Anyone with a basic understanding of the laws of physics will know that a 4.5-ton monster truck should not easily be front flipping through the air. But clearly the driver of Maximum Destruction, Tom Meents, missed that day in science class or chose to ignore the teachings.
Here is a rundown of what Tom’s working with: a 4.5-ton stunt truck powered by a methanol-drinking supercharged 575-cube V8, making around 1500hp and with 32-inch travel shocks. This truck has a shorter wheelbase than your usual race truck, the engine and driver are mounted lower, and the suspension has been specially built for this one trick, with a softer front and stiffer rear.
Making these trucks backflip is old news, in fact making them do all sorts of seemingly insane manoeuvres is nothing fans haven’t seen before, but a front flip is certainly something else. After a few trial runs to test out the trick ramps, Tom chose New York of all places to attempt this world-first; and while he doesn’t quite get a clean landing, he lives to tell the tale. Close enough seems OK with Tom as he has now set his sights on nailing a double backflip.
Here is a bit of the back story and a bit more in-depth info on the machine itself, and how those ramps actually work.