Friday, February 08, 2008
A man and his monster
Tips and advice from Randy Brown, driver of Grave Digger No. 19
Monster truck driver Randy Brown drives the famous Grave Digger.
Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam
- Who: Grave Digger, El Toro Loco and Gunslinger; ATV Quad Wars and more.
- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Roanoke Civic Center
- Tickets: $28, Gold Circle; $19, adults; $7, kids ($2 more on day of show)
- Call: (888) 397-3100, tickets.com
Related
Once there was a time when Randy Brown, a monster truck driver, did not have a driver's license. It was a time of smaller machines.
"I was racing bicycles," the North Carolina native said. "I was always trying to go fast and jump high."
But bicycles don't get the serious air. At the wheel of Grave Digger, the 10,000-pound truck that Brown will steer around the Roanoke Civic Center this weekend, he has soared 175 feet. Or almost exactly two Mill Mountain Stars, if they were laid tip to tip.
"It feels pretty good till it lands," the 35-year-old said.
Here's more on the driver of Grave Digger No. 19, who took a phone call from his home in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., (also home of Grave Digger) earlier this week.
Q: What car do you drive on the street?
I have a Z06 Corvette. I'm just a big high-horsepower fan.
Q: What's the secret to doing a good "doughnut"?
The secret to doing a good doughnut is basically getting the truck to settle down -- planting all four tires on the ground. If you can get all four on the ground, you get going twice as fast.
Once it gets going fast, stay on the gas.
Q: Can you listen to music when you're driving? Some Zeppelin would probably get me fired up for monster trucks.
Generally I don't 'cause I like to listen to the motor and the tones of the engine. ... I kind of judge my speed by how the engine sounds.
[Before shows] I'm a big Nickelback fan. Anything rock. I'm not going to listen to Yanni before I go out.
Q: What did your mother say when you told her you were going to drive monster trucks for a living?
It didn't really surprise her a whole lot. I'd been into racing and motorsports my whole life. This is just another itch I had to scratch.
The most fun I've ever had in motorsports is in this class.
Q: What advice do you have for kids who want to drive monster trucks someday?
Anybody can do it, you just got to plan towards it. It's not just going to come to you. Even if you have to start crewing on a team before jumping in the driver seat.
Stick with it. If I can do it anyone can.
