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SPeedway Stories: Full Throttle Racing
11 Plays5 days ago
tune in for awesome show we will have monster truck promoter JR Rouse!!! He will be talking all things monster trucks!!!
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Background
00:01:28
Speaker
Welcome everybody to a special edition of Speedway Stories on here this Thursday night. Thank you all for tuning in. Zempheus, good seeing you the chatterbox, man. I got a special guest tonight on the show.
00:01:39
Speaker
J.R. Roos from Full Throttle Monster Trucks coming up. Let's bring J.R. up. And then also on top of this, you guys seen him Monday night. I got Wes Durari back up on the show as well.
00:01:56
Speaker
And here's my boy Johnny up on here. Sweetness. JR, Wes, thank you guys again for coming up on the show tonight and everything else. I know, Wes, this will be your third time being on the show. I appreciate you hanging out with us tonight.
00:02:11
Speaker
JR, thank you for taking time out of your busy night and
Journey into Monster Truck Promotion
00:02:14
Speaker
everything else. i know you've got a big weekend coming up Saturday and Sunday for your promotion and everything else. If you would like to...
00:02:22
Speaker
introduce yourself and tell the fine folks here on on the show and everything else that's in the audience um what you do and everything else and we'll get into some questions and everything for you buddy ah appreciate you having and having us on obviously i'm jr rouse own full throttle monster trucks this is our 10th year in business um we kind of started expanding into your guys territory last year and um We've done a little bit with ah a lot with monster trucks. We do a lot of different. A lot of people in the industry call them side acts, but I kind of like to think of it more as a complete show. And it's kind of how me and Wes ended up meeting each other, having some tough trucks at some shows. And I don't want anybody to ah think I'm crazy or anything, but I'm actually driving right now. So this gets a little shaky. That's what's going on. But fine roads of Indiana are not so fine.
00:03:22
Speaker
Yeah, i've heard I've heard the horror stories, especially that that one main stretch coming into Ohio and stuff and like that and everything too. is If you're coming from Indiana, going over the guys going over to Indianapolis and stuff, they said it's like might as well have better luck on a dirt road than most of the highways. ah they're They're not lying. It's bad. Yeah, so.
00:03:44
Speaker
So I got my main first question right off the rip, man. What got you into wanting to be a promoter and getting into the monster truck side of this?
Growth of Monster Truck Events
00:03:55
Speaker
Well, i I've been going to racetrack since I was two, three years old.
00:04:00
Speaker
My dad used to race and once he started having kids, he couldn't really afford it anymore. So we were always sitting in the stands. And so all my life, I mean, we, we weren't well off. So the racetrack was cheap entertainment and that's what we did every single weekend.
00:04:21
Speaker
Um, when i got older and hit the workforce, I ran a lot of demolition derbies it got pretty serious and that stuff for a while. And we just had a lot of very corrupt promoters in our area doing a lot of really bad things and,
00:04:38
Speaker
I just took the gamble and done a couple shows on my own and that really took off and we did that for several years and had a good time with it.
00:04:50
Speaker
Just the demolition derby isn't quite like it used to be. I'm agree. That's how I got out of it. Yes. Yes. It's nothing like used to be. We still do a couple we' around our hometown area, but that's about it.
00:05:05
Speaker
Nice. see Oh, yeah. Yeah. I had a guy come up to me at a derby and he's like, if you can put on all these derbies and be successful, why don't you do monster trucks?
00:05:17
Speaker
I'm like, you're crazy. You don't have a clue what you're talking about. As fate would have it, the very next week I had a fair call me. They had an open night and they're like, can you come up with anything for us? Like anything.
00:05:34
Speaker
called the guy back, got his monster trucks. We went and did a little show and It's just blossomed from one to we're going to do over 50 of them this year.
00:05:44
Speaker
Wow. You're definitely going to be a busy man. I'll tell you one thing that I've noticed with this promotion since I started following you, especially coming over here in look Ohio and stuff.
00:05:55
Speaker
I love that you got the connections with Bigfoot, man. That is my childhood hero for monster trucks. I mean, that is that is awesome. Yeah. And it's the same with me. I grew up with Bigfoot, love the truck. um I'm just going to be flat honest with you.
00:06:11
Speaker
One of the things I'm the most proud of, I am the only promoter in the United States right now that can bring Bigfoot to your event. i every other i love I love it. I love it.
00:06:22
Speaker
And every every other truck is tied up with Hot Wheels, which is another great promotion company. oh yeah um Huge. They do a lot of very good things.
00:06:34
Speaker
And even a lot of the trucks that aren't Bigfoot at those shows are Bigfoot. So a lot of people don't know that, but that's okay. And we we set up a deal with them with a retired driver and it's a lot of fun.
00:06:49
Speaker
Yeah, it's neat seeing the child childhood ah truck monster truck that, you know, started the whole monster truck thing at shows, everything else. I mean, it's freaking awesome.
00:07:02
Speaker
wait Wait till you see the Bigfoot that comes to Ohio this year. It's a throwback, and it is f freaking awesome. I wish I could let the cat out of the bag, but we're doing a big old debut of it in ah over in Illinois in May.
00:07:17
Speaker
But it's a throwback, and it's awesome. Heck yeah, man. I know I've seen on their thing that – Facebook page for yesterday they released the Chassis a Bigfoot 25 I think it was they did a yeah video of it coming off i was like dude that looks sick. I can't wait to see the body on that thing Yeah, I was i was walking around that that Friday night. It's a really really nice piece come come from Ohio Dan Patrick builds up every single every single new Bigfoot chassis is
00:07:52
Speaker
comes from circleville they come from damn patrick i didn't i didn't realize he was still doing that man actually he still has trucks i think i think he has two trucks in europe right now on the hot wheels tour so he's over there with uh alien revolution and all on a few of those that went over to europe for this year yeah and that and And that's awesome to see see how the, not only the monster trucks overseas, but look how big truck and tractor pulling is getting over there too. But just to see the monster truck themselves getting their own shows and stuff. And we're able to share our passion of that motorsports with the overseas people, man. And I mean, it's cool as all. good
00:08:41
Speaker
Absolutely. Totally agree with you. Yeah. not um Another question. This is actually for you double for you and Wes. Just real quick, i know this I don't think you guys have a schedule released yet. I haven't seen.
00:08:57
Speaker
How many 10 truck races are you guys going to have pretty much at all your monster truck shows or is it going to be a limited thing?
Modified Trucks in Monster Shows
00:09:05
Speaker
just out of show we're I am targeting shows.
00:09:11
Speaker
that that is my goal We may come either a little shorter. We may come a little over. Um, that's the reason why i've kind of set up a couple special shows that Wes talked about the other night.
00:09:27
Speaker
Um, so, and I'll kind of talk about that in a minute, but yeah the, um, no, we like, you know, we went to Knox County last year, met a lot of modified guys and I absolutely love modified trucks. I'm from Indiana, 40 minutes from the Jamboree.
00:09:49
Speaker
Grew up watching tough trucks all the time. you know, I thought they were dead. Totally thought they were dead other than a handful of people. um You know, I've worked with couple of different guys, but really the last three years I found out, no, there's a community and it's alive.
00:10:10
Speaker
it just needs to get back out in front of people. and and that's And that's the thing. Like I've talked with Wes and a bunch of the other guys. When the Jamborees died off, man, it was the only way you knew about them is if you were around the local fairs.
00:10:24
Speaker
And now yes these monsters, you're putting, not only you, but other monster truck shows as well. But doing something, what you're going to do this year is like the old days where the old old monster truck arena shows where they had the tough trucks.
00:10:40
Speaker
as part of thats the show, and you're continuing on a legacy is the way I look at it from when I was growing up, the old TNT days. Absolutely. you' so You're exactly right. And, you know, that's what I grew up with. One one of my big things is, i said earlier, a lot of people look at it as a side act.
00:11:03
Speaker
I truly don't because I'm going to tell you this. There are plenty of shows I could go back and talk about where, Man, and they were just okay monster truck shows.
00:11:13
Speaker
But I seen some freaking awesome tough truck racing. And the tough trucks were the show that night. The monsters weren't very good. and But, you know, it kind of saved the show.
00:11:26
Speaker
um i feel like it's a unique opportunity in Ohio with so many guys that we're going to try to do this.
Resurgence of Motorsport Culture in Ohio
00:11:35
Speaker
um i'm hoping we'll get some support i know not everyone's going to be able to do it i know some of the shows are a little too far away um but the cool thing to that is going to be some of your lower level guys that right there in west central ohio that may be a
00:12:00
Speaker
a 10th place guy and, you know, a good night's knocking on the top five. Well, if the big boys don't travel, well guess what? They're going to go be the wins. Yep. They're going to the top. They can be, they got that shot at being the top dog.
00:12:14
Speaker
I know at least, I know at least a handful of guys, including Wes himself. um And you got two other ones that I'm really, really close with besides Wes.
00:12:25
Speaker
yeah they're They're ready to head out, and they're coming out this weekend. And I know those two, besides Wes, are going to be a major part of the series. um i I met Jason Daniels a couple times, but I haven't got a chance to see him shoot It's been 10 or 15 years from him running. i haven't seen the new truck run. so it It is a very sweet piece. um He's the first guy to get a hold of me.
00:12:54
Speaker
think it was about four years ago. and we we brought him and a few others to Fort Wayne as an exhibition thing. know and i know I know there's a few people that are a little unhappy with what we're doing with Fort Wayne, but what a lot of those people don't realize is the Fort Wayne show this weekend is nothing but an exhibition.
00:13:19
Speaker
um We had some quad racing and stuff that was going to fill in this year, but Supercross is at Indy.
00:13:31
Speaker
All those guys are going there. So Wes helped me out by grabbing a couple of real quick guys. You know, it was some of the first guys that answered their phone and we're not doing anything crazy. We only got four, maybe five trucks are going to be over here, but it'd be something for the fans to understand. and And then next year, you know, I'm going to reward guys that come out and run with us. We're going do an indoor show in Ohio, maybe two.
00:14:01
Speaker
And then we're going to do Fort Wayne, and I'm going to invite the people that run with us first. they They'll at least get the first option. and yeah you know and that's And that's good. at And that's another thing. i And that's across the board, and I'm sure you've seen it, JR. Promoters, you you got your followings, and then you got some because i've see you see it all the time on Facebook, man. And I know you probably dealt with it yourself.
00:14:29
Speaker
all because somebody had one bad night. It wasn't the promoter's fault or you had it or you had a hiccup because you know there was a delay or this. But you see so much with the promoters getting bashed anymore, man.
00:14:41
Speaker
And I wonder why people get out of it Right. and And I'll tell you you, know, we got a unique situation this year. I know Wes has kind of been a the the the face of what we're doing right now.
00:14:55
Speaker
And he doesn't have all the answers because we're still working out with all the fairs and trying to make sure we've got all the guaranteed money. um everything i Everything that I guarantee, I do.
00:15:10
Speaker
That is one of the number one things. If I've got to pull the money out of my pocket because it didn't happen That's going to happen because that's what had that's the way you got to be.
00:15:20
Speaker
Um, and you know, Wes really stepped up at the end of last year and was one to do some of his own stuff. And, you know, we kind of did a little bit of talking and I told him, you know, I don't really understand the tough truck world. I mean, you got guys that show up that got a motor sitting in their passenger seat.
00:15:41
Speaker
yes I mean, oh yeah it's everything. you know Everything from the stockest thing to that's not even a truck. So you know I had to get somebody on the inside to to kind of help out with this a little bit.
00:15:59
Speaker
um And he kind of worked on the rules because we'll face it, there's not everybody's built the same. But I kind of wanted to make sure at least starting out, we kept Megas out.
00:16:11
Speaker
Because I just don't, I don't think the two go together. So. Well, with mega trucks, man, you, you got the, I'm sorry. And people that watch it, if they don't agree with me, all those are as baby monster trucks, man. They got, they got too much motor too much for, for the style of, of the modified rough trucks. I mean, they're cool. yeah I love watching them, but for what you guys are wanting to do and what I've been around this sport since here in Ohio, since it started,
00:16:40
Speaker
It's come a long way and mega trucks has got their own thing. That's the second thing. but well Yeah. yeah And that's the thing. It's not a disrespect towards them.
00:16:52
Speaker
It's a, you know, a lot of the fairs that we go to, I mean, you guys are very familiar with Knox and i get a very tiny area at Knox.
00:17:04
Speaker
So, you know, you got to bring in what's going to work best in your area. I think the tough trucks have a really good shot. um I've had a lot of stock guys reach out to me about, you lunch yeah, why why don't you just do this with stock?
00:17:20
Speaker
Yeah. yeah and all That's one of the things I want to tell people. I'm not against the stock stuff at all. i love it. But my my whole reason for leaning a little more towards the modified is couple things.
00:17:35
Speaker
One, they're not welcome to everywhere. Two, a lot of your modified guys take pretty good care of their stuff. And when they roll in, it has a certain presence.
00:17:48
Speaker
oh yeah and And it has a little bit more than the stocks and it's not me dissing on them. It's just being honest. A monster truck show presence is a big thing.
00:18:00
Speaker
And you know, when you're going to have kids around the trucks and all, you don't want a bunch of sharp edges and stuff. And i give the Ohio Modified guys a ton of credit, man. There's a lot of really nice iron over there.
00:18:16
Speaker
Speaking of Mr. Daniels, he says, excited for this weekend, just need to clean it up and get it loaded. really Nice. And he's a super good guy. Every time he's been around.
00:18:29
Speaker
I haven't seen him in person in almost like 10 years. It's been that long since I've seen him in person. Stayed in contact through like Facebook Messenger or with him and stuff. and He's had some stuff. He was supposed to come to a couple of local shows, but he had some things come up where he couldn't make it. So I get it. I mean, shit happens. Yeah.
00:18:47
Speaker
Yeah, him and Wes came out to Van Wert County Fair last year. and We had a a really good show. Wes was still going to death. He got a beating. it might have been it because Jason's truck shut off, but we will but we won't tell that story.
00:19:04
Speaker
we We'll just leave it as a W for the night. You get one bragging right. That's all you get, Wes, one time. We'll let him do that. We take what we can get sometimes. He might he might have almost got laughed in the second race, but we're not going to talk about that either.
00:19:20
Speaker
yeah hey As long as the guys are going out there, I mean, yes. Yes. Having fun, enjoying themselves, getting to show what they they're capable of doing with these trucks. um Back to your stock thing.
00:19:33
Speaker
I know me and Wes know some guys with the stock. They can call them stock, but there's some guys, as we know, that's got some Cherokees that are they're just minus the horsepower underneath the hood to hang with some of the modified guys. Oh, Chris, let's be honest here.
00:19:50
Speaker
Let's be honest here, Chris. They might have little helper thing in the truck with the horsepower. and Hey, but I'm just going to say, them Cherokees fly, especially over Bustas.
00:20:05
Speaker
Well, i got I got one. I'm in the process of building one for this year, so we're going to see what happens. I may come bra may come and play at Knox this year if it's done in time. Do both nights, and it ain't going have no sharp edges or nothing on it as long as I don't roll it before then.
00:20:22
Speaker
Well, so that's one of the other good things. kind of The Modified guys got a little bit more invested into theirs. They're going to be they're more apt for traveling. Yeah.
00:20:35
Speaker
And that's when Wes and I were sitting down talking about it, it just made the most sense to kind of go this route for this year. And, you know, I think guys are going to have fun with it. i You know, I'm hoping what I was telling you, my goal is 10 races.
00:20:54
Speaker
I'm really kind of hoping to maybe create a drop race or two in there because let's face it, we we've all had truck trouble on the way to an event. Yes, sir. We've had a family emergency or something.
00:21:07
Speaker
So, but you know, and just work life in general. So I'm hoping to, you know, maybe get a drop race or two in there. And, um, I've got two, uh, places outside of Ohio that really, really want some good racing.
00:21:25
Speaker
I got them to give us some decent purses. Um, the, the first of it, June 6th, we're going down to Florence Speedway. That track promoter down there, yes, that that guy is flat awesome.
00:21:38
Speaker
I'm telling you, he puts on a $75,000 to win Dirt Lane model race. He rewards people that puts on a good show. So nice I told him that's nice. That's the kind of people you want to do business with man. Right. And I'm really trying to get the word out because so he's guaranteeing ah thousand to win and we're going to try to pay the top eight places.
00:22:05
Speaker
So that way we can try to get least eight guys with fuel money going back home. But the thing people don't understand if we go down there and we put on a good show, This is the type of guy last year when the monster truck show was over, he had one truck that he really liked.
00:22:22
Speaker
He drove back, took a thousand dollars out of his pits and gave it to the guy. He's like, you put on a show. now i had some mudra yeah I had some mud drags
Challenges in Promoting Truck Shows
00:22:32
Speaker
going on and i had a guy wreck.
00:22:36
Speaker
He walked over and gave him 300 bucks cash out of his pocket. He said, you know, I know it doesn't fix anything, but people are going to remember that wreck. It was cool. And I just want to help you out.
00:22:48
Speaker
So it's a place. Exactly. And this going to our sixth year going there doing monster trucks.
00:22:59
Speaker
And i I really think that the crowd that comes there, they'll eat the tough trucks up big time. We we did a small one a couple of years ago.
00:23:11
Speaker
And it was popular. It was more of an exhibition. That's part of Kentucky, right, JR? Yeah, just south of Cincinnati. Oh, yeah perfect perfect location.
00:23:22
Speaker
Any of my guys in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma wants to get in on this, we I will be sure that I'm friends with. If you want to get on this June 6th, this is a prime location for you guys, kind of right in the center of all of us. So If you're watching or anything else, here's your opportunity in this summer.
00:23:42
Speaker
And that's the thing. we're We're trying to create a lot of different events. um You know, this this is an experiment for this year. I think it's got a good chance to work and I'm hoping, you know, we got some signature stuff that we're looking at doing over the next two years. And, you know, I would really like to get back to having, know, some jamboree style events and This is kind of... awesome more Yeah, there there's a little bit of test. Hey, who out there is interested in doing this kind of stuff still?
00:24:16
Speaker
yeah yeah Yeah, I mean, i don't get me wrong. Yeah, they the the old promoters for the Jamborees, all they got right now is Bloomsburg Indy, but at the same time, yeah the the the people that was running it after they left, they left such a bad taste in people's mouths. They're having a hell of a time building back up because they got rid of what what everybody came for the jamborees, the mud runs, the monster trucks and, and the tough trucks. Those were the big drolls.
00:24:45
Speaker
And then ah now they're trying to build it back up again. And then it's, it's taken them a while since they got back into it, but I think they, they got something going, of course, being, especially being Indy. I mean, that, that was the granddaddy of them all, but I miss Lima here in Ohio. That was always a good time. So.
00:25:04
Speaker
But we definitely need something like that, JR. And hopefully this is something where you can continue in your home state and bring it over here to Ohio, man. du You know hell yeah yeah what? You think this is great? I'm doing more shows in Ohio than I am in Indiana.
00:25:22
Speaker
Really? Yeah, Ohio quickly becoming my second at home. Wow. I didn't realize that. Yeah. Oh, I mean, like at the fair conventions, it's, like for the Ohio fair convention, it was nonstop at the booth. Saturday, nonstop at his booth.
00:25:40
Speaker
So, I can attest to what he's saying. mean, it's freaking and We need this shit because it's becoming, it's growing again. This this side of the motorsports, besides truck and tractor pulling, is becoming huge. And Ohio's a huge motorsports state to begin with.
00:25:59
Speaker
And now we have your promotion coming in and adding the rough trucks that are already, you know, part of your monster truck show, let alone the local fair side. the These mod guys are getting the double dip in one week twice.
00:26:14
Speaker
They get to show their shit off for two different two different times. So, I mean, it's a win-win for both both parties. Right and the nice thing is it's going to be two totally different type of events So when you're at the rough truck events, you're one truck at a time and crazy obstacle of course Yeah, I don't have the room to do that um Because i got to try my best to give a good monster truck show So that's why we're going to be a little bit more heads up racing I'm not going to say our tracks are going to be perfect, but
00:26:47
Speaker
You know, the nice thing is I think Wes is pretty connected with people to, you know, get get me some good driver input back to where we could constantly work on this and try to understand what we need to do to have good tracks. I mean, ah if you if you talk with Brad, he'll tell you, man, he he's went to a few shows in the past where either I barely had jumps or I i had them...
00:27:14
Speaker
I had him way too bad to where he couldn't do much with him. So, you know, we've we've learned a lot and we're going to keep learning. The thing of it is, too, with the track setups, because I'll be honest, I got an experience first time Monster Truck helping last year at at the Hartford Fairgrounds, which I've been talking to some people, by the way, to let you know on the fair board about stuff. so But I helped firsthand watch the track get built.
00:27:42
Speaker
you can tell the difference between somebody that's used to building monster truck tracks to come down to the tough truck tracks it's like night and day you gotta tone everything back for what you build for a monster truck truck and it's right yeah and it's hard to get it right yeah and the beauty of the tough trucks is kind of the speed aspect um you gotta to have enough to slow them down But, you know, you can't go too crazy because if guys are out destroying their stuff, they're not going to travel the next night or two nights later.
00:28:21
Speaker
So you got to find that happy medium. And that's the bad part of about me and Wes has talked and like Dale and everybody else, all the guys I'm buddies with. A lot of these local fairs, they've set it up because they want to see destruction.
00:28:36
Speaker
But at the same time, you'll get that in your stock class. Correct. these guys with the mods like Wes and everybody else, Jason and them, they they don't mind the jumps, but when you got motocross jumps at some of these local fairs, the guys aren't going to put on the show, the speed show and give it air and all that stuff because they're not going to break their shit because you want to be in there for a couple hundred bucks to win.
00:29:05
Speaker
Yes. And, ian you know, that's kind of the the show that Wes is going to be doing down at Claremont County. You know, and it's a place that's never had any rough trucks or anything.
00:29:18
Speaker
And, you know, we're going to try to set it up a little bit different. He's got some really good track ideas for going in and making a good obstacle course.
00:29:29
Speaker
But no matter what kind of track you've got with some of the stocks, especially there, they're probably going to be super, super stocked. You know, <unk> going they're going to destroy stuff anyhow.
00:29:40
Speaker
So, yeah, you're going to have your carnage there. There's no reason to try to break everything that shows up. Right. And there's one fair. It's sad. I mean, I don't know. Everybody complains about it every year in it's total carnage. And that's down at Noble County Fair.
00:30:01
Speaker
Their starting jump, JR, and Wes can attest for this from seeing video, is literally like a watching the Nitro Circus style jump on dirt bikes, dude. I mean, it literally launches you straight up in the air. And they set that up every year like that.
00:30:19
Speaker
And that's the reason my truck don't go there. There are couple of trucks my truck don't go to. I'm going to throw something totally different at you.
00:30:30
Speaker
I do a show in Rushville, Illinois. It's called the Schuyler County Fair. And everything that shows up there is knock the windows out and run.
00:30:44
Speaker
And those guys, those guys are intentionally out to destroy their stuff.
00:30:54
Speaker
So I kind of got both ends of the spectrum. Right. Right. I mean, that's understandable. But, I mean, when you've got this, you know, it's one of your main attractions for the night. I get you're going to have carnage on some of the stuff.
00:31:09
Speaker
But still, give it to where you're not going to break your back or where you're not going to be able to ever drive again or never want to come back because you're tearing it up. ah Somebody, their first run breaks it right off their first run, and they're done, and they can't do nothing. its It's pointless. Yeah,
00:31:26
Speaker
Exactly right. Yeah. And it's so fun when that happens either. No, it ruins your night makes for a bad night. Yeah. Well, that's why when Wes and I were really talking about this, we were, I was really pushing a him.
00:31:42
Speaker
We need to try to put together a little series and that way guys will know what they're going to get. You know, it's not going to be something for everybody, but at the same time, you know, we're not trying to take over from anyone.
00:31:57
Speaker
You know, we we didn't set out to go sign rough truck events. We're going to do a couple because fares don't have anybody and other people that do them didn't want to go there.
00:32:10
Speaker
We're going to go try to help them out and see if we can do something. Yeah. But outside. for It could turn into something huge like Florence floor prepared to speak florence Speedway. Look what it's done for you.
00:32:21
Speaker
You're going yeah six years down there, man. I mean, that's awesome. Exactly. And, you know, I think we have a lot of fun with this. It's been pretty positive feedback. I know a lot of people would have liked just to have been a lot more organized with, hey here's everything all at once.
00:32:41
Speaker
it It just kind of wasn't feasible. I was able to get a couple of fares to jump on board early and, trying to reel a few more of them to really understand that we're not trying to mess up their rough truck night or anything. Right. so It's bonus show, basically.
00:33:00
Speaker
That's yeah exactly how they show for the monster trucks. I mean, you're not only getting monster trucks, you're getting so good, good old fashioned side by side racing in the modified chuff truck world, like the monster trucks, except you're getting a baby version of them where the guys are going out and showing what their trucks are there and their drivability is on these short courses for them.
00:33:22
Speaker
So, I mean, they're getting double dip in the the show. I mean, it's fricking, I love it and it's good to see this. another thing you know we Another thing we're trying to do, we want competitive racing at these
Balancing Competition and Track Design
00:33:36
Speaker
events. We don't want ah people just come out there show up and grab their money. We want get competitive for racing is another reason we went to this.
00:33:47
Speaker
right yeah and and That's a big part of what going to be talking with different drivers on with you know track builds. you know we We may have to If we've got a huge motor difference, you know, we manage hairpin corners or stuff. yeah There's several different things you can do with a track to kind of even up some of your competition.
00:34:10
Speaker
But at the end of the day, if you're a heck of a driver, you're a heck of a driver. That's actually that. And that's the thing. and This is all the years of being around the rough truck, JR. Most of these tracks and stuff, but even at the Jamboree,
00:34:27
Speaker
It comes down like you said, it's the driver. You can have all the horse car in the world and all you do is feather at one time the wrong way in a turn or over a jump. It can cost you a race at any time.
00:34:41
Speaker
So, I mean, this yes this is great for the heads up game. for what people's wanted for a long time since the Jamborees disappeared to see this kind of stuff and they're getting it now on the local fair circuit with monster trucks.
00:34:55
Speaker
So you can't go wrong when you got that going on. that's That's part of the joys the experience, yeah, is getting to see some of these drivers get good challenge in their abilities, abilities yes? Yep.
00:35:06
Speaker
Absolutely. For sure. You're right about that, John McSmith. What about all the torque you want, too? I mean, it the torque and horsepower, I mean, it's it's there. it But, yeah, this is – you can have a course.
00:35:21
Speaker
It can be the fastest course you want. But you like you said, JR, you throw a hairpin turn in there, the better driver is going to end – could end up taking that taking that race when it happens because there's just that one little thing that can change the outcome.
00:35:38
Speaker
Exactly. Yeah. good um but I mean, that's just that's the thing. that That's the beauty of it. makes it fun. And that's why, you know, we're going to try to change courses up as much as we can and do some different things.
00:35:53
Speaker
You know, I'm definitely excited. I can't wait to see. I can't wait to see what you bring. And let's hope this year at Knox, the rain stays away for you guys this time compared to last year. Hey, I'm going to tell you. telling you.
00:36:09
Speaker
but yeah Listen, I'm telling you this. Here's how invested I am into Knox. I am literally bringing one of the best monster truck shows I can bring. I've got Dirt Crew, Dozer, Blockhead. What's their other one? Dozer, Blockhead.
00:36:32
Speaker
Maximus. And then I believe it's American Scout and Hookie coming over. And then I'm actually, the night before, I'm doing a show Farmington, Missouri.
00:36:47
Speaker
But I will be at the Knox show. Wow. So it's going to be, we we're going to be doing some team driving in the overnight to to get over there. But come morning, we will be there.
00:37:06
Speaker
unfortunately i will not be at knox this year for the monster truck show because i'll be in claremont county that's all right that way you got a way to to build up a ah following and everything else down there man yeah hopefully claremont will show go good for you i'll definitely be at knox since it's my hometown fair and everything else supporting it so Yeah, and, you know, i think the the Claremont guys have kind of stuck some money behind their event that we're going to be putting out here pretty soon, and I think it'll be a very, very solid show.
00:37:41
Speaker
Oh, yeah. I'm excited for it, being my first promotion. Like I said, Monday night, I'm i'm taking my truck with me, so that way I can still get some points for the night. I'm just not going to take any money if I win.
00:37:56
Speaker
Yep, that gives you more seat time, too, man. yeah yeah And we're going to also, i don't know if we'll get any modifieds down there because there's not really many in the southern part of the state.
00:38:09
Speaker
um There might be a couple sneak down, we'll see. But I want to make sure the fans kind of get to understand the difference in them. And, know, we're also going to run side-by-sides with them that night too. Just ah kind of make sure we have a good full, well-rounded show.
00:38:27
Speaker
that's way yeah That's the way you got to do it, especially for being a first-time deal for that fair. i mean ah But still, that's going to be freaking awesome to have something like that um going on for there.
00:38:39
Speaker
on Being down in that area, too, maybe you'll get lucky get some of the Kentucky boys and West Virginia mod might venture up there. Who knows? i' make bad thing yes days so The Kentucky boys have disappeared.
00:38:54
Speaker
There's yeah most of it now is us Ohio boys Pennsylvania, Missouri and Oklahoma guys and then you got Larry McCormick out there with his his ordeal and his tough truck guys are all out there in Cali and stuff out that way. Yeah Well, I will tell you this i think even the Missouri scene is down right now because I've had trouble trying to get trucks in the St. Louis area We're actually running something called autocross out there and basically doing it with cars.
00:39:28
Speaker
a so yeah we Some of the fairs around here still do the autocross. It's kind of neat. It's kind of a yeah kind of watching the racing and it's like a derby all combined in one. That's pretty much so yeah what it is. it's There's a lot of carnage that goes on during a lot of these autocrosses. Oh, yeah. For sure. yeah But I mean, I as a promoter man, my my whole goal is try to bring as well around an event as we can because like I was saying earlier, you know monsters have bad nights if you've got a really good group running with you, know, they can always enhance the show and pick it up and When when you have a well-rounded show
00:40:14
Speaker
like Heck, Knox last year. Think about it. If we didn't have tough trucks in the mud, how bad would that show have been? Yeah, because Mother Nature put a damper on that joke.
00:40:26
Speaker
I actually got a one of my followers and really good supporters of this channel. He actually works at Lucas Oil Speedway. He made the comment about seeing about checking in coming out there at Lucas Oil Speedway.
00:40:38
Speaker
Nice. Bringing a monster truck show out there. Yep. Oh, yeah. we're We're all about it. i We got a couple big racetracks we're going through this year. Gosh, we signed Coles County Speedway. We're going to Lake Ozark Speedway out in Missouri. We're going to Macon Speedway. And I'm working with a certain NASCAR track. We might have a nice little event in November down south somewhere. Oh, that'd be cool.
00:41:10
Speaker
That'd be awesome. Everybody stay tuned for that if it happens. Yeah. you' no That's the thing. Just you know some of this stuff. Try and get some of the fun stuff going again. and you know A lot of people kind of... They'll question me, well, you got to hate Monster Jam. No.
00:41:31
Speaker
I actually love Monster Jam because they put monster trucks on TV every single day of the week. And every single person knows what a monster truck is.
00:41:42
Speaker
So I can't, I can thank them for that. But what what I don't like is it's all a monster truck show. They don't try to put on a full event. And, you know, we we get a lot of beginner drivers and new to the scene or some of the retired drivers. And, you know, I kind of consider us like the truck series of monster trucks a little bit.
00:42:05
Speaker
You know, we got a nice little mixture. You know, we got big dogs like Bigfoot coming in and like the yeah Bushes sneak in and steal truck races and stuff from time to time. But, you know, we got a lot of up and coming guys, you know, really proud of ah Thomas Borders and what he's done with his team and ah Colton Kaiser and that group with the American Scout truck.
00:42:31
Speaker
So it's been a very cool thing to see. Well, and it's neat too. Also, the difference with Watson Monster Jam. Yeah, you get that stuff. ah you you get the the kind of the experience but with what you guys are doing with your pit parties and everything else it's way more of a i think a better experience than i've been to a monster jam show but the going to fair monster truck shows is a hell of a lot better because you get more interaction with the drivers it's the end of track it's more genuine it's awesome it's awesome it's more genuine you're
00:43:07
Speaker
You're exactly right. It's much more genuine. You can go up and ask a question. You can, yeah you know, you can sit in a tire and take a picture.
00:43:17
Speaker
you know, I love and hate it. You know, Monster Jam is the NASCAR side. You know, they're they're the first ones to get the multimillion dollar lawsuits and you can't touch stuff anymore. And I get that.
00:43:33
Speaker
But, you know, I feel like you got to have somebody like me out there getting kids to fall in love with it again. Yeah. Well, like I talked with a lot of the guys on here, Wes included, we're losing the younger generation. We got to get them back.
00:43:49
Speaker
Because if we don't have this up and coming younger generation into the motorsports side, we ain't going to have nothing when we're going.
Safety Measures in Motorsports
00:43:57
Speaker
There's not going to be, we won't ever be able to do something to talk about this.
00:44:04
Speaker
When
00:44:08
Speaker
when we when we're doing a monster truck show you got so many kids out there and you get a lot of teenagers well a good solid Monster truck right now. You're gonna pay minimum 200 grand and If you want top of the line, you're gonna be three to four hundred thousand There's not many people that can can go do that. They they just can't.
00:44:34
Speaker
But when you think about it, you can find solid used modified trucks at 10 to 15,000 range. You know, it may not have the latest greatest on it, but you can go get a solid beast for 10 grand and go out and compete.
00:44:52
Speaker
Oh, yeah. And I mean, that's the thing with that too, with doing the pit parties with the, you know, having a modified truck. it It relates to, the like you were saying, to the to the fans. Hey, I can achieve this.
00:45:05
Speaker
you know Yes. But still, too, at the time, too, some of these guys have gotten lucky that they could end up where they could wheel a monster truck eventually. But it doesn't always happen, but there's always the tough truck side of things. It's always there.
00:45:23
Speaker
As long as it keep ups people stay involved. Absolutely.
00:45:28
Speaker
Well, and you know, I don't know if Wes has ever told you, but you know, he traveled to few different events last year and you know, luckily most nights he's able just load his truck up. But when he got done several nights, he went over and help guys tire down and, you know, just kind of met people, you know, found out we all put our pants on the same way.
00:45:52
Speaker
yeah el Nobody, nobody treated him or looked down upon him. Because he was in a in a rough truck. You know, they enjoyed him.
00:46:04
Speaker
Oh, yeah. wanna And it's nice. Well, and the nice thing of it is what helps with that is is the community you've circled yourself with for the monster trucks that you bring in and everything else.
00:46:15
Speaker
That helps a lot, too. That right there in itself helps, too. Well, I'll be the first to tell you. There's been a lot of very, very bad promoters go through Ohio.
00:46:27
Speaker
One of the absolute worst, still does a few shows in Ohio, and he's created a lot of very bad situations. who At the same time, there just like your world, there's a lot of snakes in the monster truck industry and drivers and stuff.
00:46:45
Speaker
yeah I'm slow to open my circle. I run mainly the same 15 20 trucks every season. We'll experiment a little bit here and there with somebody.
00:46:58
Speaker
you know Once you're in, you're good. But you know i do everything I can to try to keep a good group. and And that's the key. i mean when you That's that key back to, again, with like what you're wanting to do. You guys are putting you and Wester together to grow. I know like it's going to be few hiccups here and there this season with the modified stuff.
00:47:19
Speaker
But if there you get the people like you have with the monster truck crews and stuff, Man, you could explode. it could be one of these. it could be the next big thing.
00:47:29
Speaker
Everybody. And then you could, like you said, venture off to where if it goes like it should, and which which it should, you could go just where you'd start doing individual rough truck shows indoors, not only monster trucks, but have a separate show for the modified bills.
00:47:47
Speaker
Well, and see, that's one of the things that a lot of people don't understand. Like this weekend in Fort Wayne is, you know I'm paired up with tractor pull guys. We were paired up with Demolition Derby last year. i mean We brought in 110 dump truck loads of dirt yesterday.
00:48:08
Speaker
that's ah That's a very expensive bill.
00:48:12
Speaker
110 dump truck full to put in that arena? Holy shit. Yeah. yeah so The the pulling strip has to be a minimum of 18 inches thick to stop the trucks and tractors.
00:48:30
Speaker
Right. So if you think about it, it takes a lot of dirt to get above that 18 inches. Yeah. So, you know, we're kind of sharing, we're we're sharing expenses with them.
00:48:45
Speaker
The venue at Fort Wayne, I think it seats right at 3,500. It's kind long track. kind of a long track you'd like to do a little bit more, but we'll see ah exactly where we turn out with fans, but just the the indoor expenses. I mean, a lot of people think this number is crazy, but you know, just in this show this weekend, we've got over 180 K in it and it's a huge number to swallow.
00:49:18
Speaker
Right. Well, and that's the thing a lot of people don't roll realize and I'll be honest with you right now, and Wes knows about it, and I know he's talked to you. I'm finding out on the on the the promotion side of what kind of headache it can be to try to put on a show. biggest yeah the biggest The biggest problem, and and and I'm sure you dealt with it when you first started out too, insurance. People do not want to insuret insure motorsports events without cutting your head off.
00:49:50
Speaker
Yes. So I pay over six figures in monster truck insurance every year. So, so you're, you're exactly right. Yeah. the The insurance company makes far more money than I ever make off this stuff.
00:50:06
Speaker
And it is absolutely crazy. But that also comes, comes back to kind of one of the other points on the modified side, you know,
00:50:19
Speaker
The guys tend to be a little bit more in control. You know, yes, they push them hard, but they're not as radical. You know, I'm not, I know I'm probably going to barrel roll. I don't care.
00:50:34
Speaker
Well, these guys aren't quite doing that. They're going go do everything they can to make the corner. If they screw it up, they're going to roll. You know, it makes a big difference when an insurance company is sitting here looking at There's a jalopy Roland, and arms and legs are hanging out the vehicle.
00:50:50
Speaker
or Here's a modified Roland, and it lands, and it looks just like it did before it went over. Right. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And I mean, I get and i get it. so Yeah, like another thing.
00:51:05
Speaker
Another thing is
Investments in Safety Technology
00:51:06
Speaker
I agree with Jay Arwen on this 100%. is We're going to look at going to the ah RII kill boxes for these trucks, which I think is a needed thing.
00:51:16
Speaker
I'm in the process of doing my research on them right now to try to find what's going to be the best one and the cost of it. Just go ahead and do it for an extra safety measure on my truck. and The thing is, Wes, with those, I mean, how half the time you can't you roll over.
00:51:32
Speaker
Half the time, that you they're not there quick enough, and you've seen work you've seen it firsthand where fires happen and everything like that, or they can't shut the motor off in time. Well, that's where a good track group comes in.
00:51:46
Speaker
yeah But at the same time, just in case, but you've got that extra safety measure, it's an automatic kill switch. Yeah. And you know, it's, it's something down the road.
00:51:58
Speaker
We are definitely going to look at it investing into. um it's nothing we can do right away. That is for sure. Um, I'll tell you, I want to give you guys kind of example of something I'm doing with the trucks this year.
00:52:13
Speaker
So to keep people off the track, I've invested into a system called light siever. So every single monster truck, will have basically it's like a walkie talkie in it that has an led screen that when it's time to go green for racing flashes green if i hit a kill switch because someone's wrecked or anything it automatically comes up red and lets them know you know sweet wow yeah and it's going to be right there in the cab of every single truck no you know i like that yes and
00:52:52
Speaker
The problem is, like you're saying with insurance, we've got to keep doing things like this to be better, you know, because accidents are going to happen. They're absolutely going to happen. And we all know it.
00:53:05
Speaker
You know, a place like Knox County, you you hang up a throttle there. You better be a smart driver because there's a big old pond there at the end of the track. You're going swimming if you ain't paying attention. Oh, yeah. Real quick. Yeah. Yeah. I'm amazed I haven't found any pictures of trucks in the water. but There are. There are. I've got some. I'll send them to I'll send them to you. Stop, guys.
00:53:31
Speaker
I believe it, fellas. But, know, as we progress through this, and if we can gain some popularity, and get it be more of a staple, then yeah, stuff like that we're going to look at to kind of help with some of the insurance costs. Hey, you know, that's one of the big things that's helped us a lot with monster trucks and a lot of incidents.
00:53:56
Speaker
lot of these county fairs, they just don't have the safety that you really need for this stuff. And that's one of the reasons why you know You don't see Monster Jam the county fairs.
00:54:07
Speaker
you know You can't go jump a truck 40 foot high at a county fair. but but No. no ni a no Because of like you said, the safety measures are not there to do shit like that. so Right. right so let's e JR knows what the group of guys that's been running with him. like I'm one of them.
Maintaining Passion in Monster Truck Community
00:54:32
Speaker
I'll lay it all out there. But he also knows I'm in control of the vehicle. He's seen it all too often when I put her up on her nose. Do my signature move. yes Well, and I mean, that's the thing, too. Racing in general, like I've talked with even my drag racing guys that do drag and drive.
00:54:49
Speaker
Anybody in the motorsports world, don't shortcut the safety shit. that And a lot of people do that. and right and And then you're always reading online. Somebody died or somebody's paralyzed because they shortcutted a fucking $200 safety device yeah that could have saved them either their life or – but, yes yes, sometimes you can have all the stuff, and it's still misfortunes happen, but it's mostly the ones that shortcut safety.
00:55:20
Speaker
Yes, and here's the thing to think about. You know, at these fairs, don't get me wrong, everyone's got fire trucks, ambulances, and that's great. Most them are volunteers. You know, they're used to coming up on an accident, assessing the season and hitting it.
00:55:36
Speaker
You know, they're not always standing there with their coats and stuff on. You know, does it really cost that much to get a fire jacket? You know, you can go on Speedway Auto Parts and get fire suits.
00:55:50
Speaker
Pretty decent. You know. $300. Yeah. My thing is, I just went and but i just went and bought a fire jacket. Even if I'm running stock, i'm still you never know the chance of what's going happen. I went ahead.
00:56:06
Speaker
The wife is going to buy me one for this year. so and That's one thing I've always wanted. I'll be honest. this This year, my belts are new. My helmet's new.
00:56:17
Speaker
My fire suit's new. I got shoes. The only thing I don't have is gloves. and That was all bought. Because like I started looking into my belts. Well, I realized my belts were from 1995. It's time to change. They'll start getting – yeah, that's definitely – well, the thing with belts too, you've got to watch. I mean, I've got a couple of new sets that are like two years old, but I looked at one of the sets.
00:56:43
Speaker
They were fraying on the inside. Unless you flip the belt over and look, it was fraying. Who's to say I used that set in my truck and it cut loose and I go come you know barrel rolled and it actually throws me out of the truck when I'm running. so it's right yeah That's a key thing to look at too with that shit.
00:57:05
Speaker
Yep, you're exactly right. good instance of that
00:57:10
Speaker
Sorry guys, my phone was dying so i'm trying to get it plugged in and put it my buddy Another good instance of that.
00:57:21
Speaker
My first race, I just threw old five-point in at Stock Cherokee, rolled it at Hartford. Well, the five-point harness came loose. My racing seat broke. Yeah, it was not good.
00:57:33
Speaker
So after that and a few other things, I've really started doing my safety measures. Well, and with you guys and the modifieds. A lot of you guys too are getting speed and if you guys go end over end, if you don't have the proper safety shit in there, just like what the monster trucks like JR was saying, bad things can happen really quick.
00:57:56
Speaker
e Well, and here's the thing. If you don't embrace safety, your sport is not going to stay around. I mean...
00:58:07
Speaker
When was the last time you seen ah blower cars running a mud bog or mud drag? You don't see them anymore. No. You can't even get in.
00:58:20
Speaker
You know, ah and it's crazy. it's I'm allowed to do a little bit of dirt drag stuff, but I've got very specific rules on what we can and can't do.
00:58:32
Speaker
ah
00:58:35
Speaker
It's gonna come around to bite you. I know everybody thinks it's not gonna happen. I was young too you know, I did a lot of dumb things as well But I could tell you this for for those young guys who are thinking Man, there's no way I can afford it and all this in December in Indianapolis is the largest racers convention. It's called PRI You're part of a motorsports team You can go online and enter.
00:59:04
Speaker
costs you $40 to get in There are companies there like Velocita, any of the fire suit companies, they're making deals. You buy a fire suit this weekend. Yeah. yep Yeah. You know, I think when I bought my daughter's last fire suit there, it was buy the fire suit this weekend, get gloves and think she got gloves and shoes for free.
00:59:33
Speaker
yeah i mean i and I checked the prices. they
00:59:38
Speaker
It's not cheap. when you not When you can't get deals, it's not cheap. no and but yeah That's one of the easiest places that anybody can go do it.
00:59:50
Speaker
right It's one of the smallest prices to pay for your life. Right. Or, or you you know, even just, to the yeah, basically your life. Or be able to walk again or anything like that.
01:00:02
Speaker
But no, this season.
01:00:06
Speaker
Like I told you on, you know, like I told you Monday night or Monday or the first time I was on. Yep. Just because my shocks were set wrong, I got nerve damage in my back for the rest of my life.
01:00:19
Speaker
So I got nerve damage. Yep. Because bad seat, bad shocks.
01:00:25
Speaker
But guess what? It didn't stop me. I'm still out here putting this truck to the limits. you Right. bycio there's I mean, there is people out there that they've got the stuff for that.
01:00:38
Speaker
And it takes, that's like with my, so the Jeep I'm building. I'm putting decent shocks that it can handle most of this stuff. But I went and got me a good seat that's not going to,
01:00:51
Speaker
hopefully mess my back up or anything. I've got my harnesses, my neck brace, my helmet, got my fire jacket. So, I mean, I'm i'm ready to, I'm prepared for this year compared to before it was always just a helmet and seatbelt and go run the stock class and everything else. i' hurt my back in the past doing that and I'm lucky I didn't mess it up worse and worse than what it did, just being sore.
01:01:15
Speaker
Yeah, right. Yeah. I'm really glad you guys talking about the safety because that's one of the absolute most overlooked parts motor sports. And think there's a lot of people that are trying to put that emphasis out there.
01:01:31
Speaker
But I think this sport right here, there's a lot of younger guys, especially with the stock side coming in that. Oh yeah. Some of those guys can get started off on the right way at this.
01:01:42
Speaker
It'll carry on the rest of their lives and there'll be examples for others. Right. Well, that's one of my things has always been that's like I ran last year for the first time since 2009. I made sure I had a seat bar put behind the seat and I wasn't running driving the vehicle without a five point harness in it because I learned my lesson in the past with a regular seat belt. I've had this the cuts on the neck, the where it's tightened around underneath my helmet, running the rough truck and stuff. I'm like, no.
01:02:15
Speaker
From now on, it's got to have a harness in it. And that's what the plan is. Again, I'm here for it, even with my my kids running. They're going to have the helmet, the neck brace, and stuff.
01:02:29
Speaker
Hey, let's let's have a quick, awkward conversation. All right. So you said five-point harness. Number one thing you guys hear number one thing you hear guys complain about, I'm not running that nut strap. Oops. Do you know what that strap is for?
01:02:50
Speaker
all these years, no, I do not, but I've always ran it when I've had one. so So let me tell you this. All that strap is for is to keep your belts down.
01:03:02
Speaker
When you don't run that strap and you have a very hard accident, you will find the belts all the way up around your chest or in your neck.
01:03:14
Speaker
That's all the keep It's not for racking you. mean yeah It's just one of the things I hear all the time. I'm not going to run that because guys just don't even understand what it's really doing.
01:03:29
Speaker
yeah yeah actually we It's your main support because I have seen the ones where they don't use it and it don't matter how tight you get those over your shoulder and stuff.
01:03:39
Speaker
After they're done, it's like you never even tighten them. I've seen it where it's not... yeah I always run that strap. i um I'm a firm believer. that is the do I see all you guys. absolutely in the my They all run them.
01:03:56
Speaker
Go back to covering your bases and not cutting corners. right It's just that extra security, especially if you go on your top. Who's to say that you don't run that? Wes, you lived that experience in your first stock, man, where it came loose like that when your seat broke.
01:04:12
Speaker
so if I mean, all I'll almost win as far as this year is going through the same style that the monster trucks run, the ratchet style. you He lost signal.
01:04:24
Speaker
Yeah.
01:04:26
Speaker
You make a few shows and get a few fans and tell someone you need help with safety equipment or you can't build it anymore and they will help you out. Yeah, you're right. ze yes It is It is that way. Yeah.
01:04:38
Speaker
But, yeah, it's just one of JR's experiences and technical difficulties on his phone because of service issues. But, yeah, I mean, he's it is, and and that's a key thing anymore.
01:04:48
Speaker
And like I was saying, with the safety, it's all around racing community. You're always seeing because somebody skipped out on that little extra stuff. And a lot of race drag strips and dirt tracks, Dempius can vouch for it, which he has.
01:05:02
Speaker
That is part of tech or you don't race if you don't have the stuff. But yeah, i mean, it's one of those deals that you have that that happen.
01:05:16
Speaker
But yeah, it's one of those deals. With us, we really don't have to do that ratchet style, but that just gives you a little extra tightness and security in the belts.
01:05:29
Speaker
Now, do they cost a lot more than your normal fuck five point? Yeah. um I needed one kind of sooner rather than later. So I went ahead and just went with one of the, what do they call them, the quarter turn five point.
01:05:46
Speaker
ah Number one, I like that one better in case i need to get out there in a hurry. It's better than that the mold click styles that you know I'm talking about, the old where you got shovel yeah each piece through. and i had I had a set last year.
01:06:01
Speaker
Yeah. They're a pain in the ass if you got to get out in a hurry sometimes. Oh, yeah. Because of the way they clip in. Yeah. So, that's why I went with the quarter turn lock style.
01:06:15
Speaker
um just Just in case. I mean, I've never, knock on wood, I've never caught fire in my truck or anything. um Have rolled it. have Have came close. But, thankfully, I got everything shut off in time and it never happened.
01:06:31
Speaker
But, you know Like everybody says, safety is one of the big things. you know I got two kids at home. At the end the day, I'm going home to them. Might be a little hurt, might be a little sore, but I'll take that in any day of being burned or dead. Oh, yeah.
01:06:49
Speaker
yeah Poor JR and his self-service. I mean, he can't catch a break. Well, he's like he said, he he's driving to driving to work work at home and then going to work and everything else. So, yeah, I mean, I'm the same way. i mean, me and him.
01:07:06
Speaker
That's another thing, you know, like me and him. um We both work full time jobs. I work 60, 70 hours a week um and I still do this.
01:07:17
Speaker
you know it It takes a lot to be committed to this sport and then me going ahead jumping up to this, helping JR out and promotion side of it. You've got to be really dedicated and love this sport to do that. Well, it's a sport that's any sport, Wes. I mean, if you're going to be dedicated. Well, yeah, Zepheus, well, hell, with most of the guys you've got going out there, dude, there's some big dogs that race out there.
01:07:44
Speaker
that do use the full head and neck restraints of the Hans device. And that Jason Daniels is a prime example. He's another one that actually does that with it when he races.
01:07:55
Speaker
Well, actually I'm getting ready. I'm looking into the Hans devices. I am very dumb on them. I'm still running the classical neck brace.
01:08:07
Speaker
Um, but, but my new helmet is rigged for it. Um, So I'm going to talk to a couple of the guys that do run these Hollins devices. I know there's the Sport Hybrid and the actual Hollins.
01:08:22
Speaker
um I want to see which one they recommend and what I need to do different. I'll get my seat and everything to make those work. Tyler Mead just said, yeah, he went through this winter and just ripped his cage out and restarted over from scratch for safety reasons. Dude, that's the way you got to go. That's like with Mead, the one ah with Mead building.
01:08:43
Speaker
I'm putting safety first with, even though it's semi is stock basically, but I'm still going to put safety first in the thing. The way the cage is set up, the way my seat's set up, way my harnesses are done.
01:08:57
Speaker
Just make sure everything is set where it needs to be for what it what it is. So going back to what you're saying, my that red Jeep I had, my first rough truck, the first race I was an idiot.
01:09:12
Speaker
I'll go ahead and say that out loud. Were you what JR said, the young and dumb and thought you were invincible? Well, kind of. I told myself I was going to take it easy, and then once I got out on the track, taking it easy, went out the window because I didn't have a cage, didn't have five-point.
01:09:28
Speaker
I literally busted the windows out, took the rear hatch off, went out there and raced it at the summer race, took 19th place. ye Now fast fast forward up to fucking Hartford,
01:09:41
Speaker
um Yeah, that it had a redneck roll cage in it. Probably not the... It was not the best. It was pretty bare minimum.
01:09:52
Speaker
Right. They had a five-point in it. Actually, it was pretty crappy one. Pretty crappy racing seat. And when I rolled, I came loose and broke the seat.
01:10:04
Speaker
After that, then I bought that already had cages in them. Well, sometimes those too, you got to watch buying other people's stuff. you You got to go through it with like a fine tooth comb to make sure it meets your standards.
01:10:19
Speaker
You know what i mean. That's why I went with one of the racers I got to know a little bit. Like dar Tyler Peters, I knew his cage was good.
01:10:31
Speaker
Oh, yeah. John Yoder overbuilt this cage on this truck here. that was That was just a John thing. John's... I can tell you, it's good.
01:10:48
Speaker
Yeah, he had a bad taste because he originally started with a stock, semi-stock fucking Grand Cherokee, and he found out real quick that he needed the safety was a little more, and when they built that truck, they definitely put the safety to it.
01:11:05
Speaker
Oh, yeah. That one in the background was pretty heavy-duty. that's Yeah, that's his, the one he was talking about Monday. Very nice. Very nice.
01:11:16
Speaker
Looks pretty solid.
01:11:19
Speaker
What's that? Nice tires, too. He's talking about how the i solid it was. He liked it. Yeah, yeah. I thought he said solid. I'm like, nope, that that's fast. You missed your time.
01:11:33
Speaker
Nope, but it was solid, man. Damn, wish Jay didn't have his phone issues. I mean,
01:11:43
Speaker
yeah Chris can attest to this.
01:11:47
Speaker
She's played dead a couple times. She's been on her side a couple times. She's been on her nose. that' signature That's signature.
01:11:59
Speaker
That's like my signature, dude. I'll put her on her goddamn nose at least once a race. Somebody's saying something to me. You weren't driving that truck like you you normally do. her You didn't give it all that. to I got to do it at least once a race.
01:12:16
Speaker
Yeah, it was... I re-sent him on the link just in case of the old one didn't work for him. But... yeah I mean, i mean dog dude, I'm definitely going have JR back up here on the show when...
01:12:31
Speaker
when we have the time and everything else. I mean, I get he's having phone issues. It happens. We've all been there. yeah i used to do my shows live with what's cell phone. I know what it's like. So that's what I'm doing right now.
01:12:46
Speaker
So, um, I mean, you are watching, dude. I definitely would love to have you back up on here. um well yeah du I appreciate you coming in, especially with the timeframe that you're on, um, driving and working.
01:13:01
Speaker
um We will definitely set up another day. That way we can have it again. im Hopefully here soon. I'll just message you and see when another day is good for you. Wes, thanks again for coming up on here, buddy.
01:13:15
Speaker
appreciate you, if i'm looking more I'm looking forward to hopefully this season works out great for you guys. I know, yeah like we all said, it's going to be little yeah little trial and error on certain certain races.
01:13:30
Speaker
Oh, yeah. i i think what I think with what he's got going, he's got a big future with this happening, man, combining these together. Yeah, and I'm just glad to be part of it. You know, like like he said, I jumped up.
01:13:45
Speaker
I kind of took that leap blind into it. So he's going to be right there to help me, um show me the way to do it right. Yeah.
01:13:58
Speaker
So I'm definitely excited, but I'm also nervous to say the least. Well, and and you it's something new and it's uncharted territory for you, man. I mean, it's you're, you're going into something that, uh, that is brand new to you on that side, you know, kind of the promoter side with him, but you know, so it's to be that way, bud.
01:14:24
Speaker
Yeah. I can't ask for any better backing. I mean, I got, number three in the nation. um Right. And, you know, he's willing to help. that's That's the biggest thing is that soon as I said something to him, he was right on with it. He was actually like, yeah, let's yeah let's go. And, you know, for him just knowing me from racing, I mean, he probably got a better feeling than about me when I started helping the monster trucks out. I mean, that wasn't,
01:14:58
Speaker
the plan. I seen people that needed help. And, you know, just like I normally am at the fairs or anything, I jump right in. I might not know what I'm doing, but you're going to show me what to do and we're going get her done.
01:15:12
Speaker
And that's, that's what started happening. And, you know like he said, there's several times and just like Fort Wayne, Indiana, tomorrow night, me and monkey business, I talked to Thomas because I'm actually hauling a body up for him.
01:15:27
Speaker
Um, We're pulling in about the same time. I already told him, like, hey, man, you got two trucks up here. I'll help you tire up, get ready, and then I'll pull my shit off the trailer and go to the track and figure out what we got to do up there. You know, we're going get her done.
01:15:43
Speaker
yeah But that that's what it takes. And, you know, anybody could anybody could have done what I've done. You know, that was racing. understand.
01:15:53
Speaker
I'll be straight and honest with you. That'd be a grand opportunity. That's like me and with the racing any racing community. dream job Turning wrenches or helping out with monster trucks or drag racing. I mean, it's all... And, you know, it's kind of... don't know want to put this.
01:16:14
Speaker
When you start helping these monster truck teams out, you know, they realize... Yeah, there's possibilities there.
01:16:26
Speaker
um They realize it. And, you know, like you said earlier, these are basically mini monster trucks. oh Between you guys and the Mega Trucks, I mean, you guys are the you guys are the ah second child, basically, of out of the three. Or the third child out of the three ordeals. Yeah. otro trucks Mega Trucks and then the Modifieds.
01:16:52
Speaker
do I mean... It's crazy because, you know, you pull up, you worked you saw the monster truck, and you're like, God damn, they can't see me down here.
01:17:03
Speaker
Exactly. Pull up next to a mega truck, and it's still like, yeah, they can see me, but they really can't see me. And then, you know, we're just a stock truck, basically, and we just got some more power and some better suspension under us. um Right.
01:17:20
Speaker
And... mean, sharing the stage with the monster trucks, like we talked about earlier in the week, it's great, especially when you've got a good promoter like JR, because he's for it.
01:17:31
Speaker
He wants us there. He's not trying to push us out. No, it's one of those things. He's like we were talking earlier in the show tonight. Bringing back the old TNT days, you watch monster trucks.
01:17:43
Speaker
You either had the arena trucks, basically the tough rough trucks running during the monster truck show or you had the monster trucks and then it was hooked up like this weekend truck and tractor pulling going on so i mean he's bringing back to our era especially for me and him what we grew up on were the tnt days like monster jam or was that just like the smaller truck no that was that was usa one bigfoot um
01:18:14
Speaker
Carolina Crusher. I mean, this is when Monster Truck was got, well before Monster Jam was. Okay. it was before my time. That's why I don't really know. Yeah, that's why I said me and JR, me and JR relate a lot because of our age.
01:18:28
Speaker
That's why I brought up the TNT days. Right. There's nights that they had. I got old VHSs of the TNT. Bigfoot and USA one during a truck and tractor pull deal, hook up to the sled right after the classes were done.
01:18:43
Speaker
Well, don't know if you follow, uh, monkey business, uh, Facebook page, but yeah. Roger Gallagher, a Bigfoot that runs with us.
01:18:54
Speaker
He ran USA one and Bigfoot. One of the only drivers to do that. That's really cool. Uh, Yeah. Hell yeah. Right there.
01:19:05
Speaker
So, you know, especially talking someone that kind of knowledge and that kind of history, um, Really opens your eyes because he started when they were... Well, i don't know if he did or not. forget what year. 96, I think he says, the year he got into it. yeah but ah um Some of these guys ran the old leaf spring trucks that I've talked to you on this tour.
01:19:29
Speaker
And then they went to the coilovers. Now they're on bypass. Now they had this, change this. You get hear all this. well look Yeah, the history of what it is. And I mean, that's how it started.
01:19:42
Speaker
Bigfoot and yeah now basically has a fucking 78 or 79 F-350. 78. I think it was a 250 that he just jacked up, put 40-inch tires on.
01:19:56
Speaker
He's one of the first rednecks to do it. And now here we are putting 57, 66s. Hell, he put eight-foot-toe tires on at one point.
01:20:07
Speaker
He put five. Yeah, I mean... yeah I'm just a damn redneck with the idea and he had the means to do it. I mean, that's all we are. We're just rednecks with... Well, nothing better than doing spare time.
01:20:22
Speaker
If you're human and patient, you can make it happen. just ah Just the... ah Instead of race cars and stuff, we do race trucks on dirt. Yeah, we got it. I mean, we like we like to get a little crazy with it now and then. We like to put it on the show. You know, like i like everybody knows...
01:20:40
Speaker
this orange Jeep mod for is it's nose stands. I mean, people know what to expect when they see certain trucks fall onto the track. And not just me. We got Brad Talbot that does a damn, what was it, front flip and still keep going.
01:20:57
Speaker
We got, in one yeah you know, Nick Anderson, when he was still racing with us, he was known for sending that damn thing over the long jump. Unfortunately, last time it cost him.
01:21:08
Speaker
But, yo yeah But there's all of them there, man. I mean, they were there. i mean yeah i was i'm fortunate I'm fortunate I got to see, especially the on the mod side, how far they've come in the in the in the rough truck community, man. I mean, come from to what it is. And like you said, if you look at my truck, this is the old generation of Rough truck. That's still out here competing.
01:21:41
Speaker
You look at like Logan's truck or Jason's. Cecil's truck. That's new generation. Or even Jason Daniels. Yep.
01:21:53
Speaker
That's new generation. You are correct, sir. Dirt is for racing. Asphalt is for getting there. 110%. So, I mean, that's also something taking consideration is We got a following as a rough truck. but yeah like Certain trucks got their own following to them.
01:22:17
Speaker
people Like I said, people know this truck for doing this, doing that, showing up here. They know what they're going to expect out of that truck. and and Then we bring it to the monster truck shows. Now we're just not bringing new fans in. We're bringing our old fans with us, which is helping both of us out. That's why i this year,
01:22:38
Speaker
I went ahead and made my first ever Facebook page for my truck. um nice That's why I'm taking business cards up with me to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I'll probably have some at every race now.
01:22:53
Speaker
You get the name out there, get my name out there, and get these kids and or adults something to hold on to that's from Grandpa's Wings Rough Truck. Oh, yeah. That's what I'm doing, man.
01:23:07
Speaker
I mean... so That's some things you I'm looking at this year doing.
Business Card Strategy
01:23:12
Speaker
um um' um actually sorry I got 1,500 cards for Fort Wayne, Indiana.
01:23:17
Speaker
I know it sees 3,500, but I got to look at cost too. i mean I don't know if you ever had business cards printed. I'm not going to say they're expensive, but they're not cheap.
01:23:29
Speaker
No, and especially if you want them done a certain way with certain designs and certain lettering on them, they... they can goly what fuck I went through that a little bit. It's kind of a nightmare.
01:23:40
Speaker
Yeah. um Like mine, it's got a custom image ah on it of my truck doing its signature move. I actually had Greenville, Ohio with full throttle monster trucks.
01:23:53
Speaker
I mean, Dale in the final race, I put her up on her front two wheels and literally Dale on the other lane. You can see them. Here's they under my truck. I mean, so it's a custom image on the cards. I mean, that costs a little bit more. I mean, I'm not bitching about it, but, you know, I can't take 10,000 business cards with me either.
01:24:17
Speaker
Right. awesome Well, good luck this weekend, man.
Expressions of Luck and Reflection
01:24:22
Speaker
We're going to go ahead. sure We're going to wrap her up here, bud. Good luck this weekend. I sent JR my number through Messenger and stuff, and if you want to send him a text with my number, give it to him.
01:24:33
Speaker
That way we can stay in contact. you know you got You know, man, anytime you need anything, you know how to get a hold of me. If he needs rather needs an extra hand at something sometime, tell him don't be afraid to reach out, and I can try to help if I need to.
01:24:48
Speaker
And Wes, don't be afraid to ask, man. You know I'll help you if you need to. All right, man. let's getting done done so Yeah, same with you, and I appreciate you guys wishing me luck. I want to take this to go ahead and wish everybody luck out there that's going up with me. ah Safe travels there as well.
01:25:05
Speaker
I mean, it's an expedition-style race, but I know we're all competitive. We're going leave it hanging out there. um You all got something great going here. Yeah. um Yeah, I wish we could... I wish there was a way that I could tape it live for everybody, but my...
01:25:24
Speaker
knowledge in that area is not there. um Yeah. But yeah, man, it's going to be... and And the thing is, is with what JR's putting together, like I said, it's bringing back the old school memories for me.
01:25:37
Speaker
Doing this with the Rough Trucks as part of the Monster Truck Show. Like I said, it it it hit... amar needss I'm glad it's coming back. you know I remember seeing some Monster Jams with it. I know it'll never come back to Monster Jams.
01:25:54
Speaker
Houston, Texas was always notorious all the winter time for putting on a monster truck show and bringing in what they called at the time arena trucks. during in the race We had a guy up here.
01:26:09
Speaker
had that old Grape Digger body on the one of the rough trucks. Neil Powney. Right. He raced with them. Yeah, he raced with them. yeah he he raced with them So, I mean, like I seen that truck.
01:26:25
Speaker
I'm like, oh, crap, they're still doing this? And they're like, yeah, no. i was like, shit.
Grave Digger Monster Truck History
01:26:31
Speaker
You know, was like, hell yeah, Grape Digger to a body on my truck. Let's go. yeah I like Grape Digger. That's one of my favorite monster trucks.
01:26:38
Speaker
Next to Bigfoot, of course. A lot of people don't know about Grape Digger. as He was originally a Ford panel van or a Chevy panel van. little piece of history to there. If they go back to the history and look up Dennis Anderson, that is exactly what the old Grave Digger was.
01:26:57
Speaker
Yeah! So, like I said, I've been
Future Aspirations and Communication Challenges
01:27:02
Speaker
learning a lot. I want to continue learning about these big monsters. Maybe someday I'll get pilot one.
01:27:09
Speaker
You never know, man. The endless possibilities. Be safe. i' think Good luck. Be safe. Hey, let me know you made it out there all right tomorrow when you get there after work.
01:27:20
Speaker
um If not, I'll get a hold of you before Saturday to see, make sure you made it. um for Thank you for coming up again. JR, if you're watching, dude, I understand. No hard feelings.
01:27:33
Speaker
Like I said, cell service sucks. So you guys. um Yeah, go ahead. Thank you all. Zempheus, dude, awesome see in the comments. Everybody in the chatters box, about you guys were awesome. um It was great to There he is.
01:27:51
Speaker
We'll close it out with Wes up here. There we go. We got a, but yeah, we ah had an awesome time. I'm sorry, JR had some phone issues and everything. I will definitely have the gentleman back up on here.
01:28:03
Speaker
How JR come back up with Full Throttle, Monster Truck Promoter. Dude, that awesome guy. It's great that he took the time out of his time. um Hopefully, he gets a chance to talk to him in person at some of these fairs and everything else. Kind of hang out with him a little bit in between the show.
01:28:20
Speaker
But yeah, once again, thank you all for tuning in Zempius, like I said, dude, appreciate you for tonight. Johnny, once again, thank you. um Always a pleasure, man. I'll catch you guys Monday
Shop Talk Panel Invitation
01:28:32
Speaker
night. Actually, we're doing a I'm doing a special thing tomorrow night here on the network.
01:28:38
Speaker
I'm doing a shop talk slash garage panel for tomorrow night. Any of my motorsports guys want to come on? Zempius, if you're free, I'm going to possibly drop the link or i send me i'll I'll get you guys to send me your email and I'll put you up here on the panel. We're going to hang out and have a bowl basically a bullshit session tomorrow night.
01:29:00
Speaker
Mind if I can buy? No, you you're not allowed on here no more. Yes, you're part of it. But it will be at 8 o'clock tomorrow night since we don't know what else is going on. So I'm going to do an impromptu shop talk tomorrow night where we sit and talk all things motorsports.
01:29:19
Speaker
Just sit and hang out like we're in the garage and stuff. Speedway Stories is basically my interview thing. Bring people up here to share their experiences.
01:29:29
Speaker
um but this is going to probably be a one-off deal. I don't know. We'll see, but well I'm just going to have like a shop talk thing where we talk race schedules, your experiences, just basically good old hangout session. So let me know. I shared it on Facebook and everything else too, and I'll post the thing up here.
01:29:50
Speaker
I'm probably going I'm probably going to drop the link down, but I'm only going to bring you up if you're willing to talk motor sports and stuff like that with us. If not, The door is not open for you guys. So come in tomorrow night.
01:30:05
Speaker
Motorsports minded and everything else. If not, you will get kicked. But on that note, everybody else have a great evening. Thank you all for tuning in. Johnny, like i said, once again, Wes, JR, appreciate you guys coming up.
01:30:19
Speaker
You all have a great rest of your week. Enjoy this upcoming weekend. We'll see you guys later on. Have good night. Bye.