This was very well done. Thank you for doing the research to present unbiased information based on objective facts. The monster truck community as a whole could seriously benefit from hearing (and embracing) this perspective and education on the subject. Excellent job putting this together combining clips and commentary. We are intrigued by what you may do next.
I was crew for the Z tour for a good while. It’s way darker behind the scenes than the public knows. Like clear human rights violations type stuff. Some terrible things have happened and are continuing to happen there. The drivers and crew for the trucks are all great people and the hardest working people in the industry. The troubles are all from higher ups.
I am the daughter of one of the drivers and was “hired” by Donny Hebert to train to drive one of the trucks. This person is right. The behind the scenes is SO much worse! Definitely illegal and human rights violations! This place should be shut down!
100%. I got hired by Donny in mid January of 2022 and flew out 2 weeks before the first show weekend, and I found out that it couldn't have been worse. And it went past human rights violations. It's way more than just a RU-vid comment can justify. Not to be that guy, but if Samson would want to do an interview about it I'll be down to do it. It's a rabbit hole in it of itself.
I literally just got home from their show in Indianapolis, I was very excited to take my nephew and that’s all he talked about only for it to be a huge disappointment, 3 of the 10 trucks preformed and the prices were outrageous
I just saw Monster trucks All Out in Woodstock Canada. I enjoyed it but one thing i didn’t like was they said no food and drink as they had food and drinks at the race track…. By that I mean they only had dominos with a good variety of drink choices. They were doing a morning and afternoon show ( I was at the morning show) so i didn’t eat anything since i thought they’d be more then just one food option. So i went without food for the entire show since i don’t like pizza and whatever else dominos sells I don’t like eating it in the morning. Other than that they were really informative during the show, talking about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Which is really good since obviously you don’t want people concerned when they see a truck suddenly stop when really it’s for a good reason. Before every competition they did they used a device to turn off each truck to make sure it’s working in case of an emergency. Overall it was pretty good
I have not attended a Monster Truckz show but from what I have seen online, they seem to really bring the circus aspect to their shows. Also, with almost everything at their shows being owned by them, it begins to make sense why ticket prices are so high and rise quickly. They were doing really back when they had Team Tomfoolery and Team Throttle Monster at their shows but that was short-lived, and they can't seem to get independent teams with quality equipment that are willing to risk it like those teams did and still do. Those shows looked like a fun time to attend. Recently when I watch the best trick competition and a truck rolled over a racing lane, what do they expect? There is no way any fan will enjoy that when they know what monster trucks in today's world a capable of. Now they are not corporately funded like the fully owned trucks which make money tight and might not have the top equipment on the trucks that perform at these shows. But like you mentioned, they have to haul around A LOT of stuff that they have decided is part of the experience of coming to a Monster Truckz show. However, in my opinion, I do not see it necessary to have so many bounce houses, a lady cannonball side act, or even the huge fair slide. In my eyes, those are creating extra expenses like traveling and employees that are not necessary and were never asked by anyone to include. Sure, it is fun at the show, but if those elements, just to name a few, were not there, I don't think many people would complain. Those are adding too much of a circus show to an outdoor raw unadulterated high horsepower monster truck show. There are many independent monster truck promoters that are highly successful and have a big name for themselves with the way they do business. And those successful promoters all do things very similarly. They have big-name independent teams, Team Scream, 2Xtreme Racing, Over Bored Motorsports, Bottomfeeder Motorsports, DCT Motorsports, Vaters Motorsports, and many more trucks such as Toxic, Bad Habit, Plane Krazy, Krazy Train, Bad News Travels Fast, the Tuluchka siblings, and more who all run their equipment hard and have equipment that will hold up underneath them. These promoters don't own much that is at the show including concessions, and carnival-like equipment, among other things whether they do shows in arenas, at fairgrounds, or speedway shows. So personally, I don't think the Monster Truckz tour is doing things the way they should in order to be successful as they once were. Great video explaining everything with facts that are the truth with no bias.
THIS IS THE CHANNEL I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! My son is 2 and has fallen in love with monster trucks. I had never been to a show. Fast forward 2 months and our house is littered with truck toys and I am tracking scores. Now as someone who doesn’t know anything, I sincerely want a video detailing the change from hot wheels making monster jam toys, to spinmaster getting in the game. I would also like a video detailing the history of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
One thing you didnt touch on, and I think it is what soured the milk for the Z Tour in the Monster Truck Community was the Very Public issue they had with not paying the Creten's(Bounty Hunter/Scarlet Bandit) a couple of years ago. The Cretens finally got paid, after trying for weeks and finally going after Garden Bros online. It looked pretty bad.
@@ColtCobra2002 You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. There is a reason they removed the post. They were in the wrong and were liable for libel. XD No reason to not pay a driver they had no problem with. I was literally there, . XD "I worked in the industry..." Rofl. I. Was. There. You were not. Easy.
I spend 100 dollars to take my kids to one of their shows and it lasted 15 min all but one truck was broken and they didn’t even offer a refund that the show was cut short terrible company
Wish I saw this before I blew about $150 taking my son in Tulsa today. I grew up on "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" and Bigfoot commercials but never went to a show before. Everything about is was disappointing. Your video is good but the apologetics at the end don't work when the advertising and marketing are outright fraudulent (which they are). I'll be filling a case with the BBB against them as well as contesting the charges for the show itself. These are con artists and profiteers of the highest order. I feel bad for those of you who are dedicated to this past time. While it may ultimately provide a larger footprint in the meantime it is souring potential new fans as well as seemingly some established ones.
A big reason buckshot disappeared from TruckZ is because Budd got arrested for some heinous stuff that's easy to find more info for online. He was then picked up by Mike Harper and MTWars for some godforsaken reason. Ghost Ryder and Girl Power were recently sold, Reptoid was bought by Mike Harper (bringing it to MTWars again). Predator's team of trucks are also running with MTWars. I'll say more if I think of more to say as I watch.
Another complaint I have is when the mtrl canceld at Utica Rome speed way in 2022 I wrote to the mtrl my self and asked them why and the owner write back to me and said they will not be returning do to the track being miserable conditions and recently I watched a inter view with the promoter of Utica Rome speed way and he said hes gonna be limiting racing clases on 2023 and that tells me that there not gonna be able to afford for any show to show up if I was the better buisness buruo I would go to the speed way to see what I is really goin on behind the scenes from lies to not living up to there schedules
This was a sweet documentary! I hope you can do more of these and some background on some iconic shows like Wildwood, The World Finals, Miami OK, and Monsters On The Beach
From what I’ve heard the pay to drivers and external teams is not as great as described in the videos, as well as numerous safety issues. But that’s strictly hearsay.
The pay to their own guys is pretty bad even when they don’t try to short you, which they often do. The pay to external teams is actually really good. The safety issues are innumerable.
Took my family to the Indianapolis Indiana monster truckz afternoon show, couldn't believe how overpriced everything was. I felt like most of the trucks were having mechanical trouble or were just sandbagging during the competitions. Reptoid was definitely above the competition and put on a decent show the dirt bikes were canceled cause of high winds. A month later we went to the Friday evening show in Dayton Ohio and it was much better but still not worth prices. I think these monster truckz shows are hit and miss and are overpriced. I have seen much better monster truck shows at local county fairs.
So it was about what I expected. Of the 6 monster trucks, 2 of them were in bad shape mechanically and didn't run well. 3 of the other trucks ran fine, but you could tell the drivers weren't very experienced. Ballistic was the 1 good entertaining truck. 2nd best was a 14 yo girl driving 'animal house'(I think). The car stunt guy 'Mikey mayham' was a no show. The human cannon was a hit for the kids. My favorite was the 2 dirt bike jumpers. Merchandise was very pricey and concessions had the highest prices I've ever seen in person. $12 snowcone, $10 popcorn, $5 bottled water/soda, $10 burger only, $6 fries, $10 funnel cake or 3 churros, $10 lemonade, $10 cotton candy. 😶 I overheard a lot of grumbling and complaining in the food lines. The bounce houses, face painting, and mini monster trucks (power wheels) cost $7, and the monster truck rides cost $21. The group I went with ended up paying $45 for the adult tickets. I definitely will not be going to another Garden bros event. I've been to the Carden circus (same owner) and it was about the same experience.
Do you have any videos talking about the business of running a truck? Like how much they've historically(80s,90s, 00s, etc) get paid per show, if they ever got paid more to win(when they raced or in freestyle), and what it generally costs to run a truck?
Typical traveling shows especially circus traveling acts shooting each other and drugs and arrests typical American traveling shows and events what more can you ask for just add monster trucks lol. But ppl need to realize these trucks are low budget teams where the trucks probably are owned drove and built and worked on by the same guy that just wants to drive a monster truck and can't afford the monster jam tour and can't afford to destroy their trucks every show it is what it is not a rip off just a basic low level monster truck still bigger tracks and bigger freestyle area then most of the monster jam arena shows that have on or two jumps with a three or 4 cars to crush and so small they can barely turn around so the Z tour is way better then most of the smaller monster jam shows which are rip offs. I have a brand new monster truck I'm building legit monster jam legal truck with a really cool body it's a Tesla truck looking body on it right now and it's name I'm not sure on I'm thing monster musk or something any ideas guys for a Tesla truck looking monster jam style truck comment below best name will be used on the truck. I would drive mine in the Z tour bigger arenas and track width and areas then monster jams
I've been out of the Monster Truck scene since the early 2000's until about 2019 or so. These guys don't come to the PNW so I've always been curious about them. Very eye opening.
The speed ways that have the tours and if the tour doesn't happen the speed ways should be shut down as well because if the speed way has the show listed on there schedule doesn't Happen thats false advertising the speed way should be red tagged untill further notice because people spend there hard earned money on those tickets the better business burough Should step in and let the monster truck industry know that any more scams there will be law suits including the speed ways also
Personally, I have gone to two shows. Both outdoor events at speedways. Writing this comment, I just returned home after crossing state lines to view their show and own a shirt any hat from the shows. You can immediately tell a difference between them and monster jam. Much more laid back and with more crazy halftime shows. Their prices are a bit high personally, but they do a good job considering they don’t have as much money as monster jam.
The monster truckz tour was my first independent show. Because the monster jam tour was canceled due to the covid restrictions. It was a good show but so many events in short period time is difficult for the drivers.
I've seen the Nitro Tour, Renegade Tour, and the All Star tour and I enjoyed them all. As far as I know the Monster Truckz Tour never gets even remotely close to Maine, so I doubt I'll get the chance to see them live. As far as other tours go I got a minute to chat with Zane Rettew from the Renegade Tour, and he sounded like he really enjoyed coming up to Maine to bring his tour for us to see. Jeff Bursey as well. Him and I chatted in line at intermission about the days when he'd bring Towasaurus Wrex to the Embden Maine Jamboreein the 2000s. If every tour could come across as genuine as Renegade does, it would be a win for monster truck fans for sure. Hope the Z Tour can start putting their best foot forward.
this was a really good documentary on the history of this tour, great stuff! i really like this style of video in the monster truck scene, glad to see more videos like this popping up and hope to see more from your camp. also i literally only heard about this tour minutes before finding this video too which is funny i guess lol
This is the best video I ever seen from you, it's like a combination of company and monster trucks. I never been to a monster truckZ show but they kind of remember me of the renegade tour. The sooner you buy tickets the they cheaper they come, you have to pay for parking. Maybe it's just me but I would rather have local food and carnival food.
I have to many promotions the top worst 2 are z tour and Monster Jam I lost respect for monster jam after they turned it more into a rigged show then a competition.
Monster Jam is a worst promotion? When Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are around? Dude, you gotta be joking. Monster Jam isn’t the best anymore, but they’re not a joke or scam either.
$55 and $75 for tickets!?!? Hell no!!! I wouldn’t pay that to get to drive a damn monster truck in the show itself!! Crazy! Everything has changed so much.. I remember back in the day tickets were cheaper to buy from the box office, especially in advance. You could get a USHRA or Thunder Nationals ticket for $10 bucks for years. Day of show prices were no more than $16 bucks. This is outrageous.. especially for a small no name piss poor monster truck event
First off great job on the video. A touch on saturation markets literally where am at in Central Illinois. This summer four or five shows (counting Bigfoot open house) plus two last month. Crazy even in for pre 2020.
I keep up with Monster Trucks and go to the Monster Jam shows when they're in town, so this tour was inevitably found by me, and I had thought about going in 2021 (they were in my city that year). The event came and went and I forgot about it completely until seeing this video, interesting to see how it's run. I'm definitely happy I passed on it, but at the same time, I wish I had gone. The past 2 Monster Jam shows I've been to since then have been plagued by bad judging and poor track layouts (layouts were completely different than what had been revealed in their promotions).
It's pretty ironic that the end of the pandemic is arguably what started the Z tour's downfall. Their presence during lockdown was a blessing for independent monster truck teams who didn't drive for Monster Jam or couldn't continue with them due to strict vaccine requirements. When the world started to open back up again though, old independent monster truck tours were getting revitalized and new ones were sprouting, so the higher-end independent monster truck teams didn't need the Z tour anymore.
MONSTER TRUCKZ is my favorite independent monster truck show since i went to the Monster Truckz Chaos Tour last year on Saturday October 22 2022 at the georgetown speedway in Georgetown Deleware with my dad!
Saw this tour in Allentown pa, worst layout I’ve ever seen. It is a small venue, but I saw better monster truck racing there when I was a child(now 49). Seemed like a neat thing for kids, lots of things for kids to do, as far as a monster truck event, horrible. If I remember correctly we only paid like 10 bucks so I don’t care that much, but overall the event was lame. The motor cross freestyle was decent, the human cannonball took way too long to set up and wasn’t even in range of the grandstand. I think the biggest mistake was trying to have an event at this venue. I think there were two ramps one going each direction, neither of which could produce any wow moments. The two wheel contest was basically one hit on the same two ramps they used for freestyle. I can’t even remember if there was racing? The DJ was a hype man trying his hardest to amp up the crowd, but was painful to listen to. We should have waited to see this promotion at another local speedway, I bet it was a better layout there. Oh well, they tried
I was a photographer at a few shows in Arkansas and Muskogee Oklahoma, some cool trucks like Carolina Crusher and Predator. My main complaint was what they charged to park.
This video is fantastic! I am taking my three-year-old and five-year-old to their very first monster truck show since they got hooked on monster trucks from a library book and a toy gifted them. This video helps me to adjust my expectations appropriately. Fortunately, I booked my family’s tickets way in advance and was able to take advantage of the steep discount for the first 100 attendees.
I was the promoter at Jackson Motor Speedway when Scott Hartsock was killed when he was entering the track with this promotion. Very sad day & tragic incident.
I’ve never heard of the ‘Monster Truckz’ tour.. but it sure seems horrid. Although, it can’t be much worse than what Monster Jam has become. Hell certain small promotion shows seem to be some of best as of late
My daughters was going to take me to one last year in Mechanicsville, Virginia and I told them I wasn't interested in going. I love going to Monster Trucks shows and have been attending since late 80's/the early 90's and certain aspects of certain promotional companies I'm just not interested in.
I went to one and it was my worst show ever. First, I thought that there was a pit party and I went to Franklin County Fairgrounds and it was a cool day but when I went, no pit party and the event got worse with bad weather and no pit party after due to it, so I’m believing that they didn’t have it because of the weather on that day or the league just don’t have it at all. 2nd, the pricing was a little bit ridiculous. It costed $7 for one ticket to get on the ride truck and I got two tickets even though I expected one ticket for only me going on the ride, it’s weird. And I don’t even know what else, but I won’t be going to another Truckz event for a long time.
@@mushyzachman7731 IKR? This was the worst show I’ve ever been to. Ridiculous pricing, No Pit Party, I’ll give the weather a pass but I had a bad time with cold weather and rain and I was almost tempting to leave but thank god the show ended quickly and wasted No time, and I don’t know what else but other than seeing new trucks once in a while I wouldn’t go back to them ever again!
Some people have very legitimate complaints about the Z tour but this is nit picky at best. $7 Monster truck rides are beyond reasonable most promoters ask for $15-20 per ticket. And going to a rain show and then complaining about it being a rain show is just ridiculous and unfair to the promoter.
It was the chaos tour in 2022 so better show tho Muddy girl Both back draft Overkill evolution War wizard Black stallion was in the pits but didn't compete
Great job on documenting the tour but how can u not say that feld is a joke? 55 dollars to park, 60+ for seats, 35 dollars for a kids shirt also 50 to 60 dollars for just 3 waters and 3 sodas ... just went to the Minneapolis show and it was multiple hundred dollars with no son uv a digger only grave digger and I don't get this new crap of if u don't do a backflip ur given crap points.
