. At one point, Hall stuck his hand out the window, encouraging the amused and cheering fan section. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
The audience waived checkered flags and other merch in the air, hollering and whistling, as a thick layer of dust showered the stands Friday, effectively coating cellphones, hats and sunglasses in a second layer.
“It’s a great time out here in Cortez, Colorado,” exclaimed driver Carson Williams to the crowd in a post-event interview. The driver of the bright orange Velociraptor won the racing portion.
Team Throttle Monster returned to Cortez this weekend for two evening shows. Friday’s events began with side-by-side racing on a St. Louis-style track, where two drivers started together, split in different directions while leaping in the air before racing back. In segments that followed, drivers went solo, showing off technical skills in tricks and freestyle rounds.
The airborne Kamikaze is propelled by Payge “Bam” Christensen. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
Monster trucks Velociraptor, left front, and Shell Shock’ed race over obstacles. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
It’s the third year the tour has shown in the Four Corners Region, the crew led by longtime Monster Jam driver Mike Christensen and other competitors that are regulars on the national circuit.
Fans’ enthusiasm was evident when participating in an audience poll to determine a winner of two-wheel best trick, and cheers rang out for Payge “Bam” Christensen in the Kamikaze. Bam Christensen, Mike Christensen’s daughter and 17-year-old, third generation Monster Truck driver, returned to Cortez a year after her first full-size debut for Team Throttle Monster.
“It’s not every day you see a father and daughter competing against each other in a motor sport at this level,” Mike Christensen said.
Payge “Bam” Christensen applauds her fellow competitorsfrom atop her steed Kamikaze as the Team Throttle Monster Truck Tour takes over the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
Bam Christensen greeted the youth-driven fanbase ahead of the show and the excitement, notably from many little girls, showed as much as their cheers did when Bam Christensen occasionally descended the truck before and after events, waving arms to pump up the crowd.
“I’m a repeat fan,” said attendee Cass Curls on Friday. “My son is really into monster trucks so we go to all that’s near.”
Curls said her five-year-old son is especially drawn to the loud engine noises and high-flying stunts. Another attendee, Bo Lard, said his work at a local tire shop sponsored the event and it earned him a complimentary ticket.
“It’s been a longtime time since I’ve been to a monster truck event,” he said. “Since I was a little kid, I have liked big engines and lots of horsepower.”
Against the sunset backdrop, Shell Shock’ed pops during freestyle. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
A driver in his fourth year, Williams came to monster trucks practically straight out of high school. He said he went from bagging groceries in his hometown in the state of Washington to fixing cars to finally being able to drive in this “dream job.”
The winner of the racing event noted that it can be highly technical, meaning Williams has to think and act quickly in real-time.
Carson Williams poses in front of his truck Velociraptor. (Erika Alvero/Special to the Journal)
“Mental pregames before I get into racing are I like to walk around, feel the dirt out, look at ramps and see what I want to do,” Carson said.
He added: “You really got to pay attention to the dirt. I like to see if there’s anything cool I think can happen.”
awatson@the-journal.com
