Machine Heads Video: JCB’s Dirt Squad Are the Unsung Heroes of the Monster Jam World Finals
When it comes to the roar of engines and the spectacle of 12,000-lb trucks soaring through the air, Monster Jam is unparalleled. However, while the legendary monster truck Grave Digger added another world championship to its collection at the Monster Jam World Finals in Los Angeles, the true unsung heroes were the operators of the heavy machinery behind the scenes. Monster Jam, the premier monster truck competition series, tours the country showcasing world-class drivers performing incredible stunts. The annual World Finals, featuring 24 top drivers, is the pinnacle of these thrilling events. Amazingly, we got to visit those finals May, and that’s the subject of our latest Machine Heads video.
Monster Jam events, akin to motocross events scaled up significantly, rely heavily on dirt work to create the necessary twists, turns and jumps. The sheer volume of dirt required to lift one of these super trucks into the air necessitates the use of construction equipment. Last year, Monster Jam announced a partnership with JCB, making JCB equipment the official heavy equipment partner and introducing the new truck — the JCB Digatron. Look at this amazing vehicle!
Preparation and Execution
The setup for the Monster Jam World Finals at SoFi Stadium began a full year in advance. Constructing the World Finals track required 5,000 cubic yards of dirt, brought in two years prior and stored within the stadium. The Monster Jam JCB Dirt Squad, essential to the events, travels with the series and operates multiple squads across the continent. For the LA World Finals, the Dirt Squad began installing the course on the Monday before the Saturday event. The process started with covering SoFi’s turf playing surface with 20×10-foot plastic sheets, followed by a felt covering and then bringing in the 5,000 cubic yards of dirt.
Designing this track required precision to ensure safety and excitement, with the JCB Dirt Squad shaping the new track design in just two days. Dozers were used in the early stages for grading, while JCB wheel loaders, compact track loaders and the JCB Teleskid performed precise shaping. JCB telehandlers moved objects like car bodies and other materials onto the surface for use as obstacles and jumps. The JCB Teleskid, with its telescoping boom, became a favorite tool for the Dirt Squad, allowing operators to shape jumps efficiently. JCB equipment also plays a vital role in recovering crashed trucks. The JCB 457 wheel loader is used to right overturned trucks and tow them back to the garage
Learn about all of this more in the excellent Machine Heads episode above. Then sign up for our newsletter, so you can get all the latest videos.
Wayne Greyson is the Machine Heads editor for Compact Equipment.
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