By Luke Voogt
Geelong’s showgrounds is perfect for a few monster truck “world-firsts“, according to “mechanical mad scientist” Sam Xuereb.
Crazy tricks involving clowns, massive wheelies and a four-metre steel ball containing a Chevrolet V8 engine are all part of Mr Xuereb’s monster circus“.
“It’s going to be something different that you haven’t seen before,” he said.
Mr Xuereb and son Michael could drive the four-metre Monster Ball upsidedown or flip it if they accelerated too fast, he said.
“There’s never been anything built like it.
“It gets pretty rough. It will do 80km/h if you’re game enough to drive it that fast.”
Mr Xuereb planned to use every metre of the spacious course at this weekend’s Royal Geelong Show.
“We’re the only ones wheelieing the monster trucks so far,” he said.
Show operations manager Vanessa Wight was excited to see Mr Xuereb and his son roll out new tricks.
This year’s show featured more free family activities than ever, she said.
“It (will) be a bigger show than last year.“
Children could try their hand at circus tricks or farm virtual reality, Ms Wight said.
“We want to capture that rural atmosphere and bring that all to Geelong.
“The kids, or adults, can sit on the tractor and it’s basically as if they’re driving around the farm.”
Lions Club volunteers were on the gates yesterday morning for the first day of the show, traditionally a community day for schools and elderly groups.
“It’s amazing the amount of volunteer hours that get the show happening,” Ms Wight said.
The show continues today and this weekend.
