According to a press release from the United States Hot Rod Association, Monster trucks are more than 10 feet tall, 12 feet wide and weigh as much as 12,000 pounds. They cost an average of $150,000 to construct, and their tires are nearly as tall as the average man. When they soar off a ramp, monster trucks fly up to 25 feet into the air and can travel as far as 130 feet.

And they're coming to State College.

The United States Hot Rod Association's (USHRA) Thunder Nationals will roll into town for two shows at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center. Tickets are $16 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under.

Fans who envision dirty, cough-inducing tracks when they think of monster trucks will be in for a pleasant surprise, Jason Huggler, promotions manager for the event, said.

"Many monster truck events have dirt on the floor," Huggler said. "Thunder Nationals is straight concrete."

This seemingly slight change will have a great impact on all of the competition, which will include pure racing and freestyle contests in which the winner is determined by fan reaction.

"It's a little more difficult on concrete," said Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the Bryce Jordan Center. "These drivers are the best."

Randy Brown, the 2003 USHRA points champion and one of the drivers of the truck known as Grave Digger, said concrete has a dramatic effect on what drivers can do.

"Without dirt, we do a lot more donuts," he said. "We can get really fast on concrete and really blaze 'em up."

Concrete can also make an already exciting competition even more intense -- and dangerous.

"Monster truck racing is no holds barred," Huggler said. "We don't know what's going to happen. Motor sports are inherently dangerous, but we really don't know what will happen when these trucks get out there."

Brown has had his share of danger.

"I rolled over 11 times last year alone," he said. "My biggest crash last year was when I went end over end with a half twist."

Fans don't have to worry about the danger spilling over into the stands though, Huggler said.

"We have a whole safety division," he said. "We use research to determine where it's safe for spectators."

The Jordan Center takes precautions as well, offering no seats on the floor and keeping fans a safe distance from the action, Punt said. However, one precaution fans have to take on their own is to protect their hearing.

"Monster trucks are very loud," Punt said. "I would recommend that anyone sensitive to loud noises get a pair of ear plugs."

With such concerns out of the way, fans will be free to enjoy what the USHRA hopes will be a variety-filled and exciting night of action. In addition to the trucks, fans will get to see freestyle motocross, an event often featured at the Gravity Games and X Games, Huggler said.

"The motocross bikes get up to 30 to 40 miles per hour very quickly, hit jumps, and the rider will often leave his bike for a considerable amount of time before returning to the ground," Huggler said. "And there's not that much space in a small arena; they have to be very good at maintaining control."

Brown, despite seeing his share of danger, said that the freestyle motocross riders have his respect.

"The motocross is just amazing," he said. "Those guys are nuts."

And the motocross is just one of the attractions of the show. Brown promises fans that they won't regret coming to the event, even if they've never attended this type of show before.

"You're going to be seeing high-flying, car-crushing action," he said. "You won't find anything better in the U.S."