This post brings back some memories of growing up with Hollywood as another family member.  The movies were another world to me, and the cars in them fixtures that I assumed were real and otherworldly.  Of course when you grow up it is a bit disappointing to find out that your childhood icons were based on, not cars born out of the heavens, but cars assembled in a plant by a guy named Mac and modified by a set designer named Biff. 

What do you think?  Would it be possible to get an auto loan for one of these puppies? If so, I'm in for the truck to the left. Let's see if you can guess what movie the picture is from.  

Thinking about adding some bbbb-bass to your ride?  Check this video for some good tips on how and where to get started.  See the other related videos for more about car stereos.  BASS FOR YOUR FACE! 

In keeping with the last post, and for your enjoyment, read here for an interesting article on the anatomy of a monster truck. 

Recently a friend and I took our boys to see a monster truck rally.  I went with expectations stemming from my naive experiences with monster trucks as a child.  I left with my entire worldview shattered.  It was a bit like returning to your elementary school and being shocked by how small it is.  Here are some observations:

1.  The Arena: The arena was about the size of a high school gym (see picture), and 8 monster trucks were crammed in there.  Have you ever seen teenagers playing on a kids playground at the mall?  Its pretty awkward isn't it?  That is exactly how I would describe the setting.  There was hardly any room for the trucks to manouver. I realized then that the arena was small because the market is small.  There are only so many males out there with 5 year old sons.  

2.  The Return of Big Foot: I'm not sure where he went, but this event supposedly marked Big Foot's return to the circuit.  Big Foot (the truck) has an almost mythical quality in the mind of every American male.  It seemed that the entire event was rigged to perpetuate this very idea.  Big Foot won the awkward 20 yard dash over 4 cars, and the driver gave a rehearsed speech talking about how well all the trucks were running and how privileged he was to be among all of the great drivers out there.  He also had a power mullet.  Of course he did!  

3.  Exhibition: For some naive reason I thought that monster truck racing was like NASCAR, with standings and points and so on.  I'm not sure why I thought this.  As it turns out, it appears to be nothing more than Harlam Globetrotters in huge, loud trucks.  An exhibition if you will.  That's okay of course, but I felt like I'd discovered that Santa Claus didn't really exist, all over again.  These guys are just trying to make a buck!  Again, nothing wrong with that.  It was just a jarring discovery for some reason.  

4.  Marketing: While I was disappointed, I came to the shocking realization that I am now 32 years old, and that while some appeal to watching alcholol fueled trucks run over unsuspecting cars remains, I am not the demographic they are marketing to.  My son absolutely loved it.  He loved the fire coming out from the exhaust.  He loved that he had to wear ear muffs to pretect his ears.  He loved that one of the trucks blew out a tire when he almost flipped over.  He loved the crushing of the 1992 Isuzu Rodeo.  He loved talking about the possibility of machine gun mounted monster trucks when we got home. They hit their mark with my boy, and if he is happy, (most of the time) I'm happy.  

All in all it was a good time.  If you get a chance to take your kid to a monster truck rally, and you have the means, it will be a memorable experience.  Just don't go with any naive assumptions like I did.  Remember you are not 5 years old anymore.  Your kid is.  Big Foot, like the mythical creature, is a name and a legend.  That is all your kid really cares about anyways.  He doesn't care about points, standings, and so on.  He wants action, and that is what he will get.