CHANGING TIRES MONSTER TRUCK VERSION

When covering car shows, cruises, racing, or any other event, I’m always on the lookout for a potential hidden story. The Salem Super Cruise continues to grow each year, introducing new vendors, subevents, and locations throughout the city. And that’s definitely a positive development. Actually, it’s a fantastic one.

Due to prior commitments, I was only able to cover the Salem Cruise on Friday morning and early afternoon. As I arrived, the roosters were still crowing, and vehicles had already filled the main parking lot downtown. Standing at the corner of Pershing and Penn, I witnessed a massive tractortrailer car hauler making its way up Penn, the side street, towards me. The driver attempted to turn onto Pershing, but the space was too tight. After some back and forth, the driver managed to navigate the narrow corridor beside The Timberlanes. It was then evident that the entire rig was adorned with Big Foot graphics. For those unaware, Big Foot is a widely recognized monster truck.

Initially, I wondered why the Big Foot hauler was in this particular area off the main route. Then I realized that the Firestone Tire dealer was just two blocks away. Firestone happens to be one of the sponsors for this monster truck. The connection became apparent, and by now, the hauler had pulled up onto the sidewalk next to the Firestone dealer. I took a few shots and then headed back to see what was happening in the main cruise parking lot.

About twenty minutes later, I found myself at the other end of the cruise lot, much closer to the activity surrounding the Big Foot hauler. It appeared as though they were preparing to unload, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to investigate. Two individuals were attending to the rig, a man and a woman, both going about their tasks with a practiced rhythm. Inside the hauler, I caught a glimpse of Big Foot wearing its “traveling shoes.” It looked peculiar, but it wasn’t my first encounter with this sight.

Monster truck tires measure sixty-six inches in height and forty-three inches in width. A single tire, without the rim, can weigh anywhere from 800 to 900 pounds. When multiplied by four, the tires account for approximately a third of the average 10,000-pound weight of a monster truck. This is why slim tires are necessary for the truck to fit inside the hauler during travel. A team can go through as many as eight tires in a single year, with each tire costing between $2,500 and $7,500.

The Firestone parking lot was cleared to make space for the display, which was sure to attract hundreds of viewers over the course of the three-day cruise. As things quieted down, I noticed a ladder near one of the smaller doors on the hauler. Before long, the man emerged from the hauler, climbing down the ladder. He positioned himself in the middle of the road, just moments before one of those enormous monster truck tires came bouncing out of the hauler. Although I failed to capture the height of the rebound, that tire and wheel bounced more than two feet above the man’s head! It bounced three or four times while he struggled to gain control of the chaotic situation.

I was impressed by how quickly he managed to rein in the rogue tire and promptly rolled it over to the parking lot. He stood it upright in a spot that seemed peculiar until the second and third tires were balanced and standing on their own in their designated spots.

Once the tires were secure, Big Foot roared to life and backed out of the hauler. It was at this point that I realized it was the woman who had been inside the hauler, handling those tires with ease and tossing them out through the side door!

The transformation of Big Foot from its traveling shoes to its competition version didn’t take very long. Shortly after, I headed down to Donnell Ford to explore the ongoing show before making my way back home.

Now, does anyone wonder how those tires and wheels find their way back into the hauler? I certainly do! It’s been a week, and I’ve found myself pondering that process in greater detail. Anyone up for a tire change?

So, there you have it, the story within the story, or as I like to call it, the truck within the truck, that sets my mind twisting and turning!

That’s all I have - Joe