Monster trucks take over fairgrounds

The four-wheeled beasts have returned to Plains and they kicked up a lot of dirt last weekend, including "Zilla," the monster of monster trucks and one of five that entertained with a crushing rampage Friday and Saturday at the Sanders County Fairgrounds.

The Monster Truck Family Reunion Tour was put on by Hylite Real Entertainment, owned by Ricky Fowler of Lake Dallas, Texas. Fowler was behind the wheel of the 18-foot long, 11-foot high Zilla, a highly modified 2008 Ford 250 Super Duty, complete with a 540 cubic inch engine and 66-inch tires. Fowler pulled off a clean sweep in the Side By Side Drag Races and the Best Trick competition Friday. He launched the 12,000-pound Zilla some 10-12 feet in the air, executed a series of donuts. He also accidentally flipped Zilla on its side on his final run, which only roused the spectators to cheer even louder, helping him to nab the Best Trick contest, said Tim Howard, the show's announcer.

The monster truck show included Fowler's 18-year-old daughter, Payton Fowler, who graduated from high school only two weeks ago and was the youngest drivers. She was also the only driver to get injured at the show, hurting herself after tackling the 10-foot high ramp in "Texas Outlaw," a modified 1937 Chevy pickup. Although she landed safely, she might have injured her back. She was taken away by ambulance as a precaution. There was no word on her condition. 

Payton wasn't the only woman driver competing. Taylor Phelps, 24, drove the 2014 Chevy "Monster Patrol." Though she trained on a practice course at home, Friday was her first time to compete. She won her first side by side by defeating Jack Koberna's "Tuff E Nuff" in the second heat and she beat her uncle, Clint Watson, in his vehicle "Bear Foot" in heat three on Friday.

At 62, Koberna was the oldest driver of the weekend. The Albuquerque, N.M. resident has been a competitor for 40 years and was inducted into the Monster Truck Hall of Fame in Indianapolis in 2018. The monster trucks tossed stones and dirt into the air and periodically into the stands. The roaring engines reverberated so loud, it caused several people to don ear protectors, but even the deafening engines didn't drown out the crowd's cheers when the giant vehicles went airborne or stood their trucks on end.

The Monster Truck Family Reunion Tour was part of 12 shows put on by Hylite Real Entertainment this season. Last year was the first year to have the monster trucks at Sanders County, but it was sponsored by Checkered Flag Promotions, also out of Texas. Fair Manager Melissa Cady said Checkered Flags failed to pay their bill for leasing the arena, which prompted her to get the $3,000 up front from Hylite Real Entertainment this year. Zilla was the only returning vehicle of the competition this year. Fowler also took first place in the freestyle contest last year. 

An estimated 600 people attended Friday's show and some 850 showed up Saturday. The cost was $25 for adults and $15 for 12 and under. Those 2 years old and younger were free. There were a handful of food and drink vendors on hand both nights. On Saturday, members of the Plains-Paradise Rural Volunteer Fire District helped display a giant American flag attached to a St. Regis Extreme Country Towing truck boom while VFW Post 3596 presented the colors during the Star-Spangled Banner. Both shows included the opportunity for people to get a ride on monster truck for $10 before and after the shows. Before each performance, people could to attend a "Pit Party" in the arena to see the trucks up close and meet the drivers.

The event also included a Tuff Truck competition, where anyone with a car or truck for $30 could compete with a lap around the track. The course included getting over the smaller mounds. Nearly a dozen drivers took part the first evening, including three from Plains - David Steinebach, Tony Waller and Jeffrey Vandentop - but none of them placed in the top three spots. Waller's 1993 Geo broke down when his engine dropped to the ground. Steinebach and his 1986 Nissan had a best time of 26.55 seconds. Vandentop's best time was 29.08 seconds. The winner, Larry Martell of Drummond, finished in 25.19. 

There were 16 competitors on Saturday, including several of Friday's drivers. Steinebach, Waller and Vandentop returned, along with Plains residents Mike Wait, Joey Wait, Mike Killgore, Reno Killgore, Dave Devol and Travis Cork of Thompson Falls. Mike Walker of Missoula finished first in his 1973 Bronco with a time of 23.15, even though he hit the last ramp hard enough to flip over at the finish line. The 34-year-old Walker was not hurt. None of the Sanders County drivers placed. The top three drivers received trophies and a cut of the entry fee. 

They also featured a father and son race between David Steinebach and his son, Nathan Steinebach, who grew up in Plains, but now lives in Missoula. David bumped Nathan immediately after the start and took the lead, finishing first. Nathan's car died at the finish line and had to be pushed out of the arena. "Dad won, but I was the crowd pleaser with my jump at the end," said the 25-year-old Nathan.

Saturday's side by side was more competitive than Friday's run with some winners taking their heat by a nose. Bear Foot took the first heat, beating Zilla. Tuff E Nuff beat Monster Patrol, then lost to Bear Foot. In the final monster truck free style contest, drivers became a bit more bold in their tricks, each getting loud cheers. Payton Fowler had driven Texas Outlaw in the first four shows this year, but Howard said this was the first time she had done the 10-foot mound. Zilla performed last, making radical turns and higher jumps, losing his entire hood on one. Fowler was soon joined by an appearance of Clint Watson in Bear Foot. The two hit the mounds and slung dirt throughout the arena. When the dust settled, the crowd determined it a tie, according to Howard.