Monster Truck Winter Nationals and Thrill Show comes to the Show Me Center

The annual Monster Truck Winter Nationals and Thrill Show is coming to the Show Me Center and will include the original Monster Truck, Bigfoot Bad Boy.

According to Joshua Hanlon, the marketing director at the Show Me Center, The line-up of Monster Trucks includes Incinerator, Viper, XXX, BlackJack and Bigfoot Bad Boy.

According to Larry Swim, Bigfoot originated from St. Louis 37 years ago, and was the first monster truck.

"Bigfoot started in advertising for the Four Wheel Drive shop. In 1981, Bigfoot drove over a car and crushed it, and that's how it all started," Swim said.

Swim has been driving Bigfoot for the past four years, but has been driving monster trucks for 11 years. Swim grew up in Arnold, Mo., where he found his passion for monster trucks.

"I knew a guy in high school who had a monster truck, and I would work on it with him on the weekends," Swim said.

Swim started driving the trucks when a neighbor moved in next to him who drove several trucks for All Shafer in northern Indiana. However, his neighbor was unable to drive so he informed All Shafer that Swim knew a lot about monster trucks. Swim was able to drive for All Shafer, and eventually was offered a full time job.

Then, in 2008, Swim received a phone call that would change his life.

"I was friends with the people who owned Bigfoot so they knew I could drive. In 2008, they called me and asked if I would drive. It was a dream come true. How many people can say they are doing what they've always wanted?"

According to Swim, he has traveled to Mexico, Canada and all over the United States, but The Monster Truck Winter Nationals and Thrill Show in Cape Girardeau is the most special because he considers Cape home.

"I have close friends who live in Jonesboro, Ill., but they're like family," Swim said. "Also, my family from St. Louis come down and sees the show. The fans in Cape are so amazing. They are always excited to see Bigfoot. We always get a warm welcome."

The Monster Truck Winter Nationals and Thrill Show will consist of side-by-side racing and car-crushing freestyle. However, there will be something new to the event from previous years. They are having a free style FMX motorcycle jumper, Tim Dyson, in the event.

"Dyson is going to ramp a motorcycle 70 feet in the air, and do a full rotation back flip on his motorcycle," Hanlon said.

The event will have Bad Boys Quad Races which are 4 wheeler races. The show will also include Pit Bike Races which will consist of motorcycle races which is sponsored by the Campus Scooter Shop.

There will also be a Show N Shine competition where they will be looking for the best looking custom or street pick up car. The top three best looking cars will win trophies. According to Hanlon, there is no pre-registration, and it is free to sign up. Anyone interested in signing up can sign up at the gate.

According to Hanlon, the Monster Truck Winter Nationals and Thrill Show is a good family show. "It's not every day you can see something like this," Hanlon said. "It's a good show to take your children especially boys. I plan on taking my son."

The Monster Truck Winter Nationals and Thrill Show is at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 11 and gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Show Me Center or online at www.ShowMeCenter.biz. Prices vary from $9.50 to $22.50.