OHS Senior Looks To Drive Into His Future

Tyler Menninga with his buggy Moonshiner (submitted photo)

Tyler Menninga with his buggy Moonshiner (submitted photo)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Graduation is in the air. Athletic and academic scholarships have been awarded to those with dreams of moving on to a college education.

There are others who’s dreams are not found at a university or college. The skills to be the best are sometimes learned and earned doing the thing you love.

For a local senior, the roar of an engine and the screaming crowd is what drives him.

“Ever since I was little, my dad has always taken me out 4-wheeling with him,” Menninga remembers. “I was 2 I think, the first time he took me out.”

Menninga remembers getting his first off-road truck when he was 6. “I upgraded to a bigger one, and ended up smashing the body up on that one so much, we just built a buggy out of it.”

Menninga’s father was part of the local off-road club, and they were invited to be a part of setup for Monster Jam. That was one of the first experiences with the touring series.

“I always had Monster Jam in the back of my mind. That’s the main goal is Monster Jam after high school.”

Tyler Menninga spent last summer in North Carolina “and lived with the ‘Gave Digger’ guys and drove a ride truck for them. The ride truck holds 12 people, and Menninga spent the summer days giving rides to the visitors to the ‘Grave Digger’ shop. “Seeing people smile when driving them around,” was a big memory for Menninga.

For Menninga, working with a professional team was awesome. “I can’t really explain it, but it was awesome.”

With all of his experiences, Menninga looks forward to an opportunity to drive a race truck for Monster Jam.

Monster Jam is operated by Feld Entertainment. They are the same people who bring us Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Monster Jam, just to name a few.

Feld Entertainment would be the ones to hire Menninga and turn him loose on a nearly $300,000.00 race truck. In order for that to happen, he would need to prove himself and his ability.

So, after Menninga walks across that stage on Sunday to receive his diploma, it’s off to North Carolina to work in the shop for Grave Digger and hopefully, eventually find his way into the drivers seat.

For now, Menninga will follow his dream, with no real plan in his mind for what will happen if he fails to gain a ride in Monster Jam. “I’m not real sure what’s going to happen after graduation. I think, right now, I’ll move to North Carolina until I turn 18.”

Being 18 is that magical number for being able to test out in a truck. “We’ll see what Happens,” says Menninga.

You can keep up with Tyler Menninga and his exploits through his Facebook Fan Page HERE.

Posted by on May 15 2015. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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