Trucks, Tractors and Monster Trucks Oh My!

The line for the Coliseum box office had to have 200 people waiting in it Saturday evening, all ready to get inside and see monster trucks, tractor pulls and Big Ed Beckley jump a line of cars.

Around 5,000 people spilled into the Foster Communications Coliseum, waving checkered flags and indulging in nachos and snow cones.

“It’s good to see San Angelo show up to something like this,” said County Judge Steve Floyd, a hot rod aficionado. “I grew up riding dirt bikes.”

Big Ed Beckley began the night doing a few speed runs while the emcee pumped up the crowd. After jumping the line of cars, Beckley stepped up to the mic.

“You guys might be the last to see me jump,” Beckley said. “In September I will attempt to jump Snake River Canyon.”

Snake River Canyon in Idaho is the site of the failed 1974 attempt by Evel Knievel, something that Beckley plans on successfully jumping. That attempt will take place on Sep. 7. 

Here's the video of Evel Knievel's attempt in 1974:

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While Beckley was speaking, crews moved dirt and cars for the monster trucks, who then amazed the crowd with their jumping ability and car-crushing prowess. Once the trucks were through, it was time for the event’s name sake, the Truck and Tractor Pull.

Monster Truck shorts:

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A tractor pull is 35 foot wide 300 foot track in which the tractor or truck pulls a sled and whichever goes the farthest wins, according to outlawpulling.com. The sled used at the Coliseum weighed 36,000 pounds

The small tractors competed to pull the sled along the length of the dirt floor in the Coliseum. The emcee explained that the score could come down to as little as a hundredth of an inch.

That was not the case however as ‘Dysfunctional’ blew the competition out of the water with a score of 158.89, with the second place, ‘Half Fast 2’ only having a score of 147.31.

After an intermission, the free-for-all monster trucks began and the signed helmet was won by Zadrian Garivay.