Swamp Thing Unleashed: Tony Dixon on Taming a 5,500kg Monster Truck
- Monster Slam Team
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Swamp Thing has been shaking MonsterSlam to its foundations for years, and now we’re lifting the bonnet. We sat down with Tony Dixon, the man brave enough to pilot a 5,500kg monster, to find out what it really takes to wrestle Swamp Thing around the arena and keep the crowd on their feet.
Swamp Thing is a real family operation. What’s it like working together as dad and daughter in such a big, loud world?
Passing my skills and knowledge onto my daughter, Georgina, makes me so proud. It is great to see her doing what she loves.
How did Swamp Thing become part of your family’s life?
When I was younger, I always watched monster trucks on TV and thought to myself, I would like to do this when I'm older. When I was much older, I bought a street truck to put my motocross sidecar in the back. I then attended truck shows with my street truck. From there, I decided with other street truck owners to build a monster truck. After that, I brought a truck called Jurassica and created Swamp Thing.
Swamp Thing has such a bold, bright look. What do you love most about the truck’s style and personality?
Swamp Thing is meant to resemble an alligator, and alligators live in a swamp, and that's why it's called Swamp Thing.
What’s it like climbing into the driver’s seat knowing thousands of people are watching?
We always feel the nerves, but when the engine starts, we are focused and ready to put on a good show.
Driving a monster truck isn’t easy. What’s the toughest part of handling Swamp Thing?
When we are driving Swamp Thing, the hardest part is seeing the crushed cars. We do have a team member in the arena to help us.
How important is trust when you’re working together as a family team?
Teamwork is very important to running a show, for example, putting the wheels on, strapping the drivers into the seat, the safety operator in the arena and running the Swamp Thing Merchandise shop.
What does a typical show day look like for the Swamp Thing crew?
Getting the monster truck out of our custom trailer, putting the big wheels on, fuelling the engine, charging the batteries, meeting all the fans, performing in the arena, serving all the customers and then packing it all away and driving to the next show.
What’s been your proudest moment with Swamp Thing so far?
Competing in Monster Jam and beating Grave Digger.
For young fans watching in the crowd, what message do you hope Swamp Thing sends?
We hope the fans leave with smiles on their faces and perhaps become future monster truck drivers.
When Swamp Thing rolls into Monsterslam, what do you want families to remember most?
We would like the families to remember the big green smiling machine that shakes the ground.
Tickets for MonsterSlam are on sale now, just click here to buy yours! See you on Sunday 26th July at Quex Park, Birchington (just down the road from Manston).
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