Tricked up trucks at Monster Jam

It’s time for monster truck madness when these 10,000 pound metal monstrosities make their way to Nassau Coliseum, this weekend, for three days of action-packed competition. Monster truck fans can watch their favorite trucks compete in a new, revved up version of Monster Jam, Jan. 29-31, including the legendary Grave Digger, Avenger, Rap Attack, Aftershock, and Samson among others. Plus, the all new Spider-Man monster truck makes its debut here.
The high-action spectacle features the monster trucks and street bikes, in which the drivers will dazzle fans with risky and challenging maneuvers.
“It’s an evening of controlled chaos,” said driver Jim Koehler, whose truck, Avenger, is one of the stars of the show. “When we do freestyle, we let it all hang out. We get really crazy. It’s totally different than side by side racing.”
Unlike other monster truck shows, which combine head to head racing with the freestyle tricks, this latest version focuses on the freestyle action, the favorite part of the event for most fans.
“The freestyle really gets people going,” Koehler said. “It’s what everyone wants to see and it’s my favorite too.”

When Koehler and his competitors make their way to Long Island for ”Monster Jam Freestyle Mania,” they aim to enthrall fans with two hours of non-stop action. Drivers will attempt to best each other as they astonish the audience with their maneuvers as they move through show’s five elements.

Freestyle Mania Wheelie Competition
Unlike the traditional power wheelie, where the driver uses the engine’s power to transfer up onto the back wheels, in this wheelie competition the driver will be tested by how he manipulates the unyielding obstacle course in an attempt to pull off the perfect Freestyle wheelie.

Maniac Challenge
Drivers will be time-challenged as they skillfully navigate their way through an obstacle course that includes cars, trucks and more barriers positioned on the track in an attempt to slow down the mega-pound trucks.

Jam Session
The first-ever ‘Jam Session’ is integrated into the program. In this segment, Quad-FMXers, Freestyle Superbikers, Freestyle Motocrossers, and Freestyle BMXers perform simultaneously at one time on the course.

Donut Competition
Performing a donut while driving has been around for a long time, but through the defiance of monster truck drivers, a regular donut was just not enough. Enter the cyclone, a move where the driver creates enough speed while performing a regular donut that the truck’s rear tires gyrate so rapidly that the truck appears to be nailed to the floor.  

Freestyle Competition
And of course, no Monster Jan event would be complete without the fan favorite: Monster Jam Freestyle. According to the promoters, this part of the show is “bigger, better and badder than ever before.” There are no rules and no restrictions as the trucks pogo-stick their way around the course in an effort to deliver the most outrageous run possible.
“It’s a chance for everyone to get crazy – including the fans,” said Koehler. While on the monster truck circuit for 14 years, this is Koehler’s first trip to Long Island with Avenger.
“It’s going to be cool,” he said. I’m looking forward to meeting the Long Island fans.”
He encourages Monster Jam enthusiasts to come to the Party In The Pits pre-show on Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Party In The Pits gives fans a chance to get a view of the trucks up-close and meet the drivers of the behemoth monster trucks. Fans can also make requests of the drivers as to what kind of tricks they would like to the drivers to perform.
“We want to give the fans what they want,” Koehler said. “So if you want to see something and you tell us, we’ll do it.”

Monster Jam Freestyle Mania
Friday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 30, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 31, 2 p.m. $30-$70, $15 children 2-12. Party In The Pits tickets are $5, while supplies last. Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale. (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.