Time Flys

The Allen Report: WGAS Motorsports Monster Trucks – Watsonville, CA 2017

September 16, 2017 by TheMonsterBlogger Leave a Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: September 14th-15th, 2017

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we make a drive to the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville, California, for the very first time to a show promoted by our friends at WGAS Motorsports. We have long known this place as the hometown of the father/daughter team of Kelvin Ramer driving his usual Time Flys and Rosalee Ramer piloting her traditional Wild Flower. This team is wrapping up a phenomenal season that saw Rosalee finish in the top 10 in the battle for the World Finals Freestyle Championship and Kelvin walk away with both the Save of the Year and Stadium Wheelie of the Year awards from the same event. These two came ready to put together the best show possible for their hometown fans at the Ocean Speedway, at the fairgrounds.

The competition was supplied by Tony “The Flying Spaniard” Canedo at the helm of the haunting red Play ‘n For Keeps machine and Jeff Souza at the wheel of his trusty Enforcer, the truck’s red and blue police car style flashing lights making it impossible to miss while on the arena floor. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2017 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: California, Enforcer, Jeff Souza, Kelvin Ramer, Ocean Speedway, Play'n 4 Keeps, Rosalee Ramer, Santa Cruz County Fair, Time Flys, Tony Canedo, Watsonville, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower

The Allen Report: Stanislaus County Fair Monster Trucks – Turlock, CA 2017

July 22, 2017 by TheMonsterBlogger Leave a Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: July 20th-21st, 2017

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we make a familiar trek in a new time of the year. We have covered excellent monster truck action from the FoodMaxx Arena at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in the town of Turlock, California, several times before, but this was our first time doing so during the fair itself. Six ground pounding, crowd pleasing competitive monster trucks and one mini monster came from across the state to compete in the all-or-nothing freestyle competition over the closing days of the fair.

Vacaville, California’s Tony Canedo had all three of his monster trucks ready to storm the track. The team owner nicknamed “The Flying Spaniard” took the helm of Play ‘N for Keeps. Local driver Jeff Souza got back in the saddle of the Enforcer truck. Jeff’s son Hunter was also back in his faithful Wrecking Machine mini monster. Both father and son were eager to put their respective rollovers from this arena a few months ago in the rearview mirror. David Tucker once again tightened the belts of the third member of the team, Survivor. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2017 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: California, David Tucker, Enforcer, Jeff Souza, Jonathan Elkins, Kelvin Ramer, Play'n 4 Keeps, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Survivor, Terminator, Time Flys, Tony Canedo, Turlock, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower

The Allen Report: Budweiser Monster Truck Fall Nationals – Turlock, CA 2016

October 17, 2016 by TheMonsterBlogger 1 Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: October 15th, 2016

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we make a long trek to Turlock, California for the second time in 2016, and third time overall. Upon our arrival, we headed to the Budweiser Monster Truck Fall Nationals at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, presented by our friends at WGAS Motorsports as their last show of the season. Six high flying, ground pounding monster trucks came to the fairgrounds to slug it out in the car munching madness of freestyle.

From just a few hours away in Vacaville, CA was the team of Tony Canedo. Teammate and friend Jeff Souza drove team truck Enforcer while “The Flying Spaniard” Tony himself, as always, got behind the wheel of his bright red Play’n for Keeps. Rosalee Ramer took a weekend off from studying at Georgia Tech to take the wheel of her Wild Flower monster truck. Her father, Kelvin Ramer, took to the track in his trusty 1934 Ford Coupe he calls Time Flys. Finally, husband and wife Jimmy and Dawn Creten arrived, ready to invade the fairgrounds and defeat the competition. Once more, Dawn was behind the wheel of Scarlet Bandit, with the words “You can’t catch me!” displayed with pride on the tailgate. Jimmy Creten was piloting his usual American Sniper Bounty Hunter. With professional judges ready and a perfect score of 100 on the line, every move would count and consistency was crucial. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, Budweiser Monster Truck Fall Nationals, California, Dawn Creten, Enforcer, Jeff Souza, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Motorsports, Play'n for Keeps, Rosalee Ramer, Scarlet Bandit, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Time Flys, Tony Canedo, Turlock, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower

The Allen Report: San Diego County Fair Monster Trucks – Del Mar, CA 2016

July 4, 2016 by TheMonsterBlogger Leave a Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: July 1st-3rd, 2016

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report” we travel to San Diego, California, a city with no shortage of sport and entertainment venues, from football’s Qualcomm Stadium to baseball’s Petco Park. But on the first few days of July at the San Diego County Fair, the big crowds were inside the Del Mar Arena. Six monster trucks arrived to do head to head battle in roof scraping, dirt slinging freestyle competition.

Making the trip from Tonganoxie, Kansas, were Jimmy Creten piloting Bounty Hunter with wife Dawn Creten right behind in Scarlet Bandit. From just up the road in Watsonville, California, were the father and daughter team of Kelvin and Rosalee Ramer. Kelvin was in his sleek 1934 Ford coupe Time Flys and Rosalee, the 2016 Monster Jam Rookie of the Year, in her usual Wild Flower. Finally, Rick and Eric Swanson arrived looking to bring the title back to their home state. Rick, once more, was driving his 20th Anniversary Obsession with Eric at the wheel of the Baja bodied Obsessed. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Dawn Creten, Del Mar, Eric Swanson, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Monster Truck Show, Obsessed, Obsession, Obsession Racing, Rick Swanson, Rosalee Ramer, San Diego County Fair, Scarlet Bandit, Time Flys, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower

The Allen Report: Monster Truck Fall Nationals – Turlock, CA 2015

October 19, 2015 by TheMonsterBlogger 2 Comments

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: October 17th, 2015

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we venture to Turlock, California, not far from Sacramento, which for fifty-one weeks a year is a farming community where life generally consists of dodging flies, delivering fruit and staying safe on the highways. But on this weekend, six of the best car crushing, dirt pounding monster trucks in the west came to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds for the annual Coors Light Monster Truck Fall Nationals. The end of an era had arrived as this was the last show promoted by John Borba, the founder of WGAS Motorsports, as his daughter Chelsea plans to take over the business in 2016 and beyond.

Coming to do battle were former World Champions Jim Creten and Bounty Hunter, with wife Dawn in Scarlet Bandit right behind. Kelvin Ramer brought his 1934 Ford Coupe Time Flys to the fairgrounds. New Georgia Tech student Rosalee Ramer flew in to drive her usual truck Wild Flower. Finally, the “Flying Spaniard” Tony Canedo brought his signature Play N’ 4 Keeps along as did Roger Stidell in his usual Destroyer from Washington state. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2015 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Dawn Creten, Destroyer, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Monster Truck Fall Nationals, Play'n 4 Keeps, Roger Stidell, Rosalee Ramer, Scarlet Bandit, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Time Flys, Tony Canedo, Turlock, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower

The Allen Report: Monster Truck Show – Perris, CA 2015

October 5, 2015 by TheMonsterBlogger 2 Comments

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: October 3rd, 2015

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we make our way to Perris, CA, a quiet town which, for fifty-one weeks a year is a quiet, relaxing SoCal town. But on this weekend, WGAS Motorsports brought eight of the best monster trucks in the region to Perris Auto Speedway to open the Southern California fair. Former World Champion Jim Creten and Bounty Hunter lead the charge with wife and teammate Dawn Creten right behind in her typical Scarlet Bandit. Defending the home state turf was Kelvin Ramer in his 1934 Ford Coupe Time Flys. Wild Flower was in the house as well, but with Rosalee Ramer busy attending Georgia Tech, the driver’s seat was occupied by Kelvin’s friend Jeff Souza. Tony Canedo brought his fan favorite Play N’ 4 Keeps to the Speedway, with Roger Stidell in Destroyer right behind. Tony pulled double duty this weekend, also driving Survivor while friend John Northcutt took to the cockpit of Tony’s third truck, Enforcer. When a capacity crowd piled in for the freestyle action, taking place on the front straight-a-way of the Perris Auto Speedway, all signs pointed to a real battle for the championship. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2015 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Dawn Creten, Destroyer, Enforcer, Jeff Souza, Jimmy Creten, John Northcutt, Kelvin Ramer, Monster Truck Show, Perris, Play'n 4 Keeps, Roger Stidell, Scarlet Bandit, Survivor, Time Flys, Tony Canedo, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower

The Allen Report: Monster Truck Show – Del Mar, CA 2015

July 4, 2015 by TheMonsterBlogger 1 Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: July 1st-3rd, 2015

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we travel back to the San Diego County Fair, a place that, for one hundred years, has delivered on fun rides, great food and exciting entertainment. And on the first, second and third of July, the entertainment was in the Del Mar Arena, where seven ground pounding monster trucks arrived to do battle in wheelie contest the first day, freestyle the second and, on the third day, qualifying in the afternoon and racing in the evening. The husband and wife team of Jim and Dawn Creten came to town, Jim in his sleek new black and yellow Bounty Hunter and Dawn in her traditional Scarlet Bandit. The “Flying Spaniard” Tony Canedo drove his newly purchased Survivor and Roger Stidell, as usual, piloted the trophy truck bodied Destroyer. The father-daughter team of Kelvin and Rosalee Ramer were in the house to defend their southern California home turf, Kelvin in his 1934 Ford Coupe Time Flys and Rosalee in her usual Wild Flower. Finally, Rick Swanson and his crowd-amazing Wrongway Rick arrived. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2015 Photos, Feature Articles, Featured News, Monster Photos, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Dawn Creten, Del Mar, Destroyer, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Monster Truck Show, Obsession Racing, Rick Swanson, Roger Stidell, Rosalee Ramer, Scarlet Bandit, Survivor, Time Flys, Tony Canedo, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower, Wrongway Rick

The Allen Report: Monster Flip Fest – Pomona, CA 2014

September 1, 2014 by TheMonsterBlogger Leave a Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: August 30th, 2014

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we headed to the Fairplex in Pomona, California for the Los Angeles County Fair opening “Flip Fest”. Mark Schroeder arrived to pilot Devastator. For fans of Mark’s Felon, I’m happy to report that he’s bringing it back for first quarter next year. Also in the house was Marana, Arizona’s own Rod Wood driving McGruff. The father and daughter team of Kelvin and Rosalee Ramer came to town with Time Flys and Wild Flower. The incredibly talented seventeen year old was extremely popular with the audience. Crowd favorite Jimmy Creten stepped out of his usual Bounty Hunter and into Iron Outlaw, built especially for a huge, never before seen stunt to round out the night. Finally, making its world performance debut was the Knucklehead monster truck driven by rock band Five Finger Death Punch lead guitarist Zoltan Bathory. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Feature Articles, Featured News, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, California, Devastator, Iron Outlaw, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Knucklehead, Mark Schroeder, McGruff, Monster Flip Fest, Pomona, Pomona Fairplex, Rod Wood, Rosalee Ramer, Time Flys, WGAS Motorsports, Wild Flower, Zoltan Bathory

The Allen Report: Monster Truck Show – Del Mar, CA 2013

July 4, 2013 by TheMonsterBlogger Leave a Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: July 1st-3rd, 2013

Weekend Recap

This time on “The Allen Report”, we make our annual trek to the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, California for a series of showdowns between a national name and a home state hero. For the past several years, Kelvin Ramer and his Time Flys machine have made several attempts to replace Jimmy Creten and Bounty Hunter as King of the Del Mar monster trucks. And he was going to try again this year. However, this was no two truck show. Right behind Jimmy was Trent Montgomery in Iron Outlaw. But Kelvin had backup of his own. That was his own daughter, young Rosalee Ramer, driving Detour. Rick Swanson returned with Wrongway Rick to the place where it debuted one year ago. Son Eric Swanson drove his trophy truck bodied-monster wearing the normal Obsessed logo to round out the field. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Feature Articles, Featured News, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Del Mar, Detour, Eric Swanson, Iron Outlaw, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Racing, Monster Truck Show, Obsessed, Obsession Racing, Rick Swanson, Rosalee Ramer, San Diego County Fair, Time Flys, Trent Montgomery, WGAS Motorsports, Wrongway Rick

The Allen Report: Kaboom Monster Truck Show – Pomona, CA 2012

July 5, 2012 by TheMonsterBlogger 1 Comment

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: July 4th, 2012

Weekend Recap

The annual KaBoom! Event in Pomona, CA, has been sellout every year since its inception in 2002. Its 10th birthday was celebrated side by side with America’s birthday by again being held on the 4th of July. The Monster Trucks performing were Jimmy Creten in bounty Hunter, Geno Kinal in Iron Outlaw, Kelvin Ramer in Time Flys, Rosalee Ramer in Detour and Eric Swanson in Obsessed.

To get the crowd pumped up for the monster trucks, four of the most fearless freestyle motocross riders you could find had the crowd screaming for the favorite – The Backflip, and the riders, including Metal Mulisha representative Jimmy Fitzpatrick, delivered. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Feature Articles, Featured News, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Detour, Eric Swanson, Geno Kinal, Iron Outlaw, Jimmy Creten, Kaboom, Kaboom Monster Truck Show, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Racing, Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Obsessed, Obsession Racing, Pomona, Rosalee Ramer, Time Flys, WGAS Motorsports

The Allen Report: Monster Truck Show – Del Mar, CA 2012

July 4, 2012 by TheMonsterBlogger 2 Comments

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

EVENT DATE: July 1st-3rd, 2012

Weekend Recap

This edition of “The Allen Report” comes to you from Del Mar, California where Jimmy Creten in the Bounty Hunter is thinking San Diego County Fair Championship three-peat. Rick Swanson has introduced a new body design called WrongWay Rick. The other participants were Kelvin Ramer and Time Flys, the Youngest Female Professional Monster Truck Driver in the World, Rosalee Ramer in Detour, Eric Swanson the Youngest Professional Male driver in the World in Obsessed and Russell Steeley in Iron Outlaw. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Feature Articles, Featured News, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bounty Hunter, California, Del Mar, Detour, Eric Swanson, Iron Outlaw, Jimmy Creten, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Racing, Monster Truck Show, Obsessed, Obsession Racing, Rick Swanson, Rosalee Ramer, Russell Steeley, San Diego County Fair, Time Flys, WGAS Motorsports, Wrongway Rick

The Allen Report: Monster Jam – Phoenix, AZ 2012

January 30, 2012 by TheMonsterBlogger 1 Comment

EVENT DATE: January 28th, 2012

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

Survival is crucial to success in monster truck racing. If you can’t keep your truck in one piece the whole night, someone else will walk onto the winner’s stage. And this year’s show at the Chase Field Monster Jam was a prime example of that. The show featured both Grave Digger and Son-Uva Digger with Carl Van Horn and Ryan Anderson driving. The “General” himself, Brian Deegan drove the Metal Mulisha for the first time in his career. Former World Finals fastest qualifier Marc McDonald brought El Toro Loco back. Linsey Weenk returned to Phoenix with the Lucas Oil Crusader. Former sprint car driver Taryn Laskey filled in for Nicole Johnson in Tasmanian Devil. The other teams were: Mitch Tulachka and Shane Phreed in Geter Done and Robo Machine. Allen Pezo and Ron Nelson drove Predator and Pouncer. Kelvin Ramer drove Time Flies and former California Kid driver Garrett Ladelle drove Detour. Rounding out the field were Mark Schroeder and Rod Wood driving the Felon and McGruff. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Feature Articles, Featured News, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: Allen Pezo, Arizona, Brian Deegan, Carl Van Horn, Chase Field, Detour, El Toro Loco, Feld Entertainment, Garrett Ladelle, Geter Done, Grave Digger, Kelvin Ramer, Linsey Weenk, Lucas Oil Crusader, Marc MacDonald, Mark Schroeder, McGruff, Metal Mulisha, Mitch Tulachka, Monster Jam, Phoenix, Pouncer, Predator, RoboMachine, Rod Wood, Ron Nelson, Ryan Anderson, Shane Phreed, Son Uva Digger, Taryn Laskey, Tasmanian Devil, The Felon, Time Flys

The Allen Report: WGAS Monster Truck Tour – Del Mar/Pomona, CA 2011

July 5, 2011 by TheMonsterBlogger 3 Comments

EVENT DATE: July 1st-4th, 2011

(Coverage By Christopher Allen, Photos By Jim Allen)

The 4th of July is always an important date on the modern calendar and monster trucks are about as American as they come. That is why six of the best monsters this side of the Mississippi River arrived for the annual show at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, California, followed by the KaBoom show at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. The six combatants are Jimmy Creten and Bounty Hunter, Darren Migues in Iron Outlaw and the father and son duo Rick and Eric Swanson in Obsession and Obsessed. Kelvin Ramer drove Time Flys while Hog Wild ride truck owner Bob Johnson and Chris Etchison shared driving duties in Fired Up. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Feature Articles, Featured News, News, The Allen Report Tagged With: 2Xtreme Racing, Bob Johnson, Bounty Hunter, California, Darren Migues, Del Mar, Eric Swanson, Fired Up, Iron Outlaw, Jimmy Creten, Kaboom Monster Truck Show, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Racing, Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Monster Truck Show, Obsessed, Obsession, Obsession Racing, Pomona, Rick Swanson, San Diego County Fair, Time Flys, WGAS Motorsports

TMB TV: Highlights – Monster X Tour – Chico, CA 2011

May 4, 2011 by ColbyMarshall 1 Comment

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Silver Dollar Speedway
Location: Chico, California
Date: April 8th-9th, 2011
Videographer: Colby Marshall

Lineup: California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Fired Up (TJ Etchison), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Time Flys (Kelvin Ramer), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured News, News, Other Video Coverage, TMB TV Presented by TheMonsterBlog.com Tagged With: Bill Payne, California, California Kid, Chico, Donald Epidendio, Fired Up, Garrett Ladelle, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Racing, Monster Truck Entertainment, monster x tour, Rock Star, Silver Dollar Speedway, Straight Up Racing, Time Flys, Titan, TJ Etchison

TMB TV: Original Series Episode 4.5 – Chico, CA 2011

April 27, 2011 by TheMonsterBlogger 1 Comment

Event: Monster X Tour
Venue: Silver Dollar Speedway
Location: Chico, California
Date: April 8th-9th, 2011
Host: Ross Z. Bonar
Videographers: Colby Marshall, Kaedon Berry

Lineup: California Kid (Garrett Ladelle), Fired Up (TJ Etchison), Rock Star (Bill Payne), Time Flys (Kelvin Ramer), Titan (Donald Epidendio) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured News, News, TMB TV Original Series, TMB TV Presented by TheMonsterBlog.com Tagged With: Bill Payne, California, California Kid, Chico, Donald Epidendio, Fired Up, Garrett Ladelle, Kelvin Ramer, Living the Dream Racing, Monster Truck Entertainment, monster x tour, Rock Star, Silver Dollar Speedway, Straight Up Racing, Time Flys, Titan, TJ Etchison