From a young age, Tim and Mark Hall have dreamed about racing anything with an engine. During the July 25 Thompson Metal Monster Truck Madness at Bristol Motor Speedway, they will unleash two of the biggest engines to ever grace the inside of the "World's Fastest Half-Mile."
Hall Brothers Racing, based in Illinois, owns two of the best-known machines on the monster truck circuit, Raminator and Rammunition. While many kids dream of owning and racing their own monster truck, the Hall brothers used hard work and determination to make their dreams come true.
"Our dad was a race announcer and he announced all kids of stuff," explained Tim Hall, co-team owner and crew chief, "so we grew up at the race track. Mark and I started getting into the four-wheel drive trucks. Then we saw the monster truck sport was getting off the ground. We were spending a lot of money modifying trucks, and saw that the monster truck guys were getting paid. We decided to be on that side of the fence, so we built our first truck in 1986."
The Halls worked out of their parents' two-car garage as they began to work their way through the ranks of monster truck racing. With their eyes set on success, Tim and Mark began to make a name for themselves at tracks across the country. Tim moved from behind the wheel and became crew chief.
Things have definitely evolved since the brothers hauled a truck to their very first event.
"Our first truck had about 500 horsepower and six inches of wheel travel," noted Hall. "We thought that thing was bad. The current Raminator has 2000 horsepower and 30 inches of wheel travel. If we performed today like we did in those days, people would boo us out of the stadium. It has changed quite a bit. The trucks are so much more capable in what they can do."
Over the years, the brothers have developed one of the top teams in the sport due to a significant bond between driver and crew chief. The brothers enjoy the roles they play on the team-roles that were assigned in a simple way.
"When we started out in mud racers," stated Hall, "Mark was smaller and fit in there a little easier, and I needed to be outside to watch what it was doing to make it better. The first few years in monster trucks, I also drove, and I think that helps us. First of all, there is something between brothers. It is almost like you can read each other's mind. Also, having driven myself, I can see from the outside and say we need to do this or do that to make it better."
Monster truck racing is experiencing a great period of popularity, due in part to shows on television and replica trucks at the local toy store. Hall says the appeal is very straightforward.
"The sport is almost in every major arena and I think that has brought it into the reach of more people," he said. "It appeals to the kids and it isn't so expensive that it takes the families out of it. The family can bring the kids and, after all, a monster truck does look like a gigantic toy. And, I think every kid likes to see something get smashed.
"With everything that is going wrong and going bad in today's society, people are scraping money together to see us. That makes us feel pretty special. They could go anywhere, but they come to watch us race. Maybe for just a couple of hours, you take them out of all the stuff that is going on and give everybody a good time. That makes us feel really good."
Those in attendance will have a view of one of the most impressive scenes in motorsports. Hall describes it best.
"Fans of the sport are going to like this show because there is a great field of trucks and they will see a lot of action," he said. "Fans that haven't been to Bristol for monster trucks will be surprised how fast they move.
"These things weigh as much as an elephant and are the size of a dump truck, but handle and move around like a Viper. They can get around pretty well, and are the only race vehicles with rear steering. Two of them moving around the track at a pretty good speed, I think it should be an exciting show."
If the sight of these behemoths racing around the infield is not enough, fans are invited to attend the pit party which will get them up close to the drivers and their machines.
"At the pit party, the kids get to come up next to the trucks," he said. "The little kids are in awe when they see them. If you see an Indy car or Funny Car on TV, when you are next to it in real life, you think, ‘That looks a lot smaller than it does on TV.' When you stand next to a monster truck, you think, ‘I didn't realize they were this big.' When you see two of them race side-by-side, it makes a pretty big impression."
The Hall brothers and their teammates, Geremie and Mat Dishman and the Rammunition, eagerly anticipate their trip to Bristol.
"Bristol, of course, is one of the most famous racing places in the world," Hall said. "When this one first came on the schedule, we've been looking forward to it since. It is such a famous facility and for us to have the chance to race there...we're going to make the most of it. I don't think there has ever been an event at Bristol that hasn't been exciting. We look forward to carving our mark in there as well."
What are Hall's suggestions for all the kids dreaming to have their own monster truck one day?
"Hard work and the never-ending desire to be the best," he explained. "When my brother and I came in to the sport, we had to out-think everybody because we raced on a tight budget. We couldn't race them with our wallets, we had to race them with brain power...I attribute it to hard work."
In addition to Raminator and Rammunition, the trucks scheduled to appear are Equalizer, War Wizard, Samson, Bad Habit, Ragin' Rebel and Martial Law.
The pre-race pit party allows fans to come to the infield of the "World's Fastest Half-Mile" to meet the drivers, get autographs and pose for pictures next to the trucks. Merchandise from all of the drivers also will be available for purchase.
The Team FMX freestyle motocross team will put on a stunning display of awesome jumps and stunts just like the ones seen on TV, while a demolition derby will give the fans a taste of destruction.
Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance for $15 by calling the Bristol Motor Speedway ticket office. Tickets are $20 at the gate on the day of the event. A $5 off coupon good for the day of the event will be available at Fas Mart Convenience Stores and Roadrunner Markets.
Children 10 and under are $5.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The pit party kicks off at 6 p.m. and lasts until 7 p.m. The event begins when the trucks and drivers are introduced at 7:30 p.m.
Thompson Metal Services, located in Kingsport, is the preferred recycling partner of Bristol Motor Speedway. For more information about their services, please call (423) 245-5124.
For more information about the Thompson Metal Monster Truck Madness, please call (423) 989-6900 or visit www.bristoldragway.com.
