Pat Gerber, 21-Year-Old Monster Truck Driver
By Skylaire Alfvegren
Continued...
You can't help but notice the ripe female spectators, most of whom look as though they've just come from an afternoon KISS concert in Des Moines, circa 1988. Do these 'groupies' see the grossly over-sized trucks as reflections of the drivers' masculine capabilities? "Even though I'm young and daring," Pat jokes, "They don't come after me too much." Pat met Randi, 23, a year ago, and they're an adorable couple. She dyes his hair and takes snapshots at the rallies.
Although most popular with the blue collar crowd, monster trucks are no poor man's hobby. "Big trucks, big repairs, big expense," Ed states flatly. "You'd need $100,000 to build a truck ground up." Competitors are paid a flat fee for each race, and the winners receive a bonus. After taking first place both days at Altamont against 14 competitors, Pat received an extra $1000. We're not exactly talking NASCAR money. But monster truck fans are more interested in the bombast than any actual competition, and drivers can make up to $70,000 annually, provided they can endure the gruelling national circuit. "I don't have the money for national domination just yet," Pat relates. "But if Budweiser sponsored me, I could take the damage I do to a national level!" Currently, Pat competes in between 10-25 rallies per year, running between county fairs and the biggest stadiums on the West Coast. Monster trucks are immensely popular nationwide; well publicized rallies can draw crowds of 15,000. "It's size; the bulk and the ability to take 12,000 pounds airborne, demolish cars and still maintain control," says motor sports promoter Mike Johnson. "It's like life."
Pat can't fathom life without his truck. "This seems to be my calling." he says. His future holds more country fairs and fire-breathing announcers, more busted transmissions and discarded Slim Jim wrappers. Pat sees himself taking over the family shop one day, but right now he's 21. "We're hoping to begin building another truck this year; a lot of the equipment on the Shocker is outdated." Everyone has nitrogen shocks now, at $1000 each. "And with eight," Pat shakes his head, "you can see where Budweiser would come in handy!"
Back at Del Mar, Pat is positioned against Chris Wise, one of only two professional female drivers in the MTRA. As twilight settles over the arena, Pat sails across the parade of sedans one last time, landing hard on his right front tire, only feet away from the twisted, unrecognizable hulks the junk cars have become. From behind a curtain of engine smoke, Pat slides out of the Shocker's window, removes his helmet and salutes the crowd. He's the star of the show, and for him the crowd scream loudest. "When they send that first manned probe to Mars," chuckles Eric Hanson, "They're gonna find Pat Gerber already up there."
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