Monster trucks a big attraction
 
By ASHLEY CREWE
Today staff
Monday July 21, 2008
 
McMurray Speedway Park was up and running this weekend, hosting Wood Buffalo's first ever Monster Truck show. Dan Church, owner of the speedway located 20 kilometres north of town, said organizing the event took less than a month, and joked that using his dimples got the competitors up to Fort McMurray.
Church said he was surprised by the event's strong turnout after only advertising for a few days in advance.
"We had about 1,500 (people) attend the first night (Saturday), and close to 3,000 the next day," said Church. Church, who moved to Fort McMurray for the Speedway in 2005, said the region was in need of an event like this. "This was about the community," he said. "It's something for the community and families to come out to and enjoy themselves."

The two-day show featured four monster trucks, free style motocross and mud bog racing.
One of the additional attractions was $10 rides on one of the monster trucks.
"It was pretty fun and dusty," said nine-year-old Nick Chatman. "We went over this huge hill a couple of times. It felt really strange and bumpy. ... I was sitting on the end and sometimes it felt like I was going to fall out." Vicky Tremblay, 22, also rode on the back of the mammoth vehicle and said even though the ride was only a few minutes long, it was worth it. "It was short but it was fun," said Tremblay who came out for the show Sunday afternoon. "My friends went last night and wanted to come back today so I thought it must be good." "I don't think there was any part (of the event) that you could say was the most memorable for anyone, I think it was all memorable," said Church who added his most memorable moment however was getting to drive a monster truck himself. Church said the show would not have run as smoothly without the help of local sponsors. "It's great to have a show like this," said Tremblay. "They should have it every year."
Church said he plans to make it an annual event and to expand the use of the race track.
"We reopened the track to bring back local racing," said Church who is now planning three-day mud bog race for the end of August.

Decades ago, the track hosted local stock car races.