Post by Ryan Smith on Jul 24, 2009 10:10:47 GMT -5
Started off the night by going by the pit party to check out the trucks. Lineup was Undertaker, Outlaw Clydesdale, Overkill and Bigfoot 15. I planned on chatting with all the drivers but ended up spending all my time with Bennet Clark. Talked with him about the old school days for a bit and learned a few interesting things. For example, we discussed the Tacoma accident and I learned that in the 1990 Dallas show (where he got hit and rolled over) during the race where Outlaw breaks between jumps, he actually lost an input shaft and sent parts into the upper decks! Immediately after that, Clark installed the U-joint shields on his truck.
Anyways, back to the show. We started out with the wheelie contest! Undertaker was up first and got the front end up well, but had trouble getting the rear of the truck in the air to land on the cars.
Bennet Clark was next up. Hit the cars with some good momentum. Outdid Undertaker for sure, but not exactly what the crown was looking for.
Overkill came out next and launched the new truck, was the first one to get a fair amount of air under the truck of the night.
Finally, Bigfoot was the only one to remain. Rick Long showed his experience and sent the Bigfoot Ford completely vertical, with the nose of the truck kissing the overhead lights! The crowd went ballistic and Bigfoot won the Cheer-off with ease.
Round 1 was to be Clydesdale vs Overkill, and Undertaker vs Bigfoot. Overkill beat Clydesdale by about half a trucklength, and Bigfoot took out Undertaker with ease. Tuff trucks were brought out next, with the two competitors being a 91 Stock Ford Explorer and a mid-80s Chevy pickup built for the mud. The course was a lap and a half around the arena perimeter then finish between the cars. The Explorer driver let it all hang out- that Explorer was all but upside down! The Chevy had problems staying running, but was able to finish the track.
For the race for 3rd place, Clydesdale took on Undertaker. Clydesdale took the race, and 3rd place for the night, or so it seemed.....
A FMX racer came out next on his dirt bike. After performing some stunts for the crowd, he lost control of his bike and smashed into the front of the Tuff Truck Explorer. The rider appeared to be OK but took a ride to the hospital to be sure.
For the finals, it was to be Bigfoot vs. Overkill. But Bigfoot wouldn't start! After giving Bigfoot a fair share of time, the officials had no choice but to call Clydesdale to the line for the race. Off the line, both trucks were even, and across the line it was impossible to call a winner! The officials decided, with the fan's approval, that the only fair solution was to rerun the race. Again, both trucks left the line well, but it was Clydesdale taking the win over Overkill!
(On later investigation, I conclude that Overkill won the original race. The photo is grainy as it is a picture of a Video Camera LCD screen, but you can see the nose of Overkill slightly ahead!)
Freestyle was up next. The officials brought out a Van stack for the crowd's enjoyment!
Undertaker was out first and had some fair hits on the cars and a short donut, but blew what appeared to be a rear steering hydraulic line early in the run and parked it.
Clydesdale was next, and it was apparent early in the run that Clark was having problems with the truck. After a few hits, he circled the track a few times and had to park the truck as well, with front steering problems.
Overkill was next up, and Dabney was not afraid to show the crowd what his all-new truck was made of. Dabney slung donuts that sent clay flying into the crowd and clouding the arena!
Bigfoot was still broken at this point, but the AMP folks weren't ready to call it quits just yet! They assured the crowd that Bigfoot would come out, no matter how long it took and no matter how many people were left. After 20 minutes, the Bigfoot truck fired up and pulled on the track. Rick Long took out his racing frustrations on the truck, by tearing the place apart in a run that was at least three times longer than that of any other truck:
This was my first ever AMP show and I can honestly say that I was impressed. The show seemed very well organized, and with he exception of a few small snags (caused by breakage), it flowed very well. The crowd really seemed to enjoy it as well and really got into it. Again, I want to thank Ron Woodbridge for allowing me Media passes and the free AMP tour hats. I'll definitely be sure to go next time they're in town(or a few away!!!).
By the way, I have the entire show on high quality Video. Will be uploaded soon. Feel free to browse this album for more pictures!
s17.photobucket.com/albums/b99/rns0504/Ft%20Pierce%20Friday/
Anyways, back to the show. We started out with the wheelie contest! Undertaker was up first and got the front end up well, but had trouble getting the rear of the truck in the air to land on the cars.
Bennet Clark was next up. Hit the cars with some good momentum. Outdid Undertaker for sure, but not exactly what the crown was looking for.
Overkill came out next and launched the new truck, was the first one to get a fair amount of air under the truck of the night.
Finally, Bigfoot was the only one to remain. Rick Long showed his experience and sent the Bigfoot Ford completely vertical, with the nose of the truck kissing the overhead lights! The crowd went ballistic and Bigfoot won the Cheer-off with ease.
Round 1 was to be Clydesdale vs Overkill, and Undertaker vs Bigfoot. Overkill beat Clydesdale by about half a trucklength, and Bigfoot took out Undertaker with ease. Tuff trucks were brought out next, with the two competitors being a 91 Stock Ford Explorer and a mid-80s Chevy pickup built for the mud. The course was a lap and a half around the arena perimeter then finish between the cars. The Explorer driver let it all hang out- that Explorer was all but upside down! The Chevy had problems staying running, but was able to finish the track.
For the race for 3rd place, Clydesdale took on Undertaker. Clydesdale took the race, and 3rd place for the night, or so it seemed.....
A FMX racer came out next on his dirt bike. After performing some stunts for the crowd, he lost control of his bike and smashed into the front of the Tuff Truck Explorer. The rider appeared to be OK but took a ride to the hospital to be sure.
For the finals, it was to be Bigfoot vs. Overkill. But Bigfoot wouldn't start! After giving Bigfoot a fair share of time, the officials had no choice but to call Clydesdale to the line for the race. Off the line, both trucks were even, and across the line it was impossible to call a winner! The officials decided, with the fan's approval, that the only fair solution was to rerun the race. Again, both trucks left the line well, but it was Clydesdale taking the win over Overkill!
(On later investigation, I conclude that Overkill won the original race. The photo is grainy as it is a picture of a Video Camera LCD screen, but you can see the nose of Overkill slightly ahead!)
Freestyle was up next. The officials brought out a Van stack for the crowd's enjoyment!
Undertaker was out first and had some fair hits on the cars and a short donut, but blew what appeared to be a rear steering hydraulic line early in the run and parked it.
Clydesdale was next, and it was apparent early in the run that Clark was having problems with the truck. After a few hits, he circled the track a few times and had to park the truck as well, with front steering problems.
Overkill was next up, and Dabney was not afraid to show the crowd what his all-new truck was made of. Dabney slung donuts that sent clay flying into the crowd and clouding the arena!
Bigfoot was still broken at this point, but the AMP folks weren't ready to call it quits just yet! They assured the crowd that Bigfoot would come out, no matter how long it took and no matter how many people were left. After 20 minutes, the Bigfoot truck fired up and pulled on the track. Rick Long took out his racing frustrations on the truck, by tearing the place apart in a run that was at least three times longer than that of any other truck:
This was my first ever AMP show and I can honestly say that I was impressed. The show seemed very well organized, and with he exception of a few small snags (caused by breakage), it flowed very well. The crowd really seemed to enjoy it as well and really got into it. Again, I want to thank Ron Woodbridge for allowing me Media passes and the free AMP tour hats. I'll definitely be sure to go next time they're in town(or a few away!!!).
By the way, I have the entire show on high quality Video. Will be uploaded soon. Feel free to browse this album for more pictures!
s17.photobucket.com/albums/b99/rns0504/Ft%20Pierce%20Friday/