Hot Wheels Monster Trucks were a classic staple of my childhood. I mean, what five-year-old boy doesn’t have even the smallest desire to throw his meaty little paws around a toy truck of doom named Boneshaker or Gunkster? These toys dominated my early years, and it was absolutely fantastic to still see how profound an impact the same brand had on today’s children. As I walked into Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn for the Hot Wheels: Monster Trucks Live Glow Party event, all I could see were little kids streaming past me with their families, thrilled to see their favorite toys come to life. It was a magical moment.
Taking a seat, I took a minute to marvel at the way the arena had been decorated. I had been at Barclays before for several concerts, but now, it had been completely transformed to include the wide-open space needed to drive several gas-guzzling behemoths. The Hot Wheels iconic branding was draped all around the walls, and there was a massive set of screens hanging from the ceiling that would allow for a closeup on the action no matter what. What was really stealing all attention, however, was the stack of dilapidated vehicles arranged on the ground. This might have perplexed some, but everyone in the audience knew: by the end of the night, these cars would be a remnant of what we were currently seeing. The show was about to begin.
The performances were astounding. Sure, I was a bit old for some of the crowd interactions (like when all the kids were asked to get up and dance like their life depended on it, and every five-year-old around me burst into their favorite Fortnite dance), but seeing the trucks themselves was a joy. They were loud, abrasive, and pure machines of destruction. I was able to see Mega Wrex, a dinosaur-themed truck, Tiger Shark, which looked like a tiger but had a shark fin, Boneshaker, which was made up of old boneyard parts, and others. Each truck had its own story and own quirks, and each took turns competing in a series of challenges that would be scored and ranked. For instance, one of the first was a bid for the best wheelie that could be performed by the trucks, on top of the bed of cars. What followed was a glorious cacophony of crunching steel and deep, screaming engines. I felt giddy.
After several more fun competitions such as best burnout and longest airtime, we were in for a treat for the “halftime show”, which I could never had anticipated. A giant box with wheels slowly rolled into the arena amidst heavy rock music and a huge applause from the audience. I watched as the top opened up like some Transformer, and a metal dinosaur, complete with evil eyes and a razor-sharp grin, unfolded out. The screens everywhere were emblazoned with its name: MEGASAURUS. It picked up an old car, and completely bit it in half. The kids around me were jumping out of their seats maniacally as pieces of old sedan dropped from the mouth of the ferocious beast. Even their parents had giant smiles plastered on their faces as it breathed a burst of fire.
After that show-stopping interjection, I was eager to see whether the next act would top it. When I saw workers rolling out a giant ramp, I knew I was in for a delight. Suddenly, I was witnessing several thrillchasers launching themselves on dirt bikes into the air, and landing on a giant inflatable pad. I was starstruck. As I watched, the motocross team circled back and relaunched, performing flips and aerial stunts that seemed to defy gravity. I was suddenly a kid again again amongst kids, and my attention was glued.
I was left walking out of Barclays Center wondering at what point in my life I had turned into such a boring adult. Reflecting on ancient times when Hot Wheels and Thomas the Tank Engine were the peak concerns I had in life, I came to realize that this night had helped me step back, albeit only for a couple of hours or so, into my older, smaller shoes. The fact that some force managed to achieve that is no small feat, and if one is able to experience this Monster Truck show from Hot Wheels even once and manage to unlock a memory from a small pocket of their childhood, I will consider that a win.
Hot Wheels: Monster Trucks Live Glow Party is currently touring the U.S, and is 100% a can’t-miss event.
