City plays host to monsters
Campbellton - The roar of the engines was deafening but that didn't stop about 2,000 people from cramming the bleachers of the main ice of the Civic Centre last week for the first-ever visit by the Monster Madness World Tour of monster trucks.
Among the five 1,900 horsepower, methanol-fueled rigs was Bigfoot, the truck synonymous for monster truck. It was more than 30 years ago that Bigfoot was born to Bob Chandler, who first used it to crush cars at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1983 before 80,000 spectators. They became so enthralled with the demonstration they rushed the floor which led to the show being cancelled. The legend was born
Bigfoot, along with Jurassic Attack and others, took to the Dieppe Arena May 1 with giant robots and extreme ATVers.
The show was put together by Mike James of Gander, NL. He said a few hours prior to the show that the first visit to the city by Edge Motorsports was likely not the last.
"We really enjoy going to the smaller cities. We're able to get more personal and the people seem to enjoy our being there that much more."
He grew up wanting to be a dentist, found himself working as a naval architect before being approached about five years ago.
"I loved extreme sports since I was a kid. I was contacted by someone needing a promoter and the rest is history," said the 31-year-old former professional race car driver.
He said the business is 100 per cent Canadian owned after a fourth investor was bought out by the three Canadians. The team had just returned from a show in Tel Aviv, Israel that had more than 50,000 spectators enjoying their first-ever monster truck experience.
"That was cool but a little nerve wracking. There were like 300 security personnel so it kind of woke us up to what's going on over there."
Edge Motorsports is based in Peterborough, ON. and does about 300 shows every year. Just recently, four shows were done in New Brunswick in four days.
"It takes the better part of a day to get set up and a few hours afterwards to clean up then we're off to the next show," said James. "It's our first time in Campbellton and based on the reception we've gotten here we'll be back for sure. I would personally like to thank anyone who helped us to get here, including the Civic Centre, Mundle's and Mills Auto Parts, to name just a few."
James said the 10th most viewed sport in the world (he claims the NHL is the 20th) is exciting for everyone of all ages. It's also exciting for the drivers.
Kristy Edge is a 22-year-old spark plug from British Columbia who drives Jurassic Attack, a three-horned truck painted like a lizard. She's one of only a handful of female drivers in the world, where only four or five companies like Edge Motorsports exist, with just two of those in Canada.
"It's an amazing rush," she said prior to helping the rest of the crew set up the show. "I wanna do what the boys are doing and when I got this chance I jumped at it."
Edge said she had spent about two years giving rides in monster trucks to kids at shows across the country before getting the opportunity to join the company with the same name, though no relationship exists between the two, it's one of those monster truck peculiarities.
"I loved and trucks as a kid so it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I have been given. It's an amazing feeling when your behind the wheel and feel all that power, knowing that nothing can get in your way and nothing can stop you."
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