When Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live brings its Glow Party event to the John Paul Jones arena on March 25 and 26, the newest face in the cab will be Taylor Holman.
Holman, driving the Demo Derby truck on the tour, grew up around monster trucks. But she only climbed behind the wheel about eight months ago. Since then, she’s smashed a lot of cars, won several competitions, and hopefully inspired a few young women to jump into a unique sport.
C-VILLE: How did you get into monster truck driving?
Taylor Holman: My dad races with us—he drives Mega Wrex, and my uncle drives Race Ace. It’s a whole family thing. I’ve been around it since I was probably 5 years old. My family used to promote shows, then my dad got his own trucks, and he started racing.
But you stayed out of the trucks for a long time.
Yeah, I’m 26. I’m also currently going to nursing school, but probably about four years ago, I started driving off and on to practice and see if I’d like it. I started driving full-time last summer, and I love it. I love the adrenaline rush. We have a five-point harness, a HANS [head and neck safety] device, a neck brace, helmets, and gloves, but I still feel the rush. And I love being able to meet all the kids and their families and see the smiles on their faces.
What makes driving a monster truck difficult?
When you’re driving your car, you use one foot for the gas and brake. We use both feet—one for the gas, the other for the brake—and both hands. We front-steer with one hand and rear-steer with the other. Beyond that, you’re watching all the gauges and making sure you’re lined up at the cars and going at a decent pace. You can’t go too slow or too fast.
You have other ties to drivers on the tour, correct?
My husband is Cody Holman, who drives Bone Shaker, and his dad Bobby drives Tiger Shark. We all enjoy doing it together. We’re gone so many weekends out of the year that it’s nice to have family with you.
What’s unique about the current tour?
Hot Wheels has brought back the older-style shows, where it’s just concrete and cars, and all the old trucks people love. Kids also love the glow-in-the-dark experience, something that’s never been done before at a monster truck show. Race Ace is a newer truck, and I’m driving Demo Derby; I don’t think people expect a female driver to get into a demolition-style truck.
What does it mean to you to be involved in this sport?
I definitely hope, being a nurse and a monster truck diver, to be a role model for all the younger girls. It shows you can do anything you set your mind to, as long as you keep going for your goals.
Real talk—are these competitions legit, or is it like pro wrestling?
It’s legitimate! Sometimes it takes us completely by surprise. We have four competitions—wheelies, donuts, long jump, and freestyle. The judges score us on a 30-point basis, and whoever wins, wins. We’re all fighting for the champions cup at the end. I’ve won two or three times.
So it gets pretty fierce between you all?
I definitely think so. I always try to beat all of them. They have all taught me how to drive, though, so they’re tough to beat.
