I must confess that my knowledge of monster trucks is limited at best. My exposure to these massive vehicles and their enthusiastic fanbase has been largely through TV advertisements.
So, when an invitation to Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire landed in my inbox, I was more than a little intrigued. The existence of monster trucks in the UK was news to me, as was the fact that they could be viewed at indoor shows.
Even more surprising was the revelation that such events were significant enough to secure dates at The O2. And so, off we went to The O2 – but not before making a pit stop at the endlessly entertaining Toca Social.
Prior to this, my visits to the O2 had been confined to casual strolls around the outlet concourse, admiring the colourful displays at the Le Creuset and Lindt shops.
The O2 is akin to the TARDIS, packing a multi-level concert bowl behind its trendy shops and eateries. The seating was surprisingly comfortable for such a venue, and the entry process was far more straightforward than at most football stadiums I’ve been to, reports MyLondon.
Although the Hot Wheels show was scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm, the fun started an hour earlier. And by fun, I mean the hosts in their colourful LED onesies making it feel like a party early doors.
The Hot Wheels monster trucks are clearly targeted at kids, with cartoons playing on the central screens and the audience encouraged to mimic shark movements for one of the crowd’s favourites, TigerShark. But when the lights go down, it takes on a more grown-up vibe.
The engines are deafeningly loud, the special effects are mind-blowing, and the actual trucks are so enormous they’re hard to comprehend. Throughout the performance, the trucks participate in a series of challenges involving doughnuts (the tyre-screeching type), high jumps, and plenty of wreckage.
The stunts are performed to an eclectic mix of music, from heavy metal to Fall Out Boy and Katy Perry. Just as I was immersing myself in the gritty, chaotic world of destruction for the sake of it, the lights came on for the interval.
This is a sensible move; most of the audience was under 10 years old and would likely become bored and perhaps frightened without the break and regular interjections from the ever-flashing presenters between competition rounds.
The show strikes a balance with just enough drama and fury to entertain adults, while its cheesy jokes and overall silliness make it ideal for a family outing that won’t leave you tearing your hair out.
The entire spectacle is wildly exaggerated, complete with overly pronounced ‘dramatic reveals’, comedic blunders, and an American-style ‘this is so cool’ frenzy. But it’s easy to get caught up in it all, the whole event so strange and vibrant that you end up feeling like an overgrown child watching something truly awesome.
The Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live show is currently touring the UK. Here’s the list of ticket vendors and tour dates you need:
TICKETMASTER – Hot Wheel Monster Trucks Live tickets here.
VIAGOGO – Hot Wheel Monster Trucks Live tickets here.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live tour dates
- Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th January 2025: The O2 Arena, London
- Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th January 2025: AO Arena, Manchester
- Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th January 2025: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
- Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April 2025: Utilita Arena, Birmingham
- Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April 2025: OVO Hydro, Glasgow