The weekend of March 1 and 2, was another year of Monster Jam, a motorsports event where driver athletes compete in feats of speed and skill. Most importantly, driving customized monster sized trucks. Each vehicle has its own design. For example, the Megalodon has giant wheels with its torso modeled after a great white shark and sharp teeth extrude out of the front of the truck. According to the official website of the event, each truck weighs 12,000 pounds and each of their bodies is constructed out of fiberglass. As I researched more and more about the event, my heart began to sing a different tune. But looking at videos and photos were one thing but going to see what all the excitement was about was another.
I packed my gear and headed down to the Sun Bowl Stadium where the event would take place that weekend. Even blocks away from the stadium, people flooded the university sidewalks all heading toward one destination. The excitement was palpable with people of all ages in anticipation of the spectacle yet to come. This was an aspect that surprised me, the number of people in attendance; specifically, families.
For Ignnacio Loy this event is a way for him to spend time with his grandchildren and take part in the culture of El Paso.
“It’s a cool event,” Loy said. “I’ve been bringing my grandkids for the past three or four years. It’s different every time, it doesn’t matter where you sit from most expensive to least expensive. They [his grandchildren] love it.”
This theme of familial bonding and togetherness also reigns true for Citlallia Sanchez, a mother of one.
“Monster Jam is a blast, even if it’s a little silly,” Sanchez said. “My son had the best time when we went, as soon as those trucks started up; his face lit up. What was even cooler was seeing how pumped up it made him after the show, he was playing with his toy trucks trying to copy the stunts he saw. If you’re not into Monster Jam, that’s fair but you’re missing out on some serious fun.”
Seeing the family’s bond over this event warmed my heart and took me back to my earliest memories back in second grade. When you’re just a kid and the world seem so limitless and expansive. Count me in as a fan of the jam, something I’ll cherish for long down the road.
Catching Marginot is a contributor and can be reached at [email protected].
