Monster Truck Facts

Height – Approximately 12’ / 3.6 Meters
Width – Approximately 12’ / 3.6 Meters
Length – Approximately 20’ / 6 Meters
Weight 10,000 lbs / 4500 Kilograms
Tire Size 66”/ 167cm / 1.7 Meters X 43”/ 109cm / 1 meter on a 25” / 63.5 cm Tall Wheel
Motor Type – Supercharged Fuel Injected Big Block American V8
Motor Size – less than 575 cubic Inches / 9.4 Litres displacement
Horsepower 1350 – 2000+
Top Speed 70 MPH / 113 KM/H
Suspension Travel 20-32” – Fully adjustable Nitrogen  or Coilovers. (Virtual cutaway)
Chassis – Custom Steel minimum of 8 points that attached to main chassis
Body – Fiberglass Composite with Lexan Windshield
Fuel Capacity 22 Gallon/ 83 Litre Fuel Cell
Fuel Type – 99.9% Methanol (Alcohol)
Safety – RII (Remote Ignition Interrupter) Track Officials can shut a truck off at any time
Safety – On Board Fire Extinguisher System
Driver Safety – 5 Point Racing Harness, Fire Resistant Suit, Shoes and Gloves, Racing Helmet

Fun Facts

• The current legacy of Grave Digger trucks is #20
• 2007 was the 25 year anniversary for the Grave Digger Team
• The fuel economy of a monster truck is 7 Gallons per Mile or 17 Litres per Kilometer
• In Las Vegas at the Monster Jam World Finals, trucks reach speeds of up to 70mph inside the stadium
• More than 4 million Monster Jam fans attend events each year worldwide
• The World Finals in Las Vegas, NV brings 24 of the top trucks in the world to compete for the World Freestyle and Racing Championships.  Competitors are by invitation only.
• There is only one monster truck in the world with a passenger seat in competition.  This truck has been on the European circuit for 2 years
• On average a Grave Digger body cost $12,500 to Paint.
• $12,500 is also the cost of a new set of wheels and tires for a monster truck
• Typical monster trucks cost $500,000 yearly to build, staff, compete, and maintain on the Monster Jam tour.
• Monster trucks don’t have speedometers only tachometers
• Each monster truck must pass a 50+ point safety inspection before weekend of competition
• Wheelie, donut, and freestyle competitions are judged by fans at each Monster Jam event with the exception of the World Finals in Las Vegas which is judge by a panel of experts.
• A monster truck team transport lorry / tractor trailer weighs 62,000 pounds / 28,000 Kilograms when loaded.
• A monster truck race team will travel 45,000 Miles / 72,400 kilometers a year by land to attend events.

Who sanctions monster truck racing?

The United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) is widely recognized as the premier monster truck organization. The USHRA Monster Jam Series is the most popular monster truck racing series in the world.

What happens at a monster truck event?
At USHRA-sanctioned events, monster trucks face off in two different forms of competition -- side-by-side racing and freestyle. Side-by-side racing is traditional bracket racing, where the first truck, with the least amount of penalties, across the finish line is the winner. The freestyle competition allows drivers a limited amount of time on the open floor to show off their skills. In this category, the fans serve as the judges.

When do monster trucks compete?
Monster truck events take place all year. The Monster Jam Points Series, however, runs from January through March. During this time, all trucks sanctioned by the USHRA accumulate points to compete in the Monster Jam World Finals.

Who are the stars of the USHRA Monster Jam Series?
There are approximately 300 monster trucks in action in the United States. Many only make appearances at local events and don’t compete on a national basis. The USHRA selects the fastest, safest and most modern vehicles to compete in the Monster Jam Series. The top name monster trucks, those who run in the USHRA Monster Jam Series, often have race teams with duplicate trucks for multiple appearances throughout the country. Top names include: Grave Digger, Goldberg, Madusa, Avenger, Sudden Impact, Predator, Gunslinger, Bulldozer and more!

Where do they get the cars to crush?

Cars, as well as vans, buses, motor homes, airplanes and ambulances, are purchased from local junkyards and returned after each event. Full size steel body cars made in the 1970’s and early 1980’s are the vehicles typically crushed during an event. More than 3,000 cars are crushed each year.

How can I meet a monster truck driver?

In every city prior to one of the performances, a pit party is held. Pit parties give fans the opportunity to take photographs, get driver autographs and check out the monster trucks up close and person. Pit passes are available at local sponsor’s retail locations for free and also are for sale the day of the event at the venue box office.

Is it expensive to attend a monster truck event?

Monster truck events are designed for the whole family with ticket prices that are affordable. The average ticket price is $13, with a number of discounts available to make the event a true “Family Value.”

Where can I find more information about monster trucks?

The official Web site of the USHRA Monster Jam Series, www.ushra.com, features driver profiles and links, along with standings, news, schedules, ticket information, multimedia and more. In addition, a number of drivers maintain their own sites.

Monster-Size Numbers

Engines: Custom-built, supercharged and methanol-injected, a monster truck engine burns up to 2.5 gallons of methanol per run (approximately 250 feet). The size of the motor is limited to 575 cubic feet, according to United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) regulations. The average monster truck team will go through five engines in one year. Average cost per engine: $35,000.

Body: Made of fiberglass, a monster truck body is custom designed. A fiberglass company generally owns the mold to the design. Average initial cost: $50,000. Average cost of remakes: $3,000.

Tires: Manufactured by Goodyear and Firestone, monster truck tires must be 66 inches high and 43 inches wide. The average monster truck team will go through eight tires in one year. Tires are customized and hand cut to accommodate track conditions. Cutting one tire takes approximately 50 hours. Average cost: $2,600 each.

Shocks: Most monster trucks run with nitrogen gas shocks. Some trucks run with one shock per tire, while others run with as many as two per tire. The complete shock package includes a coil-over-shock kit and spring. Average cost: $1,250 each.

Paint: A monster truck must be painted to cover the rough fiberglass body. Airbrushing logos and specialized artwork add to the cost. Average cost: $3,500.

Race Team Budget: A monster truck team incurs a number of expenses throughout the year from repairs and maintenance on a monster truck and the hauler to fuel, racing uniforms, lodging and food. Average cost per year: $250,000.

Crushed Cars: Steel body full-size cars are the vehicles typically crushed during a monster truck event. Cars, as well as vans, buses, motor homes, airplanes and ambulances, are attained from local junkyards and returned after each event. Average number of cars crushed per year: 3,000.

Tracks: A crew of eight works 18-20 hours for three days to construct a monster truck course. It is not uncommon for dump trucks to make more than 200 trips to deliver the dirt to each stadium. The USHRA owns dirt in almost every city it visits. Average amount of dirt used per track: 700 cubic yards for an arena, 3,500 cubic yards for a stadium. Each year 700,000 cubic yards of dirt are used to put on USHRA Monster Jam events.

Tickets: During the 2001 season, more than 2.5 million people attended USHRA monster truck events -- up 20 percent from the 2000 season. Average ticket price: $13.