The night of Saturday November 14, 2009 is set to be a date that wont be forgotten in the minds of Australian Monster Truck fans, as this was the night that Monster trucks here changed forever. It was the night of the South Pacific World Finals 2!

And what a night it was. From the outset it was known that this was going to be a big one, with the crowd queueing outside the gates well over an hour before they opened. And when they did open at 3pm, the stream of people didn't stop until after 6pm when it just became literally impossible to squeeze anymore people in. Whilst official gate numbers are still being tallied, it looked to be a big crowd of over 10,000 fans.

The pit party was extremely popular with the crowds pouring into the pits for their chance of grabbing a photo or a signature on just about anything they could find, including arms and backs. The buzz amongst the crowd was fantastic, and why wouldn't it be, with 10 monster trucks, including 3 brand new, never seen before in Australia ones competing in side-by-side racing and no holds barred freestyle, pitting 6 top US drivers against 4 of Australia's best, and a huge support program planned.

The show kicked off with the grand parade as all the trucks made their way out into the arena and each driver was introduced to the crowd. The truck & driver lineup consisted of:

Devil's Dodge Peter Duffy (AUS)
Raptors Rampage Corey Clarke (US)
Monster Patrol Paul Shafer (US)
Samson Dan Patrick (US)
Taz Jaye Featherby (AUS)
Batman Paul Jensen (US)
Scooby Doo Billy Featherby (AUS)
Avenger Jim Koehler (US)
Outback Thunda II Kreg Christensen (US)
Outback Thunda Clive Featherby (AUS)

Qualifying was first up, each truck getting a single solo run to determine the racing brackets. The track was a J-turn style course, with a long flat straight from the start line, into the 180 degree hairpin turn, which was wide enough to keep the trucks speed up, then over the 6 car stack with the finish line at the last car. To add a little bit of variety, the cars were raised off the ground level on a dirt mound around a metre high.

Devils Dodge was first up and made a good start, but the rear slid out in the turn. Duffy managed to gather it up and get over the cars in a time of 16.74 seconds.
Raptors Rampage was next, and had a quick start and made the turn easily and posted a 13.76 seconds time.
Samson followed and blasted around the course with a time 2 seconds quicker at 11.46 seconds.
Monster Patrol then laid down another quick time almost pipping Samson for fastest qualifier so far with a time of 11.78 seconds.
Taz was next up and Jaye managed a fairly quick 13.37 seconds.
Scooby Doo pulled up, and blasted off the line. A near perfect turn for Billy and Scooby as he leaps over the cars with the fastest time so far of 11.35 seconds.
Batman had a good start and was carrying a lot of speed through the turn, but this proved his undoing as the rear slid out and Batman crossed the cars sideways. Batman actually came off the car stack before the finish line, but the time of 18.00 seconds was allowed as both front wheels hit the first car.
Avenger was out to prove he was more than just a freestyler and laid down a competitive time of 13.13 seconds, getting a lot of wheelspin in the turn.
Outback Thunda II was next and proceeded to run a good time of 12.45 seconds.
Outback Thunda was the final qualifier, and when the light went green Thunda launched off the line. Around the turn and over the cars in a time of 12.20 seconds.

It was first blow to the Aussies, as Billy Featherby in Scooby Doo was the surprise fastest qualifier. It seemed the right lane was producing the quickest times so far, and would probably be the lane to pick if you had lane choice. The left lane had the trucks transitioning from dirt to very dusty concrete before the ramp to the cars which was definately catching some drivers out - Devils Dodge & Batman especially. The first round of racing was just about to get under way, here's how the racing went:

Scooby Doo def. Devils Dodge

Billy lays down another quick run and stays smooth, while Duffy gets caught out by the same corner, but is unable to gather it up this time and completely misses the cars. Billy had it won by the corner.

Samson def. Taz

Jaye actually got the holeshot on Dan, but by the corner it was all Patrick and he takes the win quite comfortably. It seems as though Jaye was having transmission issues in Taz, looked as though he couldn't get it to shift into second gear which slowed him right down.

Avenger def. Monster Patrol

This was a close race. Koehler looked to have some problem in the turn but got good drive out of the corner over the car stack while Shafer got all messed up after the turn.

Outback Thunda def. Batman

As mentioned earlier, lane choice definately was playing a part as Batman spun in the same spot as qualifying allowing Thunda to take the win with a good run.

Outback Thunda II def. Raptors Rampage

Kreg was all over this race, dominating from the green light. He won with a decent margin over Corey in Raptors.

Round 2:

Samson def. Scooby Doo

The two fastest trucks met and had a close race, Billy was actually leading Dan at the corner, but Dan made the quicker turn and was able to get over the line first. Very good race.

Outback Thunda def. Avenger

Another super close race, both trucks neck and neck the entire course. Clive just gets the nose of Thunda across ahead of Avenger to take the win. Wow, millimetres decided that one.

Outback Thunda II def. Taz (Fastest Loser)

With Taz's gearbox still stuck in first gear, Kreg looked to have an easy run, but he certainly didn't take it easy. Super aggressive run in Thunda II getting down into the 10 second bracket, but Jaye just didn't lay down, still posting a decent time with another shot at Fastest Loser.

Semi-Finals:

Outback Thunda II def. Scooby Doo (fastest loser)

Kreg was again super aggressive but carried a huge amount of speed into the turn and got major wheelspin on the dusty concrete. This allowed Billy to catch up in the turn after being left at the lights, but Kreg managed to get the drive to get over the cars first.

Samson def. Outback Thunda

Dan gets the better start, but gets a little ragged in the corner which allows Clive to make up some lost ground, Samson hits the cars first and JUST edges out a rapidly closing in Thunda. Another super close race.

South Pacific World Finals II Racing Championship:

Samson def. Outback Thunda II

Kreg almost jumped early but stopped in time. Both trucks lineball down the straight turning at precisely the same time. Dan made a perfect corner while Kreg swung the tail out wide rally-car style while still having the foot buried through the firewall. He still managed to carry quite a lot of speed over the cars and was making up some ground over the cars, but Samson had just moved ahead enough to hold him out and successfully defend his 2008 crown!! Yet another amazingly close race, you couldn't ask for a better final.

It was then time for the middle part of the program with the Mystery Machine Jet Van and Jet Car meltdown showdown. The two vehicles proceeded to pass each other in opposite directions with their afterburners in full flame throwing mode! They then proceeded to the centre of the arena and proceeded to turn two little hatchbacks into nothing more than black carcasses. The laser light show was next and even featured coloured flame throwing machines. Very unique. Then came one of the biggest, most spectacular, and loudest fireworks display, with several thousand shells being let off in the sky over Brisbane International Speedway. The only word to describe it was "AWESOME".

After a brief intermission, it came time for Freestyle! All scores were out of a possible 20.

Devils Dodge - 12

Starting off with a hit on the first van stack and then a skywheelie off one of the racing lanes which had the dirt ramps removed from one side. Over to the other van stack, but not much air off the van, getting caught on it and almost completely tipping the van onto its side. This also tips the truck to the side and the awkward landing breaks a front sway bar arm. A jump over the other racing lane and he calls it quits after parking it on top of the bus.

Raptors Rampage - 13

Big long jump across one of the car stacks, then a nice hit on the van stack getting some good air, then to a skywheelie off the racing lane and carries it right across the stack, very nice! Corey lines up the bus but officials notice a rear broken sway bar and shut him off. He is allowed to continue briefly and jumps over a racing lane stack again, but blows a front shock on the landing. In fact, blew the entire nitrogen canister off the truck. He is done.

Samson - 15

First hit off the van stack, then to the racing lane stack and nice skywheelie with decent air. The slippery surface at the far end of the track causes problems in trying to line up the second van stack, but he finally gets it but cant get much air off it. Huge skywheelie off the cars, nice air. Eases over the bus stack and then gets another big skywheelie from the cars. One last jump and its a decent run from the racing champion.

Monster Patrol - 10

Big hit off the van stack to start, tries to get a donut going, but cant get the truck to turn quick enough. He is searching for something to hit, eventually makes it back to the first van stack, another nice jump. Over the wheelie bump, but cant get the front end to bounce up. Searching again, nice jump over the bus stack, then tries for another donut, better effort, but still cant quite get it going. Then huge sky wheelie over the cars to finish off. The last few hits came after his allotted time expired, so could not be scored. If he done those earlier, his score would have been better.

Taz - 16

Jaye roars in and hits a nice skywheelie to kick things off. He immediately then drives straight through a caravan (not realising there was a car on the other side of it to jump on!). Over the van stack and across the racing lane, he then heads for the bus stack from the steeper side and gets some nice air landing on the ramp. He wanders a little bit and goes for the bus again, this time with huge air and landing at the bottom of the other side! Nice, solid run from Jaye and even more impressive given he only had 1st gear the entire time.

Scooby Doo - 13

Scooby goes for his bone and proceeds to run it over. Good air off the van stack, and then hits a HUGE skywheelie off the cars, but gets a bad bounce on the landing tipping Scooby to its side, and despite his best efforts and the raised lanes, Billy can't bring him back down to all fours, and promptly ends up on his side. Officials rush in to help Billy who is OK, but Scooby looks a little worse for wear.

Batman - 12

Starts off by getting big air off the wheelie bump, but picks up the throttle a fraction to late to get the slap wheelie. Then straight into a MASSIVE skywheelie off the cars landing smack on the tailgate which shuts the truck down. Paul gets it re-fired, but the hit has broken the rear sway bar and he is done.

Avenger - 17

Nice skywheelie to start proceedings, and then goes to the other end of the track and starts turning around. As the truck starts to slide around it hooks up on the inside lip of the speedway track throwing the truck up onto the front right wheel, the whole truck seemed to balance on it and it looked like a definate roll over, but Jim hit the throttle and the front and rear steering and brought it back down to all four wheels. Absolutely amazing save!! He continued on with a huge van stack hit then immediately into a massive skywheelie. Great combo move. He goes for the bus, and lined it up from the far side, HUGE AIR!! Wow, what a leap! Goes straight to the concrete and throws into a couple of donuts. Another massive skywheelie and hits the bus from the other side! As he goes over the van stack, the motor cries enough and quits on Jim. As the truck hisses and spits water out, Jim jumps out to the roars of the Brisbane crowd. Fantastic freestyle from Koehler, amazing.

Outback Thunda II - 16

Huge skywheelie from Kreg off the cars, then straight over the bus, nice air and he rides the wheelie all the way down the other side. He then promptly turns around and drives straight through another caravan! This one is a bit tougher than the one Jaye destroyed and it takes out one of Thunda II's nostrils! Smoke is pouring from the transmission, it was a second-hand unit installed between racing & freestyle due to a seal letting go in the original tranny. Back over the racing lane and Kreg lines up the van stack, great hit clearing the stack completely! He then heads for the racing lane again and doesn't let off the throttle, HUGE AIR off the cars, flys completely over them and lands hard on the front right, blowing out the shocks and taking out the front steering. He tries to continue but cant direct the truck. Another fantastic run, but too much time left on the clock for him to take the lead.

Outback Thunda - 16

Before Thunda enters the arena, Thunda Jr. and Little Pat on his quad put on a show for the crowd, with Thunda Jr getting good wheelies and Little Pat getting in some awesome donuts! Thunda rolls out and circles the arena. He then points for the cars and hits a big skywheelie, but the rear axle breaks and he is left with front wheel drive only. Clive tries all he can, but there is only so much that can be done with front wheel drive only. He proceeds to just run over anything and everything, including the big corner marker tyre! He goes for the van stack at full steam and hits it while still turning the truck, it flips to the side, but doesn't roll over and then the motor quits. Heartbreak again for Clive, as the same problem took him out of contention last year.

Encore:

All the trucks that could still run came back out to round off the show. Lead out by Billy in Scooby Doo, Taz, Raptors Rampage, Samson, Monster Patrol, Devil's Dodge & Avenger all put on an Encore performance. Jaye & Billy got some amazing skywheelies, while some of the others were still nursing some damage and just rolled the obstacles.

To finish off, all the drivers got out of the trucks and went into the crowd to give away their helmets. This was a great show of appreciation for the fans, who had stayed the entire show, there wasn't one empty seat till the very end!

The South Pacific World Finals II has been run and won, congratulations to two-time racing champion, Dan Patrick in Samson, and Freestyle champion, Jim Koehler in Avenger. The tireless efforts of the entire Extreme Monster Trucks Australia team meant it was a fantastic show, and this can only mean that the South Pacific World Finals 3 will be even BIGGER!

Damian Hall