Bari Jam

By Michael Black
Contributing Writer

Monster Trucks. Just the name sort of scares me even though I have always been curious and many of my friends love going to the shows. Izod IndyCar, CART, NASCAR, NHRA, SCCA, IMSA, a whole slew of initialized motorsports events dot my background. USHRA Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam; not yet. But I hope to rectify that this weekend attending one of the three shows on February 3-4 at the Fargodome. I will be packing my earplugs, scanner, binoculars and camera and joining the throng who worship at the altar of these methanol fueled beasts. If they are anywhere close to being as cool as my friends tell me, I will be happy. And who hasn’t wanted to roll over the top of THAT car that dove in front of you just to gain one spot in line at the red light? I have…

Bari Musawwir, driver of the Spider-Man truck, came to the sport in a peculiar way. At age 30 he became the overall series Rookie of the Year in 2011. His route to the pilot seat of a 575 cubic inch, 1400 horsepower supercharged truck? Radio controlled cars. Yes, R/C cars. At age six his mother took him from his hometown of Cleveland OH to the Pontiac Silverdome to watch Gravedigger freestyle motocross, wheelie, stomp and crush cars. The closest he could get to mimicking his heroes was via his first R/C car, a $40 Tamiya Blackfoot. He proceeded up through the ranks in competitions and got “the call” based on his successes in the miniature world. As an adult he continues to nurture his first love, co-owning No Limit R/C a company that supplies cars, equipment and portable tracks to aficionados of the radio car world. His fastest R/C was an $1,200.00 HPI Savage Flux, capable of 62 mph (that little baby could outpace you on I-29) and he currently owns “about 20” R/Cs.

The Monster Jam series performs throughout North America; this weekend there are 10 events scheduled from Vancouver BC to Tampa FL. Bari lives in Orlando and is home about three days a week during the season. His team, comprised of his Spider-Man vehicle and Grave Digger* driven by Chad Tingler, move via semi-truck haulers carrying both trucks, driven from venue to venue by his team. He flies to and from the events, spending roughly Monday-Thursday at home with his wife and stepdaughter. A fit 5’ 11”, 185 athlete he says that the pounding he takes driving the 10,000 pound monster during the competition has not taken a toll on him, (yet). Equipped with 26” travel shocks he claims the ride isn’t bad(!). With $2,000.00 tires nearly six feet tall, 43 inches wide and bolted onto the wheels there is, apparently, a lot of “cushion”. Strapped into a custom fitted seat with a five point safety harness, wearing a Simpson fireproof suit and automatic fire bottles set to extinguish the odd flare up under the hood and inside the cockpit, ride quality is good.

Before making it to “the show”, Bari worked (and still does in the off season) as a graphic designer for 10 years after getting his certification at ITT Tech in Tampa FL. When you talk to him you can tell he truly enjoys working for Feld Entertainment, the umbrella group which produces and stages all the Monster Jam events. And Bari is the consummate spokesman for his sport. Just a normal guy with two high school-aged sisters, a brother in college and a civil engineer for a Dad. His Mom, a school district IT administrator, enjoys seeing her son compete. I bet she never dreamt that night in the Silverdome that her Little Bari would one day become a star of The Monster Jam.

And, oh yeah…DEMO DERBY ALL 3 SHOWS!!!  Sweet…

Questions or comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

IF YOU GO
What: Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam tiny.cc/josou
http://www.fargodome.com/events_view.php?id=139
Where: Fargodome   tiny.cc/0wsic   http://www.fargodome.com/
When: Friday Feb. 3- 7:30 pm -doors 6:30 pm
 
Sat. Feb. 4 -2 pm- doors 1pm; 7:30 p.m. -doors 6:30 p.m.
Info: $48 Front Row $28 Gold Circle $11 Super Value (All tickets $2 more day of show)
     
Pit Party Tickets $10
No Limit R/C: tiny.cc/tjmfe   http://www.nolimitrc.com/ 
Feld Entertainment: tiny.cc/lp7bb   http://www.feldentertainment.com/