Kids and adults scrambled up into the cab to get behind the wheel of the record-holding Raminator monster truck, on display Friday and Saturday at New Country Auto Center in Cortez.
The Raminator broke the Guinness World Record for monster truck speed in 2014 by reaching 99.1 mph using a 2,000 horsepower, 565 cubic inch, V-8 supercharged Hemi engine, said promoter Jessi Ott, of Hall Brothers Racing.
“Our record still stands, and if anyone breaks it, we will try to break it back,” he said.
The truck is owned and was built by Tom and Mark Hall, who also own seven other monster trucks, four of which compete across the U.S.
“The sport is really evolving, and the technology has advanced a lot,” Ott said. “Drivers are true professional athletes who regularly train on practice courses and love to show off their skills at competitions.”
Custom shocks help make it happen, with 26 inches of travel in front and 30 inches in back.
Ott used to compete in monster truck events.
“It is a lot of high-flying action – obstacle courses, doing doughnuts and of course running over cars,” he said. “The best part is the adrenaline and the reaction from the crowd.”
He said people who visited on Friday have been fascinated by the tires, which are 66 inches tall and 43 inches wide and weigh 900 pounds each. They also like to climb aboard.
That is what several excited kids, and a few adults on Friday.
“It’s pretty cool,” proclaimed Callan Cheever, age 4, who checked out the cab with his friend Connor Buff.
“He asked if he could drive it and run over something,” said mom Julia Buff. “It’s a fun event for the kids.”
Kiss Country broadcast the event live, and there were vendors and plenty of new trucks and Jeeps to check out at the dealership.
“Cortez is outdoor, four-by-four country, so we could not miss this,” said DJ Fiddlesticks.
Ott travels every weekend to different Ram dealerships around the country to show off the Raminator, valued at $150,000. Its appearances are designed to appeal to all ages, he said, but kids get the most excited.
“It’s not very often you get to climb into a monster truck and take a picture from behind the wheel,” he said.
The Raminator was at New Country Auto Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for free photo opportunities and other activities.
