MANSFIELD — There is just something appealing about big, loud (and sometimes) flying Monster Trucks.
Monster Truck Throwdown returned to the Richland County Fairgrounds for two shows on Saturday, one at 1 p.m. in the afternoon and a second at 7 p.m. in the evening.
Five trucks competed in various competitions, each trying to outrace, outfly and out-monster one another in front of an appreciative crowd in the grandstands, roaring in their 540-cubic-inch, methanol powered vehicles.
Before each show, fans got to gather on the track and meet the drivers and see the trucks up close. Autographs were obtained and photos were taken.
There was also a long line of folks seeking rides in the back of Crunch Time, a modified Monster Truck that gave fans a feel for what it’s like to take a spin (literally) aboard one of the massive vehicles.
According to the company website:
These mammoth machines are truly monstrous but don’t let the size fool you, these are high performance vehicles capable of astounding feats. While the trucks may weigh in at a hefty 10,000 pounds and stand 10 feet tall, their equipped with powerful engines producing up to 1800 horsepower.
With that power monster trucks can reach speeds of up to 70 mph in competition. The tires are a massive 66 inches tall by 43 inches wide allowing them to crash and smash huge obstacles. With suspension travel up to 30 inches monster trucks can take flight with jumps over 30 feet high and more than 100 feet in distance.
(Below are photos from the Monster Truck Throwdown on Saturday afternoon at the Richland County Fairgrounds.)
