After remaining blindsided by COVID-19, Oak Hills relatives to provide Monster Truck Thunder back again to Victorville
For more than 35 yrs, Steve Quercio and his spouse and children have been the “mom-and-pop” professionals of crashing, smashing and flame-belching thanks to their Monster Truck Thunder enterprise that has entertained enthusiasts from Victorville to the East Coastline.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck previous calendar year and entertainment venues had been shuttered, monster truck exhibits have been also canceled. The Quercios, who reside in Oak Hills, reported they shed an estimated $1 million in projected revenue as a end result.
This week, although, an fired up Quercio instructed the Every day Press the Monster Truck Thunder demonstrate will return for two demonstrates at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville.
“The truck clearly show is heading to be the 1st party to operate at entire potential at the fairgrounds considering the fact that this pandemic hit final calendar year,” claimed Quercio, 67. “We’ll be back at the fairgrounds on July 16th and 17th for two nights of thundering pleasure for the complete family members.”
Each and every display will attribute 6 acts, with 4 to five “Bad Boy Monster Trucks” traveling around 30 toes in the air, doing huge electrical power wheelies and other acts such as the “Hollywood Stunt Exhibit,” Quercio explained.
“We’ll also have our well known Fireplace Chief Jet Fire Truck that will blast hearth out its rear and soften a automobile to the ground,” Quercio stated. “It’s quite a sight, and the admirers truly love it.”
The Fire Main is powered by a Westinghouse J-34 Jet Engine from a World War II “Banshi” fighter airplane that creates more than 7,000 kilos of thrust.
“Fans who arrive early will have a possibility to ride a monster truck,” mentioned Quercio, who is also inviting motorists to showcase their Tuff Trucks, Razors, quads, buggies, quads, bikes and off-road automobiles on the filth observe at the fairgrounds.
“We want to give persons a possibility to get driving the wheel and show off what they acquired,” Quercio mentioned. “Drivers just will need to show up to the fairground’s back again gate before the show and we’ll give them instructions.”
Quercio stated he expects about 4,000 monster truck enthusiasts every single night to fill the grandstand at the fairgrounds.
Monster Truck Thunder
Monster Truck Thunder is owned by Quercio and his wife, Jill, who moved from Simi Valley to the Significant Desert nearly 30 several years back. The couple recently celebrated their 47th marriage ceremony anniversary.
“My wife will work the ticket booth. My son, Tony, is in demand of items revenue, and my 17-year-old grandson, Alex, also assists out,” Quercio mentioned. “We’re a smaller mother-and-pop business enterprise that operates with major vehicles that carry out in large shows.”
As the 2nd-greatest monster truck promoter in the country, the Quercios have made up to 80 significant motorsport activities throughout the U.S. in key and secondary marketplaces.
Some of their activities have featured preferred monster vans this sort of as Bigfoot, Bounty Hunter and Grave Digger.
The largest monster truck demonstrate the family members at any time arranged was at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The event drew an estimated 75,000 admirers.
“That was a significant enterprise with a great deal of trucks,” Quercio mentioned. “Many of the vans had to be saved in delivery containers and delivered across the ocean by cargo ship.”
COVID-19 strikes
Quercio claimed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. very last year, the roar of the crowd, the thundering seem of monster vans and the income sign up all went silent.
In March 2020, the Quercios had previously geared up their demonstrate in Victorville when SBC Honest CEO Jennifer Monter called and advised the relatives the display experienced been canceled because of COVID-19 constraints place in area by the state of California.
At that time, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared an executive purchase that shut down amusement venues, fairs, theme parks and most main sporting venues.
”We by now had vehicles on the ground for our display scheduled on March 14, 2020, at the fairgrounds in Victorville,” Quercio explained. “Our show was the initially party to get canceled the 7 days COVID strike.”
Then — like a bunch of slipping dominoes —the Quercios ended up compelled to terminate the remaining 25 shows scheduled throughout 2020.
“COVID-19 shut down the entertainment market and put a whole lot of persons out of do the job,” Quercio reported. “Like lots of businesses, we struggled because we weren’t eligible for PPP (Paycheck Protection Plan) cash or governing administration funding.”
To make finishes meet up with, the loved ones gave people today rides on Fire Main for a tiny cost, in accordance to Quercio, who explained the venture finished when code enforcement “chased them out” of the parking good deal of Tremendous Concentrate on in Hesperia.
“We’re not like Monster Jam that performs huge arenas and has dollars stored away in the lender for a rainy working day or a pandemic,” Quercio mentioned. “We’re just happy to be again performing what we do ideal — offering a mind-blowing monster truck demonstrate for the lovers.”
Gates to the Monster Truck Thunder clearly show open up at 5 p.m. with the clearly show starting at 7:30 p.m. July 16 and 17.
General admission tickets are $19.90 for adults, $13 for small children and $25 for VIP, which consists of a pit get together go.
Tickets can be bought at the gate or online at www.MonsterTruckThunder.com. For more facts, go to the internet site, call/textual content 760 964-5195 or email carcrushin@aol.com.
Each day Push reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz could be achieved at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Abide by him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.