![]() Do you ever get any downtime, or are you constantly preparing for the next event?Ī. I have yet to attempt a flip in El Diablo. Unfortunately, I have rolled El Diablo many times. The worst thing is not driving to my ability. ![]() What's the worst thing that has happened in competition? Have you flipped El Diablo?Ī. No, it is not riding on a fluffy cloud, but coming from an off-roading background, the ride is quite similar, and I am very familiar with it. Immediately after a competition, do you feel like you've gone a couple rounds with Mike Tyson? How about the next day?Ī. I understand that monster trucks aren't known for their smooth rides. When you have the driving talent, age doesn't matter. Was it tougher for you to break in than for a younger guy?Ī. If I set my mind to something, nothing will hold me back. Are you considered old for a rookie driver?Ī. The 44-year-old Californian, who grew up off-roading and has stunt work on his résumé, debuted on the Jam circuit last season. Ruggiero will drive El Diablo this weekend. It's like driving a truck that's higher than a high diving board. Once going, they're bouncy, jerky and incredibly loud, with alcohol-injected engines capable of delivering more than 2,000 horsepower to each of the giant tires, which weigh 1,500 pounds each. Looking out the side window is the sensation of looking over the edge from the top of a small Ferris wheel. That's because I couldn't see it by gazing out the windshield, just the horizon of fans in the stands. Once behind the wheel, it was impossible for this novice to get a sense of the ground. Monster Patrol driver Dave Harkey showed me how to do it: Drivers climb up from underneath the vehicle, up through the chassis, climbing the frame like one would a schoolyard jungle gym. Just climbing into the vehicle was daunting. In January 2000, staff writer Hector Saldaña got a chance to get behind the wheel of a monster truck in the Astrodome in Houston.
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