Bigger sometimes is better – I’m refering to monster trucks.
I am a bit of a closet rev head when it comes to the high-octane big boys and girl’s toys.
Clive Featherby has yet another monster truck show plus all the bells and whistles on the Coast because he is a guy who gets stuff done.
You could never accuse the clever businessman – and dare devil – of being beige.
I just love the Nambour local who has been thrilling us with his crazy antics for over 36 years. He has been driving Outback Thunda, which is Australia’s number one truck for 21 years.
On top of that, I bet you have seen one of his spectacular KC Fireworks shows in your time here on the Coast that literally light up our skies.
He has driven monster trucks all around the world and he has 6 kids. Now that is a portfolio anyone would be impressed with.
My kids also love Clive’s monster trucks and I reckon we have helped pay to put his kids through school as we have plenty of merchandise of Outback Thunda ranging from coffee cups to t-shirts.
It is wonderful to see a local do so well against the big guns.
My fondest memory of Clive is when I met him about 30 years ago when I was a much younger news journalist for the local TV news. I was sent to cover his Yandina event and Clive asked if I wanted to do a few laps in one of his beasts and drive straight over a car and crush it in the process.
I hitched up my cheap nylon red skirt and jumped in the strange looking monster machine – still wearing my high high heels.
My heart was in my mouth as I bunny hopped to start and began flying around the dusty arena.
I flew over a big bump and became airborne before crashing down onto a car. My media mates were all clapping and screaming and of course filming this crazy woman who thought she was in Days Of Thunder.
It was Clive who clapped the loudest as he ran over to my stationary monster truck and said I was a total natural and he had never seen a female rookie drive so fast on her first lap.
I stammered to him, “My high heel got stuck under the brake pedal and I couldn’t stop”.
I was white and I reckon in shock as I truly thought I was going to die.
All these decades later Clive and I still roar laughing reminiscing about that eventful afternoon. But I was always grateful he had faith in my abilities.
Clive and his crazy machines are going to thrill us all on November 26th at Bokarina’s Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The show costs $400K just to get the cars on the field so do not miss it and leave your heels at home!
Sami Muirhead is a radio announcer, blogger and commentator. For more from Sami, tune into Mix FM.
